Wilmington Cape Fear Feby. 17th 1758.

I wrote to your Excellency the beginning of Last month by Mr Atkins before I Set off for this place Expecting he would have Set out from Newbern in a few days, Chiefly about Settling the Post from this Town to Charles Town, but upon my return here yesterday after visiting Several of my friends upon this River I Hear he has only got within ten Miles of this Town⁠—two days ago to Mr. Swanns our Speakers. 

I Have Since I came here, been endeavouring to fix the Post upon a more Certain footing to have it come regular, but find it cant possibly be done without the assistance of your Province, and your Countenance, I find it has been hitherto Carried on with Loss; the Gentleman who first Engaged in it, upon the Incouragement of £50 Sterling from your Province, died the beginning of January 1757, and Mr Toomer of this Town continued it from that time upon the prospect of that Sums being paid, I find it commenced in August 1756, So that Ferys held it to the 5th of January following; and Toomer Since about 13 months, But dont find that any part of that Summ Ever Came to their Hands; I also hear that the £50 you paid, was not from the Province but out of your own Pocket, and you had made no demand upon the Province for it, I should be glad to Know if you paid that first year, to any Person to be remitted here, for if so it has been retained by the Person to whom you paid it, Mr Faris was only Entitled to 9 months of it, and Toomer to the remainder and whether you propose giving any further Sum for Continuing it from the Province, other ways the Post must drop here; this Province hath Continued their allowance from Suffolk in virgenia to this Town, and therefore hope your Province will Contribute to Support it from this Town to Charles Town. I therefore hope you will fix it with your Assembly; and if so I think the properest method, and making it be Kept regular, would be to divide the Carriage betwixt the 2 provinces, as one Bag and bundle cant answer so great a distance, and let a Post be fixed at Charles Town to come half way and meet another Post from this Town at Kingstown on this Side of Georges Town, in your Province, and let the 50£ be Divided between the two post masters £25 to Each, and the Passage of the Letters be divided between them; Each to have a Bag Sealed, and also a Bag for by Letters and they Should be Sworn not to open or let their Bags allow any Person to open the Bag upon the Road and then there would be same Certainty of having the Letters delivered safe and in a Regular Time. The Post from New Bern may be depended upon to be here, on Thursday once a fortnight, so that they may Settle what day it shall leave Charles Town to be here to meet the northern Post, this Province has divided the Posts into 4, one from Suffolk to Edenton, one from Edenton to Bath town, one from thence to New Bern, and one from New Bern here. 

I Have Some thoughts of removing from New Bern to Brunswick in Cape Fear this Summer, having agreed for a House and some Lands there So that I Shall be nearer your Province. I Have not had any Letters from Europe these Six months, and have no memos from the Northward, But we are Still at peace here, from the Indians. 

I am with great Regard and Esteem Sir

yr Excellencys

Most Obedient &

Most Humble Servant

Arthur Dobbs