Correspondence of Governor Sharpe. 41

Majesty's Instruction was Sent; The extravagant Bulge of the
Hogshead has greatly lessen'd the Number of Hogsheads and
thereby Diminished the Support of Government; And The
Lower House was so Sensible of this Reduction of the number
of Tobacco Hogsheads, that at a Sessions of Assembly held
the 28^th of May 1717 It was Enacted in an Act "ascertaining
the Gauge & Tare of Tobacco Hogsheads."
Section 8^th viz^t Fifteen pence per Hogshead instead of

Twelve pence. And the Proviso for Application was Twelve

pence to the Lord Proprietor for the Support of Government,
& the remaining Three pence, for the purchasing Arms &
Ammunition, for the better Defence of the Province &c. The
Act of 1704 I have Exemplify'd to you in mine of the 5^th of
January last. This Act belonging to the Crown, therefore to
the Proprietor; they are sensible a Tryal here to destroy it
would not avail before the King. Their Doctrine mention'd in
their Address to you, how feeble is the Sense of the House,
viz^t That the abovemention'd Act could not continue longer

than during the time the Government of this Province was in
the Crown. The Act was Enacted a Perpetuity To the
Crown's Heirs and Successors. — Therefore To the Proprietors
of Maryland, the Crown's Hereditary Governors of the Province,
In Possession by the Approbation of the Crown, & to whom
the Crown has Delegated all its Powers. — Therefore the Act
is out of the Assembly's Reach. — But under a seeming spacious
Pretence they now try to purloin Threepence out of the
Twelve pence p Hogshead for Support of Government, so by
Additional Reduction to the Loss from the increase of the
Diameter of the Hogshead, they think Craft may prevail to
really impoverish the Support of Government; for that's the
Aim. — However you are too sensible & the Upper House, as
not to support the Crown's & Proprietor's Dignity against
Loss by Leveller's Principals.
The Lord Proprietor has Accepted your Recommendation
of M^r Dulany to be jointly in Commission with M^r Tasker as
Commissary General. You'l receive it by Instruction.
My Lord's uneasyness on Account of no Return of his Rent
Rolls, obliges me to mention as I have often done, the Return
of them & of which I hope it will not be long, and that you
will take Care that they be truly & fairly at Large compiled in
Books well Supported in Law, properly Authenticated from
His Offices from the dates of Patents Register'd as to all Land-
Holders, Attested by the Offices Seals, Deliver'd under Oath
subscribed by the Officers in Office, & attested by good &
sufficient witnesses.
M^r Pelham Chancellor of the Exchequer & first Commis-