for the Amount of the Expence that might attend it on the
Paymaster to His Majesty's Train in America, but as the Stores
& especially the Powder is for want of a proper Magazine in
a good deal of Danger from the Enemy I submit to your Ldp
whether it would not be better to have it removed down to
the inhabited part of the Country till there shall be an imme-
diate Use for it. Besides the Stores mentioned in the inclosed
Return there were in the Custody of one Mr Carlyle in Virga
587 Barrels of Irish Beef, 230 Barrells of Irish Butter & 21
Barrells of Flour but as some Troops that I have kept up for
the Protection of our Back Inhabitants ever since Colo Dunbar
left us were some time since much distressed for provisions
before I was impowered by the Assembly to supply them I
ventured to draw on Mr Carlyle for 100 Barrells of the Beef &
I hear that the Rest is removed to Winchester a Town on the
Frontiers of Virga for the use of the Militia that Governor Din-
widdie has ordered thither for the People's Defence.
I am &c
[Sharpe to John Sharpe.]
Ist of Iune 1756 —
Dr Br
I have in a former Lettr intimated that there are several
Matters about which Disputes have subsisted many years
between the Ld Proprietary & the People of this Province
which have & will (till they are determined) prevent any har-
mony or Union between the several Branches of the Legisla-
ture at this time particularly so desirable & requisite & which
therefore we should unanimously study to bring about & pro-
mote. The two principal Bones of Contention or Matters in
Dispute are a Port Duty of Fourteen Pence a Ton on all Ves-
sels owned by Non Residents that trade to this Province, &
an Imposition of One Shilling a Hogshead on all Tobo
exported; The first amounts to about £800 or £900 Stg p
Ann. which is received by His Ldp for his own private Use;
The latter does rarely exceed £1400 in one year the greater
part of which is paid by His Ldp's Agent to His Lieut Goverr
by way of an annual Sallary & the Remainder is paid to His
Ldp himself. The People have been instructed & made to
beleive that these Duties are collected illegally, they have been
taught to look on it as a grievous Burthen & Oppression & to
take Occasion thence to clamour against His Ldp's Governt
Attempts have been made by the Lower Houses of Assembly
to obtain a Sum of Money, or an Act for the Appointment
of an Agent to bring the Matter to a Hearing before His
Majesty in Council, but the Lord Proprietaries have always
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Letter Bk. III
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