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The board will vary or add to thefe data as they shall fee occafion. The heads and questions under them will beft explain the manner in which the board is to proceed in applying these data.

We have ordered that such naval affistance as may be wanted at the ports shall be given; and that fuch engineers and artillery officers as the board may wish to examine, fhall attend them; they will alfo have the proper plans and furveys laid before them.

It will be neceffary for the naval officers to examine the fhores, as well as for the land officers to ftudy the country, which muft undoubtedly take up time; but we hope that the board will be able to make their report by the first week in June.

With refpect to calculations of expence, or making out plans upon any ideas that may be propofed, the board will give their directions for this purpose, either to the engineer on the fpot, or to the committee of engineers at the Tower, as they fhall fee occafion; and their reports are to be entered in the proceedings of the board.

As accurate estimates can only be made on works which in every par ticular are finally fettled, and upon detailed drawings and sections of them, fuch computations as may give a general idea of the probable amount of the expence will be fufficient.

G. R.

Extracts from the report made to his majefty by the board of land and fea officers, appointed by his majefty to investigate and report on the proper fyitem of defence, and on the expediency and efficacy of the propofed plans for better fecuring the dock-yards at Portsmouth and Plymouth, bearing date the 24th day of June 1785.

MEMBERS

At PORTSMOUTH.
Gen. D. of Richmond, Pref.
V. Ad. Barrington,
Lt. Gen. Sir Guy Carleton.
Lt. G. Sir Will. Howe,
Lt. G. Lord Geo. Lenox,
Lt. G. Burgoyne,
Lt. G. Earl Percy,
Lt. G. Earl Cornwallis,
Lt. G. Sir David Lindsay,
Lt. G. Sir Charles Grey,
Major G. Pattison,
Major G. Cleaveland,
Rear Ad. Lord Hood,
Major G. Bramham,
Major G. Green,
Major G. Roy,
Major G. Garth,

VOL. XXVIIL.

Prefent.

At PLYMOUTH.
Gen. D. of Richmond, Pref.
V. A. Barrington,

Lt. Gen. Sir Guy Carleton,
Lt. Gen. Sir Wili. Howe,
Lt. G. Eari Cornwallis
Lt. G. Sir David Lindsay,
Vice Ad. Millbanke,
Lt. Gen. Sir Charles Grey,
Major G. Pattifon,
Major G. Cleaveland,
Rear Ad. Graves,
Major G. Bramham,
Major G. Green,
Major G. Roy,
Major G. Garth,
Capt. Hotham,
Capt. Macbride,

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opinion, to afford an opportunity of difcuffing, in their fulleft extent, every principle which could poffibly be involved in the proceeding, as well thofe in oppofition to it, as those in its favour. It was also, he

Capt. Hotham,
Capt. Sir John Jarvis
Capt. Bowyer,

Capt. Sir A. Hammond,
Capt. James Luttrell.

thought, more confiftent with the great importance of the fubject to bring it immediately before the house separately, and in the form of a specific refolution, than to fend it to the committee involved with

Capt. Sir A. Hammond.

Report of the board of land and fea officers appointed by your majesty to inveftigate and report on the proper fyftem of defence, and on the expediency and efficacy of the propofed plans for better fecuring the dock-yards at Portsmouth and Plymouth.

your

Having fully taken into our confideration your majesty's inftructions, under majesty's fignet and fign manual, dated the thirteenth day of April 1785, and obferving that your majefty has been graciously pleafed to allow us to vary or add to the data contained therein, as we fhould fee occafion, we have availed ourfelves of your majefty's permiflion fo to do; and as, in confequence of fuch alte rations, fome of the heads and queftions under them appeared to us to have been already anfwered in fome of the data, we conceived any difcu...on of them became unneceffary, as will more fully be feen in the minutes of our proceedings herewith laid before your majesty.

We, therefore, in obedience to your majefty's commands, beg leave humbly to report to your majefty, that we have agreed on the following data, as the grounds on which our fubfequent opinions have been formed.

First datum, agreed to unanimously by both land and fea officers at Portsmouth

and Plymouth.

That it is perfectly right, neceflary, and wife, effectually to provide in time of peace for the fecurity of your majefty's dock-yards at Portsmouth and Plymouth, by fortifications capable of refifting fuch an attack as an enemy may be able to make upon them during the abfence of the fleet, or whilft, from other causes, the fleet may be prevented from affording its protection to the dock-yards.

Second datum, agreed to unanimously by both land and fea officers at Portsmouth and Plymouth.

That, as far as is confiftent with due confiderations of expence, and the probable ftrength of the land forces, it will be advifeable to provide a defence by fortifications for the dock-yards at Portfmouth and Plymouth, against the chances of the fleet, or fuch part thereof as might give them protection, being abfent for(a certain time named, which is omitted, as not being proper to be dif clofed.)

Note. The third datum, ftating the force of the enemy, againft which it may be prudent to guard, the number of embarkations, and the detailed account of fhips proper for this purpofe, and agreed to unanimously by both land and fea officers, is omitted, as it cannot be proper that fuch particulars should be difclefed

The fourth datum, afcertaining the precife number and fort of troops which may reasonably be expected to be had for the defence of Portsmouth and Plymouth, as eftablished by the land officers, and an obfervation thereupon, is of a nature not proper

to

with the rest of the ordnance efti

mates.

In fupport of the refolution, Mr. Pitt undertook to prove the following pofitions: First, that the fortifying the dock-yards at Portsmouth

and Plymouth was a measure of abfolute neceffity; fecondly, that the plan of fortifications propofed by the duke of Richmond was the beft poffible plan for that purpose; thirdly, that thefe fortifications would

to be difclofed. The diffent of lieutenant-generals Burgoyne and Earl Percy, is in fubftance contained in their provifo, under another head hereinafter stated at length; but the particular reafons contained in this diffent of lieutenantgenerals Burgoyne and Earl Percy, are for the fame reafon omitted.

The fifth datum, agreed to unanimously by the land officers, afcertaining the time that it may require before the ftrength of the country can be collected from other parts of the kingdom in fuch force as to defeat fuch an attempt as is fuppofed, is for the fame reafon omitted.

Your majefty's land officers at Portfouth and Plymouth are unanimously of opinion, that fuch is the fituation of the prefent works, that no finishing, repairs, or improvements, without additional works, can, under the circumftances of the data, afford that degree of fecurity to the dock-yards-(for the time mentioned in the preceding datum) as may enable your majefty to employ your whole fleet, if neceffary, on foreign fervice."

Note. All the details relative to the infufficiency of the prefent fortifications, unanimously agreed to by the land officers, are omitted.

Your majefty's land officers, both at Portimouth and Plymouth, are unanimoufty of opinion, that a fyftem of detached forts is the moft proper for the purpofe of protecting the dock-yards.

Your majefty's land officers, both at Portsmouth and Plymouth, are unanimoufly of opinion, that the fytem of detached works, as propofed, has, in the extenfive fituations of Portsmouth and Plymouth, this advantage, that the fecurity to be derived therefrom will not be wholly delayed till the whole of the propofed plan is executed, but an additional degree of itrength will be acquired as the detached works are progreffively finished.

Your majefty's land officers, both at Portsmouth and Plymouth, are unanimously of opinion, that the fituations of the feveral places therein specified, are well chofen for detached works.

Your majefty's land officers at Portsmouth and Plymouth are unanimoufly of opinion, that the new works propofed are well adapted to thofe fituations.

Note. The detail of the peculiar advantages of thefe works, unanimoufly agreed to by the land officers, is omitted.

Your majefty's land officers at Plymouth are unanimously of opinion, that the diftance of the fituation propofed, in lieu of Merrifield, from the dock, appears too great for the circumftances of the data; and would, if fortified, require a greater garrifon and greater expence, and would not afford the fame fecurity to the dockyard as Merrifield, and therefore the land officers must give the preference to Merrifield.

Your majefty's land officers at Portfinouth are unanimously of opinion, that the propofed finishing for works already begun, the improvements to old ones, and the plan for re-building South-Sea caitle, will, together with the new works propofed, give a reafonable degree of fecurity for your majetty's dock-yard at Portsmouth, for the time and under the circumftances of the data, with a garrifon of the numbers before specified (regulars and militia) which the land officers are of opinion is fufficient for its defence; whereas the prefent works, even when repaired,

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would be the means of giving a greater fcope and effect to the operations of our fleets; and lastly, that they would diminish the standing army.

With respect to the neceffity of the measure, he said, that the board

had fully established that point, by declaring, that neither any naval or military force, nor even both united, could afford fuch a degree of fecurity as was adequate to the importance of our dock-yards, but

that

paired, finished, and improved, would require a larger force for their defence, with which they would ftil: be ineffectual for the purpose of fecuring this lockyard.

Your majefty's land officers at Plymouth are unanimously of opinion, that a garrifon-(of the numbers before fpecified, regulars and militia) appears fufficient, if the propofed new works and repair of old ones are executed; and that for the prefent works, even when repaired, a much larger garrifon would be ineffectual for the purpose of fecuring this dock-yard.

Your majesty's land officers having taken into confideration the whole fituation of Plymouth, are unanimoufly of opinion, that the propofed new works, in addition to the old ones, when properl repaired, as fuggefted in our proceedings, (with a garrison of the numbers before fpecified, regulars and militia) will give a reasonable degree of fecurity for your majefty's dock-yard at Plymouth for the time and under the circumftances of the data.

Your majefty's land officers, as far as they were refpectively concerned at Portfmouth or Plymouth, do report to your majefty, that from the report of the committee of engineers at the Tower, which they have unanimously agreed to adopt, it appears, that the expence of the works propofed for fecuring your majefty's dockyards at Portfmouth and Plymouth, will be as follows:

Note. This paper has been already delivered to the house.

Your majefty's inftructions under the 23d head, having required, what improvements or alterations, or what other fyftem of defence, the board would fuggeft, the unanimous opinion of your majefty's fea officers is, that (a certain number therein specified) of gun-boats at Portsmouth and Plymouth will form a great arm of defence againft an invading enemy.

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And your majesty's land officers entirely concur in this opinion with the fea officers, confidering these gun-boats as a great improvement in the defence of these places

Your majefty's land and fea officers beg leave to recommend a fet of fignals to be established on the projecting head-lands-(of certain parts of the coast therein fpecified) with intelligent mariners to make them, as of effential advantage in conveying carly intelligence of the approach of an enemy, and for the protection of commerce.

Your majefty's land and fea officers unanimously recommend-(an improvement in the fupply of fresh water at Plymouth, if to be had at a reasonable expence.)

The board has no other improvement, or other fyftem of defence to suggest to your majesty.

Laftly, your majesty's land and fea officers humbly beg leave to observe, that they make this report to your majefty, in full confidence, that the providing an additional fecurity to the dock-yards at Portfmouth and Plymouth is in no respect inconfiftent with the neceffary exertions for the fupport of the navy; which they

confider

that fortifications were abfolutely neceffary in addition to both. Secondly, with refpect to the mode of fortification, they had declared the plan fuggefted by the mafter general of the ordnance to be the most eli

gible, as being the most adequate to the defence of the places in queftion, capable of being manned by the fmalleft force, requiring the leaft expence to erect, and particularly as affording an increasing degree

confider as the first object of attention for the fafety and profperity of the kingdom.

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Captain Macbride entered the following objection to the third datum, on the fubject of the enemy's force against which the board thought it neceffary to provide.

I object to this datum, because it is founded upon a calculation of a large imaginary force. My idea of a defcent goes only to the probability of an armament that may poffibly confift of-(a certain force which he specifies) which I think fufficient to provide against.

To the question, What improvement or alterations, or what other system of defence the board would fuggeft?

Lieutenant-generals Burgoyne and ear! Percy, vice-admiral Millbanke, and major-general Green, ftated, that they had none to fuggeft under the circum-. ftances of the data.

Rear-admiral Graves ftated, that he had none to fuggeft under the excess of the

data.

Vice-admiral Barrington, rear-admiral lord Hood, captains Hotham, Bowyer, fir Andrew Snape Hammond, and the honourable James Luttrell, stated, that they thought it more properly belonged to the land officers of this board, than to them, as the minutes of their proceedings will fhew, to enter into any fyftem of defencs or fortifications, except fuch parts as are intended for a defence against ships of war, and the propofals they have offered for gun-boats.

Captain Macbride ftated, that he had no farther improvements to fuggeft; but entered his objections to the proposed system of defence.

Note.-Captain Macbride's objections are omitted, because they contain detailed defcriptions of the coaft, roadfteads, currents, tides, and bottoms, and anchorage, by no means proper to be divulged. Captain Macbride concludes his objections with thefe words:

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