Annapolis Ocf 24^th 1755
D^r B^r
In this part of America Affairs remain as they were when I
writ last, we lose an Inhabitant sometimes by Parties of
Indians that make Incursions on our Frontiers while the Dis-
pute that subsists between the Lower House & us concerning
the Appropriation of Ordinary Lycence Fines puts it out of
my Power to protect or provide for the Safety of the poor
wretches whose distant situation exposes them to the Bar-
barities of our Savage Enemy. May some Steps be taken at
home to determine the Controversy ! this Province is otherwise
in a very unhappy State & Condition. I find M^r Steuart who
contracts for the Transportation of Convicts from London is
endeavouring to get the Law that we passed last Summer
(granting £6000 for his Majesty's Service) repealed because it
imposed a Duty of twenty Shillings on every Convict that
shall be imported into the Province; People here are apt to
think that M^r Steuart as well as the other Contractors might
have been well content to pay so small a Sum while they sell
Convicts to our Planters from £8 to £20 St^g each, when less
than £6 is a reasonable Premium for the Conveyance or
Passage of any Person from England hither. It is reported
that General Shirley has found it impracticable to make a
Descent on either of the French Forts on Lake Ontario this

Credit is to be given to these Reports I know not having
received no Lett^rs from the Northw^d since the End of last
Month.

[Sharpe to William Sharpe.]
24^th Oct^r D^r B^r

I have received the Extracts out of the Council Records
respecting the Statute of the 6^th of Queen Ann concerning the
Emission of Paper money that you let M^r Calvert have,
I shall take Care for the future to comply with the Orders
contained in those Extracts neither do I conceive that the
Law which was passed here soon after my Arrival regulating
the Value of Coin is in the least contrary thereto, for our
Act does not make the Coin or Paper Money of which it
speaks a Legal Tender in all Payments but only in discharge
of publick Levies & Officers Fees. I am apt to think that the
Disallowance of the Act of the Jersey Assembly that you let