Correspondence of Governor Sharpe. 143

by My Lord, if M^r Lloyd offers to relinquish the Employ
prevail with him to keep the office till a person is appointed.
If any thing falls in the interim give it to Walter Dulany. the
Naval officer of Patuxent Port may be time e'r vacant, (as to
Rec^r Gen^l his Lord^p wil object to him in that) The Examin^rs
office to M^r Scott joined with clerk of the Council to him has
occasioned much coil, duplicity as said to a foreigner, as the
adversarys are pleased to style, he & M^r Ridout have caused
very unreasonable Compl^t & given me much trouble to defend
their preferm^l I hope you & the Up^r House will not suffer
any Bill to pass for the Enroling of Deeds &c^a unless specifyed
the Alienation Fine to be paid, what is good for the Goose is
good for the Gander (tis a Homely proverb But a true one)
The Bill of Ordinary Licences &c^a is or near Expiration his
Lord^ps expects that Bill if Re-enacted some advantage will
accrue to him. That right has been so before & is upon
Ancient Record in the Province the Power of granting
Licences by the L^d Proprietor Vide in 1664 the Hon^ble Charles
Calvert then Gov^r did grant Lycences for 3 years in 1674
he Issued his Proclamation thro' the Counties to the sev-
eral Bailwicks. Vide Message from the Lo. house in 1674
& Vide Acts in 1717. 1723. to 1726 these are Testimonies of
his Lord^ps rights. I expect him home by midsumer. on his
arrival I will laye these matters before him & advise to take
such measures for the Establishment of his rights & 'tis best
to have his Majesty's & his Council determination of & Con-
cern^g upon enquiry you'l find Gov^r Ogle rec^d that on ordi-
nary Lycences. That of the Alienation Fine I apprehend
the way for that right is by Law action tryed in the Province,
& from thence if his Lord^p has not Satisfaction to Appeal to
his Majesty & his Council. In order thereto, I must desire
you'l consider & that you'l furnish me with such necessary
Evidences from the Land office as proof to maintain the
action, all w^h Evidences must have Authenticity from the
Land office by Signature of the Judges upon Oath belon^g to
that office & the Seal, with Authenticity from you & the pro-
vincial Seal: no Action is tryable here but by such Testimo-
nials : and in order thereto it will be proper & best to com-
mence such action & th^t it be bro^t to Tryal upon the most
Substantial Person & furious adversary ag' his Lord^ps rights,
a touch at his pocket & English Air will settle his senses &
Quiet him. Justice maintained is Right Law. And in Case
w^h is likely to be con^g Ordinary Lycences real authenticity of
Evidences ought to rest here in hand as the only means to
stand Tryal before his Majesty & his Council: as also upon
all other matters con^g the L. H. may at any time by Effronterey
& injurious wrongs attempt to Divest the Lord Proprietor,