236 Correspondence of Governor Sharpe.

may not be found an unworthy Successor to the late Secre-
tary: my Obligations to, and long connections with his Lord-
ship, will effectually attach me to his Interest, whilst the little
knowledge I have of the Colonys may at the same time render
me no unworthy Servant of Maryland. Do you, S^r, Instruct
me in my Duty, and it shall be my Endeavor to perform it;
Our common Service will, I hope, prove a Mutual Intercourse
of good Offices, and, whilst I have the honor of treading in
the Steps and pursuing the advice of so old and approved an
Officer of his Lordship, I am persuaded I shall render him
the most effectual service.
I am with great regard and esteem
Hon^d S^r
Your most Obed^t and Faithfull
Serj^ts Inn, London Humble Servant
9^th Nov^r 1765. Hugh Hamersley

Original. [Gov. Mercer to Sharpe.]
Sir
The Honourable Commissioners of the Stamp Office in
London, recommended some Stamps for the use of your Prov-
ince to my Care, and I promised to forward Them to Anna-
polis: but I found on my Arrival here, I could not comply
with my Engagement, as it was impossible to procure a Con-
veyance for Them at any Price : Indeed after being informed
of the Reception of the Distributor, and the Proceedings of
your People would not have been safe to trust Them on
Shore at Annapolis without some Protection: and here I
knew they were in less Danger.
My Duty to my Royal Master obliges me to use my utmost
Endeavours for the Preservation of his Property, and finding
every other Scheme I could suggest for the Security of the
Stamps must be attended with a Certainty of their Destruc-
tion, I applied to the Governour and Council desiring Them,
to recommend an Application which 1 purposed to make to
Cap^l Stirling Commander of his Majesty's Ship the Rainbow t'o
receive Them and I have the Pleasure to inform you that they
are now secured on Board his Ship, where they will wait your
Orders. Cap^l Stirling has with great Readiness and most
obliging Condescension, done every Thing in his Power, to
relieve me from the most disagreeable Commission I ever
undertook, as I had the Stamps for three Provinces in Charge,
and dared not let any one know where they were, though I
must confess I was not a little apprehensive of an Attempt to
force the Discovery from me
I have also left with Cap^t Stirling a Letter from the Stamp
Office with some Instructions for M^r Hood.