404 Correspondence of Governor Sharpe.

he seems a dangerous Man and I had little Inclination to con-
verse with him, tho' he much pressed for a particular recom-
mendation to your Excellency, or rather to Colonel Loyd, and
I am not certain but you may soon see him again, upon his
former Errand. A 3^d Claimant, in the Person of M^r Ja^s
Plunkett has also attended me, and he Claims as Heir at Law
to Talbot according to the Pedigree in the Enclosed Papers
(3 and 4) upon the double supposition of the Invalidity both
of the Conviction, and Will, the latter being made as he says
in Spain, and never proved or capable of being so (which I
Presume is the Evidence Mapother wanted) ana he likewise
throws himself upon his Lordship for a reasonable accomoda-
tion in preference to Hostilitys. You will easily Imagine that,
pleased as I might be to see all the different Claimants at my
feet, I entred into little Correspondence with any of them,
but referred them all to Lay their Proposals by their Agents
before your Excellency, as being best acquainted with the
subject and upon the Spot, and to whose Advice his Lordship
would pay the greatest Deference, at the same time rather
submitting to recede a little from his strict rights, than be
involved in Litigation, or protract the Business further, and in
this Light his Lordship desires you will please to Consider
the Affair, Agreeing If you can with such of the Claimants,
who appear to have the best right, by Preferring them to a
Lease or Grant, or in any other more Eligible Method ; Or,
If you see nothing favourable in any of the Claims (& perhaps
the Heir at Law has the best Title of any of them) by accept-
ing attornments from and Prefering the present Possessors,
on their undertaking to support his Lordship's Right agreable
to the method you have already taken by the Advice of M^r
Dulany, for I fancy after all the Possession will be found the
best Title, and whatever Engagements may be found neces-
sary to be Entred into will be sure of receiving his Lordships
Indemnity. But, as the Game seems now to be in our hands,
I should be sorry to miss it, and, If your Excellency should not
happily be able to Conciliate, or remove the different Claims
(for I have referred them all to you) you will be so good as to
Acquaint me with your Proceedings, accompanyed with your
advice in what manner to Treat here, as I Presume the Treaty
will in that case be again Proposed to be Opened, when we
receive our answers from Maryland, or some other Attack
may be made here, as in the Case of Brerewood, for Plunket
is a Gentⁿ of Fortune. Or, If you are Satisfyed it is better to
stand upon our own Ground, Your Excellencys Example will
be the rule for me to follow.
His Lordship entirely Submits to you and the other Com-
missioners whether to raise or not the Quit rents on the new