January 1-December 31, 1781 531

[Chas. Blake, Corsica, to His Ex: Tho^s S: Lee Esq^r]
(p^r M^r Middleton)

By M^r Middleton I send to Col^o Blaine 17729 pounds of Beef
Salted as order'd I wish to have Vessels as soon as possible to
send off the rest, as they are growing worse. I have 3 large odd of
three hundred head, have sent off 55 head by Middleton; as soon as
the hurry is over I shall do myself the pleasure to wait on y^r Ex :
with my Acc^ts but cannot spare time at present
[P. S.] No Vessels to be had here I wish you'd order Vessels as
soon as possible.

October 23

[H. Hollingsworth, Head of Elk, to His Excellency, Thomas S.
Lee, Esqr, In Council.]

And please your Excell^y and Honours. Your Several Letters I
have been honored with, am very unhappy that I have not had it
more in my power to comply with that of the 24^th of September,
wherein you request me to have the several requisitions of your
Honorable Board Executed, and to make a return of the quantity
the Several County Commissaries have a certainty of procuring in a
short time.
As to the latter I flatter myself we shall be able and willing to com-
ply with the requisitions of your Excellency & Honors, but to say
how soon depends on the event of providence large quantitys of
wheat is collected and collecting, but the want of water to Manufac-
ture it in the lower Countys, or Vessels to bring it here retards the
execution of your orders, and could it be brought here, our streams
are now the lowest they ever were in the memory of the oldest man,
of course many Mills not able to work, I have given orders to the
Several Commissaries to use their utmost exertions and have given
them all the powers to impress Vessels waggons &c that you were
pleased to Honor me with, and have earnestly Intrusted that they
make me returns of the quantity they have a certain prospect of ob-
taining in a short time, which I doubt not they will do as soon as in
their power, but it is a work of some time. I look on it we are
obliged to comply with the requisition as soon as possible, the quan-
tity of flour I have been able to deliver since the first of September
is about one thousand Barrels at this Post Exclusive of about 200
Delivered at Xteen and Phila^da apart of which I have borrowed and
am paying, and to pay for in wheat, I have been obliged lately to en-
gage to give wheat at Market price and to receive Common Flour
at 16/8 p C^t the common Flour thus received has the Midlings in it
(but not the Ship Stuff) I have now six Mills in this County going
on in this way, and could I get wheat enough sent me could do a
great deal, though am prodiguouly pushed for money to buy Casks,

October 23
Red Book
No. 30
Letter 45