Annapolis, the 7^th of March 1756.
S^r
I am just favoured with your Lett^r dated the 23^d of Feb^y &
am much obliged to you for your kind Intention in honouring
me with a Commission to command w^t Forces shall be raised
in these Southern Colonies for an Expedition to the westward
tho' I am very apprehensive that I shall not find myself enabled
by these Colonies to execute your Commission as you may
expect or as I could wish. The warlike Spirit that has spread
itself thro the Eastern Colonies has not (I am sorry to say it)
yet reached these Regions, hitherto these Provinces appear
quite inactive & so far from being disposed to comply with
your Requisition by sending Troops hence to act in Conjunc-
. tion with his Majesty's Regiments under your immediate Com-
mand that they have not even made provision for effectually
securing their own Frontiers. I have writ to Gov^r Dinwiddie
to know how many Troops that Dominion will engage to
furnish for the Service on which your Excellency is pleased to
order me & also what Assistance we may certainly expect from
the Carolinas. The Assembly of Pens^a has I hear been sitting
a month & is not yet come to any Resolutions to grant Sup-
plies of Men or Money towards carrying any Part of the Plan
that you submitted to us at N York into Execution which
makes me fear they will not so readily contribute their quota
either as your Excellency seems to hope. The Assembly of
this Province too has been now met a fortnight but have not
yet come to any Determination with respect to the several
matters that agreeably to your Lett^r I recommended to their
Consideration. A Vote has indeed passed for granting £40000
this or Pens^a Curr^cy but from Experience I find that with us
there is a wide Difference between voting a Sum of Money
& granting or raising it; but suppose for once the several
Branches of this Legislature should be unanimous & agree
with regard to the mode of raising money £40.000 will go but
a little way towards raising subsisting & transporting the
number of Men that is deemed the Quota of this Colony, for
a larger Sum I am persuaded I shall apply in vain but your