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Correspondence of Governor Sharpe. 455
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General himself had hopes of any Assistance from this Prov-
ince when he wrote to me, nor perhaps does he want any.
However as the Gentlemen of the Lower House had in their
Answer to my Speech made Professions as usual of Loyalty &
a Desire to promote His Majesty's Service They Resolved that
the Sum of £32.000 should be granted, part of it for the sup-
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Letter Bk. IV
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port of 200 Men to be raised in pursuance of Genl Monkton's
Request, & the Residue towards paying off the Arrears that
are due to the Soldiers who were sometime ago in the Service
of this Province & to the Militia who served on the Frontiers ;
but then they Resolved likewise that this Money should be
raised by the same mode & Bill that hath been so often
rejected, or in other Words that altho they had Voted the
Sum abovementioned, They were determined it should never
be raised at all. This Bill of Theirs was sent Yesterday in the
Afternoon to the Upper House where I suppose it will be
read to Morrow & then returned with a flat Negative. This I
doubt not will be the Fate of it, nor do I expect that the Lower
House will proceed to any other Business this Session, indeed
it is a question whether they would be able to keep for three
Days longer a sufficient Number of Members to compose a
House, a great Number of the Representatives being detained
at home by indispositions or by their Families being sick,
for the Summer having been an exceeding wet & hot one,
almost every Body has suffered in their Health & many have
died; I was myself attacked about two months ago with a
very threatening Fever, from which however I am now per-
fectly recovered, but I am very apprehensive that we shall
lose Colo Tasker, it being now more than a Fortnight since he
has been confined to his Bed by a Fever which has never inter-
mitted. In case we should be deprived of him & you should
be advised of his Decease (for indeed I despair of his Recov-
ery) by any other Person's Letters before I can advise you
thereof, for perhaps some Gentleman or other may on such
an Event recommend himself & sollicit the Office which
the Colonel has enjoyed under you, I intreat it as a par-
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p. 134
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ticular Favour that you will not Confer it on any one, before
you are advised by my Letter of the Secretary's Office being
vacant, & I shall entertain hopes that my Recomendation in
such Case will have some Weight with you & not be disa-
greeable. I am much obliged to you for sending me that
Extract from the Report of the Lords of Trade on the Laws
that were passed last year in Pensa by Governor Denny & for
your Promise to send me a Transcript of the whole Report by
the first Opportunity; we are told however that notwithstand-
ing their Ldp's made such a Report on the Act granting
£100000 for His Majesty's Service young Mr Franklin has
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p. 135
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