to obviate that Difficulty I have now wrote to Mr Calvert on
the Subject & have at the same time taken the Liberty to tell
him that it does appear a little extraordinary to many here
that in six years time it should never be in my Power to shew
my Regard for my Secretary otherwise than by diminishing
my own proper Income especially as that has been rendered
by the Consequences of this War much less considerable than
I expected it would be at the time that I left England. Mr
Ridout on his part is not wanting in Gratitude for your kind
Intentions to serve him & I earnestly hope his wishes will be
soon accomplished, the Collector Mr Deacon is so old &
infirm as to be incapable of transacting any Business & would
I believe immediately resign his office for a moderate Con-
sideration which it will be much better for Mr Ridout to give
than run the Risk of being disappointed by any Accident that
might happen while he waits for the Collectorship's becoming
vacant; I know not what Steps must be taken in order to get
a Commission issued nor can I make Enquiry here lest others
should be apprized of my Intention & make Application in
favour of their Friends but I dare say Governor Dinwiddie
can give you thorough Information & I am persuaded that he
will out of Regard to Mr Ridout who is known to him as well
as to oblige me do any thing in his power to procure the
Commission as soon as an Order for it shall be obtained. I
am glad to find that Lord Loudoun has not forgot the
Promise he made me before he left America, the money that
he means is what is due to the Maryland Troops for their
Services from the 8th of Octr 1757 to last April they having
been induced to keep together during that time by the
Promises which Ld Loudoun & General Forbes desired me
to make them that if the Assembly should decline paying them
They would certainly procure them payment from home. I
have recommended it to the Officers that survive (for several
of the Officers & many of the Men were cut off or died last
Campaign & since, they having been always much exposed as
Rangers in which Capacity they were of excellent Service to
General Forbes) to get their Accounts made up as soon as
possible which I have promised to transmit to Mr Pitt & I will
likewise send a Copy thereof to the Earl of Loudoun. It is
but very lately that we have been free from Apprehensions
about Pittsburg, our Garrison there was in my last reduced to
their last meal while several Parties of the Enemy at the same
time appeared on the Communication or between the several
Forts which have been built on this Side Pittsburg & beyond
the inhabited Parts of Pensilva but we are told that sufficient
Supplies of Provisions have been now carried & are still carry-
ing out & that General Stanwix is far advanced on his march
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Letter Bk. III
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