Correspondence of Gov. Horatio Sharpe, 1754-1765. 513

at the time of year that Tar is made, the Light Tar Kiln
might be Mistook for the Light House & thereby be the
means of sundry ships being Lost & two Light Houses wo^d
be a much greater Expence then their Utility wo^d be worth,
therefore the Merch" declin'd any Expence about it, if sol-
licited at the Publick Expence, the Merch^ts will apply to get
the Duty laid on ships and Goods Be pleased to favour Me
with the opinion of Maryland, I then shall be Sufficient to
make report to their Lord^ps as by them Directed.

M^r W^m Hunt the only Surviving Trustee in England has
on searching his Papers found the Paper Curr^y Act, impow-
ering his Lord^p to appoint & fill up on vacancy the Trustees.
My Lord has approved of the Mess^rs Hanburys for that
purpose. I give you & Maryland Joy on the Success of Gen^l
Forbes, the gain of Fort Du Quesne & hope all apprehensions
in y^rs of the 3^d of March are ceased, and that the Province
enjoys Safety, the Enemy being far off. My Lord is sensible
& with thanks to you for your services at ffort Frederick &
Cumberland Last Year. Y^rs of the 28^th of Nov^r surprises,
the Circumstance of the Lo: House declaring No Alderman
of Annapolis had a Right by their Charter to Vote at the
Election of Representatives for that City. The Charter
granted by Queen Anne warrants no such proceedure. De-
clarative, in opinion here, an nonentity to the real substance
of our constitution, what disqualifye Chief Magistrates of
Essential Right & even with^t cause, they can't mean a Scire
Facias ag^t the Charter, the Royal Charter Excludes not in
Bar the Alderm^s Vote. My Lord approves of y^r proroguing
the Assembly thereupon to avoid dispute & giving time for
better Understanding. You speak of a Continuance of the
Inspection Tobacco Law, w^h you think the Upper House will
pass; it is hoped they will exclude the Statute of Queen Anne
being Effected, for the Regulation of foreign Coin, if not,
by the Attor^y Gen^l Similar opinion in this Let^r on Act of
Parliam^t 'tis to be presum'd he will advice a Dissent to that
Act. To y^r mention of the Vote of the Lo: H. for complying
with what Gen^l Forbes askes to support 300 men during the
winter. If they mean the Service of them. Men is to be
restrain'd to Fort Frederick it is a most absurd proposal, as
Limitation to the King's Com^dr in Chief to the Proprietors
Comissⁿ to you, Prerogative's not Restrainable by them, if
they mean as you say That no Money is to be raised unless
the Gentⁿ of the Upper House will agree to the Mode of
Taxation to w^h they have so often signified their aversion, if
so, the construction on the Lo. House is here, that they pre-
clude doing in common in defence & Support of their King &

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