The Lower House. 65

that House, shall be to you directed, the Secrets of the said House
you shall not divulge to the Prejudice of the House, or any Member
thereof, but shall in all Things, as Clerk to the said House, well
and truly demean your self, according to the best of your Knowl-
edge. So help you God.
M^r Speaker communicates to the House the Letter refer'd to in
the Governour's Speech, from Governour Shirley of New England,
which was ordered to be read, and is as followeth.
Boston July 3. 1745
S^r I have now the Pleasure to send your Honour by Express the
News of the Reduction of Louisburg to the Obedience of his Maj-
esty, & the Surrender of it accordingly; but to maintain our Con-
quest there which is of the utmost Importance, will require the
Assistance of all his Majesty's Colonies & Provinces in North
America for furnishing Men Ammunition and Provisions for Gar-
risoning and defending the Place 'till his Majesty shall order Troops
from Great Britain or otherwise signify his Pleasure in this Affair.
And I apprehend this to be the most critical Juncture for securing
it from the Attempts of the Enemy to recover it, For it cannot be
doubted, but that the French King will soon send a strong Force
both of Ships & Troops to reduce it, before we can well be secured
in the Possession of it; And you may reasonably judge that this
Province is already drained of Men, Provisions, and Ammunition :
However we are still so heartily engaged in this Service that we
have lately sent four hundred Troops who I suppose arrived at
Louisburg since the Surrender of it, besides upwards of sixty Sea-
men for Manning his Majesty's Ship Vigilant & have about two
Hundred Soldiers more embarked and ready to embark whom I
shall get away with all possible Dispatch, And I cannot but hope
your Honour and the General Assembly of Maryland will in Duty
to his Majesty & in Regard to the common Interest of all his Sub-

L. H. J.
Liber No. 46

jects in North America make Provision for the raising a number of
Soldiers immediately for this Service & have them transported
without Delay, and likewise give Orders for the taking up and pur-
chasing all the Gun Powder and Provisions that can be got for the
Garrison at Louisburg & the Ships employed there, of both which
they are in want, as the General & Commodore inform me as also
Provisions for the French Prisoners to be sent Home to France.
And as this will require a vast Quantity of Provisions especially.
It is my Opinion that no Provisions ought to be allowed to be
shipped off from the Plantations where they are raised, to the West
Indies, or any foreign Parts whatsoever till this want be supplied,
It will likewise be requisite that all the Gun Powder that can be

found in your Province, except what may be absolutely accessary

for your own Defence, should be secured for his Majesty's Service,
and I should think if your Honour will employ some Merchants in

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