You are therefore to take upon you the Command of the said Forces and diligently to execute the duty and office of Commander in Chief of the said Expedition duely observing the Instructions which you will receive herewith from me bearing even d^te with these presents. And all the Officers and Soldiers of this province employed in that Service And all others whom it may Concern are required to obey you as their Commander in Chief and to pay due obedience to this your Commission.

Given under my hand and Seal At Arms at Fort George in the City of New York the day of in the twenty

eighth year of the Reign of our Soveraign Lord George the Second by the Grace of God of great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith &<=a. And in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty five.

GENL. JOHNSON TO LT. GOV. DELANCEY.

Sir--

I did myself the honour of writing you the 16 Inst, to w*» I beg leave to refer. «

Upon farther consideration I think Four more ISlb^. and Four more Feild peices will be necessary and I must beg the favour of you to represent this to the Governments concerned that timely care may be taken to supply them. It is not to be doubted that

SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON. 655

if the enemy hath not already some Informations of our Design, Ihey will soon be fully apprized of it & consequently prepare for their Defence as coinpleatly as may be in their Power. It appears therefore to me that 6 Eighteen pounders will be too few to support our attack with that vigor as may facilitate our success. Should we be so happy as to take Possession of their Fort, they may render their own Cannon unserviceable, or we may find more than they leave us necessary to defend our conquest and cover our Troops.