What increases this great difficulty, is, that the troops are greatly enfeebled and lessened in numbers, by sickness and desertion, in the late attempt to go to Annapolis. Moreover, the people of the colony's sloop are discharged, and the vessel itself so much out of repair, that it cannot go for convoy; for which reasons, the troops cannot be sent to Annapolis at this juncture.

This is the determination of the General Assembly, which I am directed to inform Your Excellency of, and am, with due respects,

Your Excellency's very humble servant,
WILLIAM GREENE.

To Governor Shirley.

The Secretary of Massachusetts Bay to Governor Greene.

Boston, March 5, 1747.

Sir:-I am directed by the General Court here, to apprise Your Honor of the advice we have from our agent, by the ship from London, yesterday, that a grant was made in Parliament, on Friday, the 4th of December last, of £10,200,000, for the current year; £800,000 of which, is for paying the charge of taking and keeping Cape Breton, by the people of New England; and the charge of raising forces for the expedition that was designed against Canada.

There have been some proposals and endeavors, that the payment might be made by debentures; nothing seems so likely to prevent it, as applying the money granted to redeem and finish our fatal paper currency, so absoluely necessary to the establishment and preservation of justice in our commerce, and so much for the interest of Great Britain, as well as ourselves.

This, we are very sensible cannot be done effectually, without the meeting of the several Assemblies, interested in this grant; it is therefore hoped that Your Honor will call your General Court together as soon as may be, that the meeting of commissioners may not be put off beyond the time proposed, viz.: the 12th of April next, in order to their being assured at home very soon, that this money will be so wisely applied, and for a purpose so absolutely inconsistent with debentures, or any dilatory methods of payment.

I am, with great respect, sir,

Your Honor's most humble and most obedient servant,
JOSIAH WILLARD.

To the Hon. Governor Greene.

P. S. The agent's letter was dated the 10th December, and sent to Portsmouth a few days before the ship sailed.

[The following Public Laws, passed during the year 1746, are printed at length in the volume of public laws, published in 1747, unless repealed previous to that time.]

An Act for suspending the execution of Nathaniel Alcock. (May.)
An Act in addition to an act, entitled "An act for regulating appeals
Majesty in council, in Great Britain." (July.)

to His

An Act directing the manner of admitting freemen, and for preventing bribery and corruption in the election of public officers, in the colony. (August.)

An Act in amendment of an act, for preventing bribery and corruption. (September.)

Proceedings of the General Assembly, held for the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, at Newport, the 5th day of May, 1747.

The Hon. William Greene, Governor.

The Hon. Joseph Whipple, Deputy Governor.

Mr. Abraham Redwood,

Mr. Stephen Brownell,

Mr. Robert Lawton,

Mr. James Arnold,

ASSISTANTS.

Mr. Philip Greene,
Mr. Daniel Coggeshall,
Mr. Jeoffrey Watson.

Mr. Sam'l Wickham, speaker, and Mr. Josias Lyndon, clerk.

The persons whose names here follow, having taken the oath, or affirmation, prescribed by the law of this colony against bribery and corruption, are hereby admitted to give their votes to choose officers for their respective towns; and also to give their votes for the choice of the general officers in the colony.

[Here follow many hundred names, which are omitted.]

God save the King.

Proceedings of the General Assembly, held for the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, at Newport, the first Wednes day of May, 1747.

The Hon. William Greene, Governor.

The Hon. Joseph Whipple, Deputy Governor.

With the assistants and deputies from the several towns.

Mr. Sam'l Wickham, speaker, and Mr. Josias Lyndon, clerk.

The following officers declared elected, were duly engaged.

The Hon. Gideon Wanton, Governor.

The Hon. William Robinson, Deputy Governor.

ASSISTANTS.

It is voted and resolved, that the colony's sloop Tartar, be immediately put in commission, and manned with ninety able bodied men, including officers; and that their wages be as followeth, to wit:

Those of the officers, the same as when last stated; those of such of the foremost men, as are seamen, at £14 per month; and such others of them, as are not seamen, at £12 per month.

And that the said sloop shall cruise in consort with the Connecticut colony sloop, according to the order and instructions which shall from time to time be given the captain; and His Honor, the Governor, is hereby requested to give His Honor, the Governor of Connecticut, information hereof, forthwith.

It is voted and resolved, and the captain of Fort George is hereby directed to enlist, as soon as may be, thirty men, to serve as soldiers, at said fort, upon the same monthly wages, as were allowed the soldiers there last year, with an allowance of twenty shillings per week, board wages, for each of them; and in case a sufficient number of men be not enlisted, in fifteen days, from the rising of this Assembly, the field officers of the county of Newport shall have granted them a warrant from His Honor, the Governor, and thereby cause so many men as will make up and complete that number, to be impressed in the county of Newport, for that purpose.

God save the King.

Governor Shirley to Governor Wanton.

Boston, May 18, 1747.

Sir:-This goes to inform Your Honor, that by despatches I have received from Albany and Northampton, I find that the Indians of the Six Nations are gen erally spirited to go to war against the French of Canada; that divers parties are now out, and others daily offering themselves, which is a point the governments of New England (especially those of the Massachusetts and Connecticut,) have been laboring to carry ever since the first of the war; and if this spirit be duly cherished and properly managed and directed, it may, by the blessing of God, prove of unspeakable benefit for the safety of these colonies.

I refer Your Honor to an extract from Col. Stoddard's letter to me, for a more particular account of this affair; only I would observe, that Col. Johnson and Mr. Lydius, whose influence on the Indians has brought about this great event, are un