Committee of Congress to Thomas Sim Lee

When Count de Estaing, Some time past, was hourly Expected from the Southward in want of provisions, our Magazines being then low, and the Commissary of purchases unable At Once to furnish the Supply that would be probably wanted for our own Army and the Count, Mr Holkers Agents, in Concurrence with the Governor of Maryland took Measures to procure 8,000 Barrels of flour in your State of which the Commttee of Congress was informed & did approve as being necessary at that time, but being Since told that there is great reason to Suspect that Certain persons being actually or pretendedly Agents for Mr Holker have Made large purchases of flour beyond the quantity aforesd and by creating a Competition & outbiding our Commissaries, have greatly inhanced the price of flour, and retarded those Supplies which are necessary for the Subsistance of our Army, we request your Excellency’s attention to this affair, and that proper enquiry be made and that all the flour purchased by any person whatever except the Complement of Eight thousand barrels aforesd. & of 4,000 before in Mr Smiths hands for Mr. Holker be turned over to the Commissary Genl. of purchases, as the only Channel through which Supplies for our army & our allys can in futur be regularly obtained and delivrd that hereafter no purchases of flour on publc account be allowed in your State but by the Commissary General & his Deputies and we refer you to Col. Blain for more particular Information on this head.

Per order of the Comttee of Congress on the Comsy. & Qur Mstr Generals departments,

your Excellencys most obedt humble Servant,

Jesse Root Chairman