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Correspondence of Governor Sharpe. 33
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the Spring till they march'd to Fort Loudoun, & I am sorry if
the Provisions occasion'd any Sickness among Your People.
I do not consider the Concern You may have in victualling
Your Men, but only the Agreemt between us; I think it wrong
to ask payment for Provisions the People will not touch, but
this Objection shou'd have been made on Delivery; & the
Quantity that was to be left at the Fort was not objected to at
Philadelphia, but the same Quantity was to be replac'd at
Fort Loudoun: If Your Contractor had been at Fort Cum-
berland when our Forces march'd from thence Ct Dagworthy
wou'd have had no occasion to give his Receipt, but on his
Receipt is the Foundation of the Demand: As to a second
Review of the Provisions, it's needless, if bad then, they must
be worse now after so much hot Weather, but if truly inform'd,
the Beef has been entirely destroy'd. — What I aim at in
troubling You so much on this Affair is to pacify the Clam-
ours of our People; & what I now desire is, that You will please
give Directions to replace the other Species not complain'd
of. I cannot send You Copy of our Act of Assembly, the
Press being entirely employ'd in printing new Paper Cur-
rency but inclos'd You have Copy of an Extract, which I
thought necessary to disperse thro' the Country for raising
our Men when the other is printed I shall send it You — they
voted 3000 to supply the Indians with Provisions, Cloathing
and Presents; but we have had so many lately that, that will
soon be deficient in supplying them.
I am glad Your Officers are so successful in raising Men,
I cannot yet inform you of our success, but I understand there
will be a great many this Week at Fredericksburg.
I have been surpriz'd with Acct of a great Body of French
& Indians marching from Fort Du Quesne with a Train of
Artillery, which made me order the Militia of eight contiguous
Counties to Fort Loudoun but lately I am inform'd a Body
of them are on their March, but no Artillery with them;
it's absolutely necessary to observe their Motions, as they are
reported very numerous.
I have a Letter from Lt Govr De Lancey; dated N York the
3d acquainting me that Sr Chas Hardy embark'd the Day
before with all the Transports under his Comand, but does
not mention Ld Loudoun, I hear he went by Land to Boston,
to forward the Embarkation of their Troops.
I am sorry to observe another Change in our Ministry, a
certain Sign of the Weakness of our Constitution; from
Scotland it's said Duke of Bedford & Earl of Sandwich are
Secretaries of State, Earl of Winchelsea at Head of the
Admiralty & Mr Fox Pay Master General.
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