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398 Correspondence of Governor Sharpe,
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Letter Bk. III
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that will perhaps account for his not pursuing a Plan which I
think would at that time have been much more eligible — I am
sorry to find the Scheme for raising so many Regiments here
under Swiss Officers is approved of, because no Step could
have been taken that would have been more disagreeable
to his Majesty's American Subjects & because I look upon it as
absolutely impracticable. Have the four established Regiments
notwithstanding they entertained Servants without Distinction
been unable to compleat themselves because the Recruiting
Officers were not natives of the Country; have the Virginians
sunk so many Thousand Pounds without being able to raise &
keep 500 Men because Governor Dinwiddie could not help
shewing whence he came by his nomination of the Officers ?
& can it be supposed that 4000 of our Inhabitants will hasten
to enlist & serve under Foreigners for I shall be much deceived
if these Swiss are not esteemed as such by the Germans who
have for any considerable time resided among us as well as by
the English. Whence comes it that such Numbers have been
speedily collected in the Northern Provinces ? must it not be
attributed to the Officer's Commission's being given to popular
Gentlemen who raise their Men in their respective Neighbour-
hoods & in a Month or two a Regiment is compleated: It is
not for want of Men in these parts that I must go to N England
for such an Instance; but before I say any thing more on this
Topic let me express my Gratitude for your constant Solicitude
& Endeavours to do me Service, had you succeeded so far as
to obtain for me the posts of Honour & profit that Brother
John & Yourself have been indefatigable in solliciting I could
not beleive me have thought myself more obliged than I do at
present nor have been more sensibly affected with your Kind-
ness & affectionate Behaviour; It would not I think become
me to desire you to forbear using your Interest in my favour
but I do make it my earnest Request that no Step or Measure
might be taken to promote me which may put it out of your
Power or make it more difficult for you to serve him or those
whose Merit more particularly entitles them & whose Circum-
stances more strongly recommend them to your Affectionate
Regard, but could I by your means obtain such a Colonel's
Commission as would give me a Right to half-pay & at the
same time a power to raise a Regiment in this province to be
paid from home but called a Provincial Regiment I think
I could soon convince the Switzers that they are not the most
proper persons to be sent to raise Men in these parts, & I am
inclined to think that if His Majesty was pleased to grant such
a Commission, & impower me as Governor of Maryland to
commissionate all the Officers at least under the Major some
Money might be saved to the Nation by the Number of Half-
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