French are at Fort Du Quesne I have not heard but if they
learn that we are making no preparations for another Expe-
dition that Way as no doubt they will from the Captives they
are daily making I presume they will detach as many Men as
they can possibly spare to reinforce their Garrisons on the
Lakes; & I am confirmed in this Opinion by the Instructions
that were found in the pockett of an Ensign who was lately
killed by some of the Inhabitants of Virga near Conegochiegh.
I am persuaded that if the Assembly would have been pre-
vailed on to provide for their Subsistance a considerable
Number of the Inhabitants of Maryland would have been
inclined to make a Campaign with me, but as I have now no
farther hopes from that Quarter, unless your Excellency should
find yourself impowered & think proper to direct & authorize
me to raise & subsist 500 or 600 Men during the Summer I
must give over all thoughts of getting any Troops from this
Province, & have nothing more to do than in Obedience to
your Excellency's Orders to put Myself at the head of the
Virga & N Carolina Forces when they join & proceed as you
shall command either to secure the Frontiers of these provinces
or advance towards the Enemy. I am &c —
[Sharpe to Morris.]
April the 24th 1756
Sr
Mr Iunen of Phila calling on me on His Return from Virga
I embrace the Opportunity to intimate to you that our Assembly
is still sitting but as the Lower House seem to be absolutely
determined to grant no Supplies unless they can at the same
time carry certain points which manifestly tend to subvert in a
great measure the Constitution & render it more similar to
that of Pensilvania which I beleive you do not think the most
perfect, I expect to find myself under a necessity of proroguing
them in three or four Days — I am informed by a Lettr from
Alexandria that a Ship which left England the 12th of Feby &
arrived at Hampton the 16th Inst. brings Advice that War was
declared in England two Days before She sailed & that Lord
Loudon & Colo Abercrombie with three Regiments were
coming hither — The Indians have lately done a good deal of
Mischief on the Frontiers of Virga the Forts that were some
time since built there for the Protection of the Back-Inhabitants
have been many of them attacked & some reduced & destroyed
& a Detachment from the Virga Regiment of 50 Men com-
manded by Capt Mercier has been defeated near Cape Capon
about 18 miles from Winchester, the Captain, Lieutenant, 3
Sergeants & 15 private Men were killed or wounded & left to
the Enemy —
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Letter Bk. III
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