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Letter Bk. III
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Body of Regular Forces & a great Number of Indians from
different Nations were expected there in the Spring & that
immediately on their Arrival an Expedition was to be under-
taken agst Fort Cumberland or a Descent made on One of
these Provinces. Upon this Information & the Receipt of a
Letter from Lord Loudoun I have sent Orders to the Officer
of the Militia in the Frontier Counties to hold themselves in
readiness to march in Case Colonel Stanwix should stand in
need of such Assistance I have also ordered a considerable
quantity of Ammunition up for their use on such Occasion &
if we should receive Advice of the Approach of any consider-
able Body of the Enemy towards this or either of the neigh-
bouring Colonies I shall repair to the Frontiers myself & pro-
ceed as the Officer appointed to command His Majesty's
Forces in these Parts shall direct
I am &c.
[Sharpe to Joshua Sharpe.]
Annapolis the 27th of May 1757.
Dr Br
Inclosed I take the Liberty to send you a State of a Case
on which I should be very glad to have the Opinion of His
Majesty's Attorney Genl & I should be much obliged to you
for obtaining it. You will learn from the Case itself what
Difficulties I find myself under, therefore I shall not trouble
you with a prolix account of them. I expect that the As-
sembly will at their next Meeting address me again & desire
to know why I have not ordered the Bonds of the Naval
Officers to be put in Suit agreeable to the Request that they
have now made. I hope you will be able to transmit an
Opinion before that time by the N York Packett that I may
be prepared with a proper Answer; but as Lord Baltimore
might be much interested in the Event of a Trial at home if
the matter should be carried to that Length I would not
have you take any Step therein till you have seen & consulted
Mr Calvert it is possible that he will object to that part of the
State wherein the Tonnage Duty & Impost of one Shilling a
Hhd are mentioned as the Legality of collecting such Money
has been at times questioned by the Lower House of Assem-
bly, But as Acts of Assembly have been made in Virginia,
New York & almost all the Colonies laying a Tonnage Duty
on British Ships & exempting such as are owned by Residents
in such Colonies, & as a Duty of 2/ p Hhd is paid on Tobo
made in Virga instead of the 1/ paid in this Province I presume
you will not find any difficulty in obviating such an Objection
if you think that part of the State essential. I do not suppose you
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