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Correspondence of Governor Sharpe. 117
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Success, this I flatter myself with the hopes of seeing soon as I
make no Doubt but a proper Representation of the present
Posture of Affairs on this Continent has been made home &
that our Situation & Condition will be taken into Consideration,
this our past & present Parsimony & Supineness absolutely
requires which has prevented our being at this time in posses-
sion of a fine Country that the French are making themselves
Masters of & whence they will not be dislodged but at a great
Expence. thus far I had writ some weeks since designing to
address it to your Ldp by the first opportunity of Conveyance
that should offer but none having till now occurred I have had
it transcribed & thereto added a few Lines to inform your Ldp
that I have received a Commission which his Majesty has been
pleased to honour me with whereby I am ordered to take the
Command of all the Forces that shall be employed in this part
of the Continent against His Majestys & this Country's
Enemies, in pursuance of this I am making some necessary
preparations for taking the Field or rather the woods this
winter in hopes of being able if the neighbouring Govern-
ments will make a proper addition to the Troops above num-
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Letter Bk. II.
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bered to carry the Fort which the Enemy as I have before
noticed have built on the Ohio at the Forks of Monongahela or
one that they have built farther up the River nearer Lake Erie.
The Possession of either of these would enable us to cut off if
we are properly supported the Communication that they are
sollicitous to establish by a Chain of Forts from Montreal to
New Orleans near the mouth of the River Missisippi, & would
also prevent the total Loss of a Trade that these Colonies have
hitherto enjoyed with the Indian Natives of which we are
already almost utterly deprived. A small Number of Men
from home would I persuade myself have rendered me equal
to this Task but as I cannot expect to see Troops transported
hither to be under my Direction I will endeavour to do the best
I can with those I have the honour to command & will hope
that I may be able to give you such an Account of my Conduct
as I flatter myself your good wishes for me makes you desirous
of seeing, in the mean time I would beg the favour of you to
signify to me whether it would become me at any time to take
the Liberty to submit my Transactions & Behaviour in the
Execution of my Commission to His Royal Highness or satisfy
myself with laying them only before the Ministry & yourself
whom I will beg leave to trouble as often as I have any thing
of importance to write on. Your Ldp will have the goodness
to excuse my sending this in a different Character from what
I designed & attribute it to my being entirely engrossed by
some Business that demands to be dispatched before I can
leave this place & Yr Ldp will I hope beleive me to be with the
greatest respect & regard Yr Ldps &c.
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p. 18
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