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L. H. J.
Liber No. 49
Dec. 12
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tained at Fort Frederick two Days, for which they are not to have any
Allowance. The Distance from Fort-Frederick to Fort-Cumberland,
by the Waggon Road, is Seventy-five Miles, or Five Days Journey ;
and for travelling this Distance, the Owner of every Waggon is to
receive the Sum of Three Pounds Two Shillings and Six-pence.
To unload at Fort-Cumberland, repair their Waggons (if Necessary)
and give their Horses Rest, we cannot allow them less than Two Days
more, for which likewise they would not be intitled to any Satisfac-
tion. For returning thence to Fort-Frederick light, at the Rate of Five-
pence a Mile, there is to be paid to each, One Pound Eleven Shillings
and Three-pence, and as they cannot leave this Convoy, Fifteen
Miles will be then also a Day's Journey; for going home from Fort-
Frederick, the Owners will receive Seventeen Shillings and Six-
pence; and as they will have nothing to fear from the Enemy after
they are come below Conococheague, they may travel these Forty-
two Miles in Two Days. According to this Calculation, the Waggons
will be from home Eighteen Days, and the Owner of each will receive
for the Hire of it, during that Time, Six Pounds Eight Shillings and
Nine-pence Currency, that is, Seven Shillings One Penny Three
Farthings and a Third a Day, for a Driver, a Boy, four Horses, and
a Waggon; a Sum that will scarcely find the Man and Boy with
Victuals, and the Horses with Provender. If any Waggon should
break down on the Road, the whole must be delayed till it can be
repaired, or it's Load must be divided among the others, which will
make them move heavily; for it is agreed to be more difficult for
four Horses to draw a Load of 1500 lb. Weight in the Roads above
Fort-Frederick, than a Load of Two Ton in the Roads on this Side
the Mountains: Some of the Horses may tire, and others may stray
from them in the Night and be lost, and many other Accidents may
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p. 178
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happen, which would be tedious to enumerate, but which should
have been considered when you were framing that Part of your Bill.
As you have been pleased to mention this same Bill to me in several
Addresses, I cannot help making this Remark, that if the whole is
agreeable to this Specimen, I am apt to think the Gentlemen who
declined passing it, will not find any great Difficulty in justifying
their Conduct.
If, Gentlemen, you shall upon more mature Consideration, resolve
to prepare another Bill to settle the Rates for Waggon Hire, in a
different Manner from that which was now proposed, I shall Hope
that you will likewise make a Provision for the Payment of the
Owners of such as it may be necessary to impress for carrying
Provisions or Military Stores to either of his Majesty's Forts within
this Province. This, I am sure, is the least Thing that our most
gracious Sovereign will expect from you, after the Professions
which you have so often made of the warmest Zeal for his Majesty's
Service, and your Declaration, that it would give you the greatest
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