56 Correspondence of Governor Sharpe,

Letter Bk. IV

declined introducing him to the Council at that time intending
however to do it as soon as the Assembly should be dismissed
but upon his intimating to me on the Day of the prorogation
that he would rather have it postponed till the latter End of
June when he is to come over to Annapolis & be qualified I
could not but approve of the proposal being of opinion with
him that his being put into the Council immediately after the
Session during which he had been very active & constant in
opposing those whose Schemes & Proceedings we condemn
might be represented to his Disadvantage as if he had not
acted on principle in opposing such Measures but purely to
obtain a Seat in the Council ; for this & some other Reasons
which he mentioned his Admission into the Council is as I
have already said put off till next Month of which I flatter
myself His Ldp will not disapprove & if there should be any
among us who may think the Seat ought to have fallen to
their Lot & may thereupon take the Liberty to exclaim against
his being so distinguish'^t, for really after the Liberties they
took with M^r Ridout I know not what Lengths such Persons
will not go I hope no Regard will be paid to their Represen-
tations. As M^r Ridout had learnt that it had been suggested
he was disagreeable to the Members of the Council (the con-
trary of which I am confident is true) & had reason to think
such Hints had been given to Yourself he desired my Leave
one Day while the Assembly was sitting to mention it to the
Gentlemen of the Council all of whom were present except
Col^o Hammond who lay dangerously ill during the whole Ses-
sion & M^r Thomas who being also sick could not attend ;
Whereupon after expressing to him their Surprize at the pre-
sumption of him or them who had taken the liberty to suggest
any such thing & the Satisfaction it gave them to see him at
the Board they unanimously agreed to present an Address or
Letter to me on the occasion & forthwith drew up & severally
subscribed the Paper of which I inclose you a Copy. Col^o
Lloyds Ship which he expected from the West Indies being
detained there in the Government's Service I shall have the
Pipe of Madeira for His Ldp & one Dozen Hams put on
board the Susanna Capt Arbuckle consigned to M^r Russel
which unless any unforeseen Accident prevents will sail next
Month under Convoy of the Chesterfield & I shall send
another Doz of Hams by Capt Ayres in M^r Tho^s Philpot's
Employ who I am told will sail at the same time. I mention
this not knowing whether His Ldp would choose to have
Insurance made.
P. S. Inclosed are Bills of Exchange amounting to
£125 9 31/2