Portsmouth Corebank. near Ocacock Inlet May the 10th. 1755—

My Lords,

I am come so far in my progress viewing the Country to fix the Seat of Governmt. and the sea coast to fix upon proper places to erect Forts or Batteries to protect our Harbours and Ships and finding a Ship ready to Sail for Liverpool woud not delay writing to Your Lordships what I had viewd and fixd upon as I cant tell when I may have another opportunity.

I set out from Newbern the 9th. of April to view the River Neuse and proceeded up it near 100 Miles to the Falls to see what proper Situations were upon that River for the Seat of Governmt. as being the most central and convenient for the whole Province, most places upon the River is low and Swampy but there are Several Dry grounds and a few high Bluffs upon the River from 16 or 18 to 40 feet higher than the River But the most convenient place is at Stringers Ferry on the north side of the River, Where is a fine rising ground from the Ferry dry, Heathy, and good Springs; and extends a considerable way pritty level back from the River, where the lands are very good, altho' they are Piney at some distance from the River, this is the only place so high and extensive on the River below the Falls and overlooks the River at about 3 or 400 yards from it upon a gentle rising ground near 40 feet higher than the River it is about 50 miles by water above New Bern and is Navigable for Canoes and small Periaguas in the Dryest Summer and for large flats the stream very Gentle & with little expence upon one or two Fords may afford above 3 or 4 feet navigation in the dryest summer, it is about 42 miles by land from New Bern to it; and it is navigable downwards from the Falls on the River for above 60 or 80 miles Except in the heigt of Summer which will be a great conveniency for the back settlers to bring down heavy goods, and the River in great freshes does not overflow the Country as the Rivers Roanock, and northwest of Cape Fear, do, rising in some places above 40 feet; the Gentlemen both to the Northward and Southward also approve of fixing it up the Neuse as it will be much more convenient for them and a better and shorter Road than to go to New Bern, as they to the Northward will avoid 2 or 3 large Ferries, 2 of which are of 6 and 4 miles, at Edenton, and Bath, and that at New-Bern near 2 Miles, when they will have only 2 Ferry over Chowan, and Roanoak, which are narrow in respect to the others, and may be passed at any time, and a ferry at Tar River and Contentny—Creek which are only 100 to 200 yards over, and the Southern Gentlemen from Cape Fear will have a better and shorter road and avoid New River ferry having only the ferry near Wilmington to cross which they must do to either place, which is not above 4 or 500 yards over; so that they as well as the northern Settlers will be all pleased in case his Majesty approves of fixing it there; and then I Believe the assembly will Proceed Briskly in erecting publick Buildings and offices which have been so long unsettled that almost all the old Records are lost, and I hope that you will give an instruction that all publick officers who aught to keep their Offices in the Capital shoud also reside in or near it and the Members of the Council should all have houses there and half of them in Rotation shoud reside half yearly at the Capital and not always be obliged upon emergencies to send expresses above 100 miles each way to Summon a Council; this I expect they will object to unless they have an allowance for their attendance as has been given in Virginia. I believe £50 ⅌ An. to each woud satisfy them for half a years attendance, which if we can Increase the Quit Rents as I expect we shall may be granted by his Majesty and all the Debts be soon paid and then there will be a Considerable Quit Rent remaining at his Majestys disposal if the Quit Rent Law be approved of. I hope therefore that your Lordships will lose no time in advising his Majesty to fix the Seat of Governmt. that we may immediatly prepare materials, and apply to the Assembly for a fund to proceed upon the Buildings the Conveniences for holding the Assembly being extreamly bad and inconvenient and it will require some time to have houses built at the Capital to lodge and accommodate the Members and other Officers.

I Arrived here last night from Edenton by water in a Sloop we passed thro' Albemarle Sound, Roanoak or Croatan and Pamplico Sounds, and so over the swash to Ocacock Island and from thence to this road near Core Banks where I summoned the Commissioners to meet me to fix upon a place to erect a fort or Battery and Barrack to protect the Ships in Harbour out of which they were taken by Privateers last war; the Storms they tell me for some years past has made vast havock among these sandy Islands the opening of Ococock Inlet betwixt this and that Inlet is enlarged from 2 miles to 4 miles wide. Beacon Island which lay betwixt them within the Entra[nce] is one half washed away and become only a dry Sand a[t] low water and a Considerable part of this Island near the Bar expected to be carryed away in a few years; two or three great storms will make a Passage thro it, the Islands being mostly sand hills and low marshes are often overflowed so that the Commissrs. think it will be better to erect a fascine Battery secured by Piles with 2 faces one to Secure the passage in coming down a Na[r]row Channel to this Harbour and the other to play cross the Channel where it is not above 300 yards wide and to build a Barrack behind the Battery to secure it, which will require at least 40 men which with the Assistan[ce] of the men, on board the ships in the Harbour will prevent any Privateer from attempting the Ships, and a Town is laid out called Portsmouth where the merchan[ts] propose to erect ware houses to lodge their goods in and load all their goods in the large ships here by lighters from the Several Towns of Edenton, Bath Town and New Bern and the Several other creeks on their several Sounds, I sha[ll] endeavour to get a Chart of this Inlet and Sands to Send to your Lordships. The Company sailed from Hence to Virginia about 3 weeks ago so hope they are now near their Rendezvous. I proceed from this to view the Harbour at Cape Lookout, and topsail Inlet, to fix upon a place for to erect a Fort there. I have had no Letter yet from your Lordships in answer to any of my letters from this Province which I impatiently expect, and refer you to all my former letters having time to say no more at present from hence.

I am with the greatest Respect

My Lords

Your Lordships

Most Obedient

And Humble Servt.

Arthur Dobbs

North Carolina.
Letter from Arthur Dobbs Esqr. Govr. of North Carolina to the Board, dated the 10th. of May 1755 relating to the place fixed upon by him for the Seat of Govt.

Recd. J
Read July 1st 1755.

C. 69.