214 Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1740.

Lib. C. B.

George R.

Instructions for Our trusty & Welbeloved Samuel Ogle
Esq^r Deputy Governor of Our Province of Maryland in
America, or the Deputy Governor or Commander in

p. 92.

Chief of Our said Province for the time being Given at
Our Court at S^t James's the second Day of April 1740 in
the thirteenth Year of Our Reign

Having been called upon by repeated Provocations to de-
clare War against Spain, we are determined, by God's Assist-
ance in so just a Cause, to vindicate the Honour of Our
Imperial Crown, to revenge the Injuries done to Our Subjects,
to assert their undoubted Rights of Commerce and Naviga-
tion, and by all possible Means to attack, annoy and distress
a Nation, that has treated Our People with such Insolence
and Barbarity
1. We have therefore given Orders for the equipping and
setting forth of an Expedition against the Territories of the
Catholick King in the West Indies, which will consist of a
large Squadron of Our Ships of War, and of a considerable
Number of Our Land forces, with a suitable Train of Artillery,
Storeships and Transports; The Fleet to be commanded by
Our trusty and Welbeloved Edward Vernon Esq^r Vice Admiral
of the Blue Squadron of Our Fleet, and Commander in Chief
of Our Ships employed, or to be employed in the West Indies,
and the Land forces by Our Right Trusty and Welbeloved
Charles Lord Cathcart, Major General of Our Forces, whom
We have appointed Our General and Commander in Chief
of the said Expedition
We have also determined to raise a Body of Troops in Our
Colonies on the Continent of North America, to join Those to
be sent from hence at a particular Rendezvous, which will be
appointed for that Purpose and to act in Conjunction with
them, under the Command of Our said General, in such Dis-
positions as shall be made for Our Service; And although We
have not thought fit to fix any particular Quota for Our Prov-
ince of Maryland under your Government, because We would
not set Bounds to their Zeal for Our Service, yet considering
the great Number of Inhabitants in Our said Province, and
that they have of late Years been much encreased, We doubt
not in the least but they will exert themselves upon this

p. 92

Occasion, as far as the Circumstances of the Colony will allow,
being assured, they cannot render a more acceptable Service
to Us, and to their Mother Country, or do any thing more
essential for their own Interest
2. It is Our Will and Pleasure, that you do, with the utmost
Zeal and Diligence, promote and encourage so necessary a