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.

168 WASHINGTON'S WRITINGS. [ZET. 24.
There is an act of Parliament to allow all servants to
enlist, and the owners to be paid a reasonable allowance
for them. If we had this privilege, we could soon complete the regiment; and I doubt not but his Majesty
would order them to be paid for, if we enlisted them, as
soon as for the regulars; nay, should he not, the ten
pounds' fine through the country would go a considerable way towards it. And this we may depend upon,
if we have not this liberty granted us, the servants will
all run off to the regular officers, who are recruiting
around us; and that would be to weaken our colony
much, when it could receive no immediate benefit from
it. For my part, I see no other expedient.*
he is to remain at his fort, and act as lieutenant of the Rangers, until further orders. Tell him, also, not to stir from his post at his peril, until he
has leave; if he does, I will arrest him for his disobedience of orders, and
try him as soon as he arrives here."
" The servants mentioned in this paragraph were emigrants from Europe, or persons imported, whose services were purchased for a term of
years, either from the magters of vessels, who brought them over, or from
the individuals themselves. By a law of Virginia, all servants, except convicts, imported without indenture, if they were Christians or of Christian
parentage, and above nineteen years of age, could be required to serve
only five years; if under nineteen, their term of service was limited to the
age of twenty-four. No such person could ever be sold as a slave. —
Hening, Vol. VI. p. 356. These servants were exempt from military duty.
When Lord Loudoun succeeded Governor Shirley, as commander of the
forces in America, he was empowered to raise a regiment in the colonies,
consisting of four battalions, to be commanded by officers bearing the
King's commission, and called the Royal.American Regiment. He was
authorized, also, to enlist servants of the above description, paying to their
masters a proper compensation for the time they had yet to serve. Recruiting officers were now employed in Virginia, enlisting men for the
Royal Regiment, and interfered essentially with the enlistments for the
service of the colony. The Governor endeavoured to prevail on the Assembly to draft militia for this regiment, but without success. They voted
eight thousand pounds to be paid for enlisting men, and transporting them
to New York. - Dinwiddie's Letter-Books.
The Maryland Assembly appropriated five thousand pounds to aid enlistments in that colony for the Royal Regiment, and resolved to raise three
hundred men. ~ A bounty was given not exceeding five pounds for each
man enlisted. A letter was received by the Governor firoin Henry Fox