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 436 to abandon their habitations, and retreat to a place of greater security; which they, as well as those who have already removed thither, expect to find in the western parts of the Carolinas, in the neighborhood and under the shelter of the Catawbas and Cherokees; whither, it is supposed, the French Indians will, at present, scarce think proper to make any inroads; for, sir, in the present state of our frontiers, they must be sensible, if they judge of the future from the past, that they may with less trouble and hazard, get both scalps and plunder in Virginia, as valuable, nay, more valuable than they can well expect in the neighborhood of those two nations, our friends, who are truly formidable to them, one for its martial and enterprising genius, the other for its numbers.

It is generally believed by the most prudent and discerning in this part of the country, that during the present troubles, nothing will put a stop to this prevailing humor of removing southerly, because nothing will convince the people they are safe, but a line of forts extended quite across the Colony, as a barrier against incursions of the barbarians; and that this would, is quite probable, because a trifling fort on Jackson River, a little below the mouth of Carpenter's Creek, and another more trifling at the Drunkard's Bottom, on New River, have, notwithstanding surrounding dangers, kept their neighboring settlements tolerably well together, as yet. Sir, if this be the case, it is submitted to superior judgments to decide, whether or not it will be a prudent and necessary measure to have a chain of forts thrown across the Colony with all convenient speed.

Should such a scheme be resolved on, the following line might, perhaps, upon being viewed by proper persons, be found to be not altogether inconvenient to build them on, to