January 1-December 31, 1781 53

taken the liberty of applying to your Excellency in Council and shall
be much oblidged by directing me as hasty information as possible
that I may be enabled to comply with my order.
I beg leave to mention that M^r Dan^l Hughs informs me that they
never Cast any twelve pounders for the State,

February 5
Red Book
No. 28
Letter 62

[Wm. Smith, Baltimore to the Honble J. Holker.]

In consequence of the misfortunes attending the Ship Defence,
Her Cargo of flour, together with several quantitys delivered me by
order of the Gov^r of Maryland &c^a for the use of the Royal Marines
of France, has remaind in my hands untill it became sour & unfit for
use, which occasioned my having it baked into ship bread expecting
thereby to have it preserved for his m^o Christian Majestys fleet &
Army, but as the approaching warm season is near at hand, and
there now remains in store from 1500 to 2000 barrells of this bread.
I would beg leave to recommend your taking such Steps for the
disposal thereof as you may Judge most expedient, for though I am
of oppinion this bread is sound & fit for immediate use yet I appre-
hend as it has principally been made from flour produced from wheat
Injured by the fly I much fear, if it is not soon disposed of it will
prove a total Loss

February 5

[Benjn Wickes, Cedar Point, to Gov. Lee]

This will inform you that M^r Shepard in a Sloop, in company
with a schooner both belonging to M^r Tho^s Rutling, arrived here
on the 2^nd since which time I have put on board the sloop four hun-
dred & thirty five barrels flour, and think it prudent to send her off
without the schooner as there is a fair wind and an apparent good
chance to get safe up, the schooner shall be loaded to morrow if pos-
sible there will be about one hundred barrels left of the Cato's Cargo
after the schooner is loaded.

February 5

[Jno Dorsey & Co., Annapolis, to the Governor and Council.]

The schooner Nautelus is got off, and is now Safe at Baltimore,
with her Guns Sails & Rigging her Cargo of flour was Landed neat
Cedar Point, by the Militia and we are informed by Capⁿ Kerstead
that about 150 Barrells were not injured, and that the Residue was
but Little Damaged, and that the whole is now under the Care of a
Maj^r Taylor who Claims Salvage, if the State will Purchase a Load
of Flour we will still proceed the voyage to the Havanna, under the
terms and Agreeable to the Former Contract, but our Losses render
us unable to Advance for another Cargo — we wish to be informed
what the Government will do with the Flour, what Compensation
the owners of the Schooner are to Expect for the Damage done the
Vessell, the Expence of Raiseing & Saveing her and her Sails &c^a
and when they are to be paid for the Cargoes of the Fox and Naute-

February 6