Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1753-1761. 159

Maryland ss: By his Excellency Horatio Sharpe Esquire
Governor and Commander in Chief in and
over the province of Maryland.

A Proclamation
Whereas the present General Assembly of this province
was by the last proclamation issued appointed to be held
at the City of Annapolis the first Monday in October next
being the 4^th day of the same Month, and whereas his Maj-
esty's immediate Service requires their Meeting before that
time, I have therefore thought fit with the Advice of his
Lordship's Council of State to publish and declare that the
said general Assembly meet and be held at the City of
Annapolis the second Tuesday of September next, and to
the intent that all persons concerned may have due notice
thereof, I do hereby strictly charge and require the several
Sheriffs of this province to make this my proclamation pub-
lick in their respective Counties as they will answer the con-
trary at their peril: Given at the City of Annapolis this
30^th Day of August in the sixth year of his Lordships Do-
minion, Annoque Domini 1756.
J Ross Cl: Con.

Ordered that the following Letter be sent to Colonel Belt,
and Colonel Hall Commanders in chief of the Militia of
Prince Georges and Baltimore Counties.

S^r
As some Advices which I have just received give me great
Room to fear that a large Body of ffrench and Indians will
very shortly make a Descent on this province, and endeavour
to break up at once, all our Settlem^ts in the Western Parts of
Frederick County, and as it is thought expedient and neces-
sary to march a considerable Number of the Militia to cover

Lib. J. R.
& U. S.

and protect the distant Inhabitants and on Occasion to act
in Conjunction with the Troops that have been raised and
are posted at Fort Frederick, and other places beyond Cone-
gocheige, I do hereby with the Advice of his Lordships Coun-
cil of State, order & require you as soon as possible to send
from the Militia of your County a Detachment of 100 Men
under the Command of a Captain, Lieutenant, and Ensign,
to Fort Frederick, where they will be joined by another
Detachment of the same Number. After their Arrival at
that Fort they will be supplied with provisions by the Com-
missary M^r Ross, and on their March thither the Officer must
apply to the press Masters for such provisions and Carriages
as shall be necessary, with which the press Masters are forth-

p. 133