Correspondence of Gov. Horatio Sharpe, 1754-1765. 477

By you little is to be Expected from Pensilvania by way
of Assistance, tho' Conspicuous is their Danger. Their
friends here have at all times puff'd off the Advantage that
Colony is to its Mother Country, from it's numerous In-
habitants & wealth. But as the Production of that Colony
is almost only Grain and Victualling Provisions the Growth
& Produce of England, I have Always conceived it rather of
Disadvantage to its mother Country, in as much as it is a
Rival at Market w^th the same productions. It is now likely
to prove it self of no Service in a material Instance, from
the Government being Exercised by men against the Law
of Nature that in Defence of self preservation! proceeding
from Tenets of passive obedience and non resistance Es-
pecially ag^t an Enemy both in Church & State. I entertain
hopes of hearing from you that our Assembly will Determine
on better Service for the Publick, then what you Mention.
The Government here are Active in their Armament of a
Squadron Consisting of the Largest Ships of Burthen, w^th
Marines on Board, almost compleat, France Powerfull as
she is cannot Compare w^th Britain's Navy; It is certain at
the conclusion of the last War she had few ships of Force
left, that were not fallen into English hands, or were not
hurt & shattered by them or by themselves worn out. But
say People she is reenforced since, Grant it; yet no ways
Equal to England's Main Royal Line, or other 4^th 5^th or 6^th
Rates of Ships, nor in Number of them. It is urged her
Seamen are Registred on half Pay, who by Edict she can
soon Collect; the Consequence of her Edict as it Carrys
Death not Instantly to come is the Bane of her Trade, as it
forces her Seamen to return from Foreign Ports often leav-
ing the Vessell & Traffick not being capable to sail on the
sudden Notice of the Edict. It is Complain'd England Issues
by Proclamation a Grevious Press, w^ch Occasions the Sea-
men to Secret themselves, what then ? 3£ a man Voluntier
money paid by Proclamation & 40 Shillings for information
of them bring them to the Ships; this Reward has such
Effect, that the present large Squadron has been soon Sup-
ply'd as to admit Early Protections to the Trading Vessells
for men & matters are not arrived under such circum-
stances as to have given France the Ballance of Trade
against us. His Majesty and Councils measures seem fixt
w^th Resolution not to be foil'd w^th the false promises of
France, but Vigorous in Support of the Nations wellfare, his
Crown & Dignity. May all Success attend his Troops on
their arrival in America, whom Joyn'd w^th the Forces there,
I hope will prove the Down fall to France on that Continent,