Mr. Kilby late in November, 1 744, petitioned the crov^^n for
two or three small cruising ships " to attempt the passage
to New England (which though difficult is not impractic-
able) it being absolutely necessary that one of them [more
being asked for fear of accidents] should appear at An-
napolis before the French ships from Europe arrive at
Cape Breton and that a sufficient force may be appointed
and sent forward as early as possible the next year to cover
and protect your majesty's colonies in North America, or
to attack the French in theirs, which may be prosecuted
with the utmost prospect of success." ^

Before this had been acted upon, Newcastle had written
to Shirley that for protecting Annapolis, which was likely
to be attacked early in the spring, it had been decided " to
employ such a strength of ships of war in those seas under
the command of Coimmodore Warren as may be sufficient
to protect the said province and the other neighboring
colony's in North America, and the trade and fishery of his
majesty's subjects in those parts and may also as occasion-
shall offer, attack and distress the enemy in their settlements,
and annoy their fishery and commerce." In carrying out
this program Shirley was directed, in case Warren applied
to him for assistance in the form oi men, provisions or ship-
ping, to aid and assist him in the most effectual manner in
accordance with plans to^ be worked out by consultation be-
tween them, and to be ready to " concert and advise " with

was compelled to do so in order to secure the supply of ordnance
recently donated to them, and they declined to establish a precedent
for supplying with firearms all the American colonies who should
plead poverty. Order in iCouncil, Jan. 10, 174S, C. O. S 885, 115, Ff, 73.
