Original.
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[Dinwiddie to Sharpe.]
Williamsburg Virga Mar. 25th 1754.
Sr
Yours of the 11th Currt I duely recd & am heartily sorry yr
Assembly will not assist with Forces to repell the unjustifiable
Encroachments of the French. I am oblig'd by His Majestys
Comds to endeavour the building of two Forts on the Ohio,
but I fear the small Force rais'd here will not be sufficient.
The President of North Carolina writes me that their Assem-
bly have voted" £12,000 Proclama Money, & that they are
enlisting Men accordingly, & thinke they will raise 750 - The
Govr of Pensylva thinks he will be able to prevail with the
Assembly to grant a handsom Supply, their House are to sit
down the second of next Month.
I have rais'd 300 Men, which, with a Compa under CaptTrent's comd now at the Ohio, is all I can propose to raise from
the small Sum given by our Assembly, but I doubt not they
will increase the sum hereafter. - I am thorowly convinc'd of
your assiduous endeavours with your People; but there is no
resisting an ill-founded Prejudice; if they wou'd look forward
& Consider the dismal Consequences that must follow the
Settlemt of the French so near our Frontiers, they certainly
wou'd chearfully assist with a proper Supply; as it's easier to
prevent their settling, than dislodge them when settled; besides
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