|
August 30
Red Book
No. 26
Letter
No. 87
|
if enquirey was order'd it might easily be made Appear, Mr Gibson
being a Public Officer & well acquainted with our situation as to
provisions I had not the least thought that he wld deceive me in
regard to the delivery of the flour I often askd for it & as often
had his promise to finish the grinding as soon as possible and on
the very day I heard of his sendg the flour and as I was with him
&: had his Promise to deliver the flour & that 100 Barrels was then
ready. When he sent the flour off I stoped the Vessel till he agreed
[hat the flour should be sent to Mr Smith in Bait, as flour seized by
me & returnd him, for flour he was under Contract with Hutson for
This flour was deliverd by the Skipper to Mr Smith as my flour, but
he could not obtain any receipt for it & Mr Smith I am told is paying
Hutson for it at the present Price 2of upwards higher then it w'd
have cost had he received it as seized flour not having Power to
seize the flour I could do nothing more then I did Altho, I could
prove it was actually made of my wheat. I have been so much en-
gaged of late with other Business that it was not in my Power to
be so attentive to that Otherwise the Public should not have lost the
flour.
With reluctence & sorrow I say I meet with but few People Who
are not taking every advantage of the Public they can I have been
most Raskelly imposed on with recruits & Deserters it was impossi-
ble to know the deseption till too late.
Several Deserters Who I can not get apprehendd for any reward
I can offer are through their Friends applying to get the Liberty
of Procuring Substitutes by them to get discharged Last evening
I was offerd 100 Bushels of wheat to get a discharge for one Who
will not be taken. If your Excellency thinks Proper to allow me
liberty to make terms I shall use it only for the good of the State
And I cannot help recommending some such plan as the public will
get something by it & be no looser for were those men to be taken
they wld be of little use at Camp
I shall use my best endeavours to procure what provision I can
but the Business must be attendd with considerable expense I must
have assistants to ride through the County & I know not what I
may be allowed. I sent round the County to buy salted meat &
could obtain none, that Business cost me a sum that may be thought
extravagant.
I am so convinced that nothing can be done without Cash that I
think it time wasted to attempt it. Wheat I Expect will be bought
in for the 15 p Ct Tax & if Your Excellency could order to this
County 400 or 500 Bushels Salt to be exchanged for wheat it wld
be better then Cash. I am sorry to trouble your Excellency with so
long a Letter especially as its to little purpose.
|
|