Correspondence of Governor Sharpe. 461

Sir I am enjoyn'd by my Instructions upon any difficulty
that rises in the Recruiting Service to make my Application to
the Governor of the Province or Colony where I happen to be.
I have met with Opposition from some of the People in these
Quarters w^ch I apprehend to be a just Matter of Complaint, &
I doubt not the Persons concern'd will be severely reprehended
by your Excellency.
My recruiting Sergeant sometime in July last was attack'd
by Mr. Charles Ridgley & a Number of others his Accomplices,
& had six Recruits taken from him by Force & Arms, who had
each receiv'd his Majesty's Bounty, on pretence that these
Recruits were Indented Servants, w^ch turns out not to be the
truth as to all of them — besides threatning the Sergeant & the
'Party to have them whipt out of Town.
About a Fortnight since M^r Joseph Watkins with a Number
of Men arm'd with Clubs rescu'd another Recruit from my
Serg^t in his way from Joppa to this Town.
I apply'd to Mr. Bordley the Attorney General who I
imagin'd I sho^d find very ready to joyn with me in a publick
Resentment of this Method of proceeding by prosecuting the
Parties concern'd, but by what I could gather from my Con-
versation with him, he makes light not to say justifies Attempts
of this sort — he put a Case not very much to the Honour of
the Recruiting Service — Suppose a Man steals a Horse &c.
If thro' mistake, or in a disputable Point as this seems to be
among the Inhabitants, whether the King has not a prior Right

to the Service of his Subjects to any after obligation they may
lay themselves under, especially in Cases of great Necessity,
any Mans legal property is invaded, are not the Steps of the
Law to be pursu'd without violence that Justice may be done ?
— besides I cannot possibly know who are or are not Servants
'till their Indentures are produc'd.
Pardon my suggesting these things w^h is with no other View
than to apologize for my own Conduct.
I hope your Excellency will give such Directions & Order a
prosecution against the Parties who have been culpable against
whom I am ready to furnish the necessary Proofs as may deter
others from such a barefac'd Opposition to His Majesty's Ser-
vice. I am with great Respect
Your Excellency's most Obed^t Hum Serv^t
Sam^l Gardner
Captain in his Majesty's 47^th Regim^t
Baltimore Aug^t 15^th 1756