8 Letters to the Governor and Council

January 7
Red Book
No. 28
Letter 77

sidered merely as a Prisoner of war and not as a rebel subject of
some one of the States, I have full Confidence that if he should be
indulged with a Parole, he would not violate it

January 7
Red Book
No. 28
Letter 78

[Jos Shoemaker, Baltimore goal to His Excellency Tho^s Lee]

May it please y^r Excellency I addreS^td a few lines to you the other
day on the Subject of my exchange, expecting they would have been
handed you by Capt. Murry; as he neglected calling on M^r Landen-
berger for the same, I presume they have not reached you.
I have been confin'd here a considerable time, as nothing has ap-
peared to alter my being a prisoner of War, I hope your Excellency
will allow an Exchange to take place. Excuse me ior saying I found
this hope in the knowledge I have, of their being a Number of
American Sea Officers in Maryland, who have been Paroled, in order
to their sending one of equal rank in their room.
Should your Excellency chuse to wait longer, in order to [see
wether] any of the Neighbouring States will chuse to send for me in
that case, I hope your Excellency will allow me a parole for this
Town & its vicinity, and I will give security if you request it, to
appear at your call.
Having an ancient Mother residing in the Town of Reading
Penns^a who I have not seen for some years, could I be indulged so
far as to be allowed to pay her a Visit — the singular favour shall be
remembred w^th Gratitude. And if my connections in N. York can
be of Service to any American Officers there, rest assured they shall
be used for them

January 8

[Tho^s Beall of Geo. for T. Richardson, George Town, to
His Excellency Tho. Sim Lee Esq^r.]

Your Favors of the 27^th & 30^th Decem^r last Directed to T. Rich-
ardson Esq^r of this place, came to hand the 4 & Inst. I am Sorry
to inform you that there is but little Pork or Beef to be bought
in this County the Season of the year being far Advanced to
make a purchace of these Kind of Provitions, be this as it may shall
do every thing that lays in my Power to procure as much of boath
as to be had, Agreable to your last orders will send the Beef I may
buy on the Hoof to M^r Geo. Murdock of Fre^k Town, for the use of
the Convention Troops, perhaps I shall be able to procure 15 or 20
in the Course of this week, & believe from the best information I
can get that there will not any more to be had, if that Quantity. I
have made the strictest enquiry about Pork, I cannot hear of more
than Between 3 or 4 M w^t for Sale — which shall engage the Refusal
tell I can possibly hear from you, the holders of Pork in this County,
woud sell for 6 of Gold at 90 exchange as there is very little Gold or
Silver sold here am at a loss to know what is the exchange, but am
informed to day by a Man from Baltimore that Pork is seling there