Letter to Mr. Dobbs Governor of North Carolina in Answer to one received from him.

We have received your Letter of the 31. of October last, containing a full and satisfactory account of the State of the Province under your Government, and of your proceedings in the Administration from the date of your last Letter down to that period; and altho' this state is not in every particular so good as one as we could have wished, yet it is altogether better than We expected, considering the confusion in which you found things upon your Arrival, and the little regard which had been shown by your predecessors to establish that order in Government, and promote those measures which can alone give Stability to it. 

The particular attention, which you appear to have given to these matters in the measures which you have pursued for providing in a proper manner, for the defence and security of the Province on the one hand, and the aiding and assisting the Efforts which have been made by the Mother Country for the defence and security of America in general on the other, cannot fail of meeting with His Majesty's Approbation. We are sensible, that the Circumstances of the People of North Carolina will not admit of their contributing so largely to the Common cause as may be reasonably expected from the other Colonies; but when we say this, We cannot but be of Opinion, that a Small Sum, given rightly and properly with a View to the Interests of the whole and the good of the Service in general, may be more effectual, than ten times as much given merely to local and provincial purposes. 

It is in this light and upon this Opinion, that We greatly approve the Measures of sending three Companies to New York to join the Army under the Command of the Earl of Loudoun; and We sincerely wish, that the Circumstances and State of the Province would have admitted of these Companies continuing in the Service; but as you seem to be of Opinion, that they would not, and that the defence of your own Frontiers called for every support which the Province is capable of affording, We do not see what more could be done, than dismissing them in the manner you did; and the Assembly did well in enabling you by a Vote of Credit to discharge the Debt incurred on this Account; nor do We see any Objection to your Applying the Bills, appropriated to the erecting Churches and Schools, to this Service, in case you think it adviseable so to do. 

The not having a proper Officer established at Occacok Inlet, to whom the Masters of all Ships should report their Cargoes, must certainly be attended with great loss to the Revenue; and therefore We lost no time in laying this part of your Letter before the Lords of the Treasury, together with those parts, where you mention the Inconveniencys and mischiefs arising from the improper provisions of the Act passed in 1723, for settling the Titles and bounds of Land, which appears to Us to be a matter of great Consequence to His Majesty's Revenue; and as We entirely agree with you, that this Law ought to be repealed, we shall, in case the Lords of the Treasury concur with Us in opinion, lay it before His Majesty for His disallowance of it. We have also laid before the Lords of the Treasury that part of your Letter, proposing that the Expence of a survey may be defrayed out of the Quit Rents, and We are informed their Lordships have given a Warrant for that purpose. 

The representation you make of the Expediency of having Ships properly Stationed for the protection of Your Coasts, has been communicated to the Lords of the Admiralty; and their Lordships have in consequence thereof acquainted Us, that a Twenty Gun Ship and a Sloop are ordered to be stationed upon your Coasts. 

We are entirely convinced of the Expediency and necessity of having the Boundary Line between your Province and that of South Carolina ascertained as soon as possible; but We cannot do any thing in this matter, untill We receive the Report of the Committee of Council of South Carolina appointed by Mr. Lyttelton to consider of it, which We are in daily expectation of; and which when We do receive, no time shall be lost in taking it into consideration, and proposing such a Line as shall appear to Us to be proper. 

We have considered the Observations you make upon the Law passed in 1748, for regulating Officers Fees; and tho' it is true, that, by the 65th. Article of your Instructions, you are directed, with the Advice of the Council, to regulate Fees, yet that Instruction, which is also given to other Governors, has never been consider'd as operating to prevent the doing it by Act of Assembly; on the Contrary, Acts have been passed in almost all the Colonies for this purpose, many of which have been confirmed by the Crown. It is true indeed, that some have been repealed, but not for being contrary to the King's Instructions, or from an Opinion that the Legislature had no power to ascertain Fees, but upon Complaint made, that the Fees established were improper Ones; and if that shall appear to be the Case of this Law, or that any of the Officers, who are thereby entituled to Fees, are injured by it, it is their Duty to join in a Representation to the Crown stating the Facts, and when ever they think proper to do that, due regard will be had to their Complaints, but We can by no means Agree with you, that, if this Act should be repealed on such Application, it would be practicable, or, if so, prudent to have the Fees fixed & ascertained here; and therefore we cannot advise, what Fees ought to be taken in the Case of the Charters you mention, but must leave it to the Discretion of your self and your Council under the Authority vested in you by your Instructions. 

The inconveniencys and Mischiefs arising from the Enemies getting a Supply of Provisions, by means of the Trade carried on from Our Colonies to those of the Dutch and other neutral powers, has been under the Consideration of Parliament; and you will herewith receive a Law passed for the remedy thereof. 

We are,

 Sir,

Your most Obedt.

humble Servants,

Dunk Halifax

James Oswald

Soame Jenyns.

Exd.