Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1753-1761. 293

which they have during their last Sessions so strenuously
insisted on. If the Gentlemen of the Council are of opinion
that the Lower House will not fall upon any other Method I
desire the Favour of you to ask their Advice and Opinion
whether I ought to call a new Assembly and if they shall
advise that Step you will be pleased to order M^r Ross to issue
Writs for a new Election, but if the Gentlemen should be
averse to that Measure they will be so kind as to give their
Advice about proroguing the Assembly to a longer Day than
that to which it now stands prorogued, and M^r Ross will
make out proclamations accordingly,

I am Sir with the greatest Regard and Esteem, both
their and your most humble Servant
Fort Frederick the 10^th Aug^t 1758: Hor^o Sharpe.

Camp at Carlisle July 20^th 1758..

s^r

Having considered what you have told me concerning the
Situation of your Maryland Troops, and particularly about
the distressed Condition of the Officers and of M^r Ross by
whom your Forces have been victualled since the Money
which was granted by your Assembly for their Support was
expended, and being very averse to your Troops being dis-
banded at this critical Juncture when in all Probability I
shall have great Occasion for their Service, I am induced to
advance a Sum of Money towards relieving those Gentlemen
in some Measure from the Difficulties wherein they are in-
volved by the late extraordinary Conduct of your Assembly,
and to encourage your Troops to keep together during the
Campaign

As I do not take upon myself to pay your Troops the
Arrears that are due to them or satisfy M^r Ross but expect
that your Assembly will out of the Supplies which they shall

Lib. J. R.

& U. S.

grant at their next Meeting' appropriate a Sum for those
purposes I shall not concern myself with any Accounts what-
ever, that I leave to your Assembly, or to such Persons as you
or they may appoint, but what I advance, I advance upon the
Credit of the Province to be repaid me out of the first Money
that your Assembly may raise, and I desire you will com-
municate this Letter to them that they may be thoroughly
apprised of my Intentions and Expectations.

As I doubt not but your Assembly will notwithstanding
what has lately happened be satisfied with my keeping your
Troops together 'till the End of the Campaign I shall not

p. 256