Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1753-1761. 77

As a Meeting of Commissioners from all the Colonies as
far Westward as Virginia inclusive, with me to be appointed
by Acts of Assembly, in the Month of October or November,

Lib. J. R.

& U. S.

in order to consult upon the most proper Measures to be
taken for the general Interest of the Common Cause, the next
Spring, may have a good Effect for his Majestys Service, I
mention it to your Excellency for your Consideration and
shall do the same to the Other Gov^ts in a Circular Letter: if
such a Convention shall be thought Advisable, I would pro-
pose New York for the Place of meeting, and the 15^th of
November the time for it, as I shall be there in my Return to
Boston, where I must be present early in December

As I think a very early Campaigne the next year necessary,
I have Sent orders to Col Dunbar the Commanding officer of
his Majestys two British Regiments and two Independent
Companies of New York to March those Troops directly to
Albany, where I design their Winter Quarters shall be, and
to leave at this Place as many of the Troops now with me as
can be Supported during the Winter, that they may be As-
sembled ready to Act either Seperately or in conjunction with
such Provincial Troops as the Colonies shall think fit to raise
ag^t the French Settlements either upon the Lakes & Ohio;
which last Place is very accessible thro that Route, or ag^t any
part of Canada, as his Majestys Service and the General In-
terest of the Colonies may most require.
The first thought of having a Meeting with Commissioners
from the Colonies was Suggested to me from the inclosed
Extract.

As Col Dunbars and the late Sir Peter Halkets Regim^ts
have been greatly reduced by the Defeat of the late Major
General Braddock in their March to the Ohio for the Protec-
tion and Service of the Several Colonies of Pensilvania,
Maryland & Virginia in Particular; and his Majestys Service
and their further Protection require that those Regiments
should be Compleated to 1000 Men each by the begining of
the Spring I can't but hope that the three before mentioned
Governm^ts will readily make grants for Supplying Col Dun-
bar & L^t Col Gage with levy Money for that Purpose; and
that your Honour will be pleas'd to Recommend it in the
Strongest Terms to the Assembly within Your own Govern-
ment. I have wrote to Goy^r Morris & Gov^r Dinwiddie to the
same Effect. I am with Great Regard
S^r Your Honours Most Humble & Most Obed^t
Serv^t W. Shirley

p. 63