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446 Correspondence of Governor Sharpe.
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Letter Bk. III
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am told an Invaleed. The Salary annexed to this Office is
£90 a Year but the Perquisites are not so considerable as
those which are paid to the Collector of Potowmack, it being
usual for most of the Vessels that Trade to Delaware either
to Enter at Lewis Town which lies at the Mouth of that River
or to run up & enter at Philaa Now as Newcastle is not more
than about 80 Miles from this Place & the Road an exceed-
ing good one so that one might if one pleased go thither in
a Day, it would be as easy for Mr Ridout could he obtain it to
superintend that Office as it is for Mr Wolstenholme (who also
lives here) to superintend the Collector's Office on Potowmack
& there could be no Difficulty in getting a good Person at
Newcastle to officiate as a Deputy; if therefore upon consid-
ering this Matter You shall think my Brother William after
what hath passed would apply for this Collectorship Be so
kind as to Communicate to him what I have written concern-
ing it. It is no uncommon Thing in America for Custom
House Officers to have Leave to act by Deputy; The Col-
lectors Office at Philaa in particular hath been many Years
executed in that manner, & in this Province Mr Calvert (not to
mention Mr Wolstenholme) hath Deputies at Potuxent &
Oxford (which are Ports within his District) who transact the
whole Business at those Places & prove the Accounts that are
by him transmitted to the Commissioners of the Customs.
How such Indulgence or Leave is to be obtained whether
from the Lds Commissioners of the Treasury or the Com-
missioners of the Customs Govr Dinwiddie could inform You,
if it is in the power of the Surveyor Genl in N America to
grant such Indulgence I could obtain it in Mr Ridouts favour
without any Difficulty Submitting then to Your Considera-
tion what I have said I shall quit this Subject by Desiring you
to accept Mr Ridouts grateful Acknowledgments & my Thanks
for the kind Endeavours You have already taken to bring
about the Accomplishment of his Wishes. Your Letter dated
the 10th of January with a Copy of Messrs Hanburys Accot
inclosed I received some time ago. The Affair of the six
Hhds of Tobo & my Excha on Mr Bell for £10 in Br Joshua's
favour must still remain unsettled, I mean that I cannot either
instruct you to refund the £34. 10. 9 which you say you have
received from Mr Bell as the nett Proceeds of those Six Hhds
(tho I see no such Article in either of the Accounts that You
transmitted to me) nor to present the said Bill of Exchange
for Acceptance, till Mr Bell's Agent or Factor here sends me a
Copy of Mr Bell's account which he promised to do several
months ago but hath not yet performed his Promise, however
if You have received that £34. 10. 9 I am on the safe Side. I
am obliged to You for giving me a Hint how I may please
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