Original.
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Sir
Since the above by the Instigation as I am credibly inform'd
of some of the better sort at the Church in the Forest last
Sunday there was an Agreement made to raise a Body of
about 200 men & take all my Recruits from me, this Town to
be their rendezvous on Monday. Capt Orrick who commands
a Company of Militia in the County came on Sunday evening
with about twenty Horse the men arm'd with Clubs & gave
me to understand that they expected the whole Body the next
Day. The Captain was deputed by the rest to be their Spokes-
man who told me they were come in a peaceable Manner to
demand their Servants & that if they could not have them by
fair means they would have them by Foul.
It seems some of their Convict Servants were run away not-
withstanding my posting up Advertisemts tht I would not take
any Convicts they would not believe me I gave them Liberty
to examine my recruits they found none of their Servants &
for the present the Storm is blown over. I leave the whole to
yr Excellency's Animadversion.
1 am yr Excellcys most obedt
Baltimore 21st Augt & most hum Servt S. Gardner
[Loudoun to Sharpe.]
Albany 2Oth August 1756 —
Sir
I received last night accounts by which I apprehend that
Oswego with all its Stores and Ammunition and the Train
placed there is lost, The Garrison made Prisoners and our
Naval power on the Lake destroyed.
I must put you on your Guard against every 111 Conse-
quence of such an Unhappy Event and as you may now expect
the weight of the French Indian Power on your Back I must
caution you to put your Frontiers immediately in the best
posture of Defence you are able as from the Condition and
number of the Troops left to me when I came to my Com-
mand I can scarce hope to do more than to resist the French
power in these Quarters.
Were my Hands strengthened to enable me to Act I would
not despair of retrieving this Misfortune and to wrest out of
the hands of the French this important Post that by a series of
bad Circumstances has fall'n too easy a Prey to them. —
I must in the strongest manner and from motives of the
most interesting nature demand your Assistance and that of
your Province.
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