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484 Correspondence of Governor Sharpe.
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Letter Bk. I.
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of Militia on our Western Frontiers amount to 400 Men, yet
the fine Settlement on Conegochiegh is quite deserted & few
Inhabitants now remain beyond the South Mountain. What
an Opinion will this give you of our hardy & resolute Ger-
mans, Experience teaches us that they are possessed with much
the same Spirit as the Natives & that Bravery is by no means
their distinguishing Characteristic. It has been rumoured that
the Provincials will be scarcely able to proceed to Crown Point
this Season, they have suffered it seems a good deal from
Sickness & do not themselves entertain such sanguine hopes
of Success as they were used to do. You may observe in the
Gazette that there is room to hope Commodore Holmes has
taken some French Men of War off of Louisburg but We do
not always put entire Confidence in New England Fisher Men.
Since I received His Majesty's Declaration of War I have been
applied to for Letters of Marque which it is usual for Gov-
ernors as Vice-Admirals to issue in these Colonies but you will
be pleased to remember & remind His Ldp that I have no
Commission to act as Vice Admiral in this Province tho His
Ldp has appointed a Judge of the Court of Vice Admiralty.
I have myself undertaken to make out & with the Judges of
the Land Office to examine & authenticate a Rent Roll for this
County which I hoped to have compleated very shortly but this
extraordinary Session of Assembly will occasion some Delay
as I shall find but little time for such Business while they are
sitting. Inclosed you will see a Packett directed for Mr Iohn
Hide which is left open that you may if you will give Yourself
the trouble observe what a Task he desires to impose on me
upon the Hint you gave him concerning the Lands in Baltimore
County I am throughly convinced by his Conversation in
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p. 229
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London, His Transactions here & by the Letters & Papers
which I now return him that he is absolutely averse to selling
the Land or satisfying the Creditors & that all he endeavours
at is to save Appearances.
I find there is little owing from his Lands to My Ld, The
Farmers having made payment to His Ldp & whenever the
Land shall be occupied the Farmers will recover the Arrears
of Quit Rent. I have been unable as yet to get a Bill of
Excha for you or that of Parker's renewed, I am promised
one within these two or three Days but Capt Steuart waits for
my Letter & the Duplicate must be put on board a Vessel that
sails to Morrow, however I shall have an Opportunity of
transmitting it next Week & in the mean time am Sr &c.
P. S. Since writing the above I have got Bills for £110 wch
You will find inclosed.
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