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 
SOth, 1665. 
This last grant describes the bounds between Virginia and Carolina in 
these words : “ To run from the north end of Coratuck inlet, due 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 up 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 punrjtuaily, 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. 
All the steps that were taken afterwards in that affair, will best appear by 
the report of the Virginia commissioners, recited in the order 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 
