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240 Correspondence of Governor Sharpe.
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Letter Bk. I.
p. 136
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[Sharpe to Calvert.]
transmitted by Virga dated 9 July. [1755]
Sir
As I am dispatching an Express to Virga I request the
favour of Govr Dinwiddie to put this on Board the first Ship
that sails, to acquaint you that finding the Burgesses determined
to do nothing either for his Majesty's Service or their own
Protection unless the Points for which they have been con-
tending were given up to them, I prorogued our Assembly
yesterday Evening after they had twice requested me to be
dismissed in the Course of the Session they presented me
with a furious Address against Roman Catholicks which you
will see inclosed: as I thought it contained some indecent
Reflections I thought it improper to let it pass unanswered as
you will aso see by the papers herewith transmitted. The
Occasion of it was the late preferment of the Attorney General
(who unhappily is no Favourite with the People) to the Naval
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p. 137
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Office of Potuxent. I beleive too their warmth was increased
by some Letters writ hither some time since intimating that if
Mr Hanbury had not prevented it you would have got Mr
Darnal appointed to a Seat in the Council, for my part I have
not heard but the Papists behave themselves peaceably and as
good Subjects, They are I imagine about one twelfth of the
People & many of them are Men of pretty considerable
Fortunes; I conceive their Numbers do not increase tho I
have reason to think the greater part of the Germans which
are imported profess that Religion. As the Lower House
first resolved that all the Penal Laws mentioned in the Toller-
ation Act are in force within this Province, tho some of them
have been entirely & others in part repealed by later Acts of
Parliament, I declined granting the Request in the Conclusion
of their Address lest the Courts should govern themselves in
some sort by the Resolve of the Lower House of Assembly &
a fiery Persecution should ensue. This Part of my Conduct
will not I hope be disapproved of by his Lordsp or yourself, & I
hope you will think that nothing has been left undone to bring
the Assembly to Reason & Temper tho our Endeavours have
failed of Success. A Bill for an Agent was sent to the Upper
House but immediately rejected. Govr Moris informs me that
all his Endeavours have proved equally unsuccessful & that he
cannot think of meeting the Assembly of that province again
unless some Reformation be first made in their Constitution.
We are advised from the Northern Govts that the French Fleet
consisting of 6 Men of War & 9 large Transports with 4000
Land Forces on board are in the Harbour of Louisburg, &
that Admiral Boscawen lies before that Town with 13 Capital
Ships. Govr Dinwiddie also informs me that two parties of
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