January 1-December 31, 1781 543

on paying their Assessment with the Money due them for their Cattle
and if Certificates was granted for that purpose there could be no
Allowance made for the fifth Quarter the Balance supposed to be
Seventeen or Eighteen hundred pounds if it is in your power I shall
Esteem it favor you would send the Money over as soon as possable

November 7
Red Book
No. 27
Letter 151

[Peter Chaille, Commis W[orcester] C[ounty], to Gov. Lee.]

I have sent the Horses that I have Collected according to order^s.
I have Collected four Hundred and forty Beef Cattle have Slaugh-
tered, by order of Col^o Ephraim Blain C: G. Purchases, three Hun-
dred and thirty Six, Beef Cattle I have one Hundred and four on
hand, which I am Feeding Lightli, to keep them in order, as ouer
Pasture is geting Very Short shall be glad to have sum directions
Respecting them Col^o Blain has directed me not to send the Beef
forward that I slaughterd, Last, which I have taken from on Board
the Vessel, and shall save it According to Col: Blains Orders, in the
best maner I Can, he Informs me that Part of the Cattle I have on
hand will not be Wanted Until next Summer, if So I think it will
be best to desist from, Collecting aney more, then what will be paid
in discharge of Taxes you will pleas to give me direction here to
Proceed, as I have no Salt, pleas to direct me whether I must Pur-
chase, aney or not, and what Quantity, at the same time I shall
want money to pay for it, as their will be a Large Quantity of Pork
paid in discharge of Taxes this winter, the Salt had better be pro-
cured in time.
P. S. if the Cattle Shuld be slaughter'd, this winter think they
had better, be slaughterd at this Place as they will decline much in
driving, and the Expence of Transportation much Cheaper by
Wayter then by Land, Pleas to give me Order^s by the Bearer as I
shall be at a Loss to know how to Conduct Myself

November 8

[Rich'd Dallam, Harford County, to Gov. Lee.]

I am inform'd by M^r John Stump that the Books and papers, I
seized and sent down to Your Excellency last Winter are not yet
returnd him and that he is a sufferer thereby.
In justice to M^r Stump I must inform your Excellency that On
the receipt of the warrant to Apprehend John Stump of Harford I
should not have taken this John Stump if the other could been found

but its the warrant did not pcrticularly describe Either I thought it

my duty to take the one in my Power.
I have been acquainted with M^r Stump for some time & was con-
cern'^l with him in the purchase of a Tract of Land of M^r Harrison
which the Lowness of my Finances obliged me to sell out during my
Acquaintance with M^r Stump I can with truth say that I never had
reason but, to think that he was a friend to the Independence of

November 8