of the 13^th June to think that I ought to reject it as encroaching
on His Majesty's Prerogative, If that is your Ldp's opinion
I shall refuse it without any hesitation, & perhaps such a Step
may have a good Effect.

[Sharpe to Stanwix.]

21^st Oct^r 1757 —
Sir
Since I received Capt Dagworthy's Letter of the 6^th Inst I
have been informed that the Cherokees who were then at
Fort Cumberland are returned home upon receiving Intelli-
gence that the French have begun to build on the Hogohegee
or Cherokee River. This has releived Capt Dagworthy from
the Anxiety that he seemed to be in upon Account of those
Indians & he will not I presume be visited by any more of
them while he remains at Fort Cumberland. He has I find
supplied this party with several Things that they stood in need
of hoping I should be able to procure him an Allowance for
the same, but as our Assembly will not be prevailed on to
appropriate any Sum generally for the Service or use of our
Indian Allies it will never be in my Power to reimburse him.
The Party of Cherokees that were here last Spring received a
Present to the Value of £300 from this Govern^t just before
you obtained one for them from Pensilvania & whenever any
of them shall kill an Enemy Indian & apply to this Govern^t
for a Reward Our Agents are obliged to pay them £50 or
send them Goods to that Amount, which is all that our People
will ever do for their Encouragement — As soon as Capt Dag-
worthy informed me that the Provisions which had been laid
in at Fort Cumberland were nearly expended I communicated
the Contents of his Letter to our Agents & desired them to
order him a fresh Supply but as they had no Money left in
their hands I was afterward obliged to address myself to the
Assembly & to represent to them the necessity of making
immediate Provision for the farther Support of the Troops
under Dagworthys Command. Inclosed I send you a Copy
of their answer to which I have made a Reply enforcing my
first Message; but I think they are obstinately determined
never to grant the smallest sum for the Support of any Troops
that shall be ordered to Fort Cumberland hereafter nor for
the support of any that are now there. They insist likewise
that the Troops which are at present in the Pay of this Prov-
ince shall be forthwith reduced to 300, & these 300 shall they