HISTORY OF VERMONT. 349 



On *N"ovember the twenty fifth, major general 

 Braddock was appointed j^eneral and comman- 

 der in chief of all the troops which were to be 

 sent to, or raised in North America ; and was or- 

 dered to repair to Virginia with two Irish regi- 

 ments, and to be ready for the military opera- 

 tions of the next spring. 



1755. Intent on prosecuting the war with 

 vigor, in the beginning of the year 1755, Mr. 

 Shirley convened the assembly of Massachu- 

 setts, and communicated to them the plan that 

 Tie had formed for reducing fort Frederick at 

 Crown Point, the ensuing spring ; and his in- 

 tention to appoint colonel Johnson of New- 

 York to the command. The assembly readily 

 concurred in the measures proposed by the go- 

 vernor ; and voted to raise their quota of tlie 

 troops. The plan being thus adopted by Mas- 

 sachusetts, commissioners were sent to the 

 neis'hborins' "-overnments statin"; the assistance 

 that was desired of them, and requesting their 

 concurrence and aid. Thus were the New- 

 England provinces, New- York, and New- Jer- 

 sey, all put in motion for a vigorous expedition 

 against the French. 



While Shirley was thus m.oving all the 

 northern provinces, Braddock arrived at Wilr- 

 liamstown in Virginia, February the twentieth, 

 wiftftwo Irish regiments. Expresses were im- 

 mediately sent to the governors of the colonies 

 to meet him at Alexandria on die thirteenth of 

 April, for a consultation on the state of Ameri- 

 can aSairs, and the business of the approaching 

 c:impaign. Tlie convention met as was propos- 

 ed, and the next day entered upon tlic bu-sines.s 



VOL. r. T 2 



