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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from Peter Mallett and Daniel Mallett to Richard Caswell
Mallett, Peter, 1744-1805; Mallett, Daniel
April 01, 1777
Volume 11, Pages 439-440

PETER & DANIEL MALLETT TO GOV. CASWELL.
[From Executive Letter Book.]

Wilmington, 1st April 1777

May it please your Excellency:

We have furnished the greatest part of the Troops which have been at this place since the 10th Nov. last, as also to & from the line of South Carolina, but as the price of provisions are now become so high, we find that the price allowed us does not answer: & we must become losers: we therefore beg leave to resign our commissions, if we can not have a larger sum allowed, & hope no time will be lost in appointing some other Gentlemen in our stead. In the meantime, your Excellency may depend that we supply as usual, but that we should expect a greater allowance than 10 d. pr. rations. Upon the nearest calculation we find that we can not furnish rations for a less sum than 12½ d or 13 d, unless we put off the soldiers with fair food only (as some of our Commissaries does). We will still continue, provided these prices meet with the approbation of your Excellency & the House of Assembly. Should this be the case, we could wish some more regular mode may be fallen on for us to receive our payments, than as at present. We are obliged to be very largely in advance in order to keep up a good

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stock of provisions, & we have found it extremely difficult even to get money when actually become due by vouchers. It is our opinion that the State ought to be in advance from £1000 to 1500 at least to every Regiment, & that we ought to draw our money pr. vouchers either monthly or Quarterly. We can also inform your Excellency that we have at least £7000 value in provisions on hand, which we will dispose of either to the State, or such Commissaries as may take our places.—We shall in a few days forward our accompts with this State. We are

Your Excellency's most obed't servants,
PETER & DANIEL MALLETT.
To His Excellency Richard Caswell.