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Domestic News
March 31, 1758
The New Hampshire Gazette
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
On March 10, 1758, New York Governor James De Lancey delivered a speech to the General Assembly, urging them to raise and equip as many troops as possible for an invasion of Canada, following directives from William Pitt to support British forces under Major General Abercromby against French threats.
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NEW YORK. March 13
Tuesday last the General Assembly of this Province met pursuant to Proclamation; and on Friday His Honour our Governour was pleased to make the following Speech, viz.
Gentlemen of the Council and General Assembly,
His Majesty having nothing more at Heart, than to repair the Losses and Disappointments of the last Campaign, and by the most vigorous and extensive Efforts, to avert, by the Blessing of God on his Arms, the Dangers impending on North America; and not doubting that all his faithful and brave Subjects there, will cheerfully co-operate with, and second to the utmost, the large Expence and extraordinary Succours supplied by his Kingdom, for their Preservation and Defence: And His Majesty considering that the several Provinces, in particular, from Proximity and Accessibility of Situation, more immediately obnoxious to the main Irruptions of the Enemy from Canada, are of themselves well able to furnish at least Twenty thousand Men, to join a Body of the King's Forces for invading Canada, and carrying War into the Heart of the Enemy's Possessions; and His Majesty not judging it expedient, to limit the Zeal and Ardour of any of his Provinces, by making a Reportion of the Force to be raised by each respectively, for this most important Service; His Majesty's Pleasure hath been signified to me by Letter from the Right Honourable William Pitt, Esq; one of his principal Secretaries of State, that I should recommend to you in the most earnest Manner, to enable me to raise, with all possible Dispatch, as large a Body of Men within this Government, as the Number of its Inhabitants may allow, to be form'd into Regiments as far as shall be found convenient, to hold themselves in Readiness as early as may be, to march to the Rendezvous at such Place as Major General Abercromby, who succeeds the Right Honourable the Earl of Loudoun as Commander in Chief of the King's Forces in North America, shall appoint, in order to proceed from thence, in Conjunction with a Body of the King's British Forces, and under the supreme Command of his Majesty's Commander in Chief in America, so as to be in a Situation to begin the Operations of the Campaign, as soon as shall be any Way practicable, by attempting to make an Irruption into Canada.
The King is pleased to furnish all the Men so raised, with Arms, Ammunition and Tents, as well as to order Provisions to be issued to the same, by His Majesty's Commissaries, in the same Proportion and Manner, as is done to the rest of the King's Forces. A Sufficient Train of Artillery will also be provided at His Majesty's Expence, for the Operations of the Campaign. The whole therefore that His Majesty expects and requires from the several Provinces, is the levying, cloathing and pay of the Men. And on these Heads, also, that no Encouragement may be wanting to this great and salutary Attempt, the King is further most graciously pleased to permit his Secretary of State to acquaint me, that strong Recommendations will be made to parliament, in their Session next Year, to grant a proper Compensation for such Expences as above, according as the active Vigour, and strenuous Efforts of the respective Provinces shall justly appear to merit.
Similar Orders are sent to Massachusetts Bay, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Jersey; and the Southern Governments are also directed to raise Men in the same Manner, to be employed in such offensive Operations, as the Circumstances and Situation of the Enemy's Posts in those Parts may point out.
Gentlemen of the General Assembly,
When you consider the great Expence the Crown is at in supporting and preserving these Countries, I persuade myself you cannot hesitate a Moment in granting ample and sufficient Supplies, for levying, cloathing and paying as large a Body of Men, as the Number of our Inhabitants will allow; especially as these Supplies are so essential to your own immediate Safety, and future Security.
Gentlemen of the Council and General Assembly,
These Provinces, if they exert themselves with Vigour, are able to send into the Field, such a Body of Men, as, by the Blessing of God, may give us well grounded Expectations of Success. I hope a Number of brave Men, who have at Heart the Honour of a brave, and the best of Kings, will voluntarily and cheerfully engage in a Service on the Success of which their Properties, their Civil and Religious Liberties depend.
The Nature of the Service laid before you, requires the greatest Dispatch: We have no Time to lose, as the Troops ought soon to be in Readiness. I therefore expect that in Case a sufficient Number do not offer voluntarily, you will forthwith enable me, by an effectual Law, to complete the Levies in due Time. I see no other Method of doing this, than that of draughting Men from the Militia.
Gentlemen,
I can add nothing more to animate your Zeal. The Dangers impending on North America, the extraordinary Succors supplied by the Crown; the Losses we have sustained, the Proximity and Accessibility of this Province, more immediately obnoxious to the main Irruptions of the Enemy from Canada, are the most powerful and cogent Motives, that can be suggested to induce you to exert your most vigorous Efforts, on this truly important and critical Occasion.
City of New York,
JAMES DE LANCEY
March 10, 1758.
Tuesday last the General Assembly of this Province met pursuant to Proclamation; and on Friday His Honour our Governour was pleased to make the following Speech, viz.
Gentlemen of the Council and General Assembly,
His Majesty having nothing more at Heart, than to repair the Losses and Disappointments of the last Campaign, and by the most vigorous and extensive Efforts, to avert, by the Blessing of God on his Arms, the Dangers impending on North America; and not doubting that all his faithful and brave Subjects there, will cheerfully co-operate with, and second to the utmost, the large Expence and extraordinary Succours supplied by his Kingdom, for their Preservation and Defence: And His Majesty considering that the several Provinces, in particular, from Proximity and Accessibility of Situation, more immediately obnoxious to the main Irruptions of the Enemy from Canada, are of themselves well able to furnish at least Twenty thousand Men, to join a Body of the King's Forces for invading Canada, and carrying War into the Heart of the Enemy's Possessions; and His Majesty not judging it expedient, to limit the Zeal and Ardour of any of his Provinces, by making a Reportion of the Force to be raised by each respectively, for this most important Service; His Majesty's Pleasure hath been signified to me by Letter from the Right Honourable William Pitt, Esq; one of his principal Secretaries of State, that I should recommend to you in the most earnest Manner, to enable me to raise, with all possible Dispatch, as large a Body of Men within this Government, as the Number of its Inhabitants may allow, to be form'd into Regiments as far as shall be found convenient, to hold themselves in Readiness as early as may be, to march to the Rendezvous at such Place as Major General Abercromby, who succeeds the Right Honourable the Earl of Loudoun as Commander in Chief of the King's Forces in North America, shall appoint, in order to proceed from thence, in Conjunction with a Body of the King's British Forces, and under the supreme Command of his Majesty's Commander in Chief in America, so as to be in a Situation to begin the Operations of the Campaign, as soon as shall be any Way practicable, by attempting to make an Irruption into Canada.
The King is pleased to furnish all the Men so raised, with Arms, Ammunition and Tents, as well as to order Provisions to be issued to the same, by His Majesty's Commissaries, in the same Proportion and Manner, as is done to the rest of the King's Forces. A Sufficient Train of Artillery will also be provided at His Majesty's Expence, for the Operations of the Campaign. The whole therefore that His Majesty expects and requires from the several Provinces, is the levying, cloathing and pay of the Men. And on these Heads, also, that no Encouragement may be wanting to this great and salutary Attempt, the King is further most graciously pleased to permit his Secretary of State to acquaint me, that strong Recommendations will be made to parliament, in their Session next Year, to grant a proper Compensation for such Expences as above, according as the active Vigour, and strenuous Efforts of the respective Provinces shall justly appear to merit.
Similar Orders are sent to Massachusetts Bay, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Jersey; and the Southern Governments are also directed to raise Men in the same Manner, to be employed in such offensive Operations, as the Circumstances and Situation of the Enemy's Posts in those Parts may point out.
Gentlemen of the General Assembly,
When you consider the great Expence the Crown is at in supporting and preserving these Countries, I persuade myself you cannot hesitate a Moment in granting ample and sufficient Supplies, for levying, cloathing and paying as large a Body of Men, as the Number of our Inhabitants will allow; especially as these Supplies are so essential to your own immediate Safety, and future Security.
Gentlemen of the Council and General Assembly,
These Provinces, if they exert themselves with Vigour, are able to send into the Field, such a Body of Men, as, by the Blessing of God, may give us well grounded Expectations of Success. I hope a Number of brave Men, who have at Heart the Honour of a brave, and the best of Kings, will voluntarily and cheerfully engage in a Service on the Success of which their Properties, their Civil and Religious Liberties depend.
The Nature of the Service laid before you, requires the greatest Dispatch: We have no Time to lose, as the Troops ought soon to be in Readiness. I therefore expect that in Case a sufficient Number do not offer voluntarily, you will forthwith enable me, by an effectual Law, to complete the Levies in due Time. I see no other Method of doing this, than that of draughting Men from the Militia.
Gentlemen,
I can add nothing more to animate your Zeal. The Dangers impending on North America, the extraordinary Succors supplied by the Crown; the Losses we have sustained, the Proximity and Accessibility of this Province, more immediately obnoxious to the main Irruptions of the Enemy from Canada, are the most powerful and cogent Motives, that can be suggested to induce you to exert your most vigorous Efforts, on this truly important and critical Occasion.
City of New York,
JAMES DE LANCEY
March 10, 1758.
What sub-type of article is it?
Politics
Military
What keywords are associated?
New York Assembly
Governor Speech
Raise Troops
Canada Invasion
British Forces
What entities or persons were involved?
James De Lancey
William Pitt
Major General Abercromby
Earl Of Loudoun
Where did it happen?
City Of New York
Domestic News Details
Primary Location
City Of New York
Event Date
March 10, 1758
Key Persons
James De Lancey
William Pitt
Major General Abercromby
Earl Of Loudoun
Event Details
The General Assembly met on Tuesday last pursuant to Proclamation, and on Friday the Governor delivered a speech calling for the province to raise as large a body of men as possible for an invasion of Canada, to join British forces under the command of Major General Abercromby, with the King providing arms, ammunition, tents, provisions, and artillery, while provinces handle levying, clothing, and pay, with potential parliamentary compensation.