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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from Matthew Rowan to the Board of Trade of Great Britain
Rowan, Matthew, d. 1760
March 19, 1754
Volume 05, Pages 108-109

[B. P. R. O. North Carolina. B. T. Vol. 12. C. 34.]

Cape Fear, North Carolina, March 19th 1754.

My Lords, [of the Board of Trade]

I received a letter from the Earl of Holdernesse dated the 28th of August last informing me of the march of a considerable number of

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Indians not in alliance with His Majesty supported by some regular European Troops intending as is apprehended to commit some hostilities on parts of His Majesty's Dominions in America.

I am commanded in case they make any Incroachment on this Province to draw forth the armed force of the Province and to repel force by force and in case any of our neighbouring Provinces should be attacked to call the Assembly and lay before them the necessity of a mutual assistance and engage them to grant such a supply as the exigency of Affairs may require.

The 18th of last month I received a letter from the Governor of Virginia requiring our immediate assistance to dispossess the French of a settlement they have made at the Ohio within the undoubted limits of Virginia where they have imprisoned His Majesty's Subjects and confiscated their goods, built a strong fort and intend to build five more with design to secure all the waters of the Mississippi which waters comes close up to our settlement.

If we suffer this they will secure the Gaps of the mountains and destroy our settlements at their Pleasure I expected this demand some time & had prorogued the Assembly to meet at Wilmington the 19th of last month, which met accordingly. I was under a necessity of creating twenty two thousand pounds Proclamation Paper Bills of Credit to issue immediately; vizt £12,000 for raising and providing for a regiment of 750 effective men to be sent to the Assistance of Virginia, £2,000 to repair & finish the Fort at the mouth of Cape Fear river £2,000 to be added to the money formerly granted to build and finish the Fort at Ocacock Inlet £1,000 to buy arms and ammunition for the poorer Inhabitants of Rowan & Anson Countys being most exposed £800 for stamping and emitting the Bills of Credit and £4,200 for other contingencies to be sunk by a poll tax and a duty on wine, rum and all other spirituous liquors which are the best funds we have; there is also £18000 more for other uses not to be emitted till His Majesty's Pleasure is known.

This I have been under a necessity of doing otherways I cou'd not have got any supply. Will transmit the Laws of last Session with the Journals of both Houses by the first ship for London.

I am with the greatest submission, &c.,
MATH: ROWAN.