Correspondence of Governor Sharpe. 517

that in order to raise such Supply a Bill should be brought in
similar in every respect to that which the Upper House had
already refused seven times, for the Reasons which I took the
Liberty briefly to mention in my Letters dated the 18^th of May
1758, the 18^th of April 1759 & 14^th of April 1760. After the
Lower House had come to such a Resolution I had no hopes
of the Assemblys doing the Business for which I had convened
them being assured that after what had passed in so many
successive Sessions the Upper House would not give their
assent to such a Bill, nevertheless I did not choose to pro-
rogue them till the abovementioned Bill having been returned
with a Negative the Majority of the Members in the Lower
House by a Vote expressed their Resolution to grant no Sup-
plies by any other Mode whatever to which Resolution as I
have intimated in former Letters I apprehend they will adhere
being I am apt to think persuaded that the greater Number of
their Constituents would not be well pleased at being now
burthened with any new Taxes. These being my real Senti-
ments I humbly submit the same to Your Consideration & am
with the utmost Respect, Sir

[Sharpe to Calvert]

Annapolis 10^th May 1761. transmitted by
Sir
You will I hope before this comes to hand have received my
Letters dated the 19^th & 30^th of last Month as well as two
which I addressed to you the 5^th & 6^th Inst. the last of them
just to inform you that as I found there was no probability of
the Assembly's doing the Business for which they had been
convened I had by Advice of the Council prorogued them &
as it will be three years next Oct^r since the last general Elec-
tion I shall not I suppose ever meet this Assembly again, nor
do I imagine there will be any occasion if the Secretary of
State & His Majesty's Generals make no more Demands on
us for Men or Money for my convening any Assembly again
at soonest before next Spring, in which Interval that Fire
which hath been kept alive by the frequent Sessions we have
had lately would I doubt not be in a great measure extin-
guished. In my Letter of the 30^th of April I intimated to you
the Reason why the Lower House refused to join with the
Gentlemen of the Upper House & Myself in the Address of
Condolence & Congratulation to His Majesty which we had
offered them; for your better Information I now transmit you
Copies of several Messages & Addresses that passed between
me & the two Houses on that Subject, by one of which you
will perceive that after the Committee appointed by both