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Sr,

Your Excellency's Letter of the 22d of Novr. I did not Receive, until I was upon my Return from Edenton in the North of this Province where I held the last Assembly; from whence I came here last Week; As I had the Same Cause of Complaint, many of my Letters having remained months upon the Road, from New york to this Place, and I believe many have Miscarried; I made all the Enquiry I could about the neglect, but Could not find that they lay in this Province, but had reason to believe that the Fault lay at Williamsburg or Suffolk in virginia, where the Carolina Post receives the Northern Letters; upon which I Spoke to a Gentleman, Captn Campbel living Near Edenton, to enquire about it and to write to these Postmasters; and I complained of it also to Govr. Fauquier, and Desired him to enquire if the Fault was in the more northern Posts, but had no answer from him. When I was northward, I forwarded 2 Letters for you from Genl. Forbes, which I hope you Received; if any come by Express I Shall forward them as you direct, But as we have again granted £130 to fix the Post through this Province from Suffolk to Wilmington in one Person, who is to forfeit his Salary if he neglects the Stated days, once a fortnight, I hope it will be better conducted for the future; and hope and expect that you will apply in yr Province for an allowance to Continue it from Wilmington to Charles Town, and then our Correspondence will be regular. I send this by the first Post which goes from Wilmington, in hopes of your concurrence with this Province; and as we shall have a grand attack to Northwd. to drive the French from this Continent, and I have reason to hope from the Assistance of Providence, which has so remarkably appeared this year in the favour of Liberty, and the Protestant Cause, that our Expedition against the Sugar Islands will have all the Success we can desire, and as you have Early Intelligince from the Islands, hope you will acquaint me often with good news from thence. And as we Shall Certainly attack Mobile, and the Mississippi, to drive the French from this Continent, you will have business from your Province, by the Creeks, Chickesaws, and your Troops, to attack Alibamas, and Mobile, while our Fleet will attack by Sea; and I have great Hopes that the Coll: who Carried Letters for you from Genl. Amherst, and draft, as he passed, his Letter to me, is gone to you upon that Errand, for this year we Shall make a grand push for all French America, as God Almighty conducts our Councils armies and Fleets.

I Heartily Wish you all the Success we Expect, and often to hear good News from you; whilst the Glorious King of Prussia Keeps his own and the Protestant States of Germany Safe; we shall give up nothing in America upon a Peace; and I have heard from England that the Merchts. this Session propose to Petition the Parliament to open the Hudsons Bay Trade, upon which I have wrote to the Northern Governmt., that their Agents, if they approve of it, may join in their Petitions as probably your Province may also do, and then the whole northern Trade of America must rest in Britain.

I am with Truth and Esteem

Sr

yr. Excellencys

Most Obedient

& Most Humble Servant

Arthur Dobbs