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434 Correspondence of Governor Sharpe.
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Letter Bk. III
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used their Influence & Interest to oppose such a Measure;
whether this proceeded from Timidity or a Suspicion that the
Governmt would not be able to make good its Claim I cannot
say but it certainly has much contributed to confirm many
People in an Opinion that the Money is actually collected con-
trary to, or at least without the Sanction of a Law. As it is
very obvious what must be the Consequence of their entertain-
ing such Sentiments I shall not enlarge thereon, but only inclose
you a Copy of a Paper which has been lately handed about
here & I am told subscribed by a great number of the People,
for my own part I am throughly convinced that their Com-
plaints with regard to those particulars are unreasonable &
entirely without foundation & that if His Ldp had but Resolu-
tion enough to let the matter be brought to a Hearing before
the Council such a Iudgment would be given or Order made
as would give His Ldp Satisfaction, make the people easy &
at the same time make them cautious how they engage in
Controversy hereafter. They are not apprized of all that can
be said in Support of His Ldp's Claim, & a Report of a Com-
mittee of a late Lower House of Assembly shews in my
Opinion that they would have very little to advance or urge
agst him. Upon my mentioning the unhappy Condition of the
Province on Account of these Disputes to Mr Calvert he
seemed to give me hopes that His Ldp would be willing to
bring them to a Conclusion, but His Ldp in His Instructions
peremptorily forbids me to hear any proposal concerning the
Appointment of an Agent for that purpose, however as I fore-
see that I shall when the Assembly meets again be addressed
on this Subject, I have got an Account or State of the several
Revenue Laws (that have been enacted from time to time)
made out & have sent it to Mr Calvert desiring him at least to
get an Opinion thereon for me, which would possibly have
weight with the Assembly & perhaps satisfy them as to the
Collection of the Duties abovementioned. Should Mr Calvert
for fear of the Expence that will attend it, or on any other
Account decline or neglect to comply with my Request Let
me beg the favour of you to peruse the Copy that I herewith
send, & if you do not get an Opinion subscribed by the Attor-
ney or Sollicitor Genl I hope you will favour me with your own
Sentiments thereon. The Account or State might have been
much abridged was it only drawn up for the Opinion of a
Lawyer or for the Perusal of Persons of Learning or Judgment,
but as it was thought proper to adapt it to the Capacity &
Comprehension of every Planter in the Province it's Length or
Prolixity was unavoidable & necessary to prevent its being
suggested that the Quotations were unfair & imperfect, that
any material Parts were suppressed or partial Representations
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