Baltimore Octo[ber 7]—1777
Sir
the Barer Mr Jacobs1 Calls on you a Bout Canvis for a Galley2 from the Eastren Shore, Capt Cosey.3 Shee Wants Every thing that is Riging, the Carpenters Work is Nearly Done, But Must Bee hove Down Emedetly, for fear of the Worm, as the[y] have Been Bad With us this Sumer, But Smith Work a Bundance, and Every Other Nesery at this time Will amount to a Very Large Sum—
the Other three galleys Capt Mathews Davy4 and Walker5 are all Going Down this Day I Beleave, Mathews & Walker Saild yesterday after Noon, in as Good Order as the Times Will admit, for Sum Neseryes are Not to Bee had—
Capt Cosey Seems a industorous Man and I beleve Will Doe his Best But Every thing is Scarce and Many things Not to Bee had at Any Prise. I Must furnish the Black smiths With Iron at £100 Pr ton I have Advanst for the State Since I setteld Large Ods of a thousand Pounds to the Differant galleys for Smiths Bills Buchers Bills Block makers. Advance for Mens Wages Rum Whiskey Painter Neseryes for Ships use and &c So that I Must Beg you to Send Mee up a Order On the Tresury for 15 hundred or 2 thousand as I am Allways in a Large advance from My first Doing the Publick Busines but Once and then it Was But 300 Pounds from your Humble Servant
Jesse Hollingsworth
Please to Inclos a Order by Mr Jacobs as I Sopose the Tresury is Still at Elk Ridg Which Will Save Expence and Trouble from yours
L, MdAA, Maryland State Papers (Red Books), 4583-31. Addressed: "To/His Excellency Thos. Johnston Esqr./Annapolis." Docketed: 'Jesse Hollingsworth—/7 Octr. 1777."
1. William Jacob.
2. Maryland Navy galley Chester.
3. Thomas Coursey.
4. John David.
5. Commanders respectively of the galleys Independence, Conqueror, and Baltimore.
