Correspondence of Governor Sharpe. 101

against it to attack that Fort with the least Prospect of Success ;
& I doubt not but S^r Jeffery Amherst has before this time
effectually provided for the Defence & Security of the Forts
on the Lakes & Frontiers of New York & that he will soon
employ some of the Forces under his Command in such a way
as to recover the lost Posts & bring the Indians to Reason.
The Death of a very worthy Clergyman the Reverend M^r
Richard Harrison late Rector of S^t Lukes Parish in Queen

Anns County, and the Decease of the Reverend M^r Alex^r

Malcolm Rector of St. Pauls in the same County who had
been some time very infirm having vacated two large Parishes
in that County where there are two others very small called
St. Johns & Christ Church, I could wish as the two last lye at
so great a Distance that they cannot be united, that if His
Lordship approves thereof the Assembly might prepare a Bill
at their next meeting for making a new Division of that
County into three Parishes (instead of four) after such a
manner as may be most convenient for both the Parishioners
& the several Rectors. Till I can have the Satisfaction to
know His Lordship's pleasure with regard to this matter I
shall authorize the Reverend M^r Barclay Rector of St Peters
in Talbot County to officiate as Curate in S^t Lukes, & the
Rever^d M^r Keene Rector of this Parish to officiate in S^t Pauls
& will get M^r Dowie Rector of S^t Johns one of the small
Parishes abovementioned or some other Clergyman to officiate
here in M^r Keenes stead, & when the proposed Division of
Queen Anns County into three parishes if His Ldp approves
thereof shall be made I should be glad to have his permission
to induct into one of them the Rev^d M^r John Barclay, into
another the Rev^d M^r Sam^l Keene who is a Native of the Pro-
vince & has several near Relations in that County, & into the
Third the Reverend M^r Hugh Neal who is at present one of the
Society's Missionaries in Pennsylvania, but having some time
ago married a Daughter of Colonel Hopper (one of our
Assembly & who has in that Character behaved very well
towards me) he would be very glad to be settled in this Pro-
vince especially in Queen Anns County where all his Wife's
Relations reside. Should His Ldp approve of these Promo-
tions I would then recommend the Rev^d M^r Walker at present
Rector of all Hallows in this County to the Living of S^t Peters
in Talbot where he has a good House & Plantation & the
Reverend M^r Dowie at this time Rector of St. Johns to West-
minster Parish in this County.

Letter Bk. IV