January 1-December 31, 1781 525

New York was compelled to contract some debts to procure neces-
saries for support which I pledged my honour to pay in hard money,
and some I have been compelled to contract since my return, for the
same purpose, therefore have to request Your Honours will furnish
me with, about f 50, as also an order for a Sufficiency of Cloth for a
Great Coat, by the bearer my Brother, as I have drawn but little
since in the service, and my necessity so urgent flatter myself, Your
Honours, will grant my request

October 16

[Eph Blaine, C. G., Oxford, To The Honble Mathew Tilghman Esq.
President of the Special Council, Talbot Court House] (By
M^r Blake)

Your favour by M^r Blake I have just received, and have only to
observe that the requisitions of Congress in beef from the respective
States is neat beef, and they afterwards add pay for the hide and tal-
low, this convinces me that the State ought to pay the expence of
Slaughtering and that expence will not exceed the cost of procuring
hands, paying pasturage while driving the Cattle to places where I
would be Justifiable in receiving them.
In the first place it is impossible for me to attend to the slaughter-
ing of the Cattle in the respective Counties, in the second I have not
one shilling of money to defray the expence allowing it to be a Con-
tinental charge, however as I do not wish to through any difficulty
upon your State, shall agree to the following proposals Viz. That if
M^r Morris with a Committe of Congress say the expence of Slaugh-
tering the Cattle shall be a charge against the United States, I will
pledge my honour to you to see it paid. If that of the State why it is
done — any additional expence which may attend the trying of the
tallow and procuring barrels to put it in, and drying the hides I shall
engage to pay, but be assured the slaughtering of the Cattle lays with
the State. I have requested the Commissioners to sell the hides, but

would rather wish them to dispose of them to good Tanners who

would tan them on the shares — such of the people as will carefully
slaughter their Cattle and are dispoS^td to keep the fifth quarter I
agree to keep the beef but this I leave to your direction, and if the
hides and tallow can be saved they are much wanted for the Army.
I have been delay'd exceedingly by unfavourable winds and as
there is a prospect of getting down the Bay this morning I am pre-
vented of the honor of waiting on you. The Governor and Council
have engaged to send a boat to M^r Blake to load with beef I shall take
particular care to send boats to the sundry landing places to take in
beef. I have enquired the price of hides at Baltimore and find they
will bring four pence hard money p lb.
I would wish the Commissioners to obtain that sum for what they
may sell, making a reasonable deduction for the expence of drying
the hides and freight to Baltimore

October 16
Red Book
No. 32
Letter 34