January 1-December 31, 1781 583

P. S. The People are many of them Executed for their Tax while
I am indebted to them for Forage and my Certifycates for Forage
will not be Reced for Taxes, by either the Sheriff or Commissioners
the people are therefore much distressed though they have parted
with their property in Expectation of making payment for particu-
lars I refer you to M^r Williams

December 29
Red Book
No. 30
Letter 52

[Geo. P. Keeports, Baltimore, to Gov. Lee.]

May It please Your Excelly. I Hithertoo Omitted Acknowledging
the Receipt of Your Letter of the 8^th Inst, with the Tobacco notes
for 54 Hh^ds which I Received p^r M^r R. Ridgely since the Receipt
of which I have Done the Utmost in my Power to sell them for
Cash but Cannot Find a Purchasser. If the Tobacco Could be
brought to this Town there is many who would Purchase and It
would Command 17/6 to 20 / p C^t which at the Lowest Price is
5/ p C^t more then Can be got for the notes. The Tobacco notes
you were pleaS^td to Give me on Acco^t I have Sold for 12/6 p C^t
and no Allowance for the Casks. Yours of the 18^th & 19^th Inst.
I've Likewise Receiv^d and In Compliance with the Former have
Purchased 20 Ream of Paper for Printing the Laws and sent it to
M^r Fred^k Green, Fine paper I Could not Purchase without Paying
the money Down which I Cou'd not do as M^r Calhoun did not
Deliver me the Flour Imediately and Cannot sett a Time when he
will Deliver it I am at a Loss how to make Engagements for Pay^t
In Compliance with your Order of the 19^th Inst, have purchased the
Blankets Shoes and a Sufficiency of Cloth and Trimings for making
30 Suits Cloaths, Hats I've Likewise so Engaged which will be
Done Some Time next week. The Blankets and shoes I shall send
Down as soon as I Can get a Conveyance The Cloths I shall give
out Imediately and have them made up which with the Hats shall
be sent Down Next week
The whole of the purchases I have made Payable at Two and
three weeks Credit To Enable me to Comply with my Engagements
I Begg Your Excell^cy to Furnish me Imediately with Tobacco or
Flour to the Am^t of £300 or 400£ and Inform me If I may Take
12/6 p C^t for those notes I now have in hand

Baltimore Jan^ry 8^th 1782
May It Please Your Excell^cy I wrote the 29^th Ult^o and Informed
your Excellency of Compleating the Purchass of 30 suits Cloaths &c
and of the Terms on which I obtained Credit some of the first
Paym' because Due yesterday and I had Pledged myself for the
Punctual Payment was obliged to Borrow money to save my Credit
I shall be much obliged to your Excell^cy to Furnish me Imediately
with Tobacco or Flour (Flour will be the Readiest sale) to Enable
me to Comply with my Contracts — and Inform me If I may Sell
the Tobacco Notes I now have on hand at 12/6 p^r C^t

December 29
Red Book
No. 30
Letter 53
[Copy]