The writings of George Washington; being his correspondence, addresses, messages, and other papers, official and private, selected and published from the original manuscripts; with a life of the author, notes and illustrations. By Jared Sparks.

PART i.] THE FRENCH WAR. 123
We took some pretty vigorous measures to collect a
force upon our frontiers, upon the first alarm, which has
kept us peaceable ever since. How long this may last
is uncertain, since that force, which consisted of militia,
is disbanded, and the recruiting service almost stagnated.
If you propose to levy troops, and their destination is
not a secret, I should be favored were I let into the
scheme, that we may act conjunctly, so far as the nature of things will admit.
Pray direct to me at Alexandria, to which place I
intend to go in about ten days. I am, &c.
ADDRESS TO THE OFFICERS OF THE VIRGINIA
RE GIMENT. *
8 January, 1756.
This timely warning of the effects of misbehaviour
and injustice in giving their governor such instructions," ordered the
receiver-general to add five thousand pounds to such sums, as the Assembly should grant for the security of the province. When this was made
known to the House, a new bill was formed, granting sixty thousandpounds
for the use of the crown, with a clause exempting the proprietary estates
from the tax. - Votes of the Pennsylvania Assemblyfor November, 1755.
In the May preceding, the Assembly had given fifteen hundred pounds for
the King's use, by an order appropriating funds then within their control.
Five thousand pounds of this money were applied to victualling the King's
troops in Virginia, and ten thousand pounds to procuring and transporting
provisions for the Massachusetts troops engaged in the King's service.
At the same time that the above grant of sixty thousand pounds was
made, a bill for establishing and disciplining a voluntary militia was
drafted by Franklin, whieh, as he says, passed through the House with
little difficulty, as the Quakers were left at liberty. Several companies
were organized, but none ever joined the Virginians in any expedition
against the Indians. The money was chiefly expended in building forts
on the Pennsylvania frontiers, under the superintendence of Franklin, who
was commissioned for that purpose by the Governor. - See Franklin's
Works, Vol. I. p. 153.
An officer had been tried by a court-martial, and suspended. -In