162 Assembly Proceedings, March 17-April 21, 1762.

L. H. J.

Liber No. 52
April 23

he gave Orders for some of the Troops that were raised in North-
Carolina, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, to embark for South-Carolina,
he had required us likewise to send a Company or Two thither?
As I persuade myself, Gentlemen, that you would not choose to
distinguish yourselves by obstructing the Measures, that the General
whom his Majesty has intrusted with the Command of all his Forces
in America thinks it for his Majesty's Service to pursue, I hope
you will not oblige the Troops that are now at Fort Cumberland,
to abandon it, with all it's Artillery and Stores, to his Majesty's
Enemies: And as you alone will be answerable for the Consequences,
I once more recommend it to you to make immediate Provision for
the Support of that Garrison, as well as for the Support of the Troops
that remain at Fort Frederick, and that are, agreeable to the Direc-
tions of our Act of Assembly, ordered to keep Ranging at a small
Distance beyond the Frontier Settlements."

Lest this Message should fail of having the desired Effect, I thought
it my Duty to send the Earl of Loudoun immediate Advice of what
had passed, to inclose his Lordship the original Address, which the
Lower House had presented to me the 19th of that Month, and to tell
him that unless a Supply of Provisions was sent to Fort Cumberland,
without Delay, the Garrison would be greatly distressed, and obliged,

p. 72

perhaps, in a short Time, to abandon the Place for want of Food;
and I desired his Lordship to give such provisional Orders as he
should think proper, for the Preservation of that Fort, in Case the
Lower House should come to such a final Resolution as their Address
seemed to promise. The Earl of Loudoun being then at Albany, my
Letter did not reach him before the 26. of November: The next Day
he was pleased to return the following Answer:

"Sir, Last Night I had the Favour of yours of October the 2ist,
with an Account of the Proceedings of your Assembly, and a Copy
of their Address to you: I must own the Restriction your Assembly
endeavoured to lay on the Troops raised by your Province last Spring,
surprized me, as it interfered with the King's undoubted Prerogative
of Commanding all his Subjects in Arms, either by himself, or
those he appoints under him. However the Troops were wise enough
to obey his Majesty's Orders, given them by those who alone had
Power to give them, and I was in Hopes the Gentlemen that com-
pose the Assembly had reconsidered that Affair, and seen the Error
of it; but your Letter, and their Address, have shewn me that I
was mistaken, and yet I cannot help having that Charity for my
Fellow- Subjects to believe that this Affair has not appeared to
them in it's true Light; for I cannot think that the Assembly of
Maryland ever intended to invade the King's undoubted Prerogative,
nor can I possibly believe that they intend to throw the Frontier
Garrisons of his Majesty's Dominions into the Enemies Hands,
particularly when those Garrisons are in their own Province, and so