Correspondence of Governor Sharpe. 53

who strenuously oppose it while some Counties have in a man-
ner instructed their Members to vote against it, & so small is
the Majority even in the Lower House at this time for the Bill
that were the Members of both Houses to sit together & vote
it would be rejected by the greater Number of Voices. Such
being the Case how unfair & disingenuous was it in those
who lead the Majority in that House to insinuate that the
Contest is only between the Lord Proprietary & People & the
sole question whether he should at all contribute towards the
Sum wanted for His Majesty's Service but Experience has
taught me that there is nothing which these Men would stick
at in Order to carry a favourite Point & unfortunately for this
Province there will always be a Number of Members in the
Lower House who being unable to judge for themselves will
think they must necessarily be serving their Country while
they write with or follow those who have as it were formally
declared themselves Enemies to the Govern^t Nevertheless I
do not doubt but when the principal ones in the opposition
find that those who act a different part are the only persons
thought worthy of Favour their pretended Zeal for the
people's Good will become cool, & what has passed here this
Session confirms me in the opinion I have long entertained
that Steadiness & Firmness on the part of the Govern^t will in
the End render the Faction contemptible. Tho the Bill which
was offered to the Upper House this Session did not differ
materially from those which had been before rejected, it is to
be printed together with the Messages & as soon as it comes
from the Press I shall transmit you a Copy. The several Acts
to which I gave my Assent & of which you will see a List in
one of the inclosed Gazettes are now printing off so that I
expect it will be in my power to send you Copies thereof next
Month by the Fleet & I flatter myself there will be none
found among them to which His Ldp will make any Objec-
tion. M^r Ringold one of the Members of the Lower House
having after the Assembly was met received a Letter from M^r
Franklin advising him that the Address of Condolance &c
which was transmitted to him last Summer to be presented to
His Majesty as from the Representatives of the People of this
Province could not be received at the Secretary of State's
Office by reason of its containing a Paragraph concerning
Grievances the Majority now agreed to prepare another of
which I inclose you a Copy & M^r Ringold was I understand
desired to transmit it to M^r Franklin who has it seems offered
to serve to the utmost of his power during his Stay in Eng-
land. The Assembly's Sitting the Beginning of April having
laid me under a Necessity of Writing to Governor Hamilton
& desiring that the Commissioners Meeting at Newcastle

Letter Bk. IV