opinion, to afford an opportunity of difcuffing, in their fullest extent, every principle which could poffi'bly be involved in the proceeding, as well thofe in oppofition to it, as thofe in its favour. It was also, he Capt. Hotham, Capt. Sir John Jarvis, Capt. Sir A. Hammond, thought, more confiftent with the great importance of the fubject to bring it immediately before the houfe feparately, 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 majefty to investigate 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 Portinouth and Plymouth. Having fully taken into our confideration your majesty's instructions, under your majefty's fignet and fign manual, dated the thirteenth day of April 1785, and obferving that your majefty has been gracioufly pleated to allow us to vary or add to the data contained therein, as we fhould fee occafion, we have availed ourselves of your majefty's permiffion fo to do; and as, in confequence of fuch alterations, fome of the heads and queftions under them appeared to us to have been already antwered in fome of the data, we conceived any difcuffion of them became unneceffary, as will more fully be feen in the minutes of our proceedings herewith laid before your majefty. We therefore, in obedience to your majesty'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 unanimoufly by both land and fea officers at Portsmouth and Plymouth. That it is perfectly right, neceffary, and wife, effectually to provide in time of peace for the fecurity of your majefty's deck-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 abience of the fleet, or whilt, from other caules, 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 Portfimouth 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, against which it may be prudent to guard, the number of embarkations, and the detailed account of thips proper for this purpofe, and agreed to unanimoufly by both land and fea officers, is omitted, as it cannot be proper that fuch particulars should be difclofed. The fourth datum, afcertaining the precife number and fort of troops which may reaferably be expected to be had for the defence of Portimouth and Plymouth, as eftablished by the land cfficers, and an obfervation thereupon, is of a nature not proper with the reft 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 these 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 lieutenant-generals Burgoyne and Earl Percy, are for the fame reafon oniitted. 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 Portsmouth 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 majesty 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 Portsmouth and Plymouth, are unanimously of opinion, that a fyftem of detached forts is the most proper for the purpose of protecting the deck-yards. Your majefty's land officers, both at Portsmouth and Plymouth, are unanimously of opinion, that the fyftem of detached works, as propofed, has, in the extensive situa tions 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 ftrength 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 fpecified, are well chofen for detached works. Your majefty's land officers at Portsmouth and Plymouth are unanimously of opinion, that the new works propofed are well adapted to thofe fituations. Note.-The detail of the peculiar advantages of thefe works, unanimously agreed to by the land officers, is omitted. Your majefty's land officers at Plymouth are unanimoufly 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 Portsmouth are unanimoufly of opinion, that the propofed finishing for works already begun, the improvements to old ones, and the plan for re-building South-Sea caftle, will, together with the new works propofed, give a reafonable degree of fecurity for your majefty's dock-yard at Portfmouth, for the time and under the circumstances of the data, with a garrifon of the numbers before fpecified (regulars and militia) which the land officers are of opinion is fufficient for its defence; whereas the present works, even when re[G] 2 paired, would be the means of giving a greater scope and effect to the operations of our fleets; and laftly, that they would diminish the ftanding army. With respect to the neceflity 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 ftill be ineffectual for the purpose of securing this dockyard. Your majesty's land officers at Plymouth are unanimoufly of opinion, that a garrifon-(of the numbers before specified, 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 majefty'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 properly repaired, as fuggefted in our proceedings, (with a garriton of the numbers before specified, regulars and militia) will give a reafonable degree of fecurity for your majesty's dock-yard at Plymouth for the time and under the circumftances of the data. Your majesty's land officers, as far as they were respectively concerned at Portfmouth or Plymouth, do report to your majesty, 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 majesty's dockyards at Portsmouth and Plymouth, will be as follows: Note. This paper has been already delivered to the house. Your majesty's inftructions under the 23d head, having required, what improve. ments or alterations, or what other fyftem of defence, the board would fuggeft, the unanimous opinion of your majesty's fea officers is, that-(a certain number therein fpecifiea) of gun-boats at Portfmouth and Plymouth will form a great arm of defence against an invading enemy. And your majefty's land officers entirely concur in this opinion with the fea officers, confidering thele gun-boats as a great improvement in the deferce of these places. Your majefty's land and fea officers beg leave to recommend a fet of fignals to be eftablifhed on the projecting head-lands-(of certain parts of the coaft therein fpecified) with intelligent mariners to make them, as of effential advantage in conveying early intelligence of the approach of an enemy, and for the protection of commerce. Your majefty's land and fea officers unanimoufly recommend-(an improvement in the supply of fresh water at Plymouth, if to be had at a reafonable 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 obferve, that they make this report to your majefty, in full confidence, that the providing an additional fecurity to the dock-yards at Portsmouth and Plymouth is in no respect inconfiftent with the necellary exertions for the fupport of the navy; which they confider that fortifications were abfolutely peceffary 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 moft eli gible, as being the moft adequate to the defence of the places in quef tion, capable of being manned by the falleft force, requiring the leaft expence to erect, and particu larly as affording an increafing de gree confider as the firft object of attention for the fafety and profperity of the king. dom, William Green, William Roy, John Macbride, John Jarvis, Geo. Bowyer, Captain Macbride entered the following objection to the third datum, on the subject of the enemy's force against which the board thought it necessary to provide. I object to this datum, because it is founded upon a calculation of a large ima ginary force. My idea of a defcent goes only to the probability of an armament that may poffibly confift of―(a certain force which he fpecifies) which I think sufficient to provide against. 2 To the question, What improvement or alterations, or what other system of defence the board would fuggeft? Lieutenant-generals Burgoyne and earl Percy, vice-admiral Millbanke, and major general Green, ftated, that they had none to fuggeft under the circumstances of the data. Rear-admiral Graves ftated, that he had none to suggest 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, ftated, 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 defence 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 suggest; but entered his objections to the propofed system of defence. Note-Captain Macbride's objections are omitted, hecause they contain detailed defcriptions of the coaft, roadsteads, currents, tides, and bottoms, and anchorage, by no means proper to be divulged. Captain Macbride concludes his objections with these words: gree of fecurity in the courfe of their erection, in fo much as that, if any given portion of them was compleated, and the remainder unfinished, yet even that part fo compleated would afford a great deal of additional ftrength. In fupport of his third pofition, he urged, that the dock-yards being thus protected, the navy would confequently be unfettered, and left at liberty to act as occafion might require, in whatever part I am therefore of opinion that no new works are at prefent neceffary to be erected at Plymouth. (Signed) J. Macbride. On the board having declared it to be their unanimous opinion, that no member is precluded, by the data agreed to by the board, from fuggefting any other fyftem of defence, on thofe or any other data, for the confideration of the board, in answer to the question contained in the 23d head under his majesty's inftructions s; The following provifo was added : But we do not think ourselves required, as individuals, by his majesty's inftructions, or any questions under them, to produce any other fyftem, or other data. (Signed) S. Barrington, J. Burgoyne, Will. Green, -Rear-admiral Graves, in affenting to the article of the report expreffing the full confidence of the board, that the providing an additional fecurity to the dock-yard at Plymouth is in no refpect inconfiftent with the neceffary fupport of the navy; to avoid being misunderstood, defired to explain himself by the following provifo: I perfectly agree with the reft of the board, as to the importance of the royal navy towards the fafety and profperity of this maritime and infular kingdom; but would not have it implied, that I think any new fyftem of additional land fortifica tions for the security of Plymouth neceffary. (Signed) T. Graves. Lieutenant-generals Burgoyne and earl Percy, vice admiral Millbanke, rearadmiral Graves, and captain fir John Jarvis, on figning the report, beg leave to reprefent to your majefty as follows: That our proceedings have been founded upon the fuppofition of the whole fleet' being ablent (for a certain time) as mentioned in the fecond datum, and therefore that the enemy may bring over an army (of the force mentioned in the third da tum) with an artillery proportionate to an attack on Portimouth or Plymouth, having (a certain time) to act in, uninterrupted by the British fleet, as mentioned in the third datum: the bare poffibility of fuch an event we do not pretend to deny; but how far it is probable that the whole British fleet may be fent on any fervice requiring fo long an abfence, at a time when the enemy is prepared to invade this country with (a force as that mentioned in the third datum) we must humbly leave to your majefty's fuperior wisdom; and therefore, whether it is neceffary, in confequence of fuch a fuppofition, to erect works of fo expenfive a nature as thofe proposed, and ́ which require fuch large garrifons to defend them. J. Burgoyne, M. Millbanke, (Signed) T. Graves, Lieutenant |