Letter of Transmittal. xxv

Assembly elected in 1751, with a speech in which he expressed his appreciation
of the confidence shown him in thus entrusting him with the expenditure of the
money that had been appropriated, but regretted that they had not followed
his other recommendations, doubtless a reference to the fact that nothing had
been done toward recruiting a militia. He then declared the Assembly pro-
rogued until the last Tuesday of the following November. But the same
body was not destined to meet again. Doubtless in the hope of obtaining
one more amenable to his wishes, Sharpe who had gone to Virginia imme-
diately after the adjournment of the Assembly, wrote from there to the Council
suggesting the advisability of dissolving the present Assembly and calling
together a new one. The Council accordingly, at a meeting held on October
30th, directed that writs for a new election be issued.

The new Assembly met December 12th and was soon to show that it was
fully as stubborn as its predecessor. The Lower House organized by electing
Henry Hooper of Dorchester County, a prominent member of the County
party, as their speaker; selected their clerk, serjeant-at-arms, doorkeeper, and
chaplain, and adopted the form of oath which each should take; appointed the
members of the various standing committees, and adopted rules for their
own government. A few new names are to be found in the Lower House but
the great majority of members had served in the last Assembly and the com-
mittee assignments were much the same.

The Governor's opening speech, calling attention to the further encroach-
ments of the French and the extension of their chain of garrisons, and urging
speedy and vigorous measures, was of a similar tenor to his former addresses.
But he had further news to report which he doubtless believed would appeal
to their pride and stimulate them to further action. He transmitted to both
houses the commission from George II, dated Kensington, July 25, 1754,
appointing him Lieutenant-Colonel of Foot of the West Indies, and a letter
from Sir Thomas Robinson, one of his Majesty's Secretaries of State, ordering
him to assume command of the combined British forces in America assembled
to oppose the hostile attempts of the French, and directing him to act in con-
cert with Governor Dinwiddie of Virginia to whom further instructions and
a considerable sum of money had been sent. Sharpe also presented to the
Assembly, instructions from the Lord Proprietary directing him to observe
diligently all orders implied in His Majesty's commission, assuring him that
any absence from the Province on this service should in no wise invalidate
his commission as Lieutenant-Governor, and notifying him that during his
absence the powers of government should be exercised by the President of the
Council. He further directed the Governor that he should " in the most Serious
& earnest manner recommend it to the Good People of my said Province that