8 



THE HISTORY OF 



But afterwards sir William Berkley, who was one of the grantees and at 

 that time governor of Virginia, finding a territory of 31 miles in breadth 

 between the inhabited part of Virginia and the above-mentioned boundary of 

 Carolina, advised the lord Clarendon of it. And his lordship had interest 

 enough with the king to obtain a second patent to include it, dated June the 

 30th, 1665. 



This last grant describes the bounds between Virginia and Carolina in 

 these words : " To run from the north end of Coratuck inlet, diie west to 

 Weyanoke creek, lying within or about the degree of thirty-six and thirty 

 minutes of northern latitude, and from thence west, in a direct line, as far as 

 the South sea." Without question, this boundary was well known at the 

 time the charter was granted, but in a long course of years Weyanoke creek 

 lost its name, so that it became a controversy where it lay. Some ancient 

 persons in Virginia affirmed it was the same with Wicocon, and others again 

 in Carolina were as positive it was Nottoway river. 



In the mean time, the people on the frontiers entered for land, and took out 

 patents by guess, either from the king or the lords proprietors. But the 

 crown was like to be the loser by this uncertainty, because the terms both of 

 taking tip and seating land were easier much in Carolina. The yearly taxes 

 to the public were likewise there less burthensome, which laid Virginia under 

 a plain disadvantage. 



This consideration put that government upon entering into measures with 

 North Carolina, to terminate the dispute, and settle a certain boundary be- 

 tween the two colonies. All the difficulty was, to find out which was truly 

 Weyanoke creek. The difference was too considerable to be given up by 

 either side, there being a territory of fifteen miles betwixt the two streams in 

 controversy. 



However, till that matter could be adjusted, it was agreed on both sides, 

 that no lands at all should be granted within the disputed bounds. Virginia 

 observed this agreement punctually, but I am sorry I cannot say the same of 

 North Carolina" The great officers of that province were loath to lose the 

 fees accruing from the grants of land, and so private interest got the better 

 of public spirit; and I wish that were the only place in the world where such 

 politics are fashionable. 



y\ll the steps that were taken afterwards in that affair, will best appear by 

 the report of the Virginia commissioners, recited in the oi'der of council 

 given at St. James', March the 1st, 1710, set down in the appendix. 



It must be owned, the report of those gentlemen was severe upon the then 

 commissioners of North Carolina, and particularly upon Mr. Moseley. I will 

 not take it upon me to say with how much justice they .said so many hard 

 things, though it had been fairer play to have given the parties accused a 

 copy of such representation, that they might have answered what they could 

 for themselves. 



But since that was not done, I must beg leave to say thus much in behalf 

 of Mr. Moseley, that he was not much in the wrong to find fault with the 

 quadrant produced by the surveyors of Virginia, because that instrument 

 placed the mouth of Nottoway river in the latitude of 37 degrees ; whereas, 

 by an accurate observation made since, it appears to lie in 36° 30' 30", so 

 that there was an error of near 30 minutes, either in the instrument or in 

 those who made use of it. 



Besides, it is evident the mouth of Nottoway river agrees much better with 

 the latitude, wherein the Carolina charter supposed Weyanoke creek, (namely, 

 in or about 36° 30',) than it does with Wicocon creek, which is about fifteen 

 miles more southerly. 



This being manifest, the intention of the king's grant will be pretty exactly 



