already given, or to what I told you when you were lately at
Annapolis but since your Men or most of them persist in their
Refusal to march I hereby command and enjoyn you forth-
with to certifie to the next Magistrate the Names of all those
that refused to march unless they will now obey your Orders,
and I do moreover command you to proceed without Delay
to Fort Frederick with such of your Officers and Men as
should be willing to march tho' they should be no more than
ten or even a less Number, you will not I hope regard the
idle and false Reports of some discontented, disaffected, or
dastardly People or make them an Excuse from pursuing the
Orders given you by your Commanding Officer: if the People
have (as 'tis said) been made to believe that if you decline
sending to a Magistrate the Names of those that refuse to
march they will from that Circumstance escape with Impunity
they will find themselves deceived, for since my Orders are
issued I must insist on the Law's being obeyed, and I flatter
myself you will not hereafter fail to do your Duty, especially
when you are assured that none of the Men of whom your
Company consists will therefrom receive the least Benefit.
I am &c.
To Captain Peregrine Browne H: S:

[Sharpe to Colvill.]

28^th Jan^y 1758
My Lord
I am favoured with your Letter dated the 14^th of Novem^r
whereby you were pleased to advise me of your being
appointed to command All His Majesty's Ships & Vessels in
N America & to desire a Supply of Sailors & Land men from
this Province. I hope your Ldp will believe that if it had been
in my power I should have most readily complied with your
Requisition but really My Lord it is absolutely impossible to
get a Number of Seamen here at this time by any means
whatever. Our Trade except to Great Britain is as the
Assembly have expressed themselves on this occasion very
inconsiderable & employs but a few small Vessels; the
Trade to Great Britain is carried on by Ships that are sent
hither annually from British Merchants & it has happened
during the present War that many of the Seamen who navi-
gated those from Europe have been either impressed on their
Arrival within the Capes of Virginia or have travelled to the
northward & engaged in Privateering soon after they had
brought their Vessels into Port, & at this time two Vessels
bound to England remain here for want of Hands tho their
Cargoes have been on board some Months. With Regard to