6 Correspondence of Governor Sharpe.

Calver
Papers

I have not amongst the Offices to be applyed as above,
named either the County Clerks, or the Attorney Generals
Deputys in the several Counties ; the only reason why is
because I am informed the former, the people will not trust
with a Seat there, altho' as soon as they get their Comissions
(tho' during pleasure) they generally claim to hold them
during good behaviour, & so consider themselves as indepen-
dant of the Goverment & some of them as well as their whole
familys & Relations, act accordingly (Q^re if fast friends to the
Goverment) and as to the Attorney Generals Deputys as they
must be Lawyers (of whom neither are the people in General
very fond) it is therefore for the Interest of his Lord^p & the
Goverment that they be appointed out of the most able of
those who will accept those Comissions, without expecting
any Influence from them over any part of the proceedings of
the Lower House, tho' those Cornissions (inconsiderable as I
am informed they now are) have always the good Effect of
fixing those who do accept them, however waivering before,
fast friends to the Goverment (To this plan of Gratuity of
Honourable purpose may be added the Benefices to their
Relations & Sons; Besides other offices not mentioned) In
short no Man who behaves well in that House for three years
should at the End of that time go unrewarded, as far as the
foregoing Comissions would be acceptable ; nor should they
ever be granted from private Interest, friendship, or any other
private motive whatever, so long as there are well-deservers
of that House to take them ; for the Assemblys continuing for
three years & those Comissions continuing likewise for three
years, will serve as a constant Rotation & Succession to each
other. The extreame Length of this Letter hitherto had
almost discouraged Me from proceeding, least your patience
should be tired out; But conceiving the Subject matter to be
important both to his Lordship & the Province in General, an
assurance that your regard for both will prompt you to give a
favourable hearing to whatever is advanced for those pur-
poses, induces Me to proceed.
You cannot but have observed, the Egregious Weakness,
as well as the Extravagant Byass (Instances of both which
might be mentioned in other cases than here) against his
Lordships rights, of the Provincial Bench, the Supreme Origi-
nal Court of Law in this Province ; tho' were I acquainted
with the persons of whom it is composed, (I mean of such who
can & do attend) I might cease to wonder at their weakness,
tho' not be able to account for their preposterous Byass. The
Members are, 3 County clerks (Holding their Comissions as
they imagine during good behaviour in those offices & so
independant of the Goverment & Courting popularity) one of