|
Correspondence of Governor Sharpe. 165
|
|
protect the Virginia & Maryland Back Settlements & prevent
the Incursions of any small parties of the Enemy, than to be
easily & commodiously supplied at present with provisions.
Upon my Return thence I met the Assembly of this province
& pressed them in the most urgent manner to make an addition
to the Sum they sometime since granted for the Defence of
His Majestys Dominions, but the Conduct of the neighbouring
province whose Assembly was then & had been some time
sitting influenced but too much I doubt their minds & Behaviour
& made them averse (after having made the greatest profes-
sions of their being truly sensible of the Danger that threatens
them & fully determined to pay the greatest Regard & Obedi-
ence to his Majestys pleasure which you had been pleased to
signify to them) to granting any farther Supplies, unless by an
Addition to the paper Cash already circulating in this Govern-
ment, to which Scheme as it evidently appeared pregnant with
many Evils & much Detriment to the province in general the
Upper House of Assembly refused their Concurrence. I have
appointed them to meet again the 20th of next Month when I
hope they will fall on some unexceptionable method, to raise
& give as large a Sum as the Circumstances of the Inhabitants
can afford: at least you will be pleased to think I hope that I
will leave no Stone unturned to procure from them such Sup-
plies as the Exigency of Affairs require & to shew on my part
the most dutiful & punctual Obedience to his Majesty's Com-
mands & the Orders & Directions that I have had the honour
to receive from yourself & the Ld proprietary. The inter-
vening time I propose to spend at the Camp for which place I
intend to depart to morrow; having ordered all the Virginia
& our Recruits (who together make about 600) thither that I
|
Letter Bk. II.
|
may endeavour to dicipline them as well as the time will per-
mit & make proper preparations for the Reception of those
Forces which His Majesty has been graciously pleased to order
over for the protection of his American Subjects & his
Dominions upon this Continent. You will not I hope enter-
tain the least Doubt of my being incessant in my Endeavours
to excite & rouse the people of this province to the performance
of their Duty to His Majesty & themselves; & I beg leave to
assure you that to the utmost of my power I will obey in every
Article the Orders you were pleased to give me in your Letter
dated the 26th of Octr which I have just had the Satisfaction to
receive if the Troops who have Orders to be transported hither
should disembark in or have Occasion to march thro this
Governt I will take Care that they shall want neither Victuals
or any accommodations that this Country where the Inhabitants
are dispersed & not resident together in Towns or Villages
can afford I should not do Captains Fitzhugh & Rosse on half
|
p. 56
|
|
 |
