Correspondence of Governor Sharpe. 213

much afraid of that Distemper. I do not learn that any one
here as yet knows who is to be Distributor of the Stamps in
this Province nor have I as yet received from the ministry a
Copy of the Act or any Instructions or Letter concerning it.
As I hear that both Capt Love & Capt Montgomerie sail'd in
April & presume that one or other of them is charg'd with
Letters from you I think proper lest you should by this
Opportunity expect any Answer to such Letter to inform you
that neither of the said Captains are yet arrived but as other
Ships will sail hence very shortly you may expect to hear from
me again very soon after this Letter can reach you. I beg
the favour of you on your Receipt of this to present my Duty
& best Wishes to His Ldp & to believe that I remain with
the greatest Regard & Respect Sir &c.

[Sharpe to Baltimore.]

To Lord Baltimore. Annapolis the 15^th August 1765
My Ld
On the eleventh of July last I did myself the honour to
write to your Ldp a pretty long Letter about various Matters
& therefore have little to trouble your Ldp with at present
more than my Sentiments on a proposition for Farming the
Quit Rents on a new Plan which M^r Calvert in his Letter of
the 21^st of May says your Ldp directed him to communicate
to Me. As I perceive Your Ldp apprehends the Farmers
may make some Advantage by receiving at their own Rate
or Valuation other Specie in lieu of the Sterling Money which
your Ldp's Tenants are by the Tenor of their Patents obliged
to pay I must observe to your Ldp that on occasion of a
Clamour raised on that very account before I came to the
Province it was publickly signified to the people that where
Tenants had not Sterling Money or good Bills of Exchange
to pay they might discharge their Rents in any foreign Gold
at the Rate of £3 176 stg p^r oz or in Dollars at four shillings
& sixpence each, which they have accordingly done ever since,
& was any Farmer of the Rents now to refuse taking such
Money at the Rate so long established the Assembly would
soon make an uproar about it & therefore I am satisfied the
Farmers do not make any Advantage in that way, & indeed
both foreign Gold & Silver pass at present in all payments at
those Rates. If your Ldp is of opinion that the Commission
of Ten p^r Cent which is at this time allowed the Farmers for
Collecting the Quit Rents is too much & ought to be reduced
I will if Your Ldp approves thereof order the Agent to set
them up to the best Bidder & to accept such Persons as
Farmers in the several Counties who can give Security for

Letter Bk. IV