Sir. Your favour of 14th is now before me the contents of which I note. you may be assured that I want no other indulgence in loading the Brig Friendship then others are intittled to by Similar contracts and without vanity can say that I can execute such business on equal terms with any other in Baltimore, but I wish not to sacrifice a commission in giving advanced prices above my limits, as am pretty certain has been the case with some since my writing to you last, I wonder my application has been the first to raise the price as I have been told by several that the Convention was wrote to on same head, but when I wrote you first, the matter was only beginning & that with people who were buying on some private acct & note, or that of the Convention, which disabled those employed by them from executing their commissions as the County people & millers will always sell to those who give them most; Nay some flour that I had bought two days ago, was taken from my door & given to another private buyer, who gave 1 3/ pr Ct for it, under such circumstances, the market is at present; & unless some order is taken therein to put a stop to private buyers it appears that the public must be empeaded. I did inform the Committee that I had engaged between 4 & 500 Barrs which was the case, but bad weather has I must suppose stoped the wagons; I have about 170 Barrs flour on board & the bread is ready but that must go in last, I shall go on with loading as fast as flour comes in, & follow your directions. I thought I could not do less then advise you in my former letter how matters were going on here, which is still the case this week I think must bring much flour in. I am sir [&c.]

Balto 16 Jany 1776.