Correspondence of Governor Sharpe. 299

[Cooper to Sharpe.]
Sir
It having appeared to the Lords Commissioners of His
Majesty's Treasury, that by the Resignation of several Dis-
tributors of Stamps & by the late unhappy disorder & tumults
in some of the Colonies of North America and the West
Indies many Parcels of stamp'd Parchment and Paper have
come into the Hands & Custody of the Governors Magistrates
or other Persons within the said Provinces and Islands respec-
tively, And the Act of Parliament for laying Duties on Stamps
in the Plantations being now repealed, I am directed by their
Lordships to require your Excellency to give such Orders as
may be found proper and necessary for returning and forward-
ing in the most safe and expeditious manner to the Commis-
sioners for managing His Majesty's Stamp Duties in Great
Britain all such Parcels of Stamp'd Parchment and Paper as
may remain in your Custody or Power or in the Custody or
Power of any other Person or Persons within your Excellencys
Jurisdiction I am, Sir, Your Excellency's
[May 5, 1766] Most Obedient humble Servant
Grey Cooper
His Exl^cy Horatio Sharpe.

Original.

[Baltimore to Sharpe.]

Frederick Absolute Lord & Proprietary
of the Provinces of Maryland and Avalon
in America Lord Baron of Baltimore in the
Kingdom of Ireland.
F. Baltimore
To Our Trusty and Well Beloved Horatio
Sharpe Lieutenant Governor of our said Province
of Maryland.
Whereas by Virtue of the Powers in the Letters Patent or
Grant from King Charles the first to Caecilius Baron of Balti-
more his Heirs and Assigns of the said Province of Maryland
&c I have by Commission under my hand and Scale at Arms
bearing date the Fourth day of November in the year one
thousand seven hundred and Sixty Five appointed Hugh
Hamersley Esquire to Exercise the Office of Secretary of the
said Province of Maryland in the Place of the Hon^ble Caecilius
Calvert my late uncle Deceased.
And Whereas at the time of the Death of the said Caecilius
Calvert the Hon^ble Daniel Dulany Esquire did Exercise the
Office of Deputy Secretary within the said Province by Virtue
of a Commission by you Issued for that purpose under the
Great Scale of the same Province. And the said Hugh

Original.