[Sharpe to Wm. Sharpe.]
Frederick Town, the 27th of May 1758.
Dr Br
We hear that Admiral Boscawen is sailed from Hallifax
for Louisburg with upwards of 13000 Land Forces; & that
General Abercromby with about 5000 Regulars & 14000 or
15000 Provincials has left Albany & is advancing towards
Crown Point; but when Brigadier Forbes will move with his
Army I cannot tell for neither Montgomery's Battalion from
Carolina nor the Artillery & Stores that were expected from
Europe are yet arrived & altho the Pensilvanians have very
nearly compleated their 3000 Men & the Virginians their
2000 yet it will be a long time before they will be armed &
equipped, as the Assemblies relying on Mr Secretary Pitt's
Letter have not made any Provision for that purpose. Upon
our Assembly's breaking up without impowering me to raise
the Quota of Men that was expected from this Province or
granting a Sum of money to support the 5 Companies that
were raised here last year & have continued ever since in our
Service, Brigadier Forbes has engaged to pay them from this
time to the End of the Campaign; they are to march west-
ward in about a Fortnight & I am from that time to garrison
Fort Frederick & protect our Frontier Inhabitants in the best
manner that I can with Militia. The General intends I find to
make a Demand on us when the Assembly meets again for
the Pay that he has already advanced to our Troops or that
he shall advance them while he has occasion for their Ser-
vice; but I suppose he will find his Demands regarded as
little as the Secretary of States Letter. I doubt not indeed
but the Assembly will as usual profess the utmost Readiness
on their Part to comply with the General's Requisition & to
do every thing that can be reasonably desired of them but
I am thorowly convinced that they will never grant any
Money for that or any other purpose unless upon Terms
which they know the Upper House will never agree to, &
which if they would I am peremptorily forbidden by my
Instructions to accept. I should tire your Patience were I
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Letter Bk. III
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