Wm. Grayson to the Governor

A judgement had been rendered against the Sheriff of the County for £ 692. . for arrears of taxes of 1783. He urges the relief of that officer, on the grounds that he was in no way to be blamed for this deliquency. It was due to the extreme scarcity of corn, and poverty of a people who, up to that time, had cheerfully met every demand made upon them by the Government.

letter to London 1785.....there is a regular stage which passes thrice every week, it is neither the best nor the worst of its kind......April to December.....travel from Richmond.....to Boston......ten or twelve days

Application will be made at the next General Assembly for an Act for opening a road the most direct and convenient route from the pass of the Blue Ridge of Mountains at Ashby's through the counties of Fauquier and Prince William to the town of Dumfries.

Advertisement of about 250 acres in Prince William County on Quantico about 3 miles from Dumfies, lately possessed by Mr. Thomas Masterson sold at Mr. M'Daniel's tavern in Dumfries on 7 November.

47. A Bill for Establishing Public Ferries

Vol II p.454.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that ferries be constantly kept, at the places hereafter mentioned, and at the rates annexed to each ferry; that is to say.

             Over the BAY of CHESAPEAK.                   Man     
 Horse
From Boyd's Hole to same [Nanjamy creek]         2/6p.     2/6p.

From Cook's,in Stafford, to Kenedy's in Maryland  2s/         2s/

From George Brett's, in Prince William, to           1/6p.      
1/6p.
  Chamberlayne's, in Maryland,
From Triplett's land, below Quantico creek,          1/6p.      
1/6p.
  to Brooks's, in Maryland,                    
From Posey's, in Fairfax, to Marshall's, in              1s/      
    1s/
  Maryland,                                    

When he left Alexandria, on the 3d instant, he did not know that under new Law he was required to give to the Solicitor at Richmond his . bonds for duties remaining unpaid. He should not be able to do this ' until the last of March, as he should be obliged to return by Yeocomico to Alexandria.

Continues: haveing seen in the Gazette the law of the last Session amending the port Law also sundry laws imposing port duties and having in my possession the late naval office law, I find myself in doubt as to some matters, what I ought to do, and therefore shall take the liberty of submitting them to your consideration that I may receive instructions." Is a vessel belonging to citizens of Virginia wholly, and a vessel under 60 tons belonging to Maryland, exempt trom tonnage of 2s and also 6d., light money? I think they are.

If a ship from Sea be entered in North Potomack, may she be entered with my deputy at Alexandria, according to the last port law, if belonging to foreigners or citizens ? It seems as if this might not be done, and unless permitted, the merchants of Alexandria will he subject to great inconvenience. Indeed, I will not omit to observe, that the laws respecting trade of the last Session will introduce many embarrassments and conveniences with respect to the naval office business, and thereby diminish the revenue arising from duties. To enter a ship at one place, deliver the cargo at another, and bring it up in river craft, exposed to accidents of various kinds. to a third place to be there sold, is a system in general not to be executed without great loss of time, money and trouble on the part of the merchants. Its operation upon trade will be to drive it from the Commonwealth elsewhere; and this effect will be sensibly felt in Potowmack, as the merchants will find it their interests to do their business in Maryland. One of two modes must be adopted with regard to entry of their ships by the Alexandria merchants, either ordinally at Yeocomico, or at Georgetown, in Maryland, and from thence with the deputy at Alexandria. This latter will be preferred, because, the invoices not being in the master's power, a ship must after arrival remain at Yeocomico until a messenger can go and return from Alexandria or Dumfries, a detention too expensive. At Yeocomico a master will be at a loss for sureties to secure the duties. The law of Maryland allows a full drawback upon exportation, and the merchants are convenient to Georgetown.

Should this mode prevail, the tonnage of the Potowmack trade will be almost wholly paid to Maryland. I am told Yeocomico was made the port of entry to prevent smuggling This effect cannot in any manner follow, because, by the compact law, any vessel may proceed up the river without stopping at my office, and as she passes up may smuggle now in the same manner as she might under the former law; but the Legislature are, I conceive, mistaken in the ideas they have had concerning this kind.... ..........

John Bondfield to the Governor of Virginia

Enclosing invoice, Inspector's certificate, and bill of lading for sixty three cases of arms, shipped by order of Thomas Jefferson, Esq'r. on account of the State of Virginia, p'r ship Sally, bound to Dumfries, or any other Port more convenient to the Arsenal.

Friday 27th Merc.  50.........63...........58 night
                             Saturday 28         
51.........72...........58
                             Sunday 29            
58...........74
                             Monday 30            
58...........74

Alexander Henderson to the Lieutenant Governor

Informing him of the arrival at Quantico the day before, the ship Sally, from Bordeaux, bringing sixty odd chests of arms for the State, &c, &c

Monday 22 December, 1788.
The Carriage returned from Dumfries without Mrs. Washington and others for which it went, but was obliged to head Occoquan on account of the ice which had impeded the passage.