My Lords [of the Board of Trade]
My last inclosed the Laws of last Session of Assembly; I omitted sending the Journal of the House of Burgesses for March 1753 by mistake. I herewith inclose it; the Journal of the House of Burgesses for last Session I have not yet received from the Clerk.
Since my last the North Carolina regiment I sent to the assistance of Virginia were disbanded by Colonel Innes, who had the command of that Regiment and all the other Forces at Winchester the 11th of August, for want of subsistance; a very small sum with good words would have kept them together till Govr Dobbs' arrival.
The Minutes of Council will be ready to transmit in a few days.
I have used my endeavours to get the list of Vessells enter'd & cleared but not one Collector has as yet taken any notice of it.
The state of the Militia I have transmitted in the best manner I cou'd which I think is pretty exact.
The Treasurers Account has never yet been sent home. Mr. Dobbs will soon be able to regulate that matter.
A few days ago I received a letter by express from Col: John Clark of Anson County informing me of the murder of 16 white people & 10 carried away, a copy of which I inclose.
I have sent up what powder and lead I cou'd get with Orders to Col: Smith, the commanding Officer in Rowan County to assist Col: Clark.
When Col: Clark's express came away a party of the Cataba Indians were on the track of the Indians that committed the murder. I expect every hour to have an Account of them.
Last Friday night I received by express a letter from Governor Dobbs from Hampton in Virginia dated the 7th inst. he arrived there the night before in the Garland Ship of War after a passage of ten weeks from Plymouth they met with a violent storm in which they lost their main mast and sprung their fore mast he was setting out for Williamsburg where he intended to stay some days; I set out to morrow morning in company with the Members of Council that live this way to meet him at Newbern. I am with the greatest, & c.,