It may perhaps be necessary to say something of the Charge of Horse hire in the last Article. When I left Watertown in September '75, two Horses were deliverd to me out of the publick Stable for my self & my Servant, by Order of Honbl Council. They were very poor when I took them and both tired on the Road as you will see in my Account. One of them afterwards died in Philadelphia, which obligd me to purchase another in that place, and with this Horse I returnd to Boston last Fall. His being my own Property, having purchasd him without Charge to my Constituents, I think gives me a just Right to make a Charge of Horse Hire, which is left to be carried out in a reasonable Sum. Mr A says he is obligd to allow seven pounds 10 s for the Hire of each of his Horses to Philadelphia.
I shall take it as a favor if you will present the Account to the Honbl House, and acquaint the Committee to whom it may be referrd, with the Reasons of the Charges above mentiond, and make any other Explanations which you may judge necessary. Mrs A has the Vouchers, to whom I beg you would apply for them in Person before you present the Account. I wish it may be settled as soon as the House can conveniently attend to it. If an Allowance for my Services is considerd at the same time, you will please to be informd that I sat off from Lexington or Worcester on the 26th of April '75 and returnd on the 14 of August following. And again I sat off from Watertown on the 1st of Sept '75 and returnd to Boston on the 27th of August '76.
I have troubled you with this Epistle of Horse hire and Shop
Goods at a Time when, no Doubt, your Attention is called to
Affairs of the greatest Concern to our Country. Excuse me, my
dear Friend for once, and be assured that I am your affectionate,
TO WALTER STEWART.
[MS., Samuel Adams Papers, Lenox Library.]
BALTIMORE Feb 12 1777
SIR
I receivd by Mr Babcock, your Letter dated Lebanon Jany 23, communicated the same to the Committee and afterward laid it before Congress. The Price of the Cannon at Salisbury1 so much exceeds that at which it is set in a Contract enterd into by Congress with the Owners of a Foundery in this State, that Congress have thought proper not to allow it, but have directed the Committee to request Governor Trumbull to lend them, to be returnd or others in Lieu of them as soon as possible. The Come have written accordingly; and I think it necessary to give you Notice of the Sense of Congress relating to the Price of Cannon as early as possible, that you may govern yourself thereby in your further Execution of your Commission. I am &c
_________________________________________________________________ 1Connecticut.