Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1753-1761. 107

I chose to put them under this Restraint, rather than subject
the Masters to the ill Conveniencies, and Hardships, which I
am very sensible they frequently suffer from their Servants
being indiscriminately enlisted into his Majesty's Service,

Lib. J. R.

& U. S.

for this Reason, I never allowed the Officers either of my
former or present Regiment to enlist such Servants, always
disapproved of the Practice of it (when unnecessary) in
others, and since being invested with my present Command
have forbid it in all as long as the Circumstances of his
Majesty's service would admit
But this is not now the Case S^r his Majesty's Orders to
augment his Regiments to 1000 Men each are positive; the
execution of them before the opening this Years Campaign is
necessary for the Preservation of his just Rights and Do-
minions upon this Continent against the Incroachments and
Invasions of the French and to secure his Subjects from the
farther Devastations, which it must otherwise be expected
they will soon make within these Colonies: the recruiting
Officers have represented to me, that it will be impracticable
to compleat their Regim^ts in time for the Service, if I con-
tinue my former Restraint upon them: The season is now
far advanced and the Preparations of the Enemy to distress
his Majesty's Colonies in every Part are pushing on very
fast; of which the late Ravages committed at their Instiga-
tion within the Borders of Pensilvania by Indians some of
which were before at peace with that Government, and others
in Friendship with it should be a most alarming Proof to
the Assembly.
The Assembly will not infer that because I judged it ex-
pedient to forego his Majesty's Right to the Service of in-
dented Servants in favour of their Masters whilst I appre-
hended such an Indulgence would not disappoint the raising
a sufficient force for repelling the Enemy from his Terri-
tories, and the protection of his Subjects in North America,
it can therefore be my Judgment that it is either consistent
with my Duty to the King or the safety of his subjects within
these Colonies, to continue this Indulgence at a time when the
great Interests of both are so apparently at Stake, and such
ruinous consequences may ensue from it to all his Majesties
Governments upon this Continent.
The illegality of enlisting indented Servants Sir, which is
asserted throughout the Address, seems to be there ultimately
founded in this Argument that every person must have the
same absolute property in what he purchases, that he had in
the Purchase Money: many Instances might be cited to shew
that this Position is not universally true; & as to the Case of

p. 86