Hartford in Connecticutt April 24^th 1756.
Sir
In your last, you mention'd that you was in want of small
Arms.
I am now upon my Iourney to New York, and have only
time to inform your Honour that the 10,000 stands of Arms,
& proportion of Ammunition sent by his Majesty to Boston
for the use of the Colonies, according to the Discretion of the
Commander in Chief of his Forces in North America, are now
arriv'd, & are under the Care of the Comptroller of Ordnance
settled by the Board at that place.
Of these Arms I have order'd the Comptroller to deliver
300 Stands with a proper proportion of Ammunition to any
person, who shall be authoriz'd by your Honour's Government
to receive and indent for the same on the behalf of the Prov-
ince; viz^t to return the Arms at the End of the present Service,
for w^ch they are lent to the Province, into his Majesty's Stores
at Boston, pursuant to the Directions of the Board of Ordnance
there to be kept by their Officers, as a Magazine for the use of
the Colonies, which shall want them.
The Rule, I have observ'd in the present Distribution of
these Arms, with respect to my own & all the other Govern-
ments, except Virginia & Connecticutt, is to deliver to each of
them Arms for four sevenths of the Men, they now raise: I
am oblig'd to furnish his Majesty's four Regiments of Regulars
immediately with 1200 Stands; and the 10,000 stands will
hold out for no larger a proportion, leaving only 800 stands in
the Stores for Extraordinary Contingencies; you will be pleas'd,
Sir, in case your Government shall raise 500 Men for the
Expedition to send for the Arms, when you think proper, to
M^r Turner Comptroller of his Majesty's Ordnance at Boston.
Inclos'd is a Copy of the Vote of the Massachusetts Assembly
upon this Occasion, which your Honour may follow so far as
you like it.
Wishing you Success in all your undertakings for the present
Service, I am with great Regard & Esteem —
Sir
Your Honour's most Humble,
and most Obedient Servant
W Shirley.
Hon^ble Horatio Sharpe Esq^r