NewBern 17. May 1757

Sir

I recd. your Excellency's favour of the 25th. April in due time; and am very much pleased to hear that you will be soon ready to send over your provincial Thoughts upon the Boundary Line that it may be speedily settled, that we may mutually be freed from the present Inconveniencies we labour under. I had on Monday a Letter from His Excellency The Earl of Loudoun that he has given Orders to send you the Troops ordered from Pensylvania and Virginia, with the greatest Dispatch, desiring that I may send off the 200 our Quota to you as soon as I possibly can; I have for that purpose called our Assembly who are now sitting, and inclose to you my Speech and their Addresses and make no doubt of their Zeal to have them raised and sent with all possible Dispatch; Upon my Return from the Northward I gave immediate Directions to recruit, and hope soon to get one Company compleat of 100 Men, and shall compleat the other as soon as possible, but shall send the first as soon as Compleat, and in Case you acquaint me of their being immediately necessary shall send them without waiting for more, and let the Recruits follow them and expect the Assembly will give all possible Assistance to compleat the other soon—As this Province is appointed to furnish the provincial Troops with fresh provisions at his Majesty's Expence, who supplies all Troops when out of their province I have wrote to Mr. Stead by Instructions from Mr. Kilby to know what Number of Beeves or hogs to contract for, and have directed him to shew my Letter to your Excellency for your Advice upon it, and if you shou'd want any Supply for your own provincial troops upon the same Terms I shall agree for, I shall endeavour to supply you. I heartily wish you may have no Occasion for the Assistance we can send you and hope that you will be also reinforced from Europe—We have no late European News—I am with great Regard 

Arthur Dobbs