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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from Arthur Dobbs to William Pitt, Earl of Chatham
Dobbs, Arthur, 1689-1765
December 30, 1757
Volume 05, Pages 792-793

[B. P. R. O. Am: & W. Ind: Vol. 71.]
Letter from Governor Dobbs.

New Bern, 30th Decr, 1757.

Sir, [Secretary Pitt]

It gave me great Pleasure to hear you are restored to the Execution of your Trust as Secretary for the Southern Departmt by the united Voice of the people of England, as I know you have the Interest of Commerce and the Safety of our American Colonies so much in your power and at heart.

I have nothing to acknowledge since you were out of Office but a Letter from Lord Holderness of the 2d of May about taking off the Embargo for exporting Corn to Europe, and a Letter of the 20th of May relative to the Masters of 2 privateers, the Peggy of New York, Hadden Master, and a Privateer from Halifax one Snooke Master, which shall be obeyed if they come into this Province, but no such persons have arrived here since.

The Assembly of this Province cou'd only be prevailed upon keeping on foot three companies of 50 Men each 150 instead of 300 they raised and paid last year, because the 2 Companies intended for South Carolina were stop'd and not wanted, when the Highland Regiment arrived there, as they had no Quarters to give them.

We are still free from any Incursions of the Indians in this province, having kept 2 Companies on the Western Frontier, but must now remove one of them to secure our Forts and Batteries on the Sea Coast. We can get no Ship stationed on this Province at Cape Fear, that which has been ordered has not been here 10 days these 3 years, which is a Discouragement to our Trade.

I am with great Regard, &c.,
ARTHUR DOBBS