New Bern 22d. Novr. 1756 

Sir,

I had the favour of your Excellency's Letter of the 5th by the post with one to Governor Denny which I shall send Northward by the post. I am sorry to find that the Letters I had forwarded to you from Lord Loudoun had been so long delayed—I wish I cou'd give you any good Account from this Province about raising Recruits for his Majesty's American Regiment, but the Assembly here upon his Excellency's Letter about the Loss of Oswego and the Apprehensions he was under that they wou'd now have an Opportunity of sending Troops to the Ohio, desiring that We shou'd take Care of our frontier, and Major Lewis's Letter with a Copy of what he wrote to your Excellency about the Danger we were under from the Cherokees Inclinations to the French and their secret Intrigues with them, and the Applications of the Cataubas to build a fort near them to protect their Wives & Children, when they sent out their Warriors to joyn the Virginians, made them apply all the Money they wou'd give to build that fort and raise another Company to defend it and the frontier; and therefore disbanded the Companies we sent to New York, I having given up the private Men to his Regiment there if they cou'd get them to turn over to them; and they wou'd not allow any Money to raise Recruits here, lest We shou'd want them to defend our frontier against the Cherokees; I hear there were some Officers of his Regiment arrived in this province to raise Recruits, who I was resolved to give all the Assistance in my power to, but they did not come to apply to me, but am told were to go So.ward to your province. All I cou'd get done with the Assembly was to get the Mutiny Act inforced here, and Rewards given for taking up Deserters, and fines laid upon the Harbourers and Concealers of Deserters, as also to joyn Militia Officers with our Militia ^Provincial^ Officers to hold Courts Martial of Life and Death against Mutineers or Deserters, which cou'd not be done by the English Act without Officers of the Regulars; if any such Act be necessary with you, you had better enforce that Act, as you have not Officers I believe sufficient to hold Courts Martial; By a Sloop from Philadelphia I hear the Quakers have given up their Seats in the new Assembly except the Speaker, that they are framing a good Militia Bill, and great Numbers are raising for the American Regiment, and now the Quakers are out they will do great Things, they being one and all for pushing against the French. 

I am very much pleased to hear that the Creeks continue heartily our friends, and that the lower and middle Cherokees continue firm, I hope Capt. Demerie may by building the fort in the upper Country be able to gain the Cherokees from the French Intrigues. 

Upon the Affair of the Cataubas being wounded I gave Orders to make up Matters with King Haglar, and if the Man died to give up the Man to them who shot him, but as the Man recovered, I have had no Complaint from them since, if they apply I shall order them Satisfaction; I have since sent them some powder and Lead at their Desire, as to the Settlers, I can't remove those from their Neighbourhood who had patents before my Arrival, but told them they shou'd have no protection from me in Case the Indians molested them, since they did not acquaint the Council when they run out their Lands that they were near their Towns, I don't find any are taken since I came, but as to giving them such a Scope from the two provinces as Glenn promised them for 30 Miles around them, which is above 1,800,000 Acres for 300 families, I can't do any thing in it without Instructions from England, and you will see how necessary it is to have our Line fixed in order to have this and many more Inconveniencies removed, and therefore hope you will speedily send over the Opinion of your Council upon it to England that the Line may be determined there without Loss of time; I having great Complaints against Laverly and other Straglers who have been down with you to support their unjust Claims, which if they are much longer delayed, I must obey my Instructions and put the Laws in force against them who disturb Huey & Crymble's Associates in their possessions, which I have in Charge to do from his Majesty, and if they are still incouraged from your Council, it will necessarily make a Breach which I have endeavoured to avoid in hope the Line would be soon fixed. I have still some hopes there may be some Truth in Hawkes beating the French as a Ship came to Virginia from Cork in 6 Weeks, who says Hawkes packett put in there by contrary winds whilst he was there who confirmed the Account. 

You may be surprized to hear me say that I think it providential to us that the French have taken Minorca, for it has given Britain a legal pretence to drive the French out of the Continent of America, and afterwards out of the Islands, and so ruin their Trade and Marine, for if they had not we must only have been content to repel their Incroachments here, which was only giving them time to send over more Troops and to increase their Marine, and now England can lawfully exert their whole force, and gain the Empire of this part of the Continent. 

I am with Truth and Esteem

Sir

Your Excellency's

most obedt. hble Servt.

Arthur Dobbs

I believe the best way will be to send the Recruits by Sea to New York.