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Supposing that Congress should require a Guard of us we should rather engage a few Men for a Constancy if to be had than go this Militia Detail. We wish you to inform us whether this may not be done.

I am Sir,

your Obed. Hbbl, Serv.

Indorsed,

March 14, 1781.

Directed,

Col. A. Hubley.

Sir,

PRES. REED TO MONS. HOLKER, 1781.

My Indisposition last Week prevented my sending you the inclosed Memorandum of the particulars which were the Subject of Discussion last Fall in the Council & by which we apprehended the Interest of the State & its inhabitants & the necessary Harmony of publick Business to be material affected. The Change of Circumstances by taking off the Embargo & some other particulars have made farther Discussion less necessary for future Government than it would otherwise have been, but as we are disposed to attend to any Explanations you may think proper to give, the several Matters are stated for your Information & Consideration. I am Sir,

Indorsed,
March 14, 1781.

your most Obet Hbble Serv.

Hr. Holker being Agent of the French Marine & Ships arriving with Merchandize to his Care & Direction which by the Laws of the States should have been reported at the Custom House & of which notice was given to Mr. Holker first by the Naval Officer & after Report by him of neglect by the President of the State, & an assurance given on the Part of Mr. Holker that all necessary Steps should be taken the same was finally omitted & the Vessels sailed again without any Regard to the Laws of the State in this particular. By Mr. Holkers going to the Office with Capt. Ethcart upon his arrival, & promising a Compliance with the Law as well as by the Nature of his Office as Agent, it is presumed Mr. Holker should done the Business himself or used effectual Measures to have had it done by Capt. Ethcart.

Secondly. When Commissioner appointed by the Assembly made

a Tour thro the State last Fall, great Complaints were made by the Inhabitants of the frontier Townships in Berks County, that Persons employed under some Contract with the Consul of France cutting Masts on the Waters of Schuylkill had brought the Depredations of the Indians on their settlements, occasioned a Call of Militia of 300 Men & thereby brought an Expence on the State of at least £1000. Whether these Masts were cut on the vacant Lands of the State or private Property does not appear. But it is apprehended to be wrong in two Respects.

1. That Masts of a particular Size have in America ever been deemed not mere Private Property even when growing on private Soil, but a Property in which the publick was interested, suitable Masts being an Article of great national Concern & hence before the Revolution Masts above were seizable if found in private Possession & the Lands having been located under this Reservation it may be reasonably questioned whether the Right is not vested in the State. Mr. Smith, now Loan Officer was formerly Deputy Ranger under Gov Wentworth for the Purpose of procuring the publick Property in Masts in this State.

Secondly. The probable & natural Tendency this Business would have to distress the Inhabitants by raising so distinguished an Object of attention to the Enemy & the Savages their allies which would have made it reasonable to have had the Countenance of publick Authority.

Thirdly. The improper use made of the Priviledge granted Mr. Holker as Agent of the French Marines to export Flour out of this State under the late Embargo Law, it being represented to the Council that Mr. Holker after purchasing Flour has sold it again to Merchants having Vessels bound to the West Indies transferring to them in that Case the Privilege of Exportation for private Emoluments-the Facts as represented being that Mr. Holker sold the Flour at an advanced price of the Market here laying the Exporter under an Obligation to offer it to the government of the French Island, but if either this Defect of Quality or Difference of Price it was not taken, the Merchant then having the Priviledge to dispose of it as he thought proper-Mr. Holker in this Case accompanying the Flour with the Passport of the State obtained under the Indulgence afforded by Law to Flour shipped for the immediate use of his Christian Majesty's Army & Navy.

Fourthly. The Representation given by Genl. Arnold in his Papers of Mr. Holker's Concern in the Sloop Active then in Dispute with their State has been since explained by the Minister to Satisfaction.

RESOLUTION OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY, 1781.

State of Pensilvania, In General Assembly, March 14th, 1781.

A Letter from His Excellency the President in Council, respecting the Convention Prisoners ordered into this State, was, read & likewise an Extract of a Letter from the Board of War, accompanying the same.

Ordered, That they be referred to Mr. Lowrey, Mr. Moses McClean, & Mr. Smycer, to confer with the supreme executive on the subject matter thereof.

Extract from the minutes,

SAMUEL STERETT, Clerk.*

PRES. REED TO AUDITORS OF BUCKS Co. 1781.

Gentlemen,

The Persons mentioned in the enclosed List complain that you have refused to settle with them for their Depreciation altho' they have regularly discharged the Service. We have therefore directed them to return to you for settlement which we desire you to make with them unless some extraordinary Reason should intervene which in this Case would have you communicate to us. Col. Proctors Threats & Conduct towards these Men if truly represented to us is very displeasing, & the more as there have been several Complaints of Col. Proctor of the like Kind, & he promised more Care & attention in future.

As the settlement is conducted under your Direction we expect you will not suffer others to interfere in the Matter but exercise your own Judgement, protect all those who come for Settlement from any rough Treatment by their officers, & we direct Rations to issue a convenient Time to all such Soldiers as apply for settlement. I am Gent.

Indorsed,

March 15, 1781.

Your Obed. Hbbe.

* See Col. Rec., Vol. XII., p. 660.

Sir.

AUDITORS TO PRES. REED, 1781

Yellow Springs March 15th, 1781

We have met with nothing extraordinary in our business as yet. The troops were at this place and it would have been convenient to have had them removed to Downings town; we therefore agreed to meet them here, leaving public notice that any who attended there might know where we were gone. There is but one officer here viz. Major Hamilton of the 2nd, who has been a prisoner. The time allowed is much too short to execute the business in, we are at it night and day, There is one Sunday in the time for next post which must be taken for business and the time here made so much the longer. The pay-master Gen. must furnish the advances to the regiments before any thing can be done at Lancaster, there are some Officers of the 2nd, Coming up immediately, if those papers and they from the Aud. General are ready should think it a good conveyance.

Directed,

We have the Honor to be with respect,

Sir your most obed. Humble Servt.

JNO. NICHOLSON,

JOHN HANNUM,

JNO. BEATON.

His Excellency Joseph Reed, Esqr., President of the State of Pennsyleania.

Sir,

favour of Capt Pearson.

Gov. OF MARYLAND TO PRES. REED, 1781.

In Council, Ann', 16 March, 1781.

We are informed by his Excellency Governor Jefferson, that the Convention Troops and those taken at the Cowpens, were at Winchester on the 12th Instant, on their March to Lancaster, agreeable to an Order of Congress of the 34 Instant. As we apprehend those Troops are by this time at Knowland's Ferry, the point from whence they are to be under the direction of this State, and must proceed in a few Days; We thought it necessary to communicate these circumstances to your Excellency, that measures may be adopted to supply them with Provision as soon as they arrive in Pennsylvania. We are so circumscribed by the Quantities of Provisions furnished the Detachment under the Marquis, that it will be with difficulty we can subsist them to your borders.-The prisoners from this State ordered to York Town, will also proceed in a few Days, about 800 British; the number from Virginia we cannot ascertain.

His Ex'y Jos. Reed, Esq.

THOS. S. LEE.

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