Correspondence of Governor Sharpe. 469

can truly say that in neither Instance did I consult my own
Inclinations but only considered on whom His Ldp would
choose to bestow those Offices. So long ago as December
1760 your Predecessor in Office speaking of M^r Plater said
" My Lord recommends him for Favour," repeated the same
in another Letter of the 8^th April 1761, again in May 1763 &
in a Letter signified to M^r Plater that I was instructed to
bestow on him that Naval Office as soon as I should have an
Opportunity ; When therefore it became vacant I thought
myself in a manner obliged to give it him especially as he
was put aside once before when he expected an Appointment.
Desirous to know Whom His Ldp would choose to prefer to
the Commissary's Office in case of its becoming vacant & not
wishing to have the Disposal thereof myself in my Letter to
M^r Calvert of the 16^th of August 1765 which His Ldp in one
he favoured me with the 8^th of Nov^r following acknowledged
to have received I mentioned that M^r Goldsborough was then
in an ill State of Health & added " Was an Accident to happen
to him whom pray in such Case would His Ldp have appointed
Commissary General?" & in a Letter which I did myself the
honour to address to His Ldp the 22^d of Oct^r 1766 I put him
in mind of M^r Goldsboroughs continuing in an ill State of
Health & hoped His Ldp would have given Instructions
about a Successor. When he was, reduced so low that there
was no probability of his recovering M^r Daniel Dulany applied
to me & earnestly desired that in Case of M^r Goldsboroughs
dying the Commissarys Office might be given to his Brother
which It was hardly possible for me to refuse when I considered
what signs of Confidence & Regard His Ldp had on all Occa-
sions especially of late shewn towards the two Brothers & I
well remembered what a Dust had been raised here by them
& their Friends in 1760 upon my declining to appoint M^r
Walter Dulany Deputy Secretary his Brother being then
Commissary General, His Ldp will therefore I flatter myself
when he considers all Circumstances excuse me for issuing
the Commission in M^r Dulanys favour, the Office was of such
a Nature that there was an absolute Necessity for my appoint
ing some Person capable of discharging the Duties of it, none
else applied for it, nor had I at that time any Reason to think
that M^r Alien wish't to enjoy it, or that His Ldp would prefer any
Person before him to whom it was given. What would have
happened had M^r Alien on M^r Goldsborough's Decease been
appointed Commissary General it is easy to guess by what
has happened, nor do I think any thing worse could happen
was M^r Dulany to be" now superseded or obliged to take an
Associate than would have come to pass had I rejected his
Brothers Request on his behalf. Upon my telling M^r Alien

Letter Bk. V