I Yesterday had the Honour of receiving a Letter from Mr. Secretary Pitt, bearing date the 9th. of December last; Signifying to me, that His Majesty had judged it Expedient to dispatch his Orders to the Several Governors in North America, for Levying the Same, or a Greater Number if possible, of Men, than they did for the last Campaign; And at the Same time enclosed to me, Copies of his Circular Letters to the Northern and Southern Governors on that Subject, wherein the Kings Directions are so fully stated, that I can have little else to add than my most earnest Recommendations to You, forthwith to use your utmost Endeavours and Influence with the Council and Assembly of your Province to induce them to raise with all possible dispatch, within your Government, as large a Body of Men as the Number of it's Inhabitants may allow.

And as I propose to begin the Operations of the ensuing Campaign, so Soon as the Season will permit me, and, if possible much earlier than the first of May I must, notwithstanding Mr. Pitt's Letter desire that the Troops of Your Province may be ready by the Tenth of April at farthest.

I must likewise particularly recommend to you, the Strict and immediate Observance of His Majesty's Directions, relative to the Collecting and putting into the best Condition, all the Arms which can be any way rendered Serviceable, or that can be found within Your Government, in Order that the Same may be employed, as far as they will go, in this Exigency.

And as most People in North America have Arms of their own, which from their being Accustom'd to, and being so much lighter than the Tower Arms, must be more Agreable And proper for them, I do as an Encouragement for their coming provided with them, engage to pay for every one of those they Shall so bring and that may be Spoiled or lost in Actual Service, at the Rate of 25/ a Firelock, which I understand was allowed last Campaign.