392 Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1747.

Lib. C. B.

Boston June 29^th 1747
Sir

This will inform your Honour, that this Governm^t taking
into Consideration the great danger which all his Majesty's
Colonies in North America are in (as well as their own par-
ticular danger) of being in time destroyed by the French and
the Indians under their Influence, without a firm Union between
themselves for their mutual Defence, and for weakening and
destroying the Power of the Enemy, and more Especially for
driving the French from the Borders of the Province of New
York and this Province, have appointed Commissioners to
meet in a Congress to be held at New York on the second
Day of September next with such Commissioners as may be
appointed by all his Majesty's Governments from New Hamp-
shire to Virginia inclusively, them & there to treat and agree
upon Measures for encouraging the Indians of the Six Nations
vigorously to prosecute their Incursions on the Enemy, as also
to agree upon the Method and Proportion of raising Men and
Money for carrying on the War both offensively, & defen-
sively, & to project and Settle such Enterprizes and Plans of
Operation as the common Interest shall require.
Your Honour will, I doubt not, duly consider the great
Importance of this Matter, and represent it in the strongest
Light to your Assembly, that they may see not only how
deeply his Maj^tys Interest in general is concerned, but that
their own particular Safety will be soon much affected by the
growing Power of the French and more especially the Hazard
there is that they will bring the Six Nations into their Interest,
in Case they are not forthwith most vigorously and effectually

p. 296

supported by the English, without which It will be but a very
little while before the Southern as well as the Northern Colon-
ies will be exposed to their Fury; & therefore I would recom-
mend it to the several Governments separately to make
Provision without delay for the Encouragement of the Six
Nations 'till the Congress can be held; This Government
having already advanced many large Sums of Money, and still
continuing to raise more for this Service; Your Honour will
be pleased to give me seasonable Advice of the Resolution of
your Government on this most important Affair
I am Sir
Your Honours most Obedient
and most humble servant
W Shirly

Which being read It is the humble Advice of this Board to
his Excellency that He be pleased to send the following
Answer thereto.