562 Correspondence of Governor Sharpe.

I have so many Friends at Annapolis that I will not name
one in particular but desire to be remember'd to all, & am with
great Regard.
Your most Sincere Friend &
Servant
W. Morris

original. [Morris to Sharpe.]

Crown Point Oct^r 6^th 1759.
Dear Sir.
I thank you for the Favour of your Letter dated the 5^th
Sept^r & to convince you of the Pleasure I have in hearing
from my Friends at Annapolis, I take the first opportunity
to renew the Correspondance, & wish my Epistle contain'd
some Account, either of having beat the Enemy or gain'd
some important Pass, neither of which is the reason of my
writing at present, though it may be shortly.
It is the Opinion of Every Body that the General always
did & still does design to go forward but I doubt much
whether he will be able; The want of Shipping on the Lake
of equal Force to the French (who have five Sloops & Brigs
&c) has hitherto prevented us, & must delay us a few Days
longer, as some of them are still on the Stocks, neither are our
Batteaux of a proper strength, or Form for this Lake, as tis
reported to be 20 miles broad in some Places & a very high
Sea runs, in a hard Gale, so much for Ships.
Now suppose us got to the Enemy, who are intrench'd very
strongly on the Isle de Noix ab^t eighteen miles on this side
S^t Johns, tis not certain whether they have not some work of
consequence, for they have at least sixty pieces of Cannon
mounted, & must be attack'd by regular Approaches, for
which we shall have very good weather, as this is the best
season of the year to undertake a Siege to the Northward not
to mention, that the Land on Each side of the Island is an
intire Swamp for some miles; as well as the Channells of the
Lake on each side the Island, being very narrow, & defended
by the Hull of a Ship, which are made into Batteries.
Add to this that the Fort here is not half tenable & requires
at least six weeks to make it so, with all the Troops present,
who are constantly employ'd, our numbers decreasing every
Day, by the sickness among the Provincials, & the winter
advancing very fast, now Judge for yourself whether 'tis of
more consequence to maintain & strengthen our Frontiers by
fortifying this important pass or to leave it unfinished to go
attack the Enemy in the above mention'd situation a very
enterprising man would say if Fortune should favour our L