The

SPEECH

of

His Excellency ARTHUR DOBBS, Esq;

Captain-General, Governor and Commander in Chief, in and over the Province of NORTH-CAROLINA, to the General Assembly of the said Province, at a Session held at Newbern the 8th Day of May, 1759.

Gentlemen of His Majesty's Council, Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen of the Assembly,

I HAVE, by his Majesty's express and repeated Orders, communicated to me by Mr. Secretary Pitt, called you together at the shortest Notice possible, to lay his Orders before you, that you would exert your utmost Force at this critical Period, when the Divine Providence has so manifestly appeared in Favour of the true Protestant Christian Church and Cause of Liberty.

The critical, and I hope I may say, the happy Moment is arrived, which is to determine the Fate of the British Empire in America, and the future Peace, Safety, Liberties, and Possessions, of all the British Colonies on this Continent.

Our Great God and Saviour, by the surprising Success of his Majesty's Arms, has opened to us a Passage to expell our inveterate insatiable Enemies from this Northern Continent, provided we follow the Stroke, and with suitable Zeal, Alacrity, and Dispatch, exert our Force, in Conjunction with the Regular Troops; his Majesty having, by his wise Councils and vigorous Measures, exerted the whole Power of Britain, at an immense Expence, to finish the War this Campaign, by driving the French from this Continent; which can only prevent our having any further Trouble or Expence from such hereditary and inveterate Enemies.

Gentlemen,

You have it now in your Power, by raising a suitable Force to join in the present Operations wherever called for, at an Expence which will scarcely be felt by the Community, to be eased of all future extraordinary Taxes, and to secure your future Peace, Religion, Liberties, and Possessions; and secure the Friendship of all the Indians, and enjoy the Trade of this Northern Continent without a Rival.

I am therefore fully convinced of your Prudence and Judgment, from the Zeal you have hitherto shewn for the Rights of his Majesty on this Continent, that you will exert your Force at this critical Moment; which if delayed, is never to be retrieved.

I shall therefore lay Mr. Secretary Pitt's Letters to me before you, in his most strenuous Words, to be the Spring of your Movement; by which you will find his Majesty's Goodness in promising to recommend to his Parliament next Session a Compensation for the Expence we shall be at, as well as what we have been at last Campaign, in Proportion to our Zeal for his Service.

I shall only add, that I shall always concur with you in every Measure which will support his Majesty's Rights and true British Liberty; and promote the Peace, Safety, Trade, and Happiness of this and all the British Colonies.