Correspondence of Governor Sharpe. 141

upon paym^t in Law, which must anihilate the valuable conse-
quence of all such Paper Curren^y Their Lord^ps procedure
arises from the Issuing of Cur^y in the Colonies too often for
want of a valuable Staple not answerable to sterling, & where
the security will answ^r, then art is made use of to depreciate
the paym^l & then by refusal accepting paym^t if taken at an
enormous discount, thus have they ground the poor, after
drawing them into Acceptance of Cur^y & this by all acc^ts from
the Colonies & here is said has been villainously practised.
Instance the Maryland Curr^y next Sep^t to be paid off by sale
of Bank Stock, by Fund secured in an annual Duty on
Tobacco hogsheads with additional relief to the Inhabitants in
case of Loss of shiping during the existance of the Act, then
by the Act the Lord Proprietor consented re-exchange Duty
ffree such Loss on him. (I could exemplife how unreason-
able) if I am right the present Loan to be paid is £6000
Sterl^g to whom, but to almost infamous Jobbers, — little cur-
rency has had circulation, the utility prevented, Lock'd up in
the hands of merciless wretches that grind the very Poor,
set up patriotism & Popularity, make step Laders of the
many unthinking for their Ambition & self Interest, when
obtained Leave them in the Lurche, sell them as Cattle at
Market, eat their all. But to return to the Cur^y to be paid.
It may so happen the Fund in Bank stock may not yeild com-
pleat on sale £60000 sterl^g by reason of the Bank stock value
before the War in price purchase 148 p^r hund^d £ stock since
from various accidents during the war subject to various
prices. Non-obstante, the fund may turn out Equilibrum by
interest money added to it & by the annual produce of the
Duty to supply the Fund bo^t in at various times at Law. Ebb
of Bank Stock, once I believe under 90 £ now at a £ 117 £
p^r hundred sterling, the Loss if any can't be much: be it as it
may happen, it can be no Loss to the Base who have per-
. chased & Lock it up, 'tis said all at a most enormous disc^t no
pretence no plea to consider such Loss, no Loss to such mis-
creants who by perchase will gain almost the value sterl^g this
is hoped the real Conscience of the Up^r House will well
digest, expose the miscreants & their actions & not suffer to
pass them an Act for further continuance to amend such Base
ill-gotten Lucre, which by New Bill will be a cruel imposition
& Loss Both to his L^p & his Hon^ble Tenants: he will Dissent
to such Bill, the original Bill articled under many circum-
stance comtemptuous to the Late Lords rights with Effron-
tery: grounded by Gov^r Ogle to gain him Popularity. The
very American Agents could not deny the charge of Knavery
by the colonies. When summons to the Board of Trade, they
all acknowledge the wickedness of the miscreants, their only