By His Excellency William Shirley, Esq; ... A proclamation : Whereas the Great and General Court or assembly of this province, upon due consideration of the present state and circumstances of the French settlements upon the island of Cape-Breton, have judged it expedient to attempt the reduction of that place to the obedience of the crown of Great Britain, and have voted a suitable encouragement for the enlistment of three thousand voluntiers for that service ... Given at the Council-chamber in Boston, the twenty-sixth day of January 1744 [new style, 1745]. ...