202 Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1 740.

Lib. C. B.
p. 76

By His Excellency Samuel Ogle Esq^r Governor and Com-
mander in Chief in and over the Province of
Maryland.

A Proclamation

Whereas His Majestys Pleasure has been signifyed to me
by his Grace the Duke of Newcastle One of his Majestys
Principal Secretarys of State, by his Graces Letter of the 5^th
of January last, That his Majesty having thought fit to declare
War against Spain, and being determined by all possible
means to distress and annoy the Spaniards in the most effect-
ual manner, and particularly by making an Attempt upon
some of their most considerable Settlements in the West In-
dies, has been pleased, for that purpose to order a large Body
of Troops, under the Comand of the Lord Cathcart, a Major
General of his Majestys forces, to come from Great Britain
with a sufficient Convoy of Men of War, to a proper Place in
the West Indies, to be appointed for that Purpose, to be
joyned by the Squadron under the Command of Vice Admiral
Vernon now in the West Indies, and by such a Number of
Troops, as may be raised in his Majestys Colonies and Islands
in America: And that it had been represented to his Majesty,
that a very considerable Number of Men may be easily had,
upon proper Encouragement, in the British Plantations, and
particularly in his Majestys Colonies on the Continent of
America, to serve in Conjunction with the Regular Troops to
be sent from home; of all which his Majesty thought proper
that Notice should be given, in order that the necessary Dis-
positions might be made for facilitating as soon as possible
the raising the said Troops, to be commanded by Col Spots-
wood
And Whereas his Majesty has been most graciously pleased
to declare his Royal Intentions to give all proper Encourage-
ment to the New Levies, by ordering them to be supplied with
Arms, and proper Cloathing and to be paid by his Majesty;

p. 77

with an Assurance of their coming in for their Share of any
Booty that may be taken from the Enemy, and of their being
sent back to their respective Habitations, when the Service
shall be over, unless any of them shall desire to settle them-
selves elsewhere: And that His Majesty will order to be sent
by Col Blakeney, Adjutant General of all the Forces (who may
be very soon expected) a Number of blank Commissions, to
be given by the several Governors to the Officers who are to
command the Troops under Col Spotswood, and that Trans-
ports and all Necessaries will be provided to carry the Troops
to the Place of general Rendezvous
In Obedience therefore to his Majestys Royal Commands I