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Correspondence of Governor Sharpe. 211
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[Sharpe to John Sharpe.]
May 24th 1755.
Dr Brother
In my last dated the 19th of April of which I have now sent
Br Wm a Copy I acquainted you that I was about to depart for
Frederick to wait on the General & do any Services in my
power during his Stay there & thence accompany him to Virga
It being very difficult to procure Waggons in this part of the
world to convey the Stores & Baggage The Regiment that was
at Frederickton could not move thence till the 29th of April &
the General tarried behind till the first of May when I waited
on him over Potowmack & took my leave. As the Inhabitants
did not shew more forwardness here than in Virga to serve the
Troops with their Waggons & Horses they were obliged to
impress & take all they could find which the people not duly
considering the necessity of such a proceeding heavily com-
plain against especially as they cannot get payment for their
Service & Attendance by reason our Assembly would not give
or appropriate a small Sum of Money to that & similar uses
tho it was so particularly enjoyned them by Sr Thos Robinson's
last Letter. As the Burthen has fallen upon a few compara-
tively I am afraid the Assembly will never releive them tho I
doubt not they will speak very pathetically when they meet of
the hardships the few have been subjected to by means of the
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Letter Bk. II.
p. 81
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Obstinacy of the many. The Regiments since their Arrival
have been increased by about 200 Voluntiers from this Province
but the General still finding the Regiments incomplete gave
Orders for Recruiting Servants, this I in vain endeavoured to
persuade him off from, representing the Mischief & Detriment
that the Inhabitants must suffer from such a measure; the
Servants immediately flocked in to enlist, Convicts not excepted,
& their Masters made innumerable Applications to me for
Releif which I was sorry to be unable to grant, here I found
myself in difficult Circumstances. Many of the People's Cases
really called for Pity & Redress as the Planters Fortunes here
consist in the number of their Servants (who are purchased at
high Rates) much as the Estates of an English Farmer do in
the Multitude of Cattle. The General on his part I saw posi-
tive because he thought himself too weakly provided with
Troops for what he has hopes of executing. As I have
endeavoured so I hope I have behaved in such a manner as to
give no Offence to either the General or the Province but I
confess I shall not be surprized if the Officers at their Return (if
it shall so happen) do not meet with the kindest Reception
among the Inhabitants. I have received a Letter from the
Camp since the General & the Troops have been at Wills-
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p. 82
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