Correspondence of Governor Sharpe. 139

Men with the greatest Expedition, so that they may be ready
to march to such places as the Commander in Chief shall
direct. In Consequence of which orders I do now apply to
you to use your utmost Endeavour with your Council and
Assembly to furnish a Body of four hundred good Men and
that as many of them as possible should be used to ranging,
to act in Conjunction with his Majesty's Forces the next
Spring in carrying on vigorous and offensive Measures against
the Enemy over and above what is necessary for the Defence
of your own Forts on the Frontiers of your Province, and this
Body should be ready to march by the Beginning of April.
As this will occasion the raising an additional Number to
what your Province now have I would propose to you that the
Addition should be raised only for the Campaign, and to be
dismissed at the End of it, by which Means I am of opinion
that it will not only be less expensive to the Province but you
will the sooner compleat your Quota with good Men as they
will be enabled to return to their own Habitations in the
Winter.
I am the further induced to expect that they will readily
comply with this Request that I will as soon as they join his
Majesty's Forces supply them with the Kings Provisions at the
Expence of the Crown which will greatly ease the Province in
that material Article, and as the Service I propose to employ
them on, will be an immediate Benefit and security to your
Province, I need use no Arguments to induce you who are so
well acquainted with the Interest of this Country to use your
utmost Endeavours to forward this Measure so essential for
carrying on the War and the Safety of your own province.
I am with great Regard Sir,
Your most obedient humble Servant
To Gov^r Sharpe. Loudoun

[Sharpe to Denny.]

22^d Feb^y 1758
S^r
Lieut' Col^o Haldiman having informed me that he is about
to send a party of Men to Phil^a with some Deserters I
have desired him to charge them likewise with Joseph Le
Plante a French Cadet that was sometime ago taken near
Fort Cumberland & I must beg the Favour of you to have
him lodged in Your Prison till the Commanding Officer at
Phila^a shall receive orders from the Earl of Loudoun con-
cerning him I have at the Instance of His Ldp given the
Assembly the Assembly of this Province one more oppor-
tunity of providing if they think proper for the Support of the