Philadelphia Apl. 2d. 1781
Sir
Mr Carroll and I wrote to your Excellency and the Honorable Council by last post,1 requesting a Supply of one thousand Dollars each of the new Emission, but at the present Exchange, I find that Sum Will be insufficient to answer my Immediate purposes. The Exchange between gold and silver, and the Emissions of the 18th March, Issued by the State of Maryland, is as 40 to 140, so that one silver Dollar is equal to three and a half. I must therefore request that my Sum may be increased to fifteen hundred Dollars for Which I Will be Accountable at the Exchange that may be Settled by the state.2
The Marquis Delafyette Writes from Williamsburgh of the 26th Ult.3 That the Whole British fleet put out to Sea on the Morning of the 24th and return’d again With a number of Transports (Supposed to be from New York) on the 25th - it is said these Transports had 2000 Troops on Board. These Joined with the Army under Arnold it is feared Will do great Mischief. I have inclosed you a hand Bill Containing an Account of the Action of the 15th and of the Killed, Wounded And Missing of the Continentals - by the return from the DA General We also lost of the Militia 97 Killed and Wounded officers included and missing 846 privates Supposed to be gone home. The Riffle regiments Commanded by Campbell and Lynch had 224 Killed and Wounded, officers included.
I have the honor to be with great Esteem & Regard, Your Excellencys & Honors most humble Sert,
John Hanson
Receiver’s copy, Maryland State Papers (Red Books), Maryland Hall of Records Commission, Annapolis.
1 See Maryland Delegates to Lee, March 27, 1781.
2 For the approval of this request, see Maryland Delegates to Lee, March 13, 1781, note.
3 For Lafayette’s letter of March 25, not 26, see Abraham Clark to Elias Dayton, April 1, 1781, note