Correspondence of Governor Sharpe. 283

tion of the Interest will at least prevent its becoming worse,
& at all events the faith of the Colonies will be Pledged to
the Lenders. But in this, as in every thing else, his Lord-
ship's relyance is upon yo^r Excellency & his Council, & If the
Scheme, when it comes to be Carried into execution, shall
meet with yo^r approbation, there is little doubt of its receiving
his Concurrence.
His Lordship hoped that all Altercations between his 2
Houses of Assembly would have at least subsided, till the
more Important one with Great Britain was Determined, but
is Sorry to find no Respite is to be given to the Attacks upon
his Just rights & Prerogative. He has carefully read every
Line of the different Messages, & has made very attentive
and accurate observations upon the various matters discussed
in them, w^ch may be the subject of a future Letter from his
Lordship, or by me as his amanuensis. In the mean time he
can scarce Sufficiently admire the obstinacy of the attack &
the little value of the object, w^ch has created so great a dis-
turbance, undoubtedly the Prelude to greater matters. But
he can never forget the firmness with which your Excellency
& the Council have Stood in the Gap, and in a particular
manner he desires to be remembred to the Ingenious Pen,
w^ch has so ably asserted & Proved the Justice of his Claims,
in opposition to the Intended Innovations & Encroachm^ts &
w^ch he is assured, can be no other than that to w^ch America in
a great measure owes its present Deliverance. His Lordship
hopes the Continuance of the same Steady Support from his
Council, & as they have very properly submitted the reference
of his rights to the only Judicature, Competent to Judge
between him & his People, the King in Council: to that
Tribunal he makes his appeal & Invites his Pursuers to meet
him upon that ground: He means not to be Judge in his own
Cause, nor can he admit them to be so in theirs; much less is
he to be talked out of rights so long enjoyed, & to give up
reason & Argument to Importunity. He therefore entreats
yo^r Excellency to animate his Council to Persevere in their
laudable resistance to such unjustifyable measures when ever
the Attack shall be renewed, & depends upon yo^r Negative
when it shall become necessary: for it is not the cause of M^r
Ross alone, to be given up by him at the Instigation of his
fears: for tho' one officer sho^d decline, the office will still
remain, & another be easily found to Supply it; &, tho' the
Blow is struck at him, it is too evidently Levelled at his Prin-
cipal, who has a just Claim not to be deserted.
It is with great concern his Lordship sees the low ebb to
w^ch the Civill Power is reduced, but hopes, now the occasion
of the late universal Discontent has been removed, that Order