New Bern 2d. August 1756 

I have the honour of your Excellency’s Letter of the 19th. by the Express dispatched to Wilmington forwarded to me by Mr. Faris, and it gives me the greatest Pleasure and satisfaction to find that you have already reconciled the two Houses, so far as to cooperate together for the publick Good after the Breach fomented by Mr. Glen in order to make you uneasy, and that you have passed two such valuable Bills at so critical a Juncture in so short a time, as also the Sum you have obtained for Contingencies, which shews the Confidence the Assembly repose in you upon Account of your Character and Integrity which I think is a sure presage of a future easy Government under your Administration. 

I am extreamly pleased to find that your Thoughts are agreable to mine, and your hands free to adjust & fix the Boundary Line, which is so necessary to be one with the greatest Dispatch for the Peace and Happiness of both Provinces, and that you will put a Stop to any Measures taken by the Settlers near the Line to divide & raise Contests betwixt the two Colonies to avoid their paying Taxes & Quit Rents, and skreening Offenders from Justice, which was so much-fomented & encouraged of late by your Predecessor. 

I have according to Your Excellency's Desire sent you a Copy of what I wrote to the Lords Commissioners of Trade as my Thoughts in Concurrence with the Council here of a proper Boundary Line, which I did not calculate with any View to prejudice the Southern Province, but that they might get an Equivalent from the Province of Georgia, now his Majesty has it again in his Power to extend your Colony beyond the River Savanna; however you and your Council will have it before them to alter and make what Objections to the Plan I sent from this Colony, and then his Majesty in Council will have the whole before them to fix it equitably betwixt the provinces. I have only further to observe to your Excellency that I had an Opportunity last year of fixing the Latitude exactly near the Catauba Town by a good Quadrant I carried with me, I find that the Catauba Nation is directly fixed in the Latitude of 35°—and as I think the Situation of their Townships ought to be within the Jurisdiction of one or the other Province, as Settlements now extend beyond their Towns, and as it will be rather an Expense, and Trouble to a Colony than a Benefit to have them under their Care, as the Trade will be free to all the Colonies, when the Indian Trade will be put under the Care of a general Board, and as this Colony has no Indians except a few Tuskeroras within their Limits; and the Cataubas are now demanding of this Province to build them a fort, and as your Colony is at a considerable Expence in having the numerous Nation of the Cherokees, the Chickesaws, and some of The Creeks, as you had also some of the Choctas dependant upon you for your Assistance and Supplies; it wou'd be rather a Conveniency than an Inconveniency that the Cataubas shou'd fall into this Province in Case you have a much larger Tract out of Georgia beyond the Savanna. 

I am vastly pleased to find the Cherokees are in so good a Disposition upon your building their fort and that Virginia has granted and sent you an Aid of Men & Money to assist you, I was in hopes to have sent some Beeves from hence to have thrown in our Mite, but upon several Expresses having come down to me from Catauba's and Broad River Settlements, that several Robberies and Depredations have been committed by several Cherokees and other Indians, who have come down with some French at their head to endeavour to make a Breach betwixt us and the Cherokees, who have given the planters Notice to quit their Settlements; I have been obliged to raise two Companies of Scouts to protect them, and to prevent their taking Revenge of the Cherokee Robbers, which is what the French are aiming at to make a National Breach betwixt us and the Cherokees, and I have empowered Commissioners to apply to the Cherokee Sachems to know if it be done by their Allowance and Approbation, or to restrain these Robbers for the future, and to drive out those French from their People who are endeavouring to make a Breach betwixt us. 

I had given orders and have had the Arms ready for Capt. Demarie these 3 Months, and both sent and spoke to Capt. Mackensie to send for them, which he has not done, so have given Orders to send them to him to Wilmington, to be shipt from Cape Fear to Charles Town, and hope they will soon be with him if Capt. Mackensie doeth his Duty. 

I expect every Moment an Express from Lord Loudoun with the Orders to declare War, and orders to forward the like Orders to Your Excellency by Express, for by a Sloop which is just come in here from New York, which left that port the 22d. ult: they met a Prize with Stores taken by the Nightingale standing into New York, and soon after saw a Ship of War standing in which they believed was the Ship on board of which was Lord Loudoun By a Ship from Ireland to Virginia which left Newry on the 10th. of June, they had repeated Advices that Admiral Bing had attacked the French Fleet off Mahone, and had taken 4, and sunk 3 Ships of the Line, with the loss of 2 of our smaller Ships, which I hope we shall have confirmed, which wou'd be a mortal Stroke and Disappointment to the French.

I wish you all Happiness in your Administration, and am with due Regard and Esteem