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Correspondence of Governor Sharpe. 247
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& what is due to him for Victualling all the Indians that have
been at this Place or Fort Cumberland since April 1757, like-
wise of what he has actually paid for Carrying Provisions to
Fort Cumberland ever since that place has been garrisoned
by Maryland Forces, which three Articles will amount I sup-
pose to near £3000 Currency & for this he only desired at
present £850 Stg which Your Excellency was pleased to agree
to advance & 'twas in Consequence of that Agreement & in
Expectation that you would have wrote to Mr Kilby or Mr
Howell to advance it that I drew on Mr Howell for that Sum.
I have endeavoured Sir to explain to you in the clearest
manner what I have done in Consequence of the Proposals
made by Your Excellency & Mr Kilby as I understood them ;
You have learnt from Dr Ross's Letter what Difficulties he
has been brought into, it has been given out it seems in
Philaa that he & I together intended & endeavoured to
defraud Mr Howell of a very considerable Sum & I doubt not
but Doctor Ross's being imprisoned will put the matter
beyond all Dispute with many in this Province at least all the
Doctor's Enemies & mine will seem to believe it, & indeed
this will be using us very generously if I compare it with what
happened here some time since when an occasion was taken
from my coming with a Party of Militia to the Frontiers to
propagate a Report in several Parts of the Province that I was
actually gone to Fort Du Quesne to join his Majesty's
Enemies. I could mention some more Instances to convince
you that the Doctors Anxiety about the Consequences of his
being imprisoned on this occasion as for an intended Fraud is
not without Reason, His Enemies in the Lower House of
Assembly are not few & he has probably many Rivals in
Trade that would be glad of an Opportunity to injure his
Credit; but not to detain the Express any longer or keep the
Doctor longer in Suspence than was unavoidable I shall only
add that if a most earnest Desire to promote His Majesty's
Service, if an Inclination to oblige all with whom he has been
concerned or if the strictest honesty could have kept him out
of Prison he would not at this time be in Custody at Phila"
the Attendance he has been obliged to give at Annapolis,
here, at Carlyle & at Philaa this Summer in order to get a
part of what is most justly due to him & for the payment
whereof both the Earl of Loudoun & General Stanwix engaged
has made him neglect his Business in such a manner that he
must be a great Sufferer & the Ships which he should have
loaded with Tobacco before this time may probably for want
of his presence at home be detained after the Convoy sails
for Europe. These Considerations will I am persuaded
incline Your Excellency to write to Mr Howell in such Terms
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Letter Bk. III
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