Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1744, 3 1 3

Maryland ss.

By his Excellency Thomas Bladen Esq^r Governor & Com-
mander in Chief in & over the Province of
Maryland

Lib. C. B.

A Proclamation

Whereas their Excellencies the Lords Justices by their
Order to me bearing date at Whitehall the 15^th of August last

have required that I should employ the most effectual means
for putting this Province in the best Posture of Defence that
shall be possible and that I should be constantly on my Guard
against any surprize from any Quarter whatsoever And
whereas their Excellencies by their further Order dated at
Whitehall the third of September last past have signifyed
their further Directions that I should put the forces belonging
to this Province into such a Condition, as not only to be able
to repel the French Forces, if they should attack it, but also
to be in a Condition to attack them if it should become neces-
sary: In Obedience to the said Orders I have thought fit with
the Advice of his Lordships Council of State to issue this my
Proclamation strictly commanding all his Lordships military
Officers within this Province carefully & diligently to train
discipline and exercise the Militia thereof and to see that their
Arms are constantly kept in good Order and fit for Service
upon all Occasions and to proceed with the utmost Rigour of
Law against all Persons who shall refuse or neglect to appear
at the Places which shall be respectively appointed for training
and exercising the Militia Given at the City of Annapolis
this 2^d Day of March in the twenty ninth year of his Lordps
Dominion Annoq Domini 1743

At a Council held in the Council Chamber on Wednesday
the Eleventh day of April in the twenty ninth year of his
Lordships Dominion Annoq Domini 1744

Present

p. 214

His Excellency Thomas Bladen Esq^r Governor

P. 215

The honble

Benjamin Tasker Esq^r
Col George Plater
Col Charles Hammond

Philip Thomas Esq^r
Daniel Dulany Esq^r