Correspondence of Governor Sharpe. 477

Williamsburg Septem^r 2^d 1756.
Sir
I wrote you last Saturday by the Post, since that I received
your Letter by Col^o Ludwell & remark its Contents, I have
ordered Col^o Washington, to remove some of the Stores from
fort Cumberland to Winchester, but by no means to abandon
that fort, as such a Step would greatly encourage the Enemy,
and if I be properly informed two hundred Men will defend it
against one Thousand or more if they bring no Cannon against
it, and I think it more than probable that next Spring an Expe-
dition will be conducted against fort Du Quesne, so that the
defending that Fortress this Winter, I think necessary & will
be of great Service to all the Colonies to the Southward,
if you agree with me in opinion, some Men from your Prov-
ince to that Place will be very necessary.
I have no Letter from M^r Morris in regard to the Enemys
taking fort Granville, but it's no more than might be expected
from the inactive lethargick Supines of that Colony, or shall
we ever be at ease till the Enemy is drove from the Ohio,
they have committed many Cruelties in Augusta County, & I
fear will continue their Barbarity, unless Pensylvania, Mary-
land, & this Colony raise forces, and join in a Body to repell
their force; our protecting the different frontiers only gives
them the Advantage of invading us where we are weakest, and
I fear they have very good Intelligence of all our Motions
from some Villains among us.
I hope the Pensylvania Assembly will do something hand-
some, now they have got a new Governor.
I am surpris'd your Assembly ordered the abandoning the
fort you had built on Tonolloway Creek because it was five
Miles without your Inhabitants. I am glad you have begun
so good a Fort near Patoemack, which undoubtedly will be of
great use, if they allow Men sufficient to garrison it. The
excessive Frugality of the different Collonies is shameful, & far
from good Oeconomy or self Preservation.
Lord Loudoun has wrote me strongly for recruits for the
Royal Americans, but I am afraid I shall not be able to comply
with his orders, but shall do all in my Power. I enclose you
one of our Supply Bills for £40,000 which I conceive will
answer your Purpose. I formerly sent you a Copy of the
Light house Bill being passed here & lyes now with the King
& Councell & will meet with the Royal Assent; if your
Assembly will pass one similar thereto in case you shou'd have
mislaid it, I send you inclos'd a ruf Copy thereof, and I doubt
not you will agree with me the necessity thereof, as a fort is pro-
posed to be built to mount twelve eighteen Pounders, which