Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1753-1761. 75

review the Several Companies under your Command Sev-
erally or together and upon their appearances diligently ob-
serve how well they shall be appointed and Provided, that
you may be the better enabled to give me an Account thereof
and you shall also direct the Captains of the Several Com-
panies respectively as often as they muster and discipline the
men under their Command to make you a Return of the
Persons that shall attend at every such Muster and also
send you the names of those that may neglect to attend in
order that you and one other officer may award Execution
against such as shall neglect or refuse to appear in obedience
to this and your Orders and you are moreover hereby re-
quir'd to Inclose the said Returns to me that I may be satis-
fied how punctually these my Orders are obeyed and upon
any Alarm of an Enemys approach upon any Invasion or
Incursion of the French or their allied Indians you are hereby
authorized & directed immediately to Summons such Troops
or Companies as you shall see fit, and either lead or order
them to march under the Command of some other officer
against such Enemies and to resist or attack the Invaders as
you think proper for the better Security and defence of the
Province, and in Case you or they make any such French or
Indians Prisoners you are to convey them under a Guard to
the County Prison and immediately send me Advice thereof
as you are also required to Do of every occurrence likely to
affect the Peace and Safety of this Province which shall
Come to your knowledge. Given under my hand this 30^th
Day of May Anno Domini 1755.

At a Council held at the City of Annapolis Tuesday the
26^th Day of August in the fifth year of his Lordships Do-
minion Annoque Domini 1755.

Present
His Excellency Horatio Sharpe Esq^r Governor

Lib. J. R.

& U. S.

The
honourable

Benjamin Tasker Esq^r
Philip Thomas Esq^r

Col Benjamin Tasker
Benedict Calvert Esq^r

Several Letters and Papers being laid before this Board by
his Excellency relating to the March of some French and
Indians to the great Meadows and their Encampment there
and also in relation to Col Dunbar's leaving Wills's Creek
and marching with the Troops under his Command to Pen-
silvania which being read his Excellency desires the Advice
of this Board whether It may be necessary now to call the
Assembly, Who are of Opinion It is not now necessary
but if the Enemy should attack Fort Cumberland, then im-
mediately to call the same.

p. 62