The Virginia Gazette

The SPEECH of his Excellency WILLIAM SHIRLEY, Esq; Captain General and Governor in Chief, in and over His Majesty's Province of the Massachusetts-Bay in New-England, To the General Assembly of said Province, met at Boston, on Wednesday the 17th Day of April, 1745.

Gentlemen of the Council and House of Representatives,

DURING the late short Recess, I have had the Honour of a Letter from his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, signifying to me His Majesty's gracious Concern for the Protection of his Subjects and their Interests in his Northern Colonies, against the Injuries and Invasions of the French, and the Measures he is taking for attacking, and distressing them in their Settlements in North America, in which it is his Royal Pleasure that we should join our Forces to make these Designs more effectual; and therefore it is very happy, and will, I hope, recommend us to His Majesty's Favour, that this Government hath been so early in their Preparations for this Service, and provided and equipped such a Force as has been lately sent from hence upon the present Expedition.

I have also received a Letter from Commodore Warren, dated the 12th Instant, he being then near Cape Sable, and proceeding with His Majesty's Ships the Superbe, Launceston and Mermaid, to join our Fleet at Canso, or if they should be gone from thence, to meet them off Louisbourg to assist in the Expedition against that Place. The Cheerfulness and Zeal with which Mr. Warren undertakes this Service, and the great Concern he has for the Success of it, and the Prosperity of these Provinces so much depending thereon (which you will find by his Letter, a Copy whereof I shall lay before you) greatly recommends him to our Respect and Affections.

Hitherto the Divine Providence seems to have favour'd our Enterprize in a remarkable Manner, which we ought thankfully to observe and acknowledge, and thereby be encouraged to place our chief Confidence in the same Divine Goodness and Power for granting us an happy Event of it.

Soon after my receiving His Majesty's Orders concerning the Garrison of Fort Dummer (which I then communicated to you) I sent a Copy thereof to Governor Wentworth, with my Desire that he would let me know, as soon as may be, the Resolution of the Government of New-Hampshire on that Point: In Answer to which, I have lately received a Letter from him, purporting that he should lay the Affair before the Assembly of that Province at their next Session, (which was to have been in the Beginning of this Month) and was in Hopes that they would comply with His Majesty's Commands in that Behalf.— Since their Meeting I have heard nothing from Governor Wentworth on that Subject. And as it still seems uncertain whether that Government will be at the Charge of supporting a Garrison at Fort Dummer, or not, and the Time you have limited for the Continuance of the Pay of our Garrison there will expire To-morrow, I must desire you would lengthen it to some further Time 'til we can have a final Answer from New-Hampshire.

W. SHIRLEY.