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Correspondence of Governor Sharpe. 119
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this be the Consequence of our Troops being disbanded it will
in the End prove a lucky Event. You will see the method
that I propose to follow in an Extract of a Letter which I writ
to Colo Stanwix the Day after the Assembly broke up & in
some Copies of Letters &c which have been sent to the Col-
onels of Militia; the first four Companies go from Kent,
Queen Anns, Prince Georges, & Calvert Counties, & when
their two Months are expired they will be relieved by four
others from Cecil, Talbot, St Mary's & Baltimore. When two
Companies have marched from every County the Colonels
will be directed to call the Rest of their Captains together
again & to draw Lots once more, so that all Persons may
have an equal Chance & that there might be no Room to
complain of Partiality. If this Scheme is pursued (for as yet
I don't know whether the Earl of Loudoun will choose to have
the Assembly called again or not) I shall myself repair to Fort
Frederick in the Spring & no pains shall be spared that can
contribute to the Security of the Inhabitants & to render the
Militia expert & useful. Individuals will most certainly be
distressed by being taken even for two Months from their
Business & Families but I am persuaded that after a little use
many of the Difficulties that now occur will vanish: I will
endeavour as much as is in my power to render every thing as
easy to them as possible & if they shall have still reason to
complain of Hardships the Odium must fall on their Repre-
sentatives & indeed I have the Satisfaction to find already that
there are very few among the better sort of People who do
not condemn their Conduct.
Besides the Question, whether any of our Troops should be
subject to the Command of the Earl of Loudoun? You will
find when you come to see the Proceedings of the Assembly
this Session, that there was another started of as extraordinary
a nature, to wit, Whether the Lower House of Assembly may
not at any time send for my Secretary or (in their Language)
the Gentn that assists me in writing & compel him to answer
to such questions as they may at any time have the Curiosity
to ask. I beleive I need not say much to convince His
Lordship or Yourself of the Impropriety of my submitting to
a Claim or Demand of this Nature & I flatter myself that the
Steps I took on the occasion will meet with Your Approba-
tion. Tho it was not thought necessary to mention it in my
Message I think fit to intimate to you that altho Mr Ridout
had not my Leave to attend the Lower House of Assembly
yet that he first advised with the Gentn of the Upper House
that happened to be sitting when he was sent for. It was
supposed that the Lower House only wanted to ask him a
trivial Question or two about an Election that was contro-
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