His Majesty having appointed Sir William Pepperell to be Colonel of a Regt to be raised in the same manner, and to consist of the same number with that, whereof you are now appointed Colonel, I have acquainted him therewith by this Conveyance, and I have likewise informed him, that it is the King's Pleasure, that the said Regiment when raised, shall rendez-vous at New York and Philadelphia, in like manner, as that under your Command will rendez-vous at Boston.

You will carefully correspond with the Commander in Chief when He arrives, and Sir Wm. Pepperell, and will communicate to them, from time to time, the Progress you shall have made in the Execution of these His Majesty's Orders; and you will likewise correspond with the several Govrs. of His Majesty's Colonies, as often as the service shall require it.

Having informed you in my letter of July 5th that the King had under his Royal consideration the State of affairs in North America; I am now to acquaint you, that, amongst

1 P. R. O., C. O. 5, 211. This letter with minor variations was sent to each of the British governors in North America. See the letter of Dep. Gov. Gardner of Rhode Island to Shirley of Jan. 4, 1755, reciting the measures taken by that colony in response. R. İ. Col. Rec. 5, 405.

other measures, that are thought proper for the defence of His Majesty's just rights and dominions, in those parts, the King has not only been pleased to order two Regiments of Foot, consisting of 500 Men each, besides Commissioned and non Commissioned Officers, commanded by Sir Peter Halkett and Col. Dunbar2 to repair to Virginia, and to be there augmented to the number of 700, each; but, likewise, to send orders to Sir William Pepperell, and yourself to raise two Regiments, whereof you are respectively appointed Colonels, of 1000 Men each; and, also to sign Commissions for a number of Officers to serve in the said two Regiments, and who will forthwith repair to North America, for that purpose.

Whereas there will be wanting a considerable number of Men to make up the designed complement of the said four Regiments, it is His Majesty's pleasure, that you should be taking the previous steps, towards contributing, as far as you can, to have about 3000 Men in readiness to be enlisted; and it is His Majesty's intention, that a General Officer, of

1 Sir Peter Halkett, of Pitferran, Fifeshire, a baronet of Nova Scotia, was the son of Sir Peter Wedderburne, of Gosford, who assumed his wife's name. In 1734 he sat in the House of Commons, for Dunferline; and was Lieutenant Colonel of the 44th at Sir John Copes' defeat, in 1745. Being released on his parole, by Charles Edward, he was ordered by Cumberland to rejoin his regiment and serve again against the Jacobites. With great propriety, he refused such a dishonorable duty, saying that "his Royal Highness was master of his commission, but not of his honor." The king approved of Sir Peter's course, and he retained his rank. On the 26th of February, 1751, he succeeded to the Colonelcy of his regiment. He was killed, at the head of his regiment, in the battle of Monongahela, on the 9th of July, 1755. Sargent's Expedition against Fort Duquesne, 274, 294.

2 Colonel Thomas Dunbar, had been Lieutenant Colonel of the 18th or Royal Irish regiment, and on the 29th of April, 1752, was promoted to the Colonelcy of the 48th regiment of Foot. In November, 1755, he was superseded in the command of this regiment, and honorably retired as Lieutenant Governor of Gibraltar, in consequence of his retreat, after General Braddock's defeat. He became Major General on the 18th of January, 1758, and a Lieutenant General on December 18th, 1760, but was never again employed in active service. Ibid. 267.

Rank and Capacity, to be appointed to command in Chief all the King's forces in North America, a Deputy Quarter Master General, and a Commissary of the Musters, shall set out, as soon as conveniently may be, in order to prepare every thing for the arrival of the Forces abovementioned from Europe, and for the raising of the others in America.

You will receive from that General, and the other Officers just mentioned, a full and exact account of the Arms, Cloathing, and other necessaries, to be sent, upon this important occasion, as likewise of the Ordnance Stores, and of the Officers, and attendants, belonging thereto. All which being ordered for this service, are such proofs of His Majesty's regard for the security and welfare of his subjects in those parts, as cannot fail to excite you to exert yourself, and those under your care, to take the most vigorous steps to repel your common danger, and to shew, that the Kings orders, which were sent you last year, by the Earle of Holdernesse, and were renewed to you in my letter of the 5th July,' have, at last, roused that emulation, and spirit, which every Man owes at this time, to His Majesty, the publick and himself. The King will not therefore imagine, that either you, or the rest of his Govrs., will suffer the least neglect or delay, in the performance of the present service, now strongly recommended to you; particularly with regard to the following points: vizt: That you should carefully provide a sufficient quantity of fresh victuals, at the expence of your Governt, to be ready for the use of the Troops at their arrival.-That you should likewise, furnish the Officers, who may have occasion to go from place to place, with all necessaries for traveling by land, in case there are no means of going by sea; and: That you should use your utmost diligence, and authority, in procuring an exact observance of such orders, as shall be issued from time to time by the Commander in chief, for

1 Robinson's letter of July 5 to Shirley is in P. R. O., C. O. 5, 211. It is of about three hundred words, and directs him as to formation of plans for the Kennebec campaign and coöperation with other officers in Nova Scotia. See Shirley to Robinson, Dec. 14, post, p. 107.

quartering the Troops, impressing carriages, and providing all necessaries for such forces, as shall arrive; or be raised within your Government.

As the Articles above-mentioned are of a local and peculiar nature, and arising entirely within your Governt, it is almost needless for me to acquaint you, that His Majesty will expect, that the charge thereof be defrayed by His subjects belonging. to the same. But, with regard to such other articles, which are of a more general concern, it is the King's pleasure, that the same should be supplied by a common fund, to be established for the benefit of all the Colonies collectively in North America; for which purpose, you will use your utmost endeavours to induce the assembly of your province, to raise forthwith as large a sum as can be afforded, as their contribution to this common fund, to be employed, provisionally, for the General service of North America, (particularly for paying the charge of levying the Troops, to make up the complements of the Regiments abovementioned) until such time, as a plan of general union of His Majesty's Northern Colonies, for their common defence, can be perfected.

You will carefully conferr, or correspond as you shall have opportunities upon every thing relative to the present service, with the said Genl., Sir William Pepperell, and as it is the King's intention to give all proper encouragement to such persons, who shall engage to serve upon this occasion, you will acquaint all such persons, in the King's name that they will receive arms and cloathing from hence, and that they shall be sent back if desired to their respective habitations, when the service in America shall be over.

As the several Governors, in all the King's provinces and Colonies in North America, will receive by this conveyance a letter to the same effect with this, which I now send you, they will be prepared at the same time, to obey His Majesty's commands; and I am to direct you to correspond with all, or either of them, occasionally, as you shall find it expedient for the General service.

I am ettc.

T. ROBINSON,

WILLIAM: SHIRLEY TO ISRAEL WILLIAMS1 Boston, Novemr. 7, 1754.

SIR,

I have received Advice of a Party of Indians setting upon a small Detachmt sent out from the Garrison at Teconick, killing and scalping one, and taking four of them Prisoners, as you will see by an Extract from Captain Lane's Letter to me, dated the 30th of October last,' By which and an Extract of another Letter from Lieutt. Howard, you will find Grounds strongly to suspect that the Norridgewock Indians were Privy to this Design, if not actually concerned in the Execution of it. And by these Extracts you have also Information of further Mischief forming among the Canada and other Indians against our Frontiers; Therefore you will send Advice thereof to the exposed Places in your Parts of their Danger, that so they may be upon their Guard to prevent a Surprize.

I am,
Sir,

Your Assur'd Friend and
Servant,

Colo. Israel Williams.

W. SHIRLEY.

1 Original, Mass. Hist. Society, Col. Israel Williams Manuscripts, 71 D, 92.

2 The following is the extract mentioned (Col. Israel Williams Manuscripts, 71 D, 92):

Fort Hallifax, Octor. 30, 1754.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY,

I beg leave to acquaint your Excy. that this Morning I ordered a Detachment of ten Men to go with the Team to fetch a Load of Logs, and they went and loaded the Team (not above two Gun Shott from the Block House upon the Hill) and as they were coming back the Indians fired upon them, and kill'd one man and scalp'd him, carried off four of the Men, and shott two of the Oxen. I immediately issued out with all that was able to go, and pursued them as far as we thought convenient, but they went off with all the Expedition that was possible.

Copy Attest, J. Willard, Secry.