Page:Memoir, correspondence, and miscellanies, from the papers of Thomas Jefferson - Volume 1.djvu/203

 187

send you what lies convenient to the southern boundary, in which neighborhood, the crops have been much abridged by a flood in Roanoke. We have no rice. Rum and other spirits, we can fur nish to a greater amount than you require, as soon as our wagons are in readiness, and shall be glad to commute into that article some others which we have not, particularly sugar, coffee and salt. The vinegar is provided. Colonel Finnic promised to furnish to Colonel Muter, a list of the spades, hoes, &c. which could be fur nished from the Continental stores. This list has never yet come to hand. It is believed, the Continental stores here, will fall little short of your requisition, except in the article of axes, which our shops are proceeding on. Your information of September 24th, as to the quality of the axes, has been notified to the workmen, and will, I hope, have a proper effect on those made hereafter. Application has been made to the courts, to have the bridges put in a proper state, which they have promised to do. We are en deavoring again to collect wagons. About twenty are nearly finished at this place. We employed, about three weeks ago, agents to purchase, in the western counties, a hundred wagons and teams. Till these can be got, it will be impossible to furnish any thing from this place. I am exceedingly pleased to hear of your regulation for stopping our wagons at Roanoke. This will put it in our power to repair and replace them, to calculate their returns, provide loads, and will be a great encouragement to in crease their number, if possible, as their departure hence will no longer produce the idea of a final adieu to them.

Colonel Senf arrived here the evening before the last. He was employed yesterday and to-day, in copying some actual and accu rate surveys, which we had had made of the country round about Portsmouth, as far as Cape Henry to the eastward, Nansemond river to the westward, the Dismal Swamp to the southward, and northwardly, the line of country from Portsmouth by Hampton and York, to Williamsburg, and including the vicinities of these three last posts. This will leave him nothing to do, but to take drawings of particular places, and the soundings of such waters as he thinks material. He will proceed on this business to-morrow, with a letter to General Nelson, and powers to call for the attend ance of a proper vessel.

I suppose, that your drafts in favor of the quarter master, if attended with sixty days grace, may be complied with to a cer tain amount. We will certainly use our best endeavors to .an swer them. I have only to desire that they may be made paya ble to the quarter master alone, and not to the bearer. This is to prevent the mortification of seeing an unapprised individual taken