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Correspondence of Governor Sharpe. 101
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& thereby to exempt themselves & their Constituents from all
Taxes whatever, that in fact it is the most equitable Way of
raising Money in this Colony that can be proposed because
as our Estates consist for the most part in Servants & Negroes
those who have most property pay the greatest Share of the
Tax, that the Assembly Men's Wages (which amounts annu-
ally to a considerable Sum) & other Publick Charges are
always paid pr defrayed by a Poll Tax, that by a perpetual
Law of this Province it is enacted & provided that whenever
the Govr shall find it necessary to order the Militia to march
for the Defence of the Province a Poll Tax shall be laid for
the Payment of such Militia, and that they shall not be paid
after any other manner whatever. These Hints you will make
use of as you may have occasion. I can truly say that Nothing
would have given me so much Pleasure as the Assemblys
making the Interposition of Parliament unnecessary but really
if an Act of Parliament is not made for us very shortly instead
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Letter Bk. I.
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of reducing the Power of the French in America which if these
Colonies exerted themselves properly might be easily done
We shall be ready to fall a Prey to their first Attempts I am
sorry to send you such an Account of the Fleet that was
ordered to America last Summer as you will find in the
inclosed Paper; We do not hear whether the French Squad-
ron is yet returned to Europe, but I beleive such a Piece of
Intelligence would at this time be very acceptable to the In-
habitants of the Principal Towns in the Northern Colonies.
If the Wind should not serve to carry this Vessel out of Po-
tuxent within these two or three Days I shall endeavour to
get other Letters on Board, & if I should be deprived of that
opportunity I shall not fail to send some by the next Packet
& by a Vessel that is to sail from this Port in a Fortnight or
three Weeks.
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p. 317
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[Lord Colville to Sharpe.]
Sr
As I am directed by my Instructions to correspond with
you on his Majesty's Service; I take this first opportunity of
acquainting your Excellency, that I am appointed Commander
in Chief of his Majesty's Ships and Vessels in North America.
And that you may be acquainted with our Strength in these
Parts, I subjoin a List of the Ships in this Harbour: I omit
those appointed to particular Stations; because as yet, I am
not acquainted with the Orders they may be under, or the
Service they may be upon.
By Mr Secretary Pitt's Letter to you of the 19th of last
February, I am encouraged to apply to your Excellency, for
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Original.
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