New Bern 7 Sepr. 1756
Sir,
Yesterday I recd. the inclosed Letters from Governor Dinwiddie, and have forwarded them on by the Post Express to Wilmington, which I am to pay him for according to the Dispatch he makes and have wrote to Mr. Faris to forward them by his Post Express, which your Excellency will pay, according to the Dispatch he makes to you. I refer you to Lord Loudoun's Letter and Mr. Dinwiddie's for the melancholy Account of the taking of Oswego, which is a vast Loss to us at this critical Juncture, and must give us all an Alarm, in Case we are not succesful at Crown Point, as then the Ohio is laid open before them which wou'd end in establishing a Correspondence and a united force from the Mississippi, which wou'd draw the French to your frontier this Assembly meets the 28th instant, and expect they will do their utmost in assisting in raising and recruiting the American Regiment, as our all is at Stake; if Mr. Dinwiddies News proves true from Barbados that Boscawen has taken 4 Capital Ships and sunk two, and taken 16 Transports, it will again turn the Tables, especially if it be true that Bing reinforced has had a 2d. Engagement and defeated the French near Mahone; but Ship News is very doubtful. I must join with Mr. Dinwiddie's Request, that you will use your utmost Endeavours to get a large Number of Cherokees and Cataubas to join the Virginians at this Critical Juncture; and I shall endeavour to get this Province to build a fort to protect the frontiers of the Cataubas when they send us any Assistance. I long to hear what is doing with your Cherokee fort, for I have great Doubts if Mr. Glenn presides there or stays with the Cherokees, he will play a double Game, and rather prevent the Cherokees from joining us, and if found out, will run off to the French.
I hope your Excellency got my Letter with the Copy of what I wrote to the Lords of Trade about the Boundary Line, and that you will soon represent to England what you think equitable to propose from Your Province, for both Colonies will be sufferers in their Taxes, and in the Execution of Justice until that Boundary be fixed.
I hope to hear from you by the Return of the post and am with great Esteem
Sir
Your Excellency's
most obedient
humble Servant
Arthur Dobbs
I believe one of your Letters is from Governor Denny of Pennsylvania who is arrived as I had one from him.
P.S. After writing this Letter I Had the favour of yr Excellencys Letters of the 20 and 25th Ult: with the Inclosed Packets which I had full time to Inclose and forward to Mr Dinwiddie by his Express who was returning to Virginia So that I find my Letter is so far answered as to yr Receipt of mine about the Boundary Line and the State of the Cherokees—Let Captn Demare Know that I have Sent his 53 firelocks &c to Wilmington so it will be Captn Mackenzies fault if they be not soon with him; altho' we may be in want our Selves, yet as I Engaged to Send them to Governr. Shirley I woud not break my Word to him. I am very glad to hear that the Indian affairs are put into a proper Channel and So many under the direction of a proper Person. It may be proper for him to Communicate a Copy of his Power that I may Cooperate with him as far as I can.
Arthur Dobbs
