December 1761

Brunswick

My Lord,

I have Only to Acknowledge the Honor of a letter by Order of Mr Secretary Pitt from Mr Wood dated the twenty Eigtht of May 1760 Inclosing the Copy of an Order of his Majesty in Council of the 15th Revoking and Repealing an Order of the 11th of March 1752 relating to the Nomination of Governours &c by which they are restored to Your Lordship's Department from the Board of Trade which I shall pay due Obedience to; as also another from Mr Pitt of the 8th of July last Inclosing his Majesty's Gracious Declaration of his Intention of Demanding in Marriage her present Majesty which has given his Majesty's Subjects here the greatest Pleasure.

I have herewith Inclosed to you a Congratulatory Address from the Council of this Province which was intended to be sent as the Joint Address of the General Assembly but the Several Altercations betwixt the Governour Council and Assembly about procuring the Supply in that Short Session prevented it at that time; and the Unaccountable Spirit of the Members of Assembly appointed to Meet last November who refused to make a House upon the Quorum of 15 being Assembled the Number appointed by his Majesty's Instructions even though 33 had come to Town; and they would not even meet though Adjourn only unless they had 38 the Majority of the Whole House which they said was their Right by Charter, and which they would by and Not Obey his Majesty's Instructions. I therefore Prorogued them five Several Times by Short Prorogations for nineteen days try to bring them to Temper. And then told them if they would Obey and Meet so as to Adjourn I would let them Dissolve them[selves] which they accordingly did. I have Issued out Writs to Elect a N[ew] Assembly and upon their Dismission prepared this Address by the Council to testify Our Duty to his Majesty at the Critical Junct[ure.]

The late raised Regiment and Company were disbanded of Cou[rse] the first Instant; but it was Providential that the Peace with t[he] Cherokees was Signed and the Ratifications ready to be Perfected before they were disbanded the Regiment having joined the Virg[inia] Forces and were enter'd into the Cherokee Country just as they [Signed] the Peace and made their Headmen hasten down to Charles Town to Perfect the Ratifications.

Pursuant to the New Regulations the Council, as the Assembly [does] not meet, have Signed a Recommendation to you of Major Rob[ert] Rogers to be a very proper person to be made Superintendent of Indian Affairs in these Southern Provinces which I have Inclosed to him in Charlestown to be forwarded to you.

As we have lost one of Our Councellors Mr John Swann who died here a few days ago, and as I apprehend that the Vacancy is to be filled Upon Your Nomination as well as the other Places in America; I beg leave to Recommend to your Lordship Colonel William Dry Collector of this Port a Gentleman of Distinction Worth and Fortune and Zealous in the Support of his Majesty's Rights and Prerogative to Succeed him.

As I am not Sure whether this Nomination was in you or still Continues in the Board of Trade I have also mentioned it to that Board until I should be further Ascertain'd of it.

I am, with the greatest Respect,

My Lord,

Your Lordships

Most Obedient and

Most Humble Servant

Arthur Dobbs

P.S. For fear of Miscarriage I have troubled your Lordship with this letter, having heretofore Sent One of the same Import to Mr Pitt

No. Carolina Decr. 1761.
Govr. Dobbs.
Rx April 27th. 1762