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S.r Whitehall 30 : Dec.r 1757.
His Majesty having Nothing more at Heart than to repair the
Losses and Disappointments of the last inactive and unhappy Cam-
paign and by the most vigorous and extensive Efforts to avert by the
Blessing of God on his Arms the Dangers impending on North
America, and not doubting but all his faithful and brave Subjects here
will chear fully cooperate with and second to the utmost the large
Expence, and extraordinary Succours supplied by this Kingdom for
their Preservation and Defence, and his Majesty considering that
the several Provinces from Pensilvania inclusive to the Southward
are well able with proper Encouragements to furnish a Body of
several thousand Men to join the Kings Forces in those Parts for
some offensive Operations against the Enemy, and his Majesty not
judging it expedient to limit the Zeal and Ardour of any of his
Provinces by making a Repartition of the Forces to be raised by
each respectively for this most important Service, I am commanded
to signify to you the King's Pleasure that you do forthwith use
your utmost Endeavours and Influence with the Council and As-
sembly of your Province to induce them to raise with all possible
Dispatch as large a Body of Men within your Government as the
Number and Situation of its Inhabitants may allow, and forming
the same into Regiments as far as shall be found convenient, that
you do direct them to hold themselves in Readiness as early as may
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U. H. J.
Liber No. 35
Mar, 28
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be, to march to the Rendezvous at such Place or Places as may be
named for that Purpose by Brigadier General Forbes appointed to
command his Majesty's Forces in those Parts, in Order to proceed
from thence in conjunction with a Body of his Majesty's British
Forces, and under the supreme Command of Brigadier Forbes ap-
pointed as above, so as to be in a Situation to begin by the first of
may (if possible) or as soon after as shall be any way practicable
such offensive Operations as shall be judged by the said Commander
of his Majesty's Forces in those Parts most expedient for annoying
the Enemy, and most efficacious towards removing and repelling the
Dangers that threaten the Frontiers of any of the Southern Colonies
on the Continent of America, and the better to facilitate the important
Service the King is pleased to leave it to you to issue Commissions
to such Gentlemen of your Province as you shall judge from their
Weight and Credit with the People and their Zeal for the public
Service may be best disposed and enabled to quicken and effectuate
the speedy levying of the greatest Number of Men, in the Dispositions
of which Commissions I am persuaded you will have Nothing in View
but the good of the King's Service, and a due Subordination of the
whole when joined to his Majesty's Commander, and all Officers of
the Provincial Forces as high as Colonels inclusive are to have Rank
according to their several respective Comm.rs in like Manner as is
already given by his Majesty's Regulations to the Captains of Pro-
vincial Troops in America.
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p. 256
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