218 Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1740.

Lib. C. B.

Date at S^t James's the second of April last, has been graciously
pleased to signify his Royal Will and Pleasure to me, that His
Majesty hath determined to raise a Body of Troops in his
Majestys Colonies on the Continent of North America, to joyn
the Troops to be sent from Great Britain, at a particular Place
of Rendezvous to be appointed for that purpose, and to act
in Conjunction with them under the Command of the Right
honourable the Lord Cathcart, General and Commander in
Chief of all his Majestys Forces in America, in such Disposi-
tions as shall be made for his Majestys Service: And that
altho' His Majesty has not thought fit to fix any particular
Quota for this Province, because his Majesty would not limit
the Zeal of his Loyal Subjects, yet considering the great
Number of Inhabitants in this Province, and that they have of
late years been much increased, His Majesty is most graciously
pleased to declare, that His Majesty doubts not in the least
but they will exert themselves upon this Occasion, as far as
the Circumstances of this Colony will allow, being assured

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they cannot render a more acceptable service to His Majesty
and their Mother Country, or do any thing more essential for
their own Interest: And I am directed, with the utmost Zeal
and Diligence to promote and encourage so Necessary a Dis-
position, and to appoint such Officers for the Command of the
several Companies to be raised as are known to be Men of
Interest in their Counties and well disposed to his Majestys
Service
His Majesty has therefore commanded me forthwith to issue
a Proclamation, giving Notice of his Royal Intentions in this
Behalf, inviting his Majestys good Subjects to inlist in his
Service, and assuring them that the Troops to be raised in
pursuance of his Majestys Instructions as well Officers as
Soldiers shall enter into his Majestys Pay, and enjoy the same
Rank and Pay with the rest of his Majestys British Troops so
long as they shall continue in his Majestys Service.
His Majesty has thought fit to declare, that all the Serjeants
Corporals Drummers and private Soldiers, shall be entitled to
receive his Majestys Pay from the respective Days on which
they shall be enlisted pursuant to such Certificates as I shall
judge sufficient for that purpose; and that the Commission
Officers shall enter into Pay from the Day their Commissions
bear date, and that they shall take Post and Rank in the
respective Battalions into which they shall be formed, accord-
ing to the Dates of the Certificates by which It shall appear
when Each Captain respectively had com pleated his Levies.
And as a further Encouragement to such Officers and Soldiers
as shall engage in the present Expedition, I am comanded by
his Majesty to assure them in his Royal Name, that the