Archives of Maryland, Volume 0009, Page 0060 - Correspondence of Governor Sharpe, 1757-1761

Correspondence of Governor Sharpe, 1757-1761

60 Correspondence of Governor Sharpe.

Letter Bk. III

Indian Enemies & did also after the Example that was set
by the Northern Govern^ts by an Act direct certain persons
called Agents to pay a fixed Sum for every Scalp which should
be brought in by them & deld up to any Magistrate it is not in
my power to put a Stop to this practice neither can I order
any of the Money that is so appropriated to be otherwise
applied, however if You will communicate to me by Letter
Your Sentiments on this point & set forth in strong Terms
the Impropriety of such a measure I will lay Your Letter
before the Assembly at our next Meeting & perhaps they will
be brought to approve of such a plan as you shall fit to
recommend. I would have You insist on the great Expence
that these Colonies will subject themselves to by continuing
the present Method as I am apt to think that such a Consid-
eration will have its weight with our People & I do not think
it would be amiss for you to observe that while the Indians are
encouraged to run from One place to another for Presents
their Service is lost to all of Us, You may also assure me
that His Majesty will expect us to conform to Your Regulation
with Respect to the Management of these Indians which will
justify me in insisting upon the Repeal of that part of our Act
whereby a Reward is allotted for such Scalps as shall be taken
by our Indian Allies & support the Arguments that I may
urge to persuade them to adopt Your Scheme. When the
Assembly met last I earnestly recommended it to them to
make some Provision for the payment of such Persons as I
should order to supply any of our Indian Friends that may
come to or pass thro the Province with such Victuals as they
may stand in need of but they would not grant any Sum of
Money for that purpose, Indeed they did as it were promise
to pay for any Provisions that should be did to them at Fort
Frederick but it is a Doubt whether M^r Ross will ever receive
any Allowance for what has been or shall be given to them at
Fort Cumberland. I should think that the best way for you
to carry your scheme effectually into Execution would be to
represent the propriety & Expediency of it to the Ministry &
if they shall be pleased to approve thereof the Governors of
these Provinces may expect to receive Instructions to pass no
Act relative to Indian Affairs unless it be entirely consonant
to Your plan, & to get any Act that has been already made
& interferes therewith repealed. I lately received a Letter
from Colo Stanwix wherein he pressed me to impower M^rCroghan to purchase & in my Name to deliver a Present to
the Cherokees that were then with him but I was obliged to
tell him that I could not comply with his Request as the
Assembly had not left any publick money to my Disposal.
When I gave Capt Pearis a Commission in our Provincials I

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Correspondence of Governor Sharpe, 1757-1761

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