Correspondence of Governor Sharpe. 95

power to refuse since we are by the Articles of Agreement &
our Commissions directed to run a Tangent & no such
Tangent hath been yet run & probably never will ; You will
therefore I hope consider what we do (whether it may or may
not be thought best) as done nor by Choice but out of neces-
sity; & believe that engaged as we are in an embarrassed &
most disagreeable Business we shall each of us endeavour to
the best of our Judgment to discharge our Duty to His Ldp.
If the Northern Boundary should be run in my time (for I
begin to suspect it will not be finished in haste) you may
depend on my paying due Attention to what you say con-
cerning its being extended as far west as the Meridian of that
Branch of Potowmack which is commonly called the South
Branch & which as laid down in all the Maps takes its Rise
farther west than the other or northern Branch ; & you may
remember that soon after my Arrival in the Province I wrote
to Lord Fairfax thereupon who has no Objection to the South
Branche's being deemed & settled as the Bounds of this Pro-
vince in case Lord Baltimore can obtain the Crown's Consent.
I am much surprized the late Lord Baltimore could let the
Virginia Commissioners settle the North Branch as Ld Fair-
fax's Boundary without desiring to be first heard & to have
the two Branches actually surveyed, but as the Commissioners
settled it as abovementioned I do not apprehend that I can
do any thing to prevent Lord Fairfax's settling the Land
which he now calls part of his Grant or Territory. In Conse-
quence of His Ldp's Instructions I ordered the Agent some years
ago to pay M^r Cresap one hundred Pounds for the Services
he had done before my Arrival in pursuance of Governor
Ogle's Orders, he cannot therefore have the least pretence to
apply for farther Reward ; whoever told you that he is in
Distress must I believe have represented him in an improper
light, for he is supposed to have made a good Estate ; some
say not altogether by fair means ; he has for some time past
been a Member of our Assembly where his Conduct has been
far from agreeable to me having contributed all that was in
his power to render me uneasy tho he is a person of so little
Consequence that had it not been for his Letter to you I
should not have thought of mentioning him. As you are
desirous that M^r Nicholson should be appointed Sheriff of
Kent County I will when that Office becomes vacant remem-
ber your Recommendation. M^r M^cLocklan live's in the same
County so that were I ever so desirous to serve him also you
see it would not be in my power. I shall be well pleased if
His Ldp approves of old M^r Key to be a Member of the
Council & shall for my part be as well satisfied at M^r Bordley's
resigning to his Son young M^r Key the Office of Attorney

Letter Bk. IV