242 Journal and Correspondence.

August 24
Liber No. 78
p. 367

Revenue, and public Monies and Tobacco, and the Demands and
Debts of Government. For what Purpose is he to consult them?
not merely to disregard their Opinion, and insult them, by pursuing
or adhering to a different System or Conduct from what they point
out; but we presume it was at least supposed by the Assembly that the
Executive were capable of judging what was most agreeable to law
and conducive to the public advantage, especially after they had
heard the Observations of the Intendant. We are at a Loss to
discover how the Exercise of these assumed Powers is incompatible
with the Office of Intendant, or will render it unnecessary, and will
be much obliged to the Intendant to be so condescending as to point
out in a plain and explicit Manner; for could we be convinced such
a Consequence would result, from our Interference, we would decline
the Exercise of Powers so offensive to the Intendant, and wait with
Patience for the numerous and important Benefits which the People
do, and have a Right to expect, and we are sensible might be pro-
duced by a judicious Management of the Office. Among many other
Reasons which might be urged to prove the Executive have a con-
trouling Power over the Intendant, we shall suggest only one, by way
of Question, which we think will have your Assent. Suppose a
Change of Circumstances, not disagreeable to the present Intendant,
should hereafter place a Man in Office, selfish, ambitious and alto-
gether inattentive to the public Interest, and he should, in the Recess
of the Assembly, in Stead of managing the Specifics, and public
Money according to Law, and for the Advantage of the State, waste
and pervert them to the Accomplishment of his own sinister Views ;
aught the Executive in such a Case, or in any Case similar to it, to
interpose their Authority and prevent him from acting a Part so
base and detrimental to the State? It would appear from your
Representation of our Letter to M^r Morris, the Copy of which he sent
to you, that we had actually agreed to dispose of Specifics at half
their Value, at all Events. Even if it were possible for you to be so
much mistaken, common Charity should have prompted you to tell
the whole Truth, and then you would have added our laudable
Motive for making so ruinous a Bargain. But Sir, we have it under
your Hand that you were not mistaken, and you well know that in
telling M^r Morris we would supply Money for the Transportation
of Cloathing to the southern Army, at a Time when that Army was
naked and in extreme Distress for Cloathing, " even if we were
obliged to sell Specifics at half their Value," we meant no more
than that he should have the Money, if it could be raised by no other
Means that the Sale of Specifics at the very low Prices then given.
You confess in your second Letter, tho you deny it in your first, that
you have setled with Col^o Rawlings for the Flour he received under

p. 368

his Contract, or naked Agreement, if you like it better, with this
Board. This Agreement was made in December last, for Flour at