Correspondence of Governor Sharpe. 137

Rents; I think it was upon my Brother Benedict's arrival into
the Province as L^t Gov^r that Bill was by him reserved & the
Power of receipt of Quit re-asumed according to each parti-
cular Grants; in ab^e two or three years this scheme of Gov^r
Harts raised the Lord Proprietors Revenue w^h had only
yeilded in the best year ab^t £1400 p^r ann. was arrived to ab^t
£7000 p^r Ann: Note by the Quit Rent Bill the Bill of com-
position in Lieu of demands of Quit Rent also was concluded
to be paid I^s per hogshead to the Gov^r by Virtue of his
demand by a provincial Law passed in Queen Anne to her &
her Heirs as Kings or Queens of Great Britain to them &
their Successors for support of the Gov^r I think passed in
1704, this Act the Lo. H. growls at, ag^t the Proprietor his use
for his L^t Gov^r & so they may Growl as Long as Goverm^t
Lasts: no Goverm^t is so weak as to reject Support confirmed
by Representatives to the Crown it self. Another special
matter the Lo. H. declare ag^t his Lord^ps Tunnage, they say &
People from thence & here whisper by act the word Fort
Duty not belonging to his Lord^p I have answ^d on such
instances: you Novice, have you read the Tun. Act? No,
then don't believe hearsay, it was tryed in King W^m the 3^d'^s
reign, adjuged no fort Duty the word Fort not mentioned in
the Act & upon tryal by his Majesty in Council, by report made
& adjudged to the sole use to the Lord Proprietors Benefit
Entered in the King's Council Books & from thence recorded
as such in the provincial Council Books, search & you'l
find the Enterance of this Tryal & determination in the pro-
vincial Books. I was doubtful of, caused my writing to you
con^g Q^re on the Provincial Books & Q^re ab^t the word Fort ? if
Port in the Act? there Entered by you confirm is, by word
Port in the Act, gives me intire Satisfaction Both as to the
stability of the Act for Support of Goverm^t & of the Tunnage
Act, not in the clutches of the Lo. H. to alter. Note : I pray
learn Again. ab^l reserved Land in & ab^t Citys & Towns.
M^r Penn says, he has been strict in that point & of such
instant has been suffered he thinks but one, the market place
at York Town belon^g to Gov^r Hamilton. By Acc^t Philadelphia
City by the Tenure of that City he has secured to him & his
Heirs much reserved Property that brings him much income
Now, w^h in time & not very Long will produce to him & will
to his Heirs immense Revenue. Baltimore City said is so far
advanced to vie with Philadelphia in Traffick, its scituation is
by the run of a Large deep fresh stream, not subject to the
Bite of the worm or water Insect flowting in Sea Water, the
ruin to ships Bottoms, the Traffick to that City must greatly
increase, of course in Buildings: the extention of Traffick must
be considerable, the produce of the N. W. part of Maryland,