Robert Hunter Morris to Benjamin Franklin, February 24, 1756

[February 24, 1756]

By THE Honourable Robert Hunter Morris, Esq;

Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief of the Province of Pennsylvania and Counties of New-Castle, Kent and Sussex on Delaware.

To Benjamin Franklin Esqr . Â Greeting .

Reposing especial Trust and Confidence, as well in your Care, Diligence and Circumspection, as in your Loyalty and Courage, I Have Nominated, Constituted and Appointed, and I do by Virtue of the Powers and Authorities unto Me given, hereby Nominate, Constitute and appoint You the said  Benjamin Franklin Colonel of a Regiment of Foot-Militia formed in and called the Regiment of, the City of Philadelphia

You are therefore to take the said  Regiment  into Your Charge and Care, as  Colonel  thereof, and duly to Exercise both the Officers and Soldiers of that Regiment in Arms. 2 And as they are hereby Commanded to obey You as their Colonel So are You likewise to observe and follow such Orders and Directions, from time to time, as You shall receive from the Commander in Chief for the time being, of the said Province, or any other Your Superior Officer or Officers, according to the Rules and Discipline of War, in Pursuance of the Trust reposed in You. And for Your so doing this shall be Your Commission . 3

Given under my Hand and Seal at Arms, at Philadelphia, the twenty fourth Day of February in the twenty ninth Year of his Majesty’s Reign, Annoque Domini 17  56 .

By His Honours Command.

Richard Peters Secretary   Robt: H: Morris