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As we have no Post fencd between this and Virginia I cou'd not sooner acknowledge the Favour of your Excellency's Letter of last October, nor acquainting you with our Proceedings upon it, and take the Opportunity of a Vessels sailing from hence to New York to acquaint you that I immediately upon receiving the orders about our Regiment sent them orders to act accordingly; they were then upon their March to join the Virginia Provincials and joined them at Chiswel Fort on New River with 450 Men under the Command of Colonel Waddell, & arrived Time enough to march forward to Fort Attakulla Kulla and beyond it to the Great Island upon Holston's River which runs into the Tenasee: The Cherokees were greatly alarmed at an Attack from that Quarter, and immediately sent some of their Chiefs to petition for peace, and were to be followed by others, but upon their having received an Express from Attakulla Kulla that he had signed a Peace at Charles Town which they must go down to ratify, they sent to inform Colo. Waddell that they were on the road down, and sent him a Copy of the Articles, upon which soon after in Concert with Colo. Stevens to avoid further Expence their Time of Service being near expiring they returned into this Province, and were of course disbanded, as our Assembly being called by Proclamation wou'd not meet to do business though above 30 Members attended, and the Quorum by the King's Instructions were 15, they wou'd not assemble as a House without a Majority of all the Members, so after 5 short Prorogations after 19 days attendance I wou'd prorogue them no longer, but let them dissolve themselves, & immediately issued Writs for a new Election; which is now over, and I have prorogued them to the 6th. of April next, that in Case any such orders shou'd come to me in Case of a Spanish War I may have them in readiness, as we have not any Troops to defend our forts on the Sea Coast, having only kept on foot a Serjeant and ten Men until the Assembly Meets, and in Case of any Emergency must put in the Militia; and find from the Refactoriness of the Militia Assembly that it will be necessary for His Majesty's Service to have an Independent Company here as well to prevent an illicit Trade, as to give weight to the Government here.

I hear from Charles Town that the Peace is ratified, and that Colo. Grant with the Regulars sailed from thence last week. I have had no late Advices from England, but just now hear that a Convoy from England is arrived at Charles Town.

I am with great Regard

Sir

your Excellys.

most obedient and

most humble Servt

Arthur Dobbs

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