the fleet should arrive there in a body, at that precise hour and how dangerous it will be for us to trust to the chance of meeting at the Isles of Shoals. Besides this, it will be necessary that our Transports should be divided into four Divisions, each wearing distinct colours, and that the several parties of Troops, with their officers appointed to these several services, should embark in these distinct divisions and land together in separate Bodies out of 'em, in order to go instantly upon the Execution of their respective duties and attacks; for otherwise there will be the utmost confusion, and the forming of 'em after their landing will consume so much time, that the Execution of the main scheme will be impracticable the first night, after wch time it will be in vain to attempt it: And I do not see how the Transport vessells can be form'd properly into these Divisions unless they rendezvous at Nantasket, or the officers of your Regiment be appris'd thoroughly of the Duty they are to go instantly upon immediately after their landing, without being here upon the Spot: For as to their rendezvous at Canso, besides so large a fleet being in danger of being discover'd even from St. Peter's hill, there will be great danger of some fishing vessell or others' carrying an alarm to the enemy before our arrival. However if there should be an unsurmountable difficulty in the Troops rais'd in your Province getting round here, as I propose, we must endeavour to join as we pass by your harbour or at the Isles of Shoals as you propose upon my letting you have a day's notice before we sail; and as I will send you a copy of my orders to the General, wch will contain a plan of what the Troops are to execute instantly after their landing & of the several parts wch the four several corps are to execute, I will then mention the part proposed to be allotted to your Regiment.

The Transports hired here are by a vote of the General Court pass'd this morning insur'd by the Governmt, and you may depend that the Transports taken up by you for carrying the men in the pay of the Governmt rais'd in your Province shall be insur'd in the same manner at their ap

priz'd value, wch I suppose will be indisputable security: The subsistence and stores I will take care of. Let the 150 men to be aggregated to your Regiment of 350, be raised by you in what companies they will provided the officers do not exceed the number of officers usual to three Company's I will accept 'em and provide for 'em with the pay of this Government; and whatever men Mr. Vaughan shall raise over and above the 150 by virtue of your orders (provided they do not exceed 150 more) I will accept, notwithstanding my countermanding my orders for his raising more men mentioned in my last to you,1 wch I did partly upon what you mention'd in yours of the 27th Feby to me. It will be necessary for me to know what muskets, Bayonets, Cutlasses, Belts &c will be wanting for such of the men rais'd within your Governmt to be in our pay, as have none of their own, that I may provide 'em. We take care that all our people have slings to their muskets, wch (as they can't be better provided) must be done by line or rope, and take particular care to provide Tents for all our Soldiers without wch it will be impossible for the men to subsist, & wch will be done in a great measure by old sails and poles, tho' we have upwards of 100 new ones regularly made, besides Tents for the army. Be pleas'd to let Mr. Vaughan know he may go on as far as I have mention'd above; and favour me with your Letters by all opportunities.

I am wth great Truth

your Excellencys most

obedient, Humble servant

His Excy Govr Wentworth.

W. SHIRLEY.

In his letter of Mar. 1, Shirley had stated his desire that William Vaughan should not raise over one hundred and fifty men; Wentworth's letter of Feb. 27 expressed a fear that resort might be had to impressment, a fear which Shirley hastened to allay.

WILLIAM SHIRLEY TO WILLIAM PEPPERRELL1

Province of the Massachusetts Bay

By His Excellency the Governour

You are hereby directed to give out Your Orders to the Captains of the several Companies raised for the Expedition now in the Town of Boston to Embark their respective Companies on board such Transport Vessels as are provided for them, and as the Committee for the War shall direct them to with all convenient Speed.

Given under my Hand at Boston the Eighth day of March, 1744. In the Eighteenth Year of His Majesty's Reign.

To William Pepperrell Esqr Lieut.

W. SHIRLEY.

General of the Forces raised for the Expedition

SIR,

WILLIAM SHIRLEY TO ROGER WOLCOTT 2 Boston, March 8, 1744.

Agreable to the Proposal made to me from the Government of Connecticut by Colo Trumbal & Mr Williams,3 I have ordered a Commission to be made out to give you the second 1 Original, Mass. Hist. Soc. Coll., Belknap Manuscripts, Vol. 61 B, p. 5:

Original, Roger Wolcott Papers, 1, 64. Printed: Conn. Hist. Soc. Coll. 11, 259.

At a special session of the Connecticut Assembly in February Jonathan Trumbull and Elisha Williams were appointed as a committee to confer with representatives of the governments of other colonies about matters relating to the proposed expedition. Williams had been at the head of Yale College, but served as chaplain in the Louisbourg expedition at Pepperrell's request. Later in the month Shirley followed this letter with another, in which he wrote Wolcott:

"Having given you a Commission to command as Major General in the Forces raised within this Province & the neighbouring Provinces & Colonies for the Expedition against the French at

Command over the Forces raised for the Expedition against Cape Breton; Which Commission is herewith inclosed. And from my personal Knowledge of you & the Character you bear of those Qualities which make you at least equal to this Trust, I do with the utmost Chearfulness commit it to you, & wish you all possible Success in the Discharge of it. I doubt not but you will do your utmost to have the Succours your Governmt sends by you seasonably join our Forces, to prevent any Inconvenience that may happen by a Delay. I am Sir

Your most obedient
humble Servant

Roger Wolcott Esqr.

W. SHIRLEY.

WILLIAM SHIRLEY TO WILLIAM PEPPERRELL1

William Shirley Esqr Captain General and Governor in Chief in and over his Majesty's Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England in America.

To William Pepperrell Esqr Commander in Chief of the Forces raised for the Expedition against Cape Breton,

By Virtue of the Power and Authority in and by his Majesty's Royal Commission to me granted, & pursuant to the Directions contained in an Act made and pass'd by the Cape Breton, whereof William Pepperrell Esqr is Lieutenant General & Commander in Chief; I do hereby direct you as soon as the Auxiliary Troops from the Colony of Connecticut which are under your particular Command are ready & embark'd on board their respective Transports, with them forthwith to proceed to Cape Breton, & join the other Forces for the said Expedition, and there you must follow such Orders and Directions for the Annoyance of the Enemy as you shall from time to time receive from the said Lieutt General Pepperrell." (Roger Wolcott Papers, 1, 74.) 1 Mass. Hist. Soc., Belknap Manuscripts, 61 B, p. 14. Shirley's General Instructions to Pepperrell of this date are printed I Mass. Hist. Soc. Coll. 1, 5-11. See also Shirley to Governor Law of Connecticut (Mar. 15) as to the Louisbourg expedition and (Mar. 18) as to defense of the western frontier. Conn. Hist. Soc. Coll. 11, 264, 265. On Mar. 23 Shirley sent Pepperrell a list of the companies arranged by regiments, and in the accompanying

Great and General Court or Assembly of this Province at their Session begun & held at Boston the thirtieth day of May, 1744, & continued by Adjournment to the ninth of August following, entitled, An Act for punishing of Officers or Soldiers who shall mutiny or desert his Majesty's Service, Reposing special Trust and Confidence in your Loyalty, Skill and Prudence, I do by and with the Advice and Consent of his Majesty's Council, commissionate and impower you the said William Pepperrell from time to time as Occasion may require to call and assemble Courts Martial, of the Commission Officers in his Majesty's Service & under Pay, no such Court to consist of fewer than eleven (whereof you the said William Pepperrell always to be one) for trying and punishing of Officers & Soldiers muster'd and in Pay in his Majesty's Service, for Mutiny, Sedition & Desertion, or other Offences according to the Directions of said Act, which you are strictly to observe in all your Proceedings; And all Courts Martial to be called and assembled as aforesd are hereby authorized & impowered to appoint all proper & necessary Officers unto such Courts belonging. In Testimony whereof I have caused the publick Seal of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay aforesd to be hereunto affixed; Dated at Boston the nineteenth day of March 1744, in the eighteenth Year of his Majesty's Reign.

By Order of the Govr with the Advice & Consent of the Council

W. SHIRLEY.

J WILLARD Secry

letter speaks of his difficulties in the assignment of commissions. Of William Vaughan, Shirley writes: "I desire you would let Mr Vaughan, who goes a voluntier to Cape Breton in this expedition and has been very instrumental in promoting it, both within this and the neighbouring province, and has the success of it much at heart, assist in your Councils, and I do hereby appoint him to be one of it. Your countenance and protection of him also, as far as is proper, I shall esteem a favour." In other letters of Mar. 24 and 25 detailed instructions regarding Colonel Bradstreet and other officers are given. See 6 Mass. Hist. Soc. Coll.