that the Assembly will at their next Session be prevailed on
to repay what he shall so advance & likewise provide for
their farther Support. As soon as those of them that are at
Fort Frederick & on our Frontiers receive orders to march
westward which I expect they will in about three weeks, I
shall proceed to that Fort with two Companies of Militia &
use my best Endeavours to protect our Frontier Inhabitants
with them during the Continuance of the Expedition — As a
particular account of the many objections that the Gentⁿ of
our Upper House of Assembly made to the Supply Bill which
was offered them & of what the other Gentlemen urged in
Support of it could not be well comprized within the Bounds
of a Letter, I have declined entering into a Detail of them, but I
have transmitted a Copy of the Bill together with all the Pro-
ceedings of the two Houses of Assembly thereupon to the Lord
Proprietary that in Case you shall be pleased to call for them
or to require a more particular Account of the Proceedings of
our Assembly on this occasion they may be ready to be laid
before you. We are told by some Cherokee Indians that
have been lately in Sight of Fort Du Quesne that the Number
of the Enemy there at this time does not exceed four or five
hundred, most of whom go over the Ohio every Day & are
employed on a work that the French are building on the
western Side of the River about half a mile from their old
Fort.

Letter Bk. III

[St. Clair to Sharpe.]

Winchester May 21^st 1758
Dear Sir
I have this moment got your Letters, I am glad you are
come so near me, and hope you will come here to morrow to
help me to get out of many difficultys I labour under, that
done I hope to be able to go w^l you to fort Frederick.
I have not heard one word from M^r Pres^t Blair, which has
thrown this place in great disorder. You will meet 60 Indians
on their march to Shippensbourg to morrow. I am just
drinking your health with Col^o Washington and the Officers
of the Virginea Brigade. You'll not blame me for not writing
you a long Letter, for I will not detain your messanger.
I am with great truth
Dear Governour
Your most obedient and most
humble Servant
3 oclock John S^t Clair
To His Excelly Horatio Sharpe Esq^r Gov^r of Maryland.