Brunswick

20 Mar. 1761.

Sir,

As I have had no Opportunity of acknowledging your Excellys. favours of the 1st. & 5th. of January sooner, I take this Opportunity of a Schooner bound to Philadelphia to acquaint you that I recd. not your Letters 'till the 5th. of February via Charles Town; that next Day I had His Majesty King George the 3d. proclaim'd under the Discharge of the Guns at Fort Johnston by 3 rounds of 21 Guns answd. by the Ships in the River, and next day went to Wilmington, and had His Majesty proclaimed in the same Manner with a triple Discharge of 21 Guns, the Militia drawn out, the proclamation signed by the Corporation and neighbouring Gentlemen, and the Night concluded with bonfires Illuminations an Entertainment and a Ball, at which Time also the other Proclamations were read, and I sent off Expresses to have His Majesty & the same proclaimed at New Bern Edenton and Halifax our only considerable Towns in this province—and in pursuance of your Letter and in Expectation of further Advice from England or from your Excellency, I issued Writs for a new Assembly to meet at Wilmington on the 20th. instant, which was the earliest possible being 40 days after the Test of the Writs, which were issued the same day and forwarded by Expresses—But as I have yet no Advice, I can do nothing towards raising of Troops unless I have Advice during a short Session, as we can raise none to be of Service against the Cherokees, as their fate will be determin'd before we cou'd raise and arm them, having no Arms left in the province, but what must be taken from the Militia or purchased from private persons. I have prorogued them for four days in hopes of getting Letters, and to have a full House when we meet. This I thought proper to acquaint you with in Case any orders came to me in time that I have done all in my power to expedite any orders may be sent to me.

I am with due Regard

Sir

your Excellency's

most obedient

humble Servant

Arthur Dobbs