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Correspondence of Governor Sharpe. 121
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Ease & Satisfaction in your Administration. Your early
Declaration that you will always make it your Business to pro-
mote His Majestys Service & the Interest of these Colonies &
that you will freely communicate to me the measures that you
shall esteem likely to contribute to that End is highly agreeable
to me as it gives me an opportunity of assuring you that I will
make it my Study to deserve your Confidence & that your
Advice in any thing that might concern the publick Service
will with me always have the greatest weight & Influence.
You are I presume no Stranger to his Majesty's having been
pleased to honour me with a Commission to take the Com-
mand of the Forces that may be raised for the Defence of these
Colonies against the Encroachments & Invasions of His
Majesty's Enemies, & from your generous Professions I flatter
myself with hopes that nothing will be wanting on your part
to enable me to execute His Majesty's Commission with some
Reputation & to repel the Dangers that at this time threaten
us. It would be I am persuaded impertinent in me to insist
on or even hint at the fatal Consequences that would attend
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Letter Bk. II.
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our conniving at the Encroachments that the French have lately
made on His Majesty's Dominions in this part of the Continent
or suffering them to remain Masters of the Forts which they
have built on the Frontiers of that Province, of this you are
extremely sensible & I will not doubt but your Assembly when
they meet again will shew a just regard to your Recommenda-
tion of the Service to their Consideration & will manifest their
Patriotism by granting such Supplies as the Exigency of Affairs
& the Danger that threatens their Country does at this time
demand, indeed without large Assistance from them & the
neighbouring Colonies I despair of answering in the least His
Majesty's Expectations & royal Intention in honouring me with
such a Commission & I shall be under the disagreeable neces-
sity of excusing my Failure or Inaction & attribute them to the
want of such succours as His Majesty by his Secretary gives
me room to expect from his good & loyal American Subjects.
Should my hopes of your Assembly's Disposition prove well
founded you will be kind enough to advise me by Express
thereof & acquaint me in what manner you judge they will be
most inclined to afford us their Assistance that I might regulate
my Conduct or lay my Plan of Operations accordingly.
2d I returned last Sunday from Williamsburg where I left
the Virginia Assembly sitting, they had granted the Sum of
^20000 for the Service & were proceeding to prepare a Bill
for levying a number of Forces at once in that province by
obliging each Cty to furnish a certain quota.
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p. 25
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3d I should be much obliged to you for endeavouring to get
me Intelligence of the number of the Enemy at Venango &
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p. 26
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