I am under no apprehensions of any of the officers of the Gibraltar regiments getting any recruits here; however, shall endeavour to secure all that will inlist here before their arrival. I very much fear that young officers coming here at present will be of ill consequence, as the resentment of the officers now here at their disappointment and ill usage (as they apprehend it) discovers itself more and more. If they come I shall endeavour to take and give all possible precaution in the affair; and I'm persuaded Mr Warren will do it likewise, and I beg your Excellcy will confer with Col. Ryan upon it, and let them be sent or delay'd as upon the whole you shall think most proper.

What you mention of the necessity of allowing the soldiers provisions as at Gibraltar, I think a matter of great consequence, and if not successfully solicited will be of very ill consequence on the minds of those that shall inlist now, and prevent filling up future vacancies. I took care when the raising of the American regiments was first proposed to the Duke of Newcastle to mention it particularly, and Mr. Warren did the same. I hope considerable part of the expence of transporting the levies raisd in the Colonies will be saved by the assistance of the government's vessells, but if we are allow'd but two guineas for each man we must be considerable sufferers; but upon the whole I will endeavour to follow your Excellcy's advice, not to think of the difficulties yet to be encounterd in this affair, but in order to strengthen my resolution to surmount them if possible, I shall write to Col. Ryan to consult with you on the necessary points, and especially on the head of enlisting jointly, which I have already mention'd to him. As Brigr. Waldo will doubtless give your Excellency a particular acct. relating to the inlistment here, I beg leave to refer you to his letters.

I am sensible of the necessity of what your Excellency mentions of retaining the chief of the troops now here till the garrison is otherways effectually supported, and I wish I may not be obliged to tarry here longer myself than I expected for that reason; but I am intirely of opinion with

you that the dismission of some prudently managed will have a good effect on the remainder.

I am your Excellcy's etc.

W. P.

WILLIAM SHIRLEY TO BENNING WENTWORTH1

Boston, Aprill 23, 1746.

SIR,

The Bearer Mr. Burton waits upon you for leave to beat up for Voluntiers to enlist in my Regiment within your Excellency's Governmt.2

I congratulate you upon our Good news from Great Britain concerning the Dispersion of the Rebels,3 the passing by of the Gibraltar Troops for Louisbourg on George's Banks, and the prospect of Admiral Townsend's Squadron being soon there.

I am greatly oblig'd to your Excelly. for all favours shown Mr. Auchmuty and am with great truth

Sir,

Your Excy's most
Obedt, Humble Servt

W. SHIRLEY.

His Excy. Govr. Wentworth.

1

1 Original, A. L. S., Mass. Hist. Soc., Belknap Manuscripts, 61 C, p. 55.

2 The request made in behalf of Lieutenant Burton in this letter had been made in behalf of Lieutenant James Auchmuty on Feb. 5 and for Byfield Lyde on Feb. 9. See 6 Mass. Hist. Soc. Coll. 10, 445 and ante, p. 307.

3 The reference is to the events leading up to the defeat of Charles Edward Stuart at Culloden on Apr. 16.

WILLIAM PEPPERRELL AND PETER WARREN TO WILLIAM SHIRLEY1

Sir,

Louisbourg, May 6, 1746.

The weak condition of this garrison by sickness put us under the necessity of applying to your Excellcy by our joint letter of 25th of Janry 2 last for a reinforcement as early as possible this spring, lest we should be disappointed in the troops intended for our relief from Gibraltar, but as they happily arrived here the 21st of last month and as the sickness is greatly abated in the garrison, we flatter ourselves that if the colonies (who are as well as our mother country greatly interested in the safety and prosperity of this acquisition) will forward the raising and transporting levies, so as to keep the four regiments appointed for the protection of this garrison compleat, we shall have no further occasion to put them to any trouble or expence for the defence of this conquest. But as we find that the two Gibraltar regiments do not consist of above 1200 men, officers and all, including two companies and a quarter yet expected in the transport from New York, and that we sha'n't have more than 400 men belonging to the two American regiments who have inlisted here, and including the recruits sent from New England, which makes but 1600 in the whole, we apprehend it will not be prudent, at least for some time, to weaken the garrison by a strict complyance with your Excellcy's and our promise to let all the American troops go home, but to do it by degrees as recruits arrive, and by that means keep near as many here as the four regiments, if compleat, would consist of. But if Admiral Townsend or any squadron of his Majesty's ships should arrive we think we need not keep so many. However, we hope the levies will go on well in all the colonies that we may soon have it in our power to keep our

1 Printed: 6 Mass. Hist. Soc. Coll. 10, 475.

2 See letter of Jan. 28, ante, p. 303. The letter of Jan. 25 was a general letter to other governors, and is referred to in note on p. 304.

faith with the old troops. We find it extremely difficult to get quarters for the new officers and troops, tho' we have converted the hospital into a barrack which makes a very good one. We are with the advice of the Council going to send two armd vessels to the island of St. Johns to bring some of the deputies of that island here, and to settle measures with the inhabitants for their evacuating it agreable to the terms of the capitulation, with which if they comply we hope when these vessels return those you intend us from Boston will be here ready to go for them and their effects, or upon a concompliance [noncompliance ?], to act in an hostile manner, and if possible to force them into it and destroy their houses and settlements. Neither the Kinsale nor any of her convoy are yet arrived, except the Eliza and Sarah, victuallers, who came some time ago from New York, and is gone to Maryland. Capt. Rous is very much wanted here, and materials of all kinds for building and repairing quarters for the troops.

We have sent up by the Shirley Galley about 120 of the old troops, about 30 of which are such whose health requird their change of air, and the others such whose necessities most required their dismission, and we shall continue to do the same by every opportunity as the arrival of the levies for the new regiments and the other circumstances of the garrison will admit of. We are, with great regard,

Your Excellcy's, &c.
W. P.

P. W.1

WILLIAM SHIRLEY TO BENNING WENTWORTH'

SIR,

Boston, May 27th, 1746.

I receiv'd the inclos'd for your Excellency together with

1 This is Warren's last letter to Shirley as Commander of the naval forces at Louisbourg. On May 24 Isaac Townsend wrote Shirley that he had succeeded to the command and would gladly begin a correspondence with him. (Adm. Sec., Ins. Letters, p. 480.)

2 Original, A. L. S., Mass. Hist. Soc., Belknap Manuscripts, 61 C, p. 56.

Packets (I suppose of the same general Import)1 for all the Governours upon the Continent as Southward as Virginia Inclusive, last night by his Majesty's Sloop Hinchenbrook in 46 days from England; and shall say no more to your Excellency at present upon this Occasion than that I should be glad to know your Sentiments as to the number of Men necessary to enter the Enemy's Country with by Land, and to proceed to Montreal in order to form a seige of it, or to break up the Settlements between that and Quebec; the time of Year they should enter it, and the number of Men (suppose of Regular forces) sufficient for the reduction of Quebec, which must be attempted by Sea as well as by Land. And I should take it as a favour if you would communicate your Sentiments to me upon the whole Affair as fully as may be in every particular.

The Colonies of Rhode Island and Connecticutt have nominated Commissioners to meet the New York Commissioners; I wish your Excellency's Assembly would do the

I had your Excellency's favour last night by Mr. Atkinson, and have answer'd the several Quaeris as well as I can.

1 The letter (of Apr. 9, 1746) to the Governor of Rhode Island is printed R. I. Col. Rec. 5, 162, and relates to raising troops in the King's pay for the Canadian expedition.

2 Original in Ms. of Shirley, Mass. Hist. Soc., Belknap Manuscripts, 61 C, p. 57. The second portion of the manuscript consists of questions regarding the expedition, in the hand of Went