Williamsburg Septem^r 8^th 1756.
Sir
I wrote you by your Express, to which please be referr'd, I
called the Councell, which agreable to Lord Loudoun's Letter,
we laid a Prohipition on the Exportation of all manner of Pro-
visions, which you may observe by the enclosed Gazette. I
have summoned the Assembly to meet the 20^th when I hope
they will seriously consider our present Situation, & do what
is absolutely necessary in the present Exigency of our Affairs.
I would gladly hope Oswego is not taken, Lord Loudoun's
Letter to me is the 20^th where he mentions his receiving
Account thereof the night before, & I have Letters from New
York of the 23^d that takes not the least notice of it.
This Express I send to Lord Loudoun he desires me to
raise recruits for the Royal Americans, and send them directly
to him, it's impossible to raise Men so soon, as to send them
to Albany to be in Service this fall, however I am doing all
in my Power to raise what Men I possibly can, but it will be
attended with great Difficulties, unless I procure an Act of
Assembly to make a general Draft from the Militia. I sup-
pose you will see it proper to lay a Prohibition on the Expor-
tation of Provisions from your Colony, as I think it ought to
be general in all the Colonies. I remain with great respect
Your Excell^cys
Most obedient humble Serv^t
Rob^t Dinwiddie
Governor Sharpe.

13^th of Sept^r 1756.
My Ld
I am sorry I should have such News to communicate but by
the inclosed Gazette your Ldp will see that Oswego with its
Guns Stores &c & the Vessels that Gen^l Shirley had built on
Ontario Lake is fallen into the Enemy's hands, this Account