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points propos'd to me in your two letters, before I receive those orders: But your Honour may depend upon my sending it to you, as soon as they arrive.

In the mean time I beg you would be pleas'd to acquaint Col: Washington, that the Appointment of him to the second Command in the propos'd Expedition upon the Ohio, will give me great satisfaction and pleasure; that I know no Provincial Officer upon this Continent, to whom I would so readily give it as to himself; that I shall do it, if there is nothing in the King's Orders, which I am in continual Expectation of, that interferes with it; and that I will have the pleasure of answering his Letter immediately after my receiving them.

I have only to add, that upon Govr Dobb's1 first acquainting me, about four months ago, with his Assembly's having raised three Companies to be employ'd in that part of his Majestys Service, which he should think best, and writing to me for directions concerning their Destination, I desir'd him to send them to act with the King's Troops upon Lake Ontario; But on my determining to recommend an Expedition upon the Ohio to the Western Colonies, I order'd them to be sent upon the service under your Command: You will perceive by the inclos'd Extract of his Letter to me dated 23d March, that he was then acquainted with those Orders thro' Mr Dinwiddie; But for the Reasons therein mentioned was determin'd to send his three Companies to join me, and not the Forces to be employ'd upon the Ohio; so that I am afraid you will be disappointed in your Expectation of them to Act with you.

I am with great Regard and Esteem,

Sir, Your Honour's most Humble

and most Obedient Servant,

W. SHIRLEY.

1 Arthur Dobbs was governor of North Carolina from 1753 to his death in 1765. See North Carolina Col. Rec. 5, Introduction.

SIR,

HENRY FOX TO WILLIAM SHIRLEY 1

Whitehall, May 17th, 1756.

His Majesty having found it necessary to declare War against the French King, has been pleased, in a Council held this Day at Kensington for that purpose, to sign the inclosed Declaration, and to order that the same should be published to Morrow by the Heralds at Arms, in the usual Places, and with the accustomed Formalities; I am commanded to signify to you the King's Pleasure, that you should cause the said Declaration of War to be proclaimed in the Province under your Government, that His Majesty's Subjects having this Notice may take care to prevent any Mischief, which otherwise they might suffer from the Enemy, and do their Duty in their several Stations, to distress and annoy the Subjects of France; and His Majesty would have you be very rigorous and severe in preventing any Ammunition, or Stores of any kind, from being carried to them, and you are to use all proper Methods that may be most effectual for that purpose.

I am, Sir,
Your most obedient
humble servant;

H. Fox.

The Governor of Massachusetts Bay

P.S. His Majesty has been pleased to order Letters of Marque or Commissions to Privateers to be granted in the usual manner.

1 A similar letter sent to the governor of Pennsylvania is in I Penna. Arch. 2, 659.

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HIS MAJESTY'S DECLARATION OF WAR
AGAINST THE FRENCH KING1

GEORGE R,

The unwarrantable Proceedings of the French in the West Indies and North America, since the Conclusion of the Treaty of Aix la Chapelle and the Usurpations and Encroachments made by them upon our Territories, and the Settlements of Our Subjects in those Parts, particularly in our Province of Nova Scotia, have been so notorious and so frequent, that they cannot but be looked upon as a sufficient Evidence of a formed Design and Resolution in that Court to pursue invariably such Measures as should most effectually promote their ambitious Views, without any Regard to the most solemn Treaties and Engagements. We have not been wanting on Our Part to make, from time to time, the most serious Representations to the French King upon these repeated Acts of Violence, and to endeavour to maintain Redress and Satisfaction for the Injuries done to Our Subjects, and to prevent the like Causes of Complaint for the future: But though frequent Assurances have been given that every thing should be settled agreeable to the Treaties subsisting between the Two Crowns, and particularly, that the Evacuation of the Four Neutral Islands in the West Indies, should be effected, (which was expressly promised to Our Ambassador in France) the Execution of these Assurances, and of the Treaties on which they were founded, has been evaded under the most frivolous Pretences; and the unjustifiable Practices of the French Governors, and of the Officers acting under their Authority, were still carried on, till, at length, in the month of April, One thousand seven hundred and fifty-four, they broke out in open Acts of Hostility, when, in Time of profound Peace, without any Declaration of War, and without any previous Notice given or Applica

1 Printed : I Penna. Arch. 2, 735. This declaration was published at Easton, Pa., July 30, 1756, and at Philadelphia in August.

tion made, a Body of French Troops, under the Command of an Officer bearing the French King's Commission, attacked in a hostile Manner, and possessed themselves of the English Fort on the Ohio, in North America.

But notwithstanding this Act of Hostility, which could not but be looked upon as a Commencement of War, yet, from our earnest Desire of Peace, and in Hopes the Court of France would disavow this Violence and Injustice, We contented Ourselves with sending such a Force to America, as was indispensably necessary for the immediate Defence and Protection of Our Subjects against fresh Attacks and Insults.

In the mean Time great Naval Armaments were preparing in the Ports of France, and a considerable body of French Troops embarked for North America; and though the French Ambassador was sent back to England with specious Professions of a Desire to accommodate these Differences, yet it appeared that their real Design was only to gain Time for the Passage of those Troops to America, which they hoped would secure the Superiority of the French Forces in those Parts, and enable them to carry their ambitious and oppressive Projects into Execution.

In these Circumstances We could not but think it incumbent upon Us, to endeavour to prevent the Success of so dangerous a Design, and to oppose the Landing of the French Troops in America; and, in Consequence of the just and necessary Measures we had taken for that Purpose, the French Ambassador was immediately recalled from Our Court; the Fortifications at Dunkirk, which had been repairing for some Time, were enlarged; great Bodies of Troops marched down to the Coast, and Our Kingdoms were threatened with an Invasion.

In order to prevent the Execution of these Designs, and to provide for the Security of Our Kingdoms which were thus threatened, We could no longer forbear giving Orders for the seizing at Sea the Ships of the French King, and his Subjects. Notwithstanding which, as We were still unwilling to give up all Hopes that an Accommodation might be effected, We have contented Ourselves hitherto with detaining the said.

Ships, and preserving them, and (as far as was possible) their Cargoes intire, without proceeding to the Confiscation of them; but it being now evident, by the hostile invasion actually made by the French King of Our Island of Minorca, that it is the determined Resolution of that Court to hearken to no Terms of Peace, but to carry on the War, which has been long begun on their Part with the utmost Violence, We can no longer remain, consistently with what We owe to Our own Honour, and to the Welfare of Our Subjects within those Bounds, which, from a Desire of Peace, We had hitherto observed.

We have therefore thought proper to declare War, and We do hereby Declare War against the French King, who hath so unjustly begun it, relying on the Help of Almighty God, in Our just undertaking, and being assured of the hearty Concurrence and Assistance of Our Subjects, in support of so good a Cause, hereby willing and requiring Our Captain General of Our Forces, Our Commissioners for executing the Office of Our High Admiral of Great Britain, Our Lieutenants of Our several Counties, Governors of our Forts and Garrisons, and all other Officers and Soldiers under them, by Sea and Land, to do and execute all Acts of Hostility, in the Prosecution of this War against the French King, his Vassals and Subjects, and to oppose their Attempts, Willing and requiring all Our Subjects to take Notice of the same, whom We henceforth strictly forbid to hold any Correspondence or Communication with the said French King, or his Subjects. And we do hereby command Our own Subjects, and advertise all other Persons, of what Nation soever, not to transport or carry any Soldiers, Arms, Powder, Ammunition, or other Contraband Goods, to any of the Territories, Lands, Plantations, or Countries of the said French King; Declaring, That whatsoever Ship or Vessel shall be met withal, transporting or carrying any Soldiers, Arms, Powder, Ammunition, or any other Contraband Goods, to any of the Territories, Lands, Plantation or Countries of the said French King, the same being taken, shall be condemned as good and lawful Prize.

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