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New Bern 13. Augt. 1756 

Sir,

I wrote to your Excellency last Week by a private Hand going to Charles Town, and inclosed to you a Copy of my Letter to the Lords Commissioners of Trade about the Boundary Line betwixt these two provinces to which I refer you. 

I last Night recd. by Express from Govr. Dinwiddie a Letter from Lord Loudoun in which was inclosed his Majesties Declaration of War, and a Letter from Mr. Secretary Fox to publish it in this Province, and along with it the inclosed Packets for your Excellency to be forwarded to you by Express, and one for Govr. Reynolds, and send them this Day to Wilmington, to be forwarded to you by Express from thence by Mr. Faris, which you will be pleased to pay from thence; as there is a Packett to your Excellency from Govr. Dinwiddie, with the Copy of a Letter from Sir Wm. Johnston to Genl. Abercrombie acquainting him that he had made a peace betwixt the English and Shawanese and Delawar Indians, who are to take up the Hatchet for us along with the six Nations against the French and their Indians, I refer you to it. 

This Disappointment will be a Stroke to the French in the Northward, and therefore they will use their utmost to gain the Southern Indians the Creeks Chickesaws & Cherokees either by fair Means or by force, and therefore we are sure your Excellency will use your utmost power and Prudence to secure them in our Interest, and to support them with Arms and Ammunition and with what force you can by connecting these Nations together to use their whole force in their own Defense. I am told the provincial Troops in Number 7000 have desired that they may be allowed to form the Attack against Crown point fort, and were to begin their March the 18 ult. pray, God they may have Success, I suppose then our Regulars will attack Niagara from Oswego or Fort Frontenac, if they have a superior force on Lake Ontario; Lord Loudoun went off to Albany the day after he landed at New York the 24th. of JulyI have had no later Letters from Europe than by Lord Loudoun so can give no other News from hence.

I am with great Regard and Esteem

Sir,

Your Excellency's

most obedient and

most hble. Servt.

Arthur Dobbs