Towards the south is another pier, and within is a wet dock, containing upwards of 22 acres, with a depth of water of 19 feet. To the south of the port, on the rocks, stands one lighthouse, and another is placed at the head of the mole.

Aberystwith has a small port, and in the neighbourhood are extensive lead mines, which afford employment to the shipping.

Milford Haven, surrounded by lofty mountains, penetrates far inland, and has sufficient depth of water for the largest vessels of war. At Pembroke is an arsenal.

Swansea, an excellent seaport, formed by the construction of moles, by Captain Huddart, is situated on the western side of the river Tawe.

Cardiff is a port at the mouth of the Taff, about three miles from Rumney Bridge, and the town was once surrounded by thick and lofty walls. The new cut to the quays admits

shipping of 200 tons; in the neighbourhood are many canals and railroads, which greatly contribute to the business of this port.

Bristol is one of the most important cities of the empire, and the great emporium of the western counties; in the eleventh century, we find its inhabitants trading with Ireland, Norway, and every part of Europe: though the city is situated at a distance of 8 miles from the ocean, yet the Avon and Frome are of sufficient importance to allow vessels of any burthen to arrive at it. The quay and harbour have received improvements at various times, and a company was established in 1804, that undertook the formation of extensive docks, which were completed about five years afterwards, covering 82 acres of ground; they extend 24 miles, and at all hours vessels may pass from Dunhead to the quays, and discharge their cargoes while afloat: the arms of Bristol, which consist of a ship and a castle, have the motto Virtute et industriâ, which should be ever remembered by commercial

men.

The Frome, below its junction with the Avon, resembles a vast basin, which traverses the greater part of the city; around this artificial port are a range of quays. The vessels coming up the Avon are first admitted by a lock into an entrance dock, called Cumberland lock, which can be made dry; then, by a second and third lock, they enter the great basin.

The Cumberland dock is built of stone, and its subterranean aqueducts, with elliptical openings, are admirably contrived for sluicing and clearing away the mud. Here are docks for building and careening vessels, spacious timber-yards, and numerous basins, where ships may always remain afloat.

This port is greatly indebted to the skill and knowledge displayed by its engineer, Mr. William Jessop, whose father was engaged to superintend the erection of the Eddystone lighthouse, under the direction of Mr. Smeaton: the engineer employed at Bristol was born at Plymouth, in the year 1745, and died in 1814; the improvements he made were highly important, and chiefly consisted of the conversion of the river Avon into an immense floating dock, which extended over 70 acres; this was effected by diverting the river Avon for a length of two miles, and then cutting a canal to carry off its waters at the back of the city; by such a project three miles of the rivers Avon and Frome were converted into a deep wet dock, an entrance basin, with double lock chambers opening into the Avon below, and a single chamber into the old river above.

Bridgewater is a port where the tide rises 40 feet, and frequently occasions damage to the shipping. The most considerable portion of the town formerly occupied the east side of the river; now it is on the western; there is an ancient bridge of three arches, built in the reign of Edward I., to the north of which is the quay.

Watchet and Minehead are two small ports on this coast, and from the first named is shipped the lime so celebrated for hydraulic purposes.

Ilfracombe has its port, surrounded by a semicircle of hills, which contribute much to its security.

Barnstaple, at the mouth of the Taw, is a town of importance, and vessels can safely anchor under its long and spacious quay, which extends for a considerable distance beyond a bridge of sixteen arches, which crosses the river. At the mouth of the Tawe a bar is thrown up, which prevents vessels exceeding 200 tons entering the river.

Bideford is another port, south of Bristol, where merchant vessels may anchor alongside a spacious quay, built at the side of the river.

Hartland is a small artificial port, built in the reign of Elizabeth, for the convenience of the fishermen frequenting this coast.

Padstow, on the south bank of the Camel, is the best port on this coast; here is a channel for ships at low water, 18 feet deep, and 400 feet in width; and vessels can at all times come alongside the quay, and to the custom-house built adjoining it.

St. Ive's Harbour is situated five leagues north-east of Cape Cornwall, and upon the entry of the British Channel lies nearly opposite Mount's Bay; this harbour is in depth about 2 miles, and in width 4 miles, having in the middle, at low water, full 10 fathoms. The bottom is clean, and composed of a fine white sand, or the fragments of sea-shells; underneath this is a blue clay, forming excellent anchorage ground. A bold rocky promontory, called the Island, is situated at the north-west corner of the bay; this is joined by a narrow neck to the main land, and projecting towards the east forms an harbour on the north-west side of the bay, which is well defended from all winds, except those from the north-east. This interior harbour is almost left dry at low spring tides; but the fine soft sand that lines the bottom of this bay affords an easy bed for ships when left by the tides; for larger vessels there is an excellent road, where they may ride safe from all north-westerly, westerly, south-westerly, southerly, and south-easterly winds, in 6 or 7 fathoms of water, at low spring-tides. Mr. Smeaton visited this port in the year 1766, and furnished a design for a pier, 60 fathoms in length; and he advised that if upon an examination of the soil, there should not be found any rock upon which the foundations might be laid, they should work upon the principle the French call pierre perdu, or cast-stones, that is to

say, by dropping a large quantity of rough stones in a proper direction and width, so as to form an artificial rock or base for the pier; these stones, sinking by degrees into the sand,

SECTION OF PIER.

Fig. 365.

ST. IVES Harbour.

and being followed by others, will rest upon the former, and so on, till the lowest become firm; for the sand, lying very close and compact, will bear any weight when not affected by the action of the sea. By this method more stone is required than if the pier be built upon a regular base; but the whole being of very rough stone, and executed without timber work, it will be cheaper and more secure than any thing can be made upon a foundation of piles and timber upon sand.

The pier, so raised to half tide, or even to the top, was to act as a breakwater or defence against the sea, and Smeaton estimated that the cost would be 78. 6d. per cube yard.

The highest spring-tides being 26 feet above the surface of the sand, the pier was to be carried up solid to the height of 30 feet; and supposing the settlement in the sand to be 6 feet, the whole height would be 36 feet. The pier was to batter half its height on each side, and as the top was to be 24 feet in breadth, the base would be 60 feet, and the mean breadth 42 feet; this multiplied by 36 feet, the height, gave a sectional area of 168 yards.

Smeaton recommended that the shores should be planted with sea rushes, which were found to entangle the sand, prevent its blowing about, and retain it in the north bay, where it arises, and by this means the breadth of the neck of land that joins the island would be increased.

Penzance harbour has a mole to protect it, but the port is dry at low water.

Falmouth has a spacious port and quay, from whence the packets bound to Spain, Portugal, and the West Indies, take their departure.

Fowey is a small port at the mouth of a river of that name, and the town is built upon its western bank.

Plymouth Sound, on entering, has to the east the celebrated breakwater; after passing which a natural basin is arrived at, into which the Tamar and Plym discharge themselves, forming the harbour, comprehending the three divisions of the Hamoaze, the Catwater, and the Sound.

In the time of the Saxons, this haven was called Tameorweth; by the Normans South Town, and in the reign of Henry VI. it received the name of Plymouth. We have an

account of the town in the reign of Elizabeth, and of its new charter, then granted at the request of Sir Francis Drake, who brought water to all the houses by means of leaden pipes from a reservoir which he formed above the town, the property of which he vested in the mayor and commonalty, and their successors for ever. The water was conveyed to the reservoir, through a winding channel of 24 miles, from some springs at Dartmoor; this enterprise of the gallant admiral is perhaps the earliest example in England of supplying a town with water brought from a distance.

Plymouth has had at various times considerable fortifications erected around it for its security its most ancient fort, built in the reign of Edward III., is by Leland styled "a strong castel quadrate, having at each corner a great round tower." This fortress, which stood on the south of the town, near the pier, is now nearly demolished, as are the numerous block-houses which were erected at different points of the harbour in the time of Queen Elizabeth. Some traces of them may perhaps yet be seen on the site of the fort which occupied Hoe Cliff, where the citadel now stands. The view from the citadel comprehends Maker Tower, Mount Edgcumbe, the town of Dock, now Devonport, Mount Wise, and the Tamar, the beautiful bay of Causand, the Sound, the Bristol Channel, and, in fine weather, Eddystone lighthouse, the scenery around Saltram, Plympton, Mary Vale, and the lofty hills of Dartmoor.

St. Nicholas Isle, also fortified, is connected to the south-west shore by a range of rocks, which are uncovered at low tides. Near the Devil's Point is the victualling offices, where are granaries, bakehouses, and every requisite for the supply of a large navy. The docks, situated about 2 miles from Plymouth, on the eastern bank of the Hamoaze, are defended by strong fortifications, and acknowledged to be the finest examples of a maritime establishment in the world: they contain upwards of 72 acres, and are surrounded by a stone wall 30 feet high. Basins, docks, slips, rigging houses, artificers' shops, mast-houses and ponds, rope-houses, mould lofts, and all that can be deemed necessary for the navy of a great nation, are provided on a most perfect and extensive scale.

The basin, made in the reign of William III., has within it a dock 198 feet in length, 66 feet wide, and 23 feet deep.

Adjoining the south jetty are the rigging-houses, 480 feet in length, three stories high; and on the other two sides, forming a square, are various store-houses. Beyond these, to

the south, is a slip for hauling up and graving the bottoms of ships, and farther on is a canal 70 feet wide, which has a basin at the upper end for small boats. An anchor manufactory and smith's workshops adjoin the wharf, near which are three slips; northward lie the mast-house and pond. The rope-makers' buildings are 1200 feet in length, and two stories in height; in the upper twine is made, and in the lower cables are layed or twisted together, the largest of which are more than 24 inches in circumference, and weigh upwards of 8 tons.

The double dock, situated near the north jetty, will contain two vessels, lying one a-head of the other, but divided by gates. The Union dock, 240 feet in length, 87 feet wide, and 27 feet deep, is faced with Portland stone, having blocks of granite to support the shores. The New Union or North New dock is 260 feet long, 85 feet wide, and 28 feet deep, and these, as well as the whole of the work executed before the year 1790, were by Mr. Barlby.

Plymouth Breakwater is composed of three arms or bends; the centre is in length 3000 feet, and each of the others 1050 feet, both inclining on an angle of 20 degrees. The length

At

of the whole, measured at the top, is 5100 feet, and at low water line 5310 feet. the western extremity, a circular foundation was prepared, to receive the lighthouse, 570 feet in diameter. The general depth of water varies from 36 to 60 feet at low water spring tides, which generally rises about 18 feet, and at neaps from 12 to 14 feet.

This work was executed by Mr. Rennie, in the centre of Plymouth Sound, the first stone being deposited on August 12. 1812. The entrance into the harbour on the eastern side is mile in width, and here there are 6 or 7 fathoms of water: the western, which is the entrance most used by the shipping, is about the same width, and varies in depth from 7 to 9 fathoms at low water spring tides.

The work is chiefly composed of limestone obtained at Oreston, about 4 miles distant, where the quarry is situated at the mouth of the river Laira.

The exterior slope, below the line of low water, was formed by the sea, and is now ascertained to lie at from 3 to 4 feet horizontal to 1 of perpendicular; and from the low water line upwards, it is 5 to 1. The inner slope is 2 feet horizontal to 1 of perpendicular from the base to the top, which is laid 2 feet above high water spring tides. The width here is 45 feet, and in the centre it forms a ridge 12 inches higher. Beyond the slope towards the sea there is an additional work or foreshore 30 feet in width at the east end, 50 feet in the centre, and 70 feet at the west end; this rises about 5 feet above the level of low water, and is intended to diminish the force of the sea, and to prevent the undermining of the chief work beyond it.

The stone was raised in large blocks, some of which contained 10 tons, and were thrown into the sea, in the direction set out for the breakwater, care being taken that the greater number were deposited upon the outer slope. After a number of these large masses had been lowered, a smaller class of stones, quarry rubbish, rubble, and lime screenings, were thrown in to fill up the interstices, and close all the cavities; these found their position, by the action of the sea, and the great mass became as it advanced perfectly wedged together; in the storm which occurred in November, 1824, the sea made the outer slope