ready to assist, not
only with their counsel, but with their arms.

We look, gentlemen, to our militia, as well as to the regular
forces, for our protection; but I should be wanting to that
important trust committed to my care, if I attempted to
conceal (what experience, the great instructor of mankind, and
especially of legislators, has discovered,) that amendment is
necessary in our militia laws to render them efficient.

It is for you to consider what further improvements they
still may require.

Honorable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council, and Gentlemen
of the House of Assembly,

From the history and experience of our mother country, we
learn that in times of actual invasion or internal commotion,
the ordinary course of criminal law has been found inadequate
to secure his majesty's government from private treachery as
well as from open disaffection; and that at such times its
legislature has found it expedient to enact laws restraining
for a limited period the liberty of individuals, in many cases
where it would be dangerous to expose the particulars of the
charge; and although the actual invasion of the province might
justify me in the exercise of the full powers reposed in me on
such an emergency, yet it will be more agreeable to me to
receive the sanction of the two houses.

A few traitors have already joined the enemy, have been
suffered to come into the country with impunity, and have been
harboured and concealed in the interior; yet the general
spirit of loyalty which appears to pervade the inhabitants of
this province, is such as to authorize a just expectation that
their efforts to mislead and deceive will be unavailing. The
disaffected, I am convinced, are few--to protect and defend
the loyal inhabitants from their machinations, is an object
worthy of your most serious deliberation.

Gentlemen of the House of Assembly,

I have directed the public accounts of the province to be laid
before you, in as complete a state as this unusual period will
admit; they will afford you the means of ascertaining to what
extent you can aid in providing for the extraordinary demands
occasioned by the employment of the militia, and I doubt not
but to that extent you will cheerfully contribute.

Honorable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council, and Gentleme