Nov^r 5 [1754] Annapolis
Right Honourable
I took the Liberty the 25^th of last Month from Virginia to
make my most grateful Acknowledgments for the Receipt of
his Majestys most gracious Commission together with a Letter
which yourself had been pleased to honour me with by Gov-
ernor Dobbs who had but a few Days before arrived, lest any
Accident should occasion the Loss of the Letter that. I then
begged leave to address to you I seize this Opportunity of
repeating the Contents of it & of intreating you if you think
proper to assure his Majesty that I am extremely sensible of
the honour that he has been pleased to confer on me that it
shall be the Business of my Life to manifest my Duty to his
Majesty & my constant Study & endeavours to pay the most
exact & punctual Obedience to his Royal Pleasure which you
have now been pleased to acquaint me with & to whatever
future Commands & Instructions I may have the honour &
Satisfaction to receive. On Governor Denwiddie's intimating
to me his Receival of His Majestys Orders to himself & me I
immediately set out for that place to take his Advice how I may
best execute the Commission I found myself honoured with &
to consult with him what measures it would be most expedient
to take for the Defence of his Majesty's Dominions on the
Continent at this time & with the small Force that we shall be
able to collect this winter or early in the ensuing Spring. In
pursuance of his & Governor Dobbs's Advice & Approbation
I propose to raise Seven Hundred Men with all possible
Expedition who will I hope (if a very severe Season does not