The New Hampshire Gazette

WILLIAMSBURG, (in Virginia) Nov. 10.

Yesterday the General Assembly of this Colony met at the Capitol in this City, when his Honor the Governor opened the Session with the following SPEECH.

Gentlemen of the Council, Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen of the House of Burgesses.

'Twas very far from my Intention, when we last parted, to call you together again so soon; but, by a Letter I have received from Colonel Byrd, I find our Forces will most probably be in Action before Fort Duquesne at the very Time prescribed for their Return into this Colony: I therefore thought it not only expedient, but necessary to summon you on this Occasion.

The withdrawing our Regiments from the rest of His Majesty's Forces at a Time when the Event of the Expedition (for which only Part of them were raised) is at the Crisis, would be the greatest Disservice to the common Cause, and at the same Time Subject this Colony to all the Censure Disappointment can invent for the Failure of the Expedition, if that should be the fatal Consequence of such Measures.

But, when I reflect on the whole Tenor of your Conduct during the Course of the War, I feel the strongest Conviction that I need not use these, or any other Arguments, to induce you to make such Alterations in the Disposal of, and Provisions for, the Regiments, as the present Circumstances require: I am very sensible that one of our Regiments cannot be continued beyond the first of December, without Breach of the publick Faith, which I shall always deem too sacred to be touched; but I have great Reason to hope that Honour will supply the Place of Law, and that this Body of Virginians will be influenced by the first, to do that voluntarily, which the latter cannot compel them to.

I have nothing to add, but to recommend you to the utmost Expedition; For if your Resolves are not known to the Army before the first of December, all will be frustrated: And, in order to remove all Obstacles which may occasion Delay, I am desirous (on my Part) to wave all Forms of Ceremony, which Custom may have introduced in Relation to myself.