that before they can be commenced, at the rate the system has heretofore advanced, there may be interchanges between this and class F.

In class D, however, it is less probable that there will be a material change, as all the positions are important now, being designed to cover large towns or cities, or national establishments, or the outlets of valuable commerce or important roadsteads.

I proceed now to examine the coast in detail, proceeding geographically, beginning at the northeastern extremety and referring to accompanying tables. It may be well to observe here, once for all, that much confidence is not asked for the mere conjectures presented below as to the number and cost of the works assigned for the protection of the harbors which have not yet been surveyed. In some cases there may be mistakes as to the number of forts and batteries needed; in others errors will exist in the estimated cost.

Eastport and Machias may be mentioned as places that will unquestionably be thought to need defensive works by the time, in the order of relative importance, the execution of them can be undertaken by the government. There are several small towns eastward of mount Desert island that may, at that period, deserve equal attention; at present, however, the places mentioned will be the only ones estimated for, and $100,000 will be assumed as the cost of each.

Class F-Mount Desert island, situated a little east of Penobscot bay, having a capacious and close harbor, affording anchorage for the highest class of vessels, and easily accessible from sea, offers a station for the navy of an enemy superior to any other on this part of the coast. From this point his cruisers might act with great effect against the navigation of the eastern coast, especially that of Maine, and his enterprises could be conducted with great rapidity against any points he might select. These considerations, added to the very great advantage, in certain political events, of our occupying a naval station thus advanced, whence we might act offensively, together with the expedience of providing places of succor on a part of the coast where vessels are so frequently perplexed in their navigation by the prevailing fogs, lead to the conclusion that the fortification, in a strong manner, of this roadstead may, before long, be necessary. A survey of this island was begun many years ago, but the party being called off to other duties it was never completed. The project of defensive works has not been made. The entire cost may be, as assumed by the engineer department some years ago, $500,000.

Class F-Castine.-It would seem to be impossible on this coast to deprive an enemy enjoying naval superiority of harbors, or prevent him using them as stations during a war, insular situations, which his vessels would render unapproachable, being so numerous; but it seems proper that such of these positions as are the sites of towns should be secured. During the last war, the English held the position of Castine for some time, and left it at their pleasure. It is probable a work costing about $50,000 would deter an enemy from again making choice of this position.

Class F-Penobscot bay.-Upon this bay, and upon the river of the same name flowing into it, are several flourishing towns and villages. Of the many bays which intersect the coast, the Penobscot is the one which presents the greatest number of safe and capacious anchorages. As before observed, a large portion of these harbors must, for the present, be left without defences, but the valuable commerce of the bay and river must be covered; and to afford a secure retreat for such vessels as may be unable to place themselves under the protection of the works to the east or west of the bay, the passage of the river must be defended. The lowest point at which this can be done without great expense, is opposite Bucksport, at the Narrows. Fort Knox, at this position, is now under construction, estimated at $500,000.

Class C-St. George's bay, Broad bay, Damariscotta, and Sheepscot.West of the Penobscot occur the above-mentioned bays, all being deep indentations leading to towns, villages, and various establishments of industry and enterprise. The bays have not been surveyed, and of course no plans have been formed for their defence. $400,000 are assigned to the defence of these waters. The Sheepscot is an excellent harbor of refuge for vessels of every size.— (Class F.)

Kennebec river. This river (one of the largest in the eastern States) enters the sea nearly midway between Cape Cod and the mouth of the St. Croix. It rises near the source of the Chandière, which is a tributary of the St. Lawrence, and has once served as a line of operations against Quebec. The situation and extent of this river, the value of its products, and the active commerce of several very flourishing towns upon its banks, together with the excellence of the harbor within its mouth, will not permit its defence to be neglected. The surveys begun many years ago, were never finished. The estimated cost of defences, as formerly reported by the engineer department, was $300,000. Positions near the mouth will permit a secure defence.-(Class D.)

Portland harbor.-The protection of the town, of the merchantmen belonging to it, and of the ships-of-war that may be stationed in this harbor to watch over this part of the coast, or that may enter for shelter, (all of them important objects,) may be secured, as an inspection of the map of the harbor will show, by occupying Fort Preble Point, House island, Hog Island ledges, and Fish Point. If the two channels to the west and east of Hog island can be obstructed at small expense, (to decide which some surveys are yet necessary,) there will be no necessity for a battery on the ledge, and Fish Point need be occupied only by such works as may be thrown up in time of war. The expense, as now estimated, of the works planned for this defence, will be $155,000 for Fort Preble and $48,000 for House island; for Hog Island channel, say $135,000.-(Classes A, D, E, F.)

In addition, there must be repairs immediately applied to the old works at Fort Preble, including the rebuilding of a sea-wall lately overthrown, at an expense of $7,500.

Saco, Kennebunk, and York.-Small works, comparatively, will cover these places; $75,000 is assumed as the aggregate cost.

Class F-Portsmouth harbor and navy yard.-The only good roadstead or harbor, between Cape Elizabeth and Cape Ann, is Portsmouth harbor, within the mouth of the Piscataqua river. Line-of-battle ships can ascend as high as Fox Point, seven miles above the town. This situation, sufficiently commodious for a naval depot, should be maintained; but it is to be regretted that the bay to the south of Fox Point was not chosen as the site of the navy yard, instead of Fernald's island. Being where it is, it will be necessary, in time of war, to make some particular dispositions for the protection of the navy yard from an attack from the north shore of the river.

The position of Fort Constitution will certainly, and that of Fort McClary will probably, be occupied as the defence; though the works themselves should give place to those that would better fulfil the object. The other positions for forts or batteries, are Gerrist's Point, Fishing island, and Clarke's island, some, if not all, of which must be occupied. Surveys have been made and projects for the defence are now under the consideration of the board of engineers. The estimates have not been furnished, but there is reason for believing that the entire cost for fortifying this harbor will not fall short of $300,000.

Class D-Newburyport harbor.-The points forming the mouth of the harbor are continually changing, and it seems necessary, therefore, to rely, for the defence of the harbor, on works to be thrown up during a war. There is only a shoal draught of water. It is thought $100,000 will defend this harbor adequately.

Class F-Gloucester harbor.-The position of this harbor, near the extremity of Cape Ann, places it in close relation with the navigation of all Massachusetts bay, and imparts to it considerable importance. No surveys have yet been made, but it is believed that sufficient defence may be provided for $200,000.— (Class E.) Should there be any occasion for defensive works before the proposed new works can be commenced, an expenditure of $10,000 in repairs of the old fort will be required.—(Class A.)

Beverly harbor. This harbor will be defended chiefly by a portion of the works designed for Salem. $50,000 in addition will secure it.-(Class F.)

Salem harbor.-The port of Salem is distant from Marblehead two miles, and separated therefrom by a peninsula. The occupation of the extremity of Winter island (where are the ruins of Fort Pickering) on one side, and Naugus Head on the other, will effectually secure this harbor. Projects have been presented for this defence, estimated to cost $225,000.-(Classes D and F.) On a sudden emergency old Fort Lee may be put in an effective state for $2,000, and Fort Pickering for $5,000.-(Class A.)

Marblehead harbor.-Besides covering, in some measure, the harbor of Boston, Salem and Marblehead possess an important commerce of their own, and also afford shelter for vessels prevented by certain winds from entering Boston or pursuing their course eastward. The proposed mode of defending Marblehead harbor consists in occupying, on the north side, the hillock which commands the present Fort Sewall, (which will be superseded by the new work,) and on the south, the position of Jack's Point. The two works will cost $318,000.-(Classes D and F.)

To repair old Fort Sewall, which may be necessary if the new works are not soon begun, will require ten thousand dollars.—(Class A.)

Boston harbor.-We come, now, to the most important harbor in the eastern section of the coast, and considering the relations to general commerce and the interests of the navy, one of the most important in the whole Union.

After a careful examination of all the necessary conditions of such a problem, the board of naval officers and engineers, in their joint report of 1820, gave this harbor a preference over all other positions to the east, and inclusive of New York bay and the Hudson, as the seat of the great northern naval depot; and the government, by the great additions and improvements that have from year to year been since made to the navy yard on the Charlestown side, have virtually sanctioned the recommendation of the board. But independent of the navy yard, Boston is a city of great wealth, and possesses an extensive and active

commerce.

The old works defended merely the interior basin from attacks by water, but as it often happens that vessels enter Nantasket roads with a wind too scant to take them to the city, or are detained in President roads by light winds or an adverse tide, as the former especially is a very convenient anchorage whence to proceed to sea, and above all as Nantasket roads afford the best possible station for a blockading squadron, it was deemed indispensable to place permanent defences at the mouth of the harbor. The project of defence regards the existing works, with the necessary repairs and modifications, as constituting a second barrier.

Besides a permanent work now almost finished on George's island, it contemplates permanent works on Nantasket Head, and filling up the Broad Sound channel, so as to leave no passage in that direction for ships-of-war.

Until the best draught for steam vessels-of-war shall be well ascertained, it will not be safe to say to what depth the Broad Sound channel should be restricted, nor indeed can it be positively asserted that this description of vessels can be conveniently excluded by such means. Other vessels can, however, be thus excluded, and steam vessels passing this channel would still have to pass the inner barrier. The estimated cost of the works for this harbor is $1,354,573.

Besides the works of a permanent character, it will be necessary in the beginning of a war to erect several temporary works on certain positions in the harbor and on the lateral approaches to the navy yard.—(Classes A, B, E, and F.) Plymouth and Provincetown harbors.-These harbors have a commerce of some consequence of their own, but they are particularly interesting in reference to the port of Boston. While these are undefended, an enemy's squadron blockading Massachusetts bay will have ports of refuge under his lee, which would enable him to maintain his blockade even throughout the most stormy seasons, knowing that the winds which would force him to seek shelter would be adverse to outward bound and fatal to such inward-bound vessels as should

venture near the cape. Were the enemy deprived of these harbors he would be unable to enforce a vigorous investment, as he must be constrained to take an offing on every approach of foul weather. Our own vessels coming in from sea, and finding an enemy interposed between them and Boston, or being turned from their course by adverse winds, would, in case of the defence of these ports, find to the south of Boston shelter equivalent to those provided in the east at Marblehead, Salem, Gloucester, and Portsmouth. Plymouth harbor has not been fully surveyed. Provincetown harbor has been surveyed, but the projects of defence have not been formed. The former, it is thought, may be suitably covered by a work of no great cost on Gurnett Point, while to fortify Provincetown harbor in such a way as to cover vessels taking shelter therein, and at the same time to deprive an enemy of safe anchorages, will involve considerable expense. Probably no nearer estimate can be formed at present than that offered by the engineer department some years ago, which gave one hundred thousand dollars to Plymouth and six hundred thousand dollars for Provincetown.— (Classes D and E.)

The coast between Cape Cod and Cape Hatteras differs from the northeastern section in possessing fewer harbors, in having but little rocky and a great portion of sandy shore, in its milder climate and clearer atmosphere; and it differs from all the other portions, in the depth and magnitude of its interior seas and sounds, and in the distance to which deep tide navigation extends up its numerous large rivers. The circuit of the coast, not including the shores of the great bays, measures about six hundred and fifty miles.

Martha's Vineyard sound.-To the south of Cape Cod lie the islands of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard, which, with several smaller islands on the south, and the projection of Cape Malabar on the east, enclose the above-named sound. The channels through this sound being sufficient for merchant vessels, and one of the channels permitting the passage even of small frigates, are not only the constant track of coasting vessels, but also of large number of vessels arriving in the tempestuous months from foreign voyages. There are within the sound the harbors of Tarpaulin Cove, Holmes's Hole, Edgartown, Falmouth, Hyannis, and Nantucket, besides small anchorages.

In addition to the many thousand vessels passing this water annually, of which there are sometimes forty or fifty (a portion containing very valuable cargoes) to be seen in the harbors awaiting a change of wind, there is supposed to be at least forty thousand tons of whaling vessels owned in the towns of this sound.

If the harbors just named are to be defended at all it must be by fortifications. There is little or no population except in the towns, and even this is believed to be entirely without military organization. A privateer might run into either of these harbors and capture, destroy, or levy contributions at pleasure. The use of the sound itself as an anchorage for vessels-of-war cannot be prevented by fortifications alone. Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars may perhaps suffice for the defence of all the harbors against the kind of enterprise to which they are exposed.-(Class F.)

New Bedford and Fairhaven harbor.-Projects and estimates have been

made for the defence of this harbor, on which lie two of the most flourishing towns in the eastern States, New Bedford being, as regards registered tonnage, the third harbor in the United States. Estimate $208,000.-(Class D.)

Buzzard's bay-Interposed between the main and the island of Martha's Vineyard or the Elizabeth islands, which bound Buzzard's bay on the south. This bay covers the harbor of New Bedford, and might be used as an anchorage by an enemy's fleet, but it is too wide to be defended by fortifications.

Narraganset bay. Some of the properties of this great roadstead have been stated in the preceding remarks.

The defence adopted for Narraganset roads must be formidable on the important points, because they will be exposed to powerful expeditions. Although the possession of this harbor, the destruction of the naval establishment, the capture of the floating defences, and the possession of the island as a place of debarkation and refreshment, should not be considered as constituting of themselves objects worthy a great expedition, they might very well be the preliminary steps of such expedition; and defences, weak in their character, might tempt rather than deter it; for although unable to resist his enterprise, they might be fully competent, after being captured and strengthened by such means as he would have at hand, to protect him from offensive demonstrations on our part.

There are besides, in the local circumstances, some reasons why the works should be strong. The channel on the eastern side of the island being permanently closed by a solid bridge, requires no defensive works; but this bridge being the upper end of the island, the channel is open to an enemy all along the eastern shore of the island. Works erected for the defence of the channel of the west side of the island cannot, therefore, prevent nor even oppose a landing on the eastern side. The enemy may, consequently, take possession, and bend his whole force to the reduction of the forts on the island, which cannot be relieved until a force has been organized, brought from a distance, conveyed by water to the points attacked, and landed in the face of his batteries; all this obviously requiring several days, during which the forts should be capable of holding out. To do this against an expedition of ten thousand or twenty thou sand men demands something more than strength to resist a single assault. Unless the main works be competent to withstand a siege of a few days, they will not, therefore, fulfil their trust, and will be worse than useless.

It must here be noticed that, although the works do not prevent the landing of an enemy on Rhode Island, they will, if capable of resisting his efforts for a few days, make his residence on the island for any length of time impossible, since forces in any number may be brought from the main, and landed under cover of the fire of the works.

To come now to the particular defences proposed for this roadstead. It must be stated that there are three entrances into Narraganset roads:

1st. The eastern channel, which passes upon the east side of the island of Rhode Island. This, as before stated, being shut by a solid bridge, needs no defence by fortificotions, other than a field-work or two, which may be thrown up at the opening of a war.

2d. The central channel, which enters from sea by passing between Rhode Island and Conanicut island. This is by far the best entrance, and leads to the best anchorage; and this it is proposed to defend by a fort on the east side of the entrance, designed to be the principal work in the system. This work, called Fort Adams, is nearly completed. On the west side of the entrance it is proposed to place another work, and on an island, called Rose island, facing the entrance, a third work. It is also proposed to repair the old fort on Goat island, just within the mouth; and also old Fort Green, which is a little higher up on the island of Rhode Island.

3d. As to the western passage, three modes present themselves: first, by re