Correspondence of Governor Sharpe. 139

Sessions to Both Houses of Assembly & by y^r messuages con⁶
framing a New Inspection Law wherein you observed to them
" that you could not with prudence & obedience you owed to
his Majesty & the Lord Proprietary give y^r Assent to a New
Bill w^h should rate the species of Coin mentioned in the
Statute of the sixth of Queen Ann, higher than they had been
rated by that statute as a Currency, because such Regulation
had been deemed in England to be repugnant to the said
Statute." tho this sound Doctrine, yet the Lo. H. Q^red y^r
Instructions? desired to see (their Sophistry) hoping on sight
to view something else, at least as might produce wrangle.
y^r answ^r Judicious keeping them to the Participle contained in
y^r speech on that matter of the staple of the Province, alike
is y^r just Doctrine " to provide for defficiences w^h may have
arisen from the Long continuance of the War & other incidents
viz. the claims of the Militia in actual Service & of other
Persons on the Public" By Law they are Bound to answ^r, if
refused to men who have ventured their Lives for their pro-
tection, the Law ought to take place p^r force, alike ag^t the
cruel devestations of the Savages: shall a handfull of People
comparatively speaking of a Large Body of People & by that
Body entrusted as their representives to Protect them, w^h by
Laws Divine & humane they ought to exert & see well per-
form'd, is it almost to be conceived that men so intrusted shall
hear of their Neighbours cruelly Butchered & deny their aid
to protect & defend: because of Squable bro^t by the ambition
& Self Interest of a few Leaders, who strive only to make use
of others by deciet to be their step Ladders to preferm^l then I
say if such be, Judgement would be justly falen upon them by
the Hands of the Savages in their Senate House. I hope all
cruditys may be bro^t to safe consistence. y^r Labour & conduct
in all affairs highly Hon^ble & just, the Harmony you have
recomended & the proceedings of the Up^r H. very meritorious.
And further con^g y^r Behaviour, June the 20^th I wrote you, not
rec^g any answ^r I deem that Let^r not rec^d. It was of & concern^g
a personal Audience His Majesty was graciously pleased to
Admit me alone with him ab^t an Hour. Inter Al. he spoke
of Maryland, " Ask'd if the Province was Quiet? I reply'd
yes, says he quite Quiet? I answ^d so please you Sir, save
such Persons as are in all Goverments of Discontented minds,
mischevious & too often thro self Intrest & Ambition, he
smild s^d " of that I know." he ask'd How the Gov^r pleased ?
I reply'd very well. He then said " What is your opinion of
him ? I reply'd That of a Person Brave & resolute & of real
Honesty & in the Due execution & Administration of
Goverm^t very adroit, all Deserving. (I also took the Liberty
to refer him of y^r character military to his Highness the Duke