Wilmington March 2d 1759

Sr,

I Had yr Favour of the 26th Jany. and also yr. Excellency's by Coll: Hale and herewith Send you Mr Toomers proposal about Carrying on the Post—He is certainly in the Right that he would have little or nothing for his trouble and Expence if Mr Tymothy received the Postage of all Letters deliverd at Charles Town; for he has no postage of any Letters Carried Northwards from Charles Town beyond this Town; and those for this place are very few, and if he has the Sole Expence of the Carriage man and Horse he deserves the whole Premium given by the publick, and think he cant take much Less than he Demands which is £75 Sterling.

I Have not had any particular Letters from Either the Board of Trade or Secretary of State in relation to the dividend of £50000 granted by vote of Parliament upon his Majestys Recommendation towards the Expence of the Southern Province—but had a Copy of the vote Sent to me, and that it was lying in the Treasury to be proportioned by the Commander in Chief in America and finding that the Governr. of Virginia had applied for their Proportion I wrote to Genl. Amherst as I had before to Genl. Abercrombie: and did not doubt but you had done the Same; otherwise it will ly in the Treasury—I Have also wrote to Mr Pitt upon it and to the Board of Trade; So hope you wont delay applying for your proportion of it—I am glad that you approve of the Laying open of the Hudsons bay Trade, which will Extend if made general the British Trade. I took care not to mention any Thing to Coll Hale of a publick nature. I long much to hear that we have had Success against Martinico, which would determine the Fate of the other French Leeward Islands.

I am with great Regard Sir

yr Excellencys

Most Obedient

Humble Servant.

Arthur Dobbs

P:S: 3d Since Sealing this a Snow is come in yesterday from Antigua giving us an account of our making a Fient attack upon Martinico—and falling upon and taking all The Forts on the Basse Terre of Guadaloupe and by that Means gaining all Guadoloupe, I find they would not attack Martinico until all their Ships and Troops were arrived, which I take to be those under Commadore Keppel who were first to take Garee. I congratulate yr Excellency upon it, as this Conquest we made the 24th of Jany. I dont doubt but you may have later advice yet would not Neglect mentioning it.

A: Dobbs