[Dinwiddie to Sharpe.]
Sr Williamsburg Apr. 10th 1754.
Enclos'd I send you a Letter that came under my cover
from Mr Glen Governor of So Carolina.
That Gentleman proposes to me, a Meeting of all the Gov-
ernors on the Continent at Virginia, the Middle of Iune next,
to adjust a Quota of each Colony to be employ'd on the
present Expedition to the Ohio. I do not know what Influence
he may have on his Assembly, but I am sure the Assembly of
this Dominion wou'd not be directed what Supplies to grant,
& will always be guided by their own free Determinations; &
wou'd think it an Insult on their Preveledges that they are so
very fond of, to be under any restraint or Direction.
What he proposes might have been very necessary some
Time ago to represent Home the Situation & Circumstances
of each Colony, with their opinion on the Insults & Invasions
of the French; but this by no means can be a proper Time,
when they are daily expected down the Ohio River, & no Time
is to be lost in building the Fort, agreeable to His Majesty's
Comands to me.
Add thereto the Govr of N York's meeting the Six Nations
at Albany the 10th June; & my Appointing & to meet the
Northern & Southern Indians at Winchestr the 20th of next
Mo. wherefore I think his Proposal to meet here with the other
Governors in June, is at this Time impracticable; & am of
opinion the Governors to the Northward wou'd not agree to so
long a Iourney, particularly from N: England.
The object I have in my Eye is building the Fort. Capt
Trent has the Comand of Seventy or Eighty Men on the Spot,
at the Forks of Monongehela, & a Detachment of 150 Men
are march'd, a Week ago, from Alexandria to join him; &
another Detachment of the same Number will march from
thence the Beginning of next Week to support them.
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