Correspondence of Governor Sharpe. 557

Approbation but as M^r Tilghman had refused to accept & the
Board were of Opinion that I could not answer it to your Ldp
or indeed be secure myself if I delayed any longer to appoint
some other responsible Person & One capable of giving good
Security Agent in M^r Allens stead I flatter myself your Ldp
considering how Matters were circumstanced will approve of
my Conduct, at least it is such as will prevent your Ldp's
suffering any Loss or Disappointment. Had the Gentleman
who mentioned M^r Tilghman & M^r Carroll as Persons most
proper to be appointed of the Council been acquainted with a
hundredth part of what has pass't here during the time I have
been in the Province he would have been sensible that they
could not with any Propriety or consistency qualify or in case
of their qualifying act in such a manner as your Ldp would
naturally wish them to do, for my part I have always thought
it good policy to confer Offices & Honours when it was in my
power on such as had by their publick Conduct shewn them-
selves Friends & Wellwishers to your Ldps Government, but
this Consideration (your Ldp will I hope excuse me for speak-
ing my Sentiments so freely to yourself) does not appear to
have had the most Weight in the Nomination of the two
Gentlemen I have already mentioned, of the Appointment of
M^r Merewether to be Keeper of the Western Shore Rent
Roll, or of the peculiar Mark of Honour & Favour shewn to
M^r Lee who has this Day produced to me your Ldps Com-
mission appointing him Surveyor General of the Western
Shore an Office that has for a great Number of years (I
believe ever since the Government of the Province was restored
to your Ldps Grandfather) been held by the Lieut^t Governor,
I do not My Ld mention this as if I gave it up to M^r Lee with
Reluctance, the Value of it to Me while I am to have the
honour of continuing in my present Station would be very
inconsiderable but the Construction every Person here will
put on a Commission's being sent by M^r Jordan to M^r Lee for
that Office is very obvious. Since both M^r Tilghman & M^r
Carroll decline qualifying as Members of the Council & M^r
Chamberlaine & Col^o Lloyd are desirous that other Members
may be appointed in their stead, it would not perhaps be
amiss for your Ldp to authorize Captain Eden as soon as he
may think expedient after his Arrival here to fill the five
vacant Seats with such Gentlemen as he may judge fit to be
Members of the Council especially as Col^o Hammond who is
now the eldest Member is in an ill State of health & very old.
Apprehending from some Letters I at times have received
from both M^r Calvert & M^r Hamersley that your Ldp was
desirous to have some more Manors laid out & reserved as
soon as the East & West Boundary Line should be run I last

Letter Bk. V