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Sir:—

We beg leave to lay before your Excellency the critical situation of this place, and the damages that may accrue to this State, as well as the cause in general, for want of a few pieces of Ordnance placed at this Inlet. We presume with three or four 6 or 4 pounders,

we could secure the inlet from the attempts on Trader. The whole of the Trade was carried on to South Carolina from this State, and Virginia, supplying our Army with abundance of real necessaries as the vessels come in here, and pass the Sound to the South Key,—we also have numbers of vessels that fall in here from the West Indies, with very valuable cargoes, which may be conveyed almost to all parts of this State, at a small expense and safety. We every day expect a visit from the enemy, as they have already done considerable damage at Ocracock, by taking away a Brig, and running ashore a Sloop, loaded with salt. The above considerations we humbly submit to your Excellency, and are with the most sincere esteem and regard, your Excellency's most Obdt Hble. Servts.,

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