The Sun.
London, England, 1861-09-17 00:00:00

THE VIGOUR OF YOUTH RESTORED IN
I FOUR WEEKS by Dr. RICORD'S ESSENCE OF
LIFE.

This wonderful agent will restore manhood to the most
shattered constPntion, whether arising from self-pollution,
excesses, nocturnal emissions, the effects of climate, or natu-
ral causes The time required to cure the most inveterate
case is tour weeks ; and, if used according to the printed in-
structions (which are very simple), failure is impossible.
This life-restoring remedy should be taken by all about to
marry, as its effects are permanent. It is acknowledged by
the medical press to be the greatest discovery ever made.
Success in every case is as certain as that water quenches
thirst.
Dr. Rhord's Essence of Life is sold in cases, with full in-
structions for use, at Vs., or four quantities in one for 335..
and may be sent to any part of the world, carefully packed,
on receipt of remittance or post-office order payable to Prout
and Co.
Dr. Rioord's Sole Agent in London is Prout, Patent Medi-
cine Warehouse, 229, Strand (seven doors west of Temple-
bar).
(Entered at Stationers' Hall)

DR. CURTIS' MEDICAL WORK, MANHOOD :
mF,DTCAL ESSAY ON SPERMATORRFICE A,
NERVOUS AND GENERATIVE DEBILITY, &c.
ust Published, the 150th thousand, with numerous plates,
in a sealed envelope, price ls., Sold by all Booksellers, and
sent post paid, by the Author, for 12 stamps,
ANHOOD: the CAUSE and CURE of PRE-
MATURE DECLINE IN MAN, with Plain Directions
or Verfect Restoration to Health and Vigour. B Dr. J. L.
Calms, 15, Albermarle-street, Piccadilly, London.y

CONTENTS :
INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER on the Physiological
,tructure and Functicns of the Reproductive Organs.
CHAPTER ll.—Canses of Sperrnatorrhcea and Impotence;
'arly Vicious Indulgences; Dangers of Neglect.
CHAPTER lII.—A Review of the various Disqualifications
Marriage; whether resulting from Youthful Abuse, the
Follies of Maturity, the Effects of Climate, or Infection.
CHAPTERS IV. and V. on the modern Treatment of
Gonorrhoea and Syphilis.
The Book concludes with numerous varied and interesting
ases, to which is added the Author's recipe of a preventive
Lotion:

'o`
tiCitarbties REVIEWS OF THE WORK.
h
inolitheihaannhdepod young and otkulx—vaisunanbldeawy
Times,"
:i(1 March, 1856.
"l
t`tTehweoartikt,hinorwhhaischcoinsfderreseedlibaegdrtehaet boon by
of byptuhbolissehdiniLathseiss
which produce decline in youth or more frequently premature
old age."--... Daily Telegraph," March 27, 1856.
" This work, which for twenty years has stood the test of
professional criticism and empirical hostility, treats in aplain
and sympathising manner on the various disqualifications
and impediments arising from nervous excitement and de-
bility ; and to invalids suffering from youthful errors and
xcesses it will be found valuable and useful."—Record.
London : Published by J. Allen, 20, Warwick Lane, Pater-
noster-row; Mann. 89, Cornhill.
LlQUrd of Ccuultation.-10 to 3 and 6 to 8 i_SULIdaYO,IO till 2.

The breakwater at Portland, though a most im-
portant national work, is far from being the only
one which is progressing there. The fortifications
on land equal in magnitude the works at sea, while
both show the importance which will in future be
attached to this harbour as a great naval station
and depot. It is almost unnecessary to say that
these great lines of fortifications are not intended
for the protection of the breakwater. A break-
water once made protects itself, Such a work is, in
fact, indestructible by either friend or foe, and
whatever ruins the celebrated New Zealander may
stand upon to complete his sketches they assuredly
will not be the rains of breakwaters, which will
even then be in as good repair as if they expected
the honour of the visit. Neither, it is to be pre-
sumed, are the great works now in progress in-
tended to protect the squadrons of men-of-war in
the harbour, which will be perfectly well able to
take care of themselves. There is, in fact, nothing
positively or publicly known yet as to the object
with which the fortifications' are being built; but,
from the extent of the works and the positions they
command, there is only one inference to be drawn
from their erection, and that is that they are meant
to protect the dockyard that will in course of time
be formed at Portland. The greatest, strongest, and
most unassailable of the forts is that now construct-
ing on the Verne—a height which, like La Roche,
at Cherbourg, dominates all around it for miles.
This is to be the citadel. The Verne, as it is called,
ia a position of such great natural strength, espe-
cially on the side that overlooks the breakwater
and sea, that a few guns of position in earthworks
on its rugged heights would be ample protection
for the harbour against anything that fleets could
do. But such improvised defences would be wholly
exposed in their rear, and at the mercy of any
small body of men who could effect a landing on the
south of the island. When, therefore, the fortifica-
tions at Portland were decided on it was deter-
mined to make the Verne the key of the position,
and to construct a fort as nearly approaching to
impregnable as ditches, walls, earthworks, and guns
could ever make it. The Verne is at the extreme
northern end of the island of Portland, and over-
looking the harbour and breakwater. It is a trian-
gular-shaped piece of ground of little over 40 acres
in extent, on the summit of three or four very steep
rounded hills, which rise to a height of some 500
feet above the level of the sea. These hills, though
steep, are by no means inaccessible, except on the
north side, where for a length of rather less than
one-third of the circumference of the Verne, they
are almost perpendicular, so that defences on that
side are not needed. Prom the south-east and south
are the only directions from which it would be even
possible for a regular besieging army to make any
approaches. But the nature of the ground here is
so rugged and difficult—so broken up by quarries,
and strewn with rough, loose stone and irregular
gaps, that it is taking an almost extreme view of the
case to say the fortress is even assailable on these
points. An attack, however, if made by a regular
besieging army, could have but one result, for natu-
rally in these directions the strength of the fortress
is concentrated, and the guns over the casemated
barracks rise to a height which commands every
knoll and mound far and near.

One of the great defences of the Verne is the dry
ditch, which completely encircles the whole work,
except on the north side we have mentioned, where
the scarped cliff renders it both impossible and un-
necessary. The ditch is one of the greatest works of
the kind ever undertaken round any ancient or mo-
dern fortification. Its floor continues round the
works at an elevation of 368 feet above the level of
the sea; its length is rather over three-quarters of a
mile; its depth is 80 feet, and its width 100. Up
wards of 1,500,"00 tons of stone had to be blasted
away to form it. In some parts, as at the angles
of the fortress, its width is nearly 200 feet, and
where there is a rise in the surface of the
ground above there is sometimes a sheer perpendi-
cular depth from the terreplein of the batteries to
the floor of the ditch of more than 130 feet. It is
perhaps needless to say that such a colossal force
as this is almost unnecessary, and would not have
been carried out, but that the stone excavated in
its formation was wanted for the breakwater. A dry,
perpendicular ditch of 40 feet deep, by 50 feet 'wide,
would have been of unusual dimensions, and more
than sufficient to protect the Verne from assault.
But the Government wanted cheap stone for the
breakwater, and, as that from the ditch round the
Verne was already paid for, they naturally took as
much as they could get, and in so doing made the
fosse of the gigantic proportions we have stated.
No good idea can be got of this enormous excava-
tion till the visitor descends to the floor of the
ditch, and so traverses the length of this grim arti-
ficial ravine. The sections of the geological strata
which form the -singular Island of Portland are
shown on the smooth rocky walls of the ditch with
beautiful distinctness, and what is also most curious
is that at regular intervals of 25 or 30 yards, and
commencing about 20 feet below the surface, are a
series of vertical " faults" or gaps, about two feet
wide, which, as far as can be judged, traverse the
whole substrata of the island from north to south.
All these in the sides of the ditch are to be filled up
with solid masonry. In them have been found a
number of the bones and horns of the reindeer so
I beautifully preserved that it is difficult to believe
they can be more than 50 years old. Here, also,
were found some of the ancient British flint-heads
for arrows, and an ancient British gold coin in as
fine a state of preservation, and with its figures in
as high relief as on the day when it was struck.
The ditch, as we have said, commences on the east
sea face of the works over the harbour, and con-
tinues round them to the cliff, where it ends,
having on its outer edge there only a descent of
abuut 30 feet perpendicular. But at this end the
ground is almost too steep outside to allow access
to it. There are two angles of the works from
which the garrison can enfilade the whole of this
fosse with grape and musketry, and on these are
built, jutting out from the main fort, two bas-
tionettes, the troops in which can sweep it with their
fire at all points. With such a tremendous artificial
ravine for the assailants to cross, the aid of a
very few guns would suffice to make the Verne im-
pregnable; yet it is intended to carry no less than
150 pieces of the heaviest ordnance on its walls and
curtains. It is quite unnecessary to say, even if it
were judoirctioaurs, where there are to be Armstron gs,
s, where cupolas for filling the shells
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Inside the Verne casemated barracks are being
built, which if needed can accommodate a garrison
of 3,000 men—the number required to defend the
works in the event of a regular siege. These bar•
racks, like the ditch, and a great part of the works
on the Verne, are the result of convict labour. One
range of barracks has been built by regular free
masons and bricklayers, but there is not the faintest
difference discernible in
.the quality of their work
and that of the convicts. The same, or even more,
may be said of the carpenters' work. The casemated
barracks are beautifully built. There is nothing
more difficult in these domestic fortresses, if we may
so call them, than to keep them free from damp, and
give a proper allowance of light and air without
interfering with the security of the inmates. These
almost irreconcilable conditions have been admir-
ably fulfilled at the Verne. The wide skylights over
the doors give ample light, a raised floor secures
the soldiers against damp, while a corridor, running
the whole length of the back of the easemates, and