Baltimore 27th Feb : 1777
Sir
We advisd you the 11th Instant of the Arrival of Capt [Elna than] Holmes & Captn [Ichabod] Morton, and of Captn Hammonds Vessel being put into Pungoteege on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. — We likewise wrote the 24th by Captn Samuel Arnold of the Schooner Edward who has on board Eight Tons of Pig Iron for your Board.2
We have now the Satisfaction of informing you that We have received certain Advice from Virginia of the Enemys Ships of War having sailed out of the Bay a few days agoe. In consequence of which we expect Captn Hammonds Schooner up with first fair Wind. — We had no doubt that the Enemy were come with the Intention of making a permanent Stay in Our Bay, therefore we had determined not to load Captn Holmes & Captn Morton untill we saw an Alteration. We are now loading the former & will have him ready to Sail tomorrow. Captn Mortons Vessel was taken into the Transport Service to carry some Troops which were sent from hence about ten days ago to quel an Insurrection of the Tories on the Eastern Shore of this State. She is not yet return'd: But as the Ringleaders of that Faction are seized, we expect the Schooner back shortly, when She shall be loaded & dispatchd. Captn Holmes thinks his Vessel cant carry more than 3 or 4 Tons of the Pig Iron without any Bar Iron — The Masters of those small Vessels are averse to loading deep at this blowing Season of the Year, therefore fear you will be disappointed in getting the Pigg Iron carried so speedily as you expected We are Sir [&c.]
P. S. Whatever Advances are necessary for Loading any of the Vessels that come from your Board shall be made, not doubting you will speedily reimburse Us. — As we have had a great many Vesls in Port for some time past & they are now nearly all loaded, We hope Flour may soon be more reasonable: But at any Rate shall take Care to have a Quantitv laid in, so as to dispatch any of your Vessels that appear. — If your Board intend to have any Vessels loaded with Tobo for Europe, previous Notice woud be requisite to purchase such Cargoes, wh must be a Work of time. And they shoud come with Liberty to be orderd into any River in this State or Virga where the Cargoe may be purchasd — This for yr Goverment. — What of the Sugars & Rum is come to hand, we have sold, the former from 160/ to 200/ P Ct the latter at 22/6 to 25 / p Gall
S & R Purviance
