[Sharpe to Forbes.]

F. F. the 2 i^st of Aug^st 1758.
S^r
In Consequence of the Quere proposed in Your Letter of
the 1 6^th Inst I sent an Officer immediately down the country
to try the Disposition of the Militia who writes me that about
250 Voluntiers have offered their Service to go with me &
take possession of Fort Cumberland for 3 weeks or a month.
If approved of I propose to be there on Friday or Saturday next
come Sen'night or any time after that Your Excellency shall
appoint. It will necessary for me to have Your Excellency's
order to the Commissary for supplying the Officers & Men
with Provision likewise a power to purchase some Salt Vinegar
& Pepper & to give each man a Jill of Rum a Day. As it will
not be in my power to keep these People together after the
Expiration of the time agreed upon I am well satisfied Your
Excellency will order us Relief accordingly your Packet was
delivered to M^r Smith the Commanding Officer at Winchester
& sent Express from thence to Williamsburg on Saturday last
I am &c.

Shippensburg 23^d August 1758.
Dear Sir
The Enclosed Letters have given me great uneasiness, as I
am sure they will do the same to you; It is Indeed greatly
owing to a mistake of my own, or rather my Sickness, that
prevented my Writing fully upon this Head to M^r Kilby or
M^r Howell, and sending Credit for the Moneys Drawn above
the isoo£ Sterling that M^r Kilby had ordered payment for;
and I really Imagined that I had not presumed upon his
paying any more, except the Difference betwixt the 6oo£ Ster-
ling, & the 85o£ which I Imagined would meet no Stop,
having Desired Major Halkett to write so to M^r McAdam, his