January 1-December 31, 1781 563

consequence of your order of the 30^th August) and if any is to be
had, that you will be pleased to forward by a safe hand as soon as
possible such sum as your Excellency & Honours may think meet,

December 6
Red Book
No. 30
Letter 51

[Eph. Blaine, C. G. P., Philad^a, to Colo Hollingsworth]

Your favour of the 28^th Instant came safe to hand and am sorry
its not in my power to furnish you with salt for the purpose of salting
what Beef Cattle there remains upon hand. Governments are still
In debt a large quantity and you must make application to them for
what may be necessary for the above purpose

November 30
Red Book
No. 30
Letter 49

[Pat Sim Smith, Calvert County, to Gov. Lee.]

I have delivered 149 Beef Cattle at George Town and 27 at Fred-
ericks Town, and have the Quarter Masters and Commissarys re-
ceipt for them.
My whole collection will amount to Two hundred & I believe a
few over including Seventeen sent first to Annapolis, and a few
that would not drive, One of which I delivered yesterday to a de-
tachment of Continental Troops, who were on their march thro,
this county to the Northward and were in want of provisions, & two
were left in the drove & have since strayed from the places they were
left at. However I will endeavour to have them found and taken
care of with any others that may remain untill they are Called for.
I have not as yet an Exact Account of the whole collection, but
on a rough Calculation think that the whole Beef will amount to
upwards of £1400. and as I had your directions to pay the Collec-
tors and Drivers Accounts, which together with pasturage for the
Cattle, have proved more Considerable than I expected owing to
the depreciation of the money (especially the last drove sent to
Frederick Town) I find I shall want about £ Three hundred pounds
to pay up the balances now due for the Beef & hope I may be Imme-
diately furnished with it, as the people are in want of it to pay their
assessments, and I gave them assurance they should be paid. I am
also very anxious to close my purchase and render a General Ac-
count of the whole. I must beg leave to assure you that I have been
as saving of the publick money as circumstances would admit, and
flatter myself my Accounts will be' as moderate as any others, con-
sidering the Situation of the County, (most of the Cattle being in
the Lower part of it) and the distance we had to drive them, with
many difficulties attending it.
Should no opportunity offer sooner, Hope the money will be sent
me by the Post as I am daily pressed for it.
A large Quantity of wheat has been received for this falls Tax.
the wheat at Col^o Fitzhughs Mill, he has engaged to furnish Bar-
rells for, but the remainder with a great deal of the last Springs

December 6
Red Book
No. 27
Letter 157