Oct^r 22^d 1755 — My Lord
I have but just had the pleasure of receiving the Letter that
Your Lordship did me the honour to write the 14^th of May.
The Approbation your Lordship is pleased to express of my
past Conduct gives me inexpressible Satisfaction & I hope
your Lordship will be persuaded that it shall be my constant
study to merit the Continuance of your Lordships Favour.
Sooner than this the plan that was proposed for the Collection
of the Quit Rents could not be put in Execution, but the
Sheriffs do now farm them at 10 p ct. which is but half the
Preemium that was given when I was honoured with your
Lordships Commission. On this as well as your Lordships
other Affairs I have writ fully to M^r Calvert who will submit
my Letters to your Lordship & signify to me your Lordships
pleasure thereon — I have not heard from General Shirley since
the 9^th of last Month whence I am afraid he finds it impossible
to execute any thing this Fall; it is reported too that the
French Men of War which were In Louisburg have given the
English Squadron the slip, & that Admiral Boscawen with the
greatest part of the Fleet under his Command is returned to
Halifax & about to sail for England. We are also told that
since the Action which happened on the 8^th of Septem^r General
Johnson has been reinforced by five or Six Thousand Men from
New England but that being unable to proceed to Crown
Point he was constructing a place of Defence at. the Carrying
Place near Lake George wherein he would leave a strong Gar-
rison & the Rest of the Forces would return to their respective
homes.
I have not heard that any Mischief has been done on the
Frontiers of your Lordships Province since I writ last to M^r
Calvert, but a Person who was lately taken Prisoner & carried
almost to Fort Du Quesne by the Indians before he made his
Escape says that he heard them threaten to return & pay
us another Visit as soon as they had delivered up their
Prisoners & Scalps to the French Commandant & received
their Reward. I cannot find that they have killed many Peo-
ple on this side Potowmack but it is said that some hundreds
of the distant Inhabitants of Virginia are missing & their
Houses burnt. I have posted two partys of Men on our Fron-
tiers which I hope will be of Service till some Measures that
may be taken at home in Consequence of the Action on the
Monongahela shall afford Us better Assistance & Protection.
With the Utmost respect and Duty I am
Your Lordships most Devoted and
Annapolis most Obed. Humble Serv^t
October 22^d 1755 Hor^o Sharpe