The Sun.
London, England, 1849-07-27 00:00:00

THE BREMZWATER.

The project of establishing a breakwater at Portland
to form a large harbour capable of accommodating the
whole navy of the kingdom, in nearly a central point of
the English Channel, was first entertained as lonT.; since
as 1794, by Mr. John Harvey, who was appointed me-
chanic to his Majesty George 111., and subsequently
postmaster of Weymouth. This gentleman, from his
first conception of the plan, was unceasing in his ex-
ertions to cause it to be adopted, and took every oppor-
tunity of laying his plans before the various Governments
and influential parties of the kingdom, and failed not to
point out the local advantages of there being on the spot
a sufficiency of stone for the purpose (the waste cap
stone), without the labour of quarrying it. His idea of
the advantages to be derived from his proposal, from
his first suggestion to the time of his death, November 6,
1829, became steadily strengthened, and he watched with
jealous eye the progress made with the atupendou;
structure of the same kind in course of construction on
the opposite coast of France (at Cherbourg), and he
thought a similar work should be carried out at Port-
land, to counteract any national effect to which that on
the opposite coast might have a t-ndency. The loss of
Admiral Christian's fleet in 1793 induced him still more
closely to consider the subject, amend his plans, and
publish his views in a pamphlet.
Mr. Harvey died without having been able to induce
the Government to take up the matter, although no in-
dividual could have been more energetic in his exertions
for a national undertaking. Ile, however, left a son
(Mr. John Hervey, the present postmaster of Wey-
mouth), to whom ho confided the charge of the break-
water project, and by whom the subject has been ener-
getically advccated. Mr. John Harvey, jun. (we will
now call him Mr. Harvey), in 1834 succeeded in getting
the little book written by his father, entitled, " Remarks,
84c , on the subject of a Breakwater for Portland
Roads," with additions by himself, referred to the con-
sideration of the Navy Board, and in the July of that
year a memorial was presented to the King upon the
subject, signed by 687 inhabitants and merchants of
Portland.

The attention of the ruling powers was, by various
means, at last roused to the necessity of the establish-
ment of capacious harbours of refuge for our increasing
naval and mercantile marine, and more especially 2o in
consequence of recommendations in a report to the
House of Commons, of a Select Committee, appointed
to inquire into the shipwreck of British vessels, and
the preservation of the lives and property of ship-
wrecked persons, tbat in the early part of the year
1844, ten naval commissioners, Admiral Sir Byam
Martin, G C. 8., acting as chairman, were appointed to
make inquiries as to what were the most eligible sites in
the Channel for such purports. The points for their
consideration were, facility of access, fitness for an ex-
tensive station of the largest armed vessels, with facili-
ties for ensuring its defence, in the event of an attack
by an enemy. These various advantages are nowhere
better combined than at Portlantl. The Commissioners,
in their report, state—
" A squadron stationed at Portland will have under
its protection, jointly with Dartmouth, all the interven-
ing coast; and these places with Plymouth will complete
the chain of communication and co-operation between
Dover and Falmouth, a distance of 300 miles.
"There is everything at Portland to render the con-
struction of a breakwater easy, cheep, and expeditious;
and the holding ground in the roads is particularly
good. It has numerous springs, and plenty of the best
water may be led in any direction for the supply of ships.
The roadstead also possesses the advantage of an inner
harbour at Weymouth."
The report recommends that a breakwater—
"Be constructed in Portland Bay, to extend a mile
and a quarter in a north-east direction, from near the
north part of the island, in about seven fathoms water,
having an opening of 150 feet at a quarter of a mile
from the shore, sheltering an area of 1,200 acres.
‘. The island of Portland possesses great natural ad-
vantages for defence, and for the formation of a naval
and military depot during war, to any extent that may
be required."
Subsequently the erection of a harbour at Portland
was determined upon, the necessary surveys were made
by well qualified engineers, and on the 4th of December,
1846, public notice of the same was given, and also that
the plans decided on by her Majesty's Commissioners of
Woods and Forests were deposited with Mr. C. Hinde,
Reforne, Portland. A Bill was introduced into Parlia-
ment, entitled the " Portland Harbour of Refuge and
Breakwater Bill," and which, having passed successfully
through its various stages, received the Royal assent on
the 11th of May, 1847, and preparations were immedi-
ately made to carry out its provisions.
The national advantages of the projected breakwater
are conceived to be, that it will afford ample protection,
be accessible at all times, and in all weathers, to vessels
of any size, and in immense numbers, as there will be
made a secure harbour, with deep water for a space of
four square miles in extent. A fleet of sixty sail of the
line will bo able to lie secure in the roughest weather,
the anchorage for the most part consisting of a strong
blue clay, and they might get out to sea at the shortest
notice. The central situation of the harbour—midway
between Portsmouth and Plymouth—would, as Mr.
Harvey justly remarks, " form a most effective counter-
action to the naval armaments of Cherbourg," from
which port it is situate only 21 leagues, E.N.E.
mid-channel, in fine clear weather,
a vessel cancom-
mand a sight of Cape La Hogue and Aldeorfn on
Wight the
on
French side, and of Portland and the Is
the English. A fleet here stationed would
cnile
Idfhativage
squadron
ruonn-
controlled sweep of the
English Channel.
in war time should put to
yesfrom Cherbourg, intelli-
gencecould be conveyed to Portland
(by look-out vessels
of the circumstance
stationed at certain distances act oss
the channel),
hour and a half, or even in a less
period, as,
within an
the advantages we now possess of steam,
their intention to weigh could be known at Portland be-
fore fore they could get to sea.
There is no other good roadstead between Plymouth
and spithead, a distance of 140 miles, in which large
ships could obtain shelter; hence it would be the
means of preventing many shipwrecks, very numerous
cases being recorded los=es of men-of-war and
Indiamen, which would not have occurred had
there been a good and accessible harbour at
Portland. Amongst these may be named the Halsewell,
on the 6th of January, 1786, when 330 lives
The A bergavennyFebruary,
•
in l 805 when near oves were lost.oo
lives were lost. The losses in Admiral Christian's fleet,
with a le rge convoy, in 1795, when eear 1,500 lives were
sacrificed. Of the loss of smaller vessels, which would
have been obviated had the breakwater existed, numerous
instances might be given.