Correspondence of Governor Sharpe. 417

with your Excellency's opinion, that the subsisting Leases are
a great Discouragement to the Sale of the Manors, and the
Mischief is greater as there seems no remedy to it, and yet I
should think the Tenants would be glad to Buy their respec-
tive Interests, or, If not, that others would be glad to buy
them, together with the reversions expectant upon their
Leases. I should be very sorry to involve his Lordship in a
Dispute with the Corporation for so Inconsid^ble a sum as
£150 or £200, and therefore till that matter be Cleared up, I
hope he will Pay no regard to any Applications which may be
made him about it. I have received the Laws, and Printed
Copy of the Lower House Journal, but it was yesterday only,
and your Excellency will easily believe I have not been able
to look into them. I will Lay before his Lordship at the first
Opportunity what your Excellen^cy writes about the Escheat of
Aliens Lands, and likewise the Detail about M^r Rob^t Golds-
borough, and shall return you his sentiments as soon as I
receive them. Surely the Imputations against the latter are
Extravagant and Ridiculous, and, I am satisfyed, his Lordship
will have that Confidence in his own good sense and under-
standing, as to despise them, and I hope, when I write you
next, to send you Convincing Proofs of it under his own hand.
I am no Friend to the Episcopal Scheme, and though ordina-
tion at the Fireside may suit the Indolence and Poverty of
some (perhaps not the most fit to Exercise the Function) yet
" Timeo Danaos" nor shall I be very well pleased to purchase
their spiritualitys, at the expence of the Loaves and Fishes,
which has always been the ultimate, If not the only, View
adopted by the Church, from the begining of time, and I am
too good an Englishman to wish to see all the Colonies
united under the same Church Government. I am obliged to
your Excellency for reminding me of what passed upon the
Agency Bill, and If the Lower House should apply for the
appointment of their Agent, I will take care to follow it with a
Similar application on the part of the Upper House, and I am
satisfyed each must have their Agent, or there will be none.
As soon as his Lordship returns to Town, we shall read over
our Letters together, and then your Excellency may expect to
hear further from S^r
Yo^r most Obed^t Hble serv^t
Hugh Hamersley
The Society for the Encouragement
of Arts &c. have desired me to forward to
the Province a Treatise relative to pot
Ashes, w^ch has reced their Approbation &
Encouragem^t & accordingly I take the Liberty
to Enclose your Excellency a few Printed Copys,
to be Distributed as you think fit.