Philadelphia March 22d 1757—
Having been Summoned here by Lord Londoun to meet him with the Governmt. of the other Southern Colonies to Consult about what measures Should be taken and the Several Quotes necessery to be raised for our Security and Safety to the Southward whilst he is Employd to the Northward. I have been here a month waiting his arrival and during our Consultation here and am now ready to Return in two days to my Province: where I must immediately call our assembly to Enable me to Send 200 men to assist South Carolina, and to raise 200 more to Leave our Forts to the Sea Coasts and western frontier whilst these Continue in South Carolina then I Shall Succeed in my application I Shall in form your Lordships after our meeting—
Upon my arrival here I Received yr. Lordships Letter inclosing his Majestys order in Council, postponing my Execution of my 84th Instruction relative to Mr McCullohs Land and his associates until after the 25th of March 1760, which I Shall take Care to obey—I also Received a Copy of the order from the Treasury of the 6th of November last to the Auditor of North Carolina and to the Receiver General relative to his Quit Rents being Set off against Several Sums due to him, from the Crown, and Shall take Care to deliver it to the Receiver General. I have also yr Lordships Letter of the 12th of November with a Copy of Mr. Clevelands to yr Secretary of the 5th of November, giving an account that the Lords of the Admiralty had Sent orders to Captain Owens Commander of the Baltimore to Send them a Plan of Cape Look out harbour ordering him to make an Exact Survey of the Same, before they could make a Report upon the Plan I Sent over—As the Baltimore has not been 3 weeks at her Station at Cape Fear Since I came over, and the Captn. never Staid long Enough for me to answer his Letter before he Saild again, for instead of entering at his Station he alway took his Ship to Charles Town to get their winter divertions, and only looked in upon his return to Nova Scotia in the Spring their Letters finding him out, is Effectually postponing it, so as to have nothing done in it during this war, So that my interfering any further in it is of no further use. If any other despatches have been Sent to me: they are gone on to the Province and Shant get them until My Return. I have reason to believe you will have a good account of the Issue of this Campaign if the Supplies come in time from England. I am with great Respect My Lords
yr Lordships
most Obedient & most
Humble Servt
Arthur Dobbs
North Carolina.
Lre from Arthur Dobbs Esqr. Govr. of No. Carolina to the Board dated at Philadelphia the 22d. March 1757. acquainting their Lrdps with the Measures agreed on at a Meeting of the Southern Govrs. with the E. of Loudoun for the Protection of the Carolinas.
D. 1
Received July
Read —— 13 1757.