118 Correspondence of Governor Sharpe.

Letter Bk. IV

Ldp's private Interest or Affairs in the Province. As I learn
from the Colonel that he is about to make you a very large
Remittance by Captain Love I suppose he will by the same
Opportunity transmit all such Accounts as it is possible for
him at this time to get ready. The Bills of Exchange which I
remitted to you in my Letter dated the 23^d of April last having
amounted to no more than £123 2 6 instead of £12 5, I now
inclose you Bills for the sum of £126 17 6 & am with the
greatest Regard &c.

Letter Bk.III

[Sharpe to Egremont]

To The Right Honble The Earl of Egremont. Annapolis
the 4^th Oct^r 1763.
My Lord
In obedience to His Majesty's Commands communicated
to me by Your Lordship's Letter of the 9^th of July I embrace
this opportunity to acknowledge my Receipt thereof & of the
Act of Parliament, His Majesty's Order in Council a List of
the King's Ships stationed in America & a Copy of Instruc-
tions that were at the same time transmitted to me, by which
I perceive that in order to enforce a punctual Obedience to
the several Acts of Parliament which have been at different
times made to regulate the plantation Trade & prevent Frauds
here in His Majesty's Customs a Number of the King's Ships
are ordered to North America to cruize along the Coast, &
that Authority & full Instructions are given to the Officers as
well as great Encouragement to both them & their respective
Crews to put an entire Stop to all contraband Trade whatever
in these parts of His Majesty's Dominions. Sensible how
much it must be the true Interest of every honest Trader here
as well as a general Advantage to Great Britain that all illicit
Trade in these Colonies should be prevented, particularly the
Importation from foreign Ports of such European Commodi-
ties as can be legally imported only from Great Britain, I
have always as was my Duty used my utmost Endeavours to
prevent such Commerce within this Government. Very few
if any of the Inhabitants of this Province were I am persuaded
concerned in any illicit Trade except the Exportation of a few
Hhds of Tobacco in very small Vessels to the Neighbouring
Colonies or by Land to Pennsylvania which it was not in my
power altogether to prevent tho I spared no pains to do so,
but if the Officers who have the honour to serve His Majesty
on board the station'd Ships will send their Tenders or Cutters
from time to time up Delaware River & within the Bay of
Cheseapeak I am in hopes that an effectual Stop will be now
put also to that Trade. It being lawful to import foreign