Correspondence of Governor Sharpe. 255

between the Gov^r & his Assembly were heard by Council
before the Lords of Trade on the sixth Day of May last &
their Lordship have reported in favour of the Governor unani-
mously & affectionately and I hope all Parties will subside &
enter for the future into no other Contest thⁿ who shall do the
publick the most Service.
There is reason to think that two French Fleats and two
English ones are arrivd and will knock heads together if they
have not done it already. The French force is said to be 26
Capital Ships and the English Thirty two men of war besides
Station Ships. Putting all the accounts together I think this
may be reasonably deducd from them tho not w^th absolute
certainty.
We have no later news from the General than from his
Camp on the 30^th distant 35 miles from Fort Duquesne when
all were well & in high spirits & full of Provisions.
I have the pleasure to assure you that by last Post the Gov^r
of New York wrote to our Gov^r the agreable news of the
whole Body of the Six Nations having declared in favour of
his Majesty & his Arms & more offerd to joyn the Army than
the several Legislatures had provided for joyful news this w^ch
you will please to transmit to Gov^r Dinwiddie.
General Shirley is by this time at the carrying place between
the Mohocks River & wood Creek running into the Onondago
River. One Galley is already launchd of 36 Feet Keel and
two more near being ready.
All looks well hitherto; if the General finds no opposition
as I suspect he will not much, it appears to me that all the
Force of Canada has vanishd away in an Instant, for we hear
of none at Crown Point, none at Cataracqui none at Niagara,
all are said to be on the Ohio & from there we have no
accounts of any being arriv'd.
This may perhaps be the Case, that they have expected
from France a General & Army and woud not come to any
Determination untill the Arrival of the Reinforcements, now
th^£ they find these are retarded by the vigilance of the English
Ministry they have sent their forces to the several Places of
their Destination & the dry weather has prevented the Water
Conveyance
I am Your Excellencys
Most obedient
humble Servant
Richard Peters
Philad^a
18 July I755-