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430 Correspondence of Governor Sharpe.
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Letter Bk. IV
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the Gift of the Crown, that by means of a great Number of
Burroughs Many of the Gentn who enjoy those Offices get
returned to Parliament, that it is the Interest of almost all the
Lawyers in the Kingdom to defend the measures that are
pursued by the Govt & one cannot be surprized that the Govt
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p. 118
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or Ministry should have always a Majority in the House of
Commons, but in this Province Affairs are very differently cir-
cumstanced; & the Majority of the People who elect the Lower
House being ignorant of the Necessity of Supporting Governt
at all, being Levellers in their Principles & impatient of Rule
commonly choose Persons of their own Stamp, & when the
Lower House is in a great Measure composed of such Men,
what Wonder if a Majority implicitly follows those few among
them who having better Abilities than themselves are incited
either by Ambition Resentment or any other like Motive to
oppose the Measures of Governt & render those uneasy who
are entrusted with the Administration. That many of the
present Leaders in the Lower House have been spurred on
by Resentment at being either displaced or as they conceived
neglected is most notorious, they were in hopes that if they
could thereby convince His Ldp or myself of their Importance
& power to do Mischief they should then make their own
Terms (such having been heretofore the Consequences of the
same measures) but as they have at length found that their
Schemes have failed of Success & that His Ldp is not to be
terrified nor His Lieut. Govr disposed to sue for a Truce, I am
well persuaded they heartily repent of what they have done &
that a few years more ill Success will not only dispirit them
but also deter others from Treading in the same Steps. The
only Way then in my Opinion for His Ldp to obtain a solid &
lasting Influence, & the measure I would advise him to was I
now writing my last Letter is to appear steady & resolute, to
reward as far & as often as it is in his Power those who behave
themselves well, but never bribe any of those who endeavour
to carry their Points by Violence to desist or forbear; Let His
Ldp & those in Authority under him pursue such Measures
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p. 119
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as they will always be able to justify & in the End I will engage
that a vast Majority of the Upper Class of People will become
Friends to His Ldp & well wishers to his Governt A few of
these Gentlemen are already in the House & was the War
once brought to a Conclusion so that there would be no
farther Obligation on me to convene the Assembly so often in
order to sollicit Supplies & ask for Money, with which the
People in general are as loth to part as with their Lives I
should flatter Myself that Things would soon put on a very
different Face & all publick Business be transacted with as
much Order & Regularity as it was ever carried on in any
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