January 1-December 31, 1781 505

[Moses Rawlings, Hagers Town, to James Calhoun, Esq.]

I have the pleasure to acknowledge your favour of the 10^th Ins^t
and also your other Letter — you may rest assured that nothing in my
power shall be wanting to Expedite the business, I have this Day
Employed an Industrious Man to Impress Waggons to forward the
flour in this County to George Town — for want of means it has not
been in my power to procure Barrels sufficient to Grind up the wheat,
the Commissioners have now allow'd me to pay for Barrels in Wheat,
and have a number of Coopers now at work. I expect to start off a
Brigade of Waggons next Monday with Flour and shall continue to
send.
Never was such times to do Public business I have not money to
bare my Travelling Expences as no kind pass in this County but hard
Cash.

You wrote me for an accurate Account of all the Provisions in
this County, which I will send you as soon as I am a Little at Leisure,
I am so hurried at this time in procuring of Cattle for the Army that
I have not a moment to spare, am riding almost night and Day on
Public business. I see the great necessity we are in at this Time for
Provisions for the Army and you may rely on my Industry & activity

September 16

[Thomas Price, Frederick Town, to James Calhoun, Esqr.]

When I received yours of the 10^th Ins^t I was then confined to my
Bed by sickness, which occasioned some Delay — but the Impress
Warrant & Stile of your Letter both convincing me that the greatest
Expedition was necessary to be used, I immediately employed proper
Persons who partly by means of the Warrant and partly by fair
Words, engaged many Waggons, some for Baltimore & some for
George Town according to the Situation of the Mills, & accordingly
I have the pleasure to hear that many are now on their Way, The not
general Currency of the late Emission has been & still continues to
be a great Remora in the Way of purchasing Flour Bb^ls the Want
thereof being a general Complaint with the Millers By the best Judge-
ment I could form I believe I might reckon upon 1000 Bb^ls of Flour
at the several Mills, about 300 of which I judge may now be delivered
at Baltimore & George Town, & by the last of next Week, I promise
myself the whole will be delivered Could I have acted myself imme-
diately upon the receipt of your orders probably I should have suc-
ceeded better than I did by my agents, but as it is I am happy to
think that there is such a prospect of its being all down so soon. Since
my Recovery I have seen most of the Millers who have all promised
to grind up the Wheat on hand as fast as possible & to endeavour to
engage Waggons in their Neighbourhood to carry it away as fast as
ready, this I can promise you that my utmost Exertions shall not be
wanting. I have received an order from the Governor & Council to

September 19