There are now cruising on this coast, three privateers, Capt. Mc Farling, in a 16 gun brig, and Captains Neale and Goodrich, in 10 guns sloops.¹ They have lately taken several vessels near Occacock bar, and a few days ago, Captain Goodrich decoyed the pilots at old Topsail inlet, came in and took a brig, a prize sent in by the continental frigate Rauleigh,² and a vessel just arrived from Charlestown with a valuable cargo and a large sum of money on board. He endeavoured to carry off the brig, but not being able to get her out, set her on fire and left her. She had on board 1200 bushels salt, had just been condemned by the court of admiralty and sold, and we hear those concerned extinguished the fire and have saved the salt, but the vessel is ruined.³ A fort is now building at cape look-out bay, for the protection of vessels that may lie there,⁴ but the harbour within old Topsail inlet is quite exposed, and while the pilots on the sea coast are so easily decoyed, and receive such ample rewards for their fidelity, we fear the trade of this state will be intirely stopped.