54 Letters to the Governor and Council

February 6

lus, and what Compensation the State will make the owners for the
Depreciation on the money advanced for the two Cargoes; Gold was
then 85 and is now above 100 for 1. We wish not that Gold should
be the Standard of the Value of our Paper money, but as its so
Esteemed not only by the far greater Part of the People, but also by
the Legislature and we have many Contracts payable in Specie we
must sink the Difference between the Price of Gold at the time we
advanced the Currency to Purchase the Flour and the Price of that
Article at this day, unless the Government will make the Currency
it owes us, of the Value when advanced If the Gov^r & Council can-
not agree to make up the Depreciation we would take the Sugars in
our Hands in Payment at £6 p C^t and New State money for the
Residue and if the whole cannot be paid we would wish that the
State would agree to pay the Balance in New State money

February 6

[Patrick Hamilton, Cecil County, to Gov. Lee]

Your Excellency's Order dated the 24^th Ult^o in favor of M^r
William Mackey for seven hundred and nine pounds fourteen shil-
lings and nine pence of the new emission, was lately presented to me
for payment by M^r W. Mackey, but as it is drawn on the western
shore Treasurer, I was fearful of discharging it, least the Treasurer
of the Eastern Shore would not discount it with me. A Letter from
your Excellency, either to the Treasurer of the Eastern Shore or to
me to pay the above Order will greatly oblidge M^r Mackey. If not he
will certainly be greatly distressed by those of whom he purchased
Horses.

February 6

[Sam'1 Purviance, Jun'r, Baltimore, to His Excellency,
Thomas Sym Lee, Esqr.]

Captain Murray being very solicitous to find a Prisoner exchange-
able for himself, I beg leave to trouble you with a Letter which I
sometime ago received from Presd^l Reed of Pensyl^a in answer to a
Letter which I wrote him at the desire of M^r Lindenberger concern-
ing a Captⁿ Shoemaker & a M^r Steinmets who are confined in the
Prison of this Town & who M^r Lindenberger supposed to be Sub-
jects of Pensylv^a & consequently amenable to its Laws. As I under-
stand that you have refused to exchange Shoemaker: I conceived it
might proceed from the same opinion that he was subject to the Laws
of Pensylv^a However that may be, I am inclined to think from the
tenor of President Reeds Letter that he does not wish to be troubled
with the Fellow. — Shoud there appear to you Sir no other objection
against exchanging Shoemk^r than what I have conjectured, I hope
you will consent to his being exchanged for Captⁿ Murray, for whose
Liberty I am much interested, both from Personal Regard to his
merit, and from the consideration of his being Captivated in our
Employment.