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68 Correspondence of Governor Sharpe.
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Letter Bk. I.
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rogued our Assembly to the 16th of next July after a Session
of 3 weeks in which time I succeeded with them so far as to
procure the Sum of £500 for a present to be sent to the Six
Indian nations who are to be met in obedience to the Letter
from the Lords of Trade at Albany the 14th Inst, by Commis-
sioners from the several Governmts on the Continent. A Bill
also was sent from the Lower House with the specious Pre-
amble of being for His Majesty's Service, whereby the Sum of
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£3000 was to be granted for the support of the neighbouring
Colonies against any Attempts of the French or other hostile
Troops: but the old Clause concerning Hawkers & Pedlars
(whereby your Lordships Right to forfeitures is disputed) being
inserted therein & the Lower House in many Conferences
obstinately persisting that not the least Concession should on
their part be made with respect to that Article the Bill was
returned them with a negative & so the Affair Dropt. While
I am on this Topick I will beg leave to submit to your Lord-
ship's Consideration whether it be impracticable or improper
to fall on any method to put a Stop to such Perverseness as
might generally be perceived in the proceedings of our Lower
Houses of Assembly which is in great measure owing to the
short Duration of our Sessions which terminate at the end of
3 years: few Gentn will submit so frequently to the inconveni-
ences that such as canvass for Seats in that House must neces-
sarily subject themselves to; by which means there are too
many Instances of the lowest Persons at least Men of small
fortunes no Soul & very mean Capacities appearing as Repre-
sentatives of their respective Counties; As there would be no
want I apprehend of Gentn to appear as Candidates if the
Drudgery of Electioneering was to return less frequently. I
submit to your Lordships Wisdom whether there may be any
impropriety (if a more agreeable Choice of Members should
be made) in continuing the next Assembly for more years than
has been lately usual or customary — Your Ldp was pleased by
your Instructions to forbid the Removal of any lustices or
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Magistrates without your Ldps express Lycence or permission
but as several had crept into the Commission who were un-
qualified & vastly unworthy to be intrusted with such power as
is given by such Commission especially as the 600 Law has
now taken place I did presume when I issued the last Com-
mission to the several Counties (which is done annually) to
leave out such persons names as I was assured were improper
to be vested with any authority or power in your Ldp's Governt
& I cannot but mention to your Ldp a seeming Impropriety
with respect to the Judges or Magistrates of the supreme or
provincial Court, Several of the County Clerks who are in their
respective Counties as it were Servants of the Bench which is
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