474 Correspondence of Governor Sharpe.

Person then attainted was Rob^t Talbot of Hexham, & not
James Talbot of Carukil Ireland, under whom they Claim. I
find by some Papers lately come into my hands, That the
Title was Tryed in yo^r Provincial Court in 1752; & upon a
Bill of Exceptions, Appealed to the Lord Proprietary, but I
believe nothing further was done in it. However I am glad
to find the Possession is so Strongly with us, and that we have
the Assistance of M^r Tasker who seems to have managed the
Business in 1752. The Enclosed, is I believe, a State of the
Devisees Case, as Sent over to their Attorney in Maryland.
His Lordship takes kindly the different appointments of
M^{r Robt} Harrison & M^r Dan^l Charnier to their respective
Sherievaltys ; & he now recommends very strongly to you
M^r Hackman, who is soon going out from hence, for the like
Office, or for a County Clerkship or any thing of the same
sort either in your or M^rDulany's Department or in that of
the Agent in case of a Vacancy but of this I shall write further
by the Gent" himself.
I have Laid before his Lordship the different Letters
received from yo^r Excellency, M^r Walter Dulany, & M^r Alien
relative to the succession of the latter to S^t James's Parish,
and it gives him great uneasiness to find the difficultys M^r
Alien has to Encounter with, and the little stead all his Lord-
ships Countenance Stands him in. His Lordship can never
Agree in construing the Adjective "Adjacent" in the Limited
sense contended for, against the very Spirit of the Law ; and,
as to the Vestrys he can only regret the Loss of that Power
which is already got into their hands, and desires it may be

Rcmcmbrcd as a Warning never to Encrease it, either by

Splitting Parishes, or in any other Mode the least derogatory
of his just rights. He has been advised to Exercise his pre-
rogative in Granting M^r Alien a Dispensation to hold the
Two Livings, but rather wishes to see the business Accomo-
dated in an easier way, and not to push things to extremitys,
when he has the remedy in his own hands. That remedy is a
Secular Employ, w^ch his Lordship requires and expects M^r
Alien be immediately put in possession of, and, If none more
proper offers, that he be Appointed to the Office of Rent Roll
Keeper when Vacant. A Similitude in their Studys has much
endeared him to his Lordship. Nor will he be Solliciting or
Quibbling with Vestrys to Provide for the Man he regards,
when he has it in his own Power to do it, by by adding a Civil
Office to the Church M^r Alien already holds; He means to
Provide for M^r Alien as his Friend, and to put him upon a
footing of Independence, and that is the length his Lordship
means to take him, & desires it may be so understood, with-
out Entring into further Particulars.