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Correspondence of Governor Sharpe. 481
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is confirmed to me by the Earl of Loudoun but His Ldp does
not in his Letter descend to particulars or acquaint me with
the State of the Garrison tho it is asserted & generally beleived
that they were all but a few put to the Sword after the Com-
manding Officer had signed a Capitulation. This unhappy
Event has I find thrown the Northern Colonies into great Con-
sternation as they can no longer question whether the French
have a large Army in America & as their hopes concerning
the Success of the Provincials agst Crown Point become less
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Letter Bk. I.
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sanguine as the winter approaches. I do not hear that they
are yet in Motion from the Fort that was built last year on
Lake George & it is rumoured that they will hardly act offen-
sively this Summer. Immediately on the Receipt of Lord
Loudoun's Letter I summoned the Assembly to meet to morrow
when I shall in Obedience to His Lordship's Commands recom-
mend it to them in the most earnest manner to appropriate
part of the money lately granted towards raising a Number of
Recruits for the Royal American Regiment which is not likely
to be otherwise compleated & unless these Colonies will make
Laws for Levying men at this Conjuncture to fill that Regi-
ment & reinforce His Ldp 'tis not improbable that the French
will presume on this Conquest to advance farther into the
Province of New York or one of these Colonies with such a
Force as it might be difficult in the present Situation of Affairs
for His Lordship to oppose. The Pensilvania Assembly has
been sitting a Fortnight & seem still disposed to proceed in a
way that affords Governor Denny no very agreeable Prospect.
They have sent him a Bill for £60,000 to be sunk as it is said
in 20 years tho they saw from some Instructions that were laid
before them that it was absolutely out of his power to accept
any Money Bill in such a Form. Should they persist in their
Obstinacy & refuse granting Aid to Lord Loudoun or a Sup-
ply for the Defence of their own Frontiers the Loss of Oswego
will not I am afraid be the only Misfortune that will happen to
us this Campaign. What can hinder the Indians or a Body of
French from advancing into the Heart of that Province ? Cum-
berland Coty is I hear already entirely abandoned & the Indians
have lately fallen on the Inhabitants of York County, the
Western Limits of which do not extend beyond Monoccasy
which Your Ldp will be pleased to observe is not more than
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p. 224
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70 or 80 Miles from this place. The Flight of the Pensilvani-
ans from the Western Parts of that Province has left our
Northern Frontier beyond Monoccasy much exposed, the
Enemy has now free Access to us thro Pensa & if some Meas-
ures are not speedily taken for the Defence of that Colony
neither Fort Frederick nor its Garrison can be of much Service,
for our People will follow the Pensilvanian's Example, a Pas-
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p. 225
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