Williamsburg Iune 14^th 1757
Sir Your Fav^o of the 3^d I rec^d last Night. Fort Cumberland
being by Order of Lord Loudoun to be garison'd by Your
Forces, it appears to me very inconsistent & unmanerly in
Your Assembly to make any Hesitation, or to dispute his
Lordships Power & more so when so solemnly concerted &
agreed to at the Meeting of the Gov^rs with his Lordship; no
Doubt if they persist in their ill-natur'd Opposition, some
Method probably may be found out to make them repent of
their Folly, indeed their parsemonius Behavior at this Time
of imminent Danger has occasion'd me much Trouble with the
Assembly of this Dominion.
I think you cou'd not shun accepting the 500 Men in their
Way, & when raised undoubtedly Col^o Stanwix will give
Directions how they are to be dispos'd of & will continue
Cap^l Dagworthy in his Command. I wish Col^o Stanwix wou'd
form an Expedition to the Westward, as the Enemy have only
140 Men at Fort Du Quesne; this I have from Serjeant Fant,
who was Prisoner there some Time, & made his Escape with
a Catawba Indian — pray where is Col^o Stanwix? about a Fort-
night ago he sent Waggons from Pensylvania for 100 Bls
Powder, Lead &c. which were sent him from Fort Loudoun :
I never thought he wou'd send an Officer to command Fort
Cumberland, or indeed is it eligible, when I consider he must
have the Disposition made with Lord Loudoun. I think Your
Agents will not refuse to issue Pay for the Cap^l & Men at Fort
Cumberland, as they are part of the 500 Men to be raised by
Your Act; & I hope they will not think of being brought
under a military Order to compell them to Obedience to His
Majesty's Commands, by the Direction of L^d Loudoun; they
cannot now be more averse to raise Supplies for the general
Service than they have hitherto always with unseasonable
Parsemony done. I refer you to my last in Answer to Y^rs of
the 5^th of May. & I must still insist on the Agreement between
us of replacing at Fort Loudoun all such Provisions &c. as
can be purchas'd & those that cannot be purchas'd I think
shou'd be valued & paid in Cash. The Fish, if any Expedi-
tion shou'd be concerted to the Westward, will be very proper
as it's very portable, & I think there is nothing else but what
is necessary Col^o Stephen assur'd me, the Beef was very
good when deliver'd, excepting two Casks that had lost the
Pickle, & that our People eat it with Pleasure.
I observe what You order'd in regard to the Cherokees, the
Scalps & Prisoners they brought in which I doubt not was
agreeable to them; we have a fresh Party of thirty come here,