SON NE AAS YET RENE TEAS 400 Tur Norra Carotina Historicat REvIEw The town is in every point of view a desirable situation for a summer residence. It is strictly a marine Village & those who are fond of the amusement connected with the water may here receive full gratification ; whilst bathing in the Surf and walking on the beach are likely to re- cover the Valetudinarian. Fort Hampton‘ was built under the emediate direction of Captain Gratiot® of Engineers who had displayed much knowledge of his art both in compounding the materials and the structure and arrangement of the barracks & ramparts. It is intended for Eight Cannon to be mounted en Barbet® and commands the Inlet. There is a small de- tachment stationd here at present under the command of Captain Pat- teson of the rifle Corps whose Men are in a high state of health and decipline: From the Gallery of the fort in the direction of Cape Look- out there is a fine view of the Ocean. This sublime object, ever changing yet ever grand, whether moved by the breezes of Spring or Foaming Wildly with the tempest of Winter, never fails [torn] excite our utmost admiration and gratitude. Your humble Servant Be: A few days before M’. B. Fuller’ left this he assured to me he would pay you, your acc‘. for papers &c. against me I hope he has settled the same, as he had money of mine & I directed him to do so. if he has not complied, you will please to write me a few lines with y’. ace’. & it shall be settled by inclosing you the amt. by post. Should you insert the above in your papers you will please to forward me twenty of them. Y**. Respectfully J. Henry. Mr. Thomas Henderson, Editor of the Star, Raleigh. THE ISLAND OF PORTSMOUTH By [ > Portsmouth? is an Island situated on the Sea Shore, twenty five miles from the Main land, twenty five miles in length, & varying in breadth from a mile & a half to a quarter, making a part of the chain of banks « Beaufort was made a port of entry by Congress in 1803. Statutes at Large of the United States of America, I, 228. In 1809 during the period of increasing rer g Sony mee prior to the War of 1812, the United States government erected Fort Hampton at Old Topsail Inlet at a cost of $8,863.82. It was a small enclosed work of masonry, mounting 5 guns and having barracks for 50 men. American State Papers, Military Affairs, I, 237, 246-247, 311. ’ An engineer in the War Department of the United States. * En barbette—guns placed in such position as to fire over a parapet and not through embrasures. 1 Probably Belcher Fuller, state senator from Carteret County, 1809, 1810, 1811, 1812, 1813; and a notary public, justice of the peace, and lieutenant colonel of militia in 1823. North Carolina Manual, 1918, 5388; The North Carolina Register, 1823, 25, 49, 90. 1 The author is unknown. : The sand bank in Carteret County extending southward from Ocracoke Inlet. At present on the northern part of the island is the post-office of Portsmouth. Henperson Lerrzer Boox MisceLtLany 401 extending along our coast from Virginia Southerly as far as the River St. Marys; The soil is not used for agricultural purposes, more than in Gardens & the raising of a few sweet potatoes, for the growth of which article, it appears to be peculiarly well adapted; The banks are justly valued for their advantages in raising stock; Horses, Cattle Sheep Goats &. are raised in considerable numbers without the least expense or trouble to the proprietors more than that of marking; The food in the Summer Season is mostly of a kind of Wyre grass & young Rushes that grow most luxuriently—In the winter the rushes retain in a Consider- able degree their verdure & shelter from the inclemency of the weather a tender under growth, which together yield a subsistence for the stock. Seven years ago an inhabitant of the Island of his own mark, Sheared 700 head of Sheep—had between two hundred & fifty, & three hundred head of cattle & near as many Horses—The flesh of the beef & mutton is acknowledged by Epicures, to be vastly superior in point of sweetness to that raised on the Main—It is believed the Island at present is over- stocked & much benefit would result from a dimination of one third the present number— Frequent & severe gales of wind for the last five or six years, have at the various times, swept large numbers of them off the Island and destroyed very much the range; as long however as any vestage of the Island remains, the margin of marsh, about one fourth of the breadth, extending the whole length, will afford a considerable food. CHATHAM COUNTY MINES AND QUARRIES By M. McKenztz* Chatham 18 July 1811 Mess*. Printers In the last number of the Star? you express a desire of presenting to your readers a list of all the mines and Valuable quarries in the State, and request information on them Subjects, You have already noticed a Bed of Coal on Deep river in this County. The Mine is in my neighborhood the Coal is very easily raised appears to be plenty and is Said to be of excellent quality. I have known three European Black Smiths who have worked it Vizt. an Englishman a Welchman & a Scotsman each of whom I have heard pronounce it as good Coal as they ever used in their respective native Countries, and each of them preferred using it to Charcoal. 1 Probably Murdock McKenzie who represented Moore County in the Senate, 1802, and was later for several years a justice of the peace in Chatham County. North Carolina Manual, 1913, 711; The North Caro ina Register, 1828, 25; Chatham County Court Minutes, 1811-1816, 67, 87, 139, 2 ‘We are desirous of presenting to our readers a list of all the mines and valuable quarries in the State, and will thank our friends to favour us (free of Postage) with such information as will enable us to render it complete.” The Star, July 12, 1811. Pp ERA —~