Correspondence of Governor Sharpe. 227

Violence offered M^r Mewbray should be represented home as
a premeditated Insult or Indignity to His Majesty's Authority
or Commission & be blended with the Behaviour of the Popu-
lace towards M^r Hood. I cannot indeed say a Syllable in
Excuse for the Mob's Behaviour on the Occasion & wish it
was in my power to have those who were principally con-
cerned in raising them convicted & severely punished but at
the same time I think both M^r Mewbray & his Passengers
were to blame for leaving their Vessel to come ashore when
they had been told what a Temper the People were then in,
for ordering part of the Crew to come armed & keep Gentry
at the Tavern Door, & in getting into Disputes which could
not possibly be productive of any good Consequence. It
gives me a good Deal of Concern that such Disturbances
should happen here but really there is no help for it, nor
could I if I had been myself in Town at the time have pre-
vented either one or the other. What Lengths the People
now they have once begun may go is not easy to say, but as
the Inhabitants of all the Colonies with regard to the Stamp
Law seem to act as it were in Concert It will not I think be
possible without a considerable Military Force in each Colony
to let it have its Effect notwithstanding it seems to be so well

calculated to execute itself. Should the Stamp't Paper be

imported into this Province (where there is no place of
Security in which it might be deposited) & no Troops be sent
hither to guard it the populace will I am afraid make an
Attempt to destroy it & maltreat every one that shall endeavour
to restrain' them, for which reason I shall advise the Person
who may bring it hither to keep it on board untill the Ministry
in Consequence of the Reports which have been or will be
now made to them can send us farther Instructions & take
proper Measures for its preservation & for the Protection of
those who are appointed to distribute the Stamps within the
several Provinces. Having nothing more to communicate to
you at present for the inclosed Gazettes will shew you after
what manner People have behaved in the Northern Colonies
& the Virginians are I understand following the Example I
remain with great Regard &c.

Letter Bk. IV

[Lowndes to Sharpe.]
Sir,
I am directed by the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's
Treasury to signify to your Excellency their desire that you
will give your Aid and Assistance to the Distributor of Stamps
within your Government in whatever may relate to his Duty
in the Execution of his Office under the Act passed in the last

Original.