New York 21st. February 1760.
Sir,
|
N.B. The Words and Situation to be Omitted Pensylvania. To Maryland, instead of the Words Underlined, "As Large a Body of Men as the Number [&] Situation of its Inhabitants may Allow. The due performance of which Service, it is hoped [a]nd Expected, they will not again fail in their duty to the King, as they have done the two last Campaigns." To the Govr. of South Carolina, Instead of the Words Underlined "As large a Body of Men as the Number & Situation of its Inhabitants may allow." To the Governor of North Carolina, Instead of the Words Underlined "As large a Number of Men, as the Number of its Inhabitants may Allow." |
With His Majesty's Commands for the Reduction of all Canada, received last Night, I likewise had the Copy of Mr. Secretary Pitt's Circular Letter to the Northern & Southern Governors, of the 7th. Janry. last, the Original of which goes Enclosed, and whereby You will See that His Majesty having Nothing so much at heart, as to Improve the great and Important Advantages gained the last Campaign in North America, and, not doubting that all His Faithfull & Brave Subjects there will Continue most Chearfully to Cooperate with, & Second to the Utmost, the large Expence & Extraordinary Succours, Supplied by the Kingdom of Great Britain for their preservation & future Security; And His Majesty Considering that the Several Provinces, from Pensylvania Inclusive, to the Southward, are well able, with proper Encouragements, to furnish a Body of several Thousand Men, to Join the King's Forces in those parts, for some Offensive Operations against the Enemy; And His Majesty not Judging it Expedient to Limit the Zeal & Ardor of any of His Provinces, by making a Repartition of the Force to be raised by Each respectively, for this most Important Service, He (Mr. Secretary Pitt) is Commanded to Signify to You the King's pleasure, that You do forthwith Use Your utmost Endeavors & Influence with the Council & Assembly of Your Province, to Induce them to Raise, with all possible dispatch, within Your Government, at least as large a Body of Men, as they did for the last Campaign, and even as many more 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 be, to March to the Rendezvous, at such place, or places, as may be Named for that purpose, by the Commander in Chief of His Majesty's Forces in America, or by the Officer, who shall be Appointed to Command the King'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 the Officer to be Appointed 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 Commander of His Majesty's Forces in those parts, most Expedient force Annoying the Enemy. |
As the King's Directions, on the foregoing Subject, are so fully Stated in the Above Abstract, I have only to Request that You would Exert Your utmost Endeavors to encite & Encourage Your Assembly, to the full and due Execution of the King's Commands, in a matter so Essential to the future Welfare & prosperity of the several Provinces, and the Success of the Ensueing, decisive, and (it is greatly hoped) last Campaign in North America; which desireable Ends cannot be better Attained than by Commencing the Operations as Early as shall be practicable, And that Nothing may be left undone that it is possible for me to Attempt in the Execution of His Majesty's Commands, I must be Urgent with You to Quicken and Expedite the Levies of Your Province, so that they may be Assembled at the Rendezvous which I shall hereafter Appoint, by the Tenth of April next at furthest.
I Have also in Command from His Majesty, to Recommend to You the Collecting & putting into a proper Condition, all the Arms which can be any wise render'd 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: As a further reason for which, I referr You to my Letter of the 16th. February 1759, and now Offer You the same Encouragement did then, Vizt. that for Every One of such Arms as any of Your Men shall bring with them, and that may be Spoiled, or Lost in Actual Service, I will pay at the rate of Twenty Five Shillings a Firelock.
From this Encouragement, and Your known Fidelity & Attachment to His Majesty, I have no doubt of Your Exerting Yourself to the utmost of this great Occasion, where the future Safety & Welfare of America, and of Your own Province in particular, are so nearly Concerned.
I am, with great Regard,
Sir, &ca.
N.B. The Like Letter To the Govrs. of Maryland; Virginia; North Carolina; & South Carolina.
P.S. To Governor Hamilton. "The Albany Sloop or War, which brought the Enclosed Dispatches, will Sail again for England in ten days.”
