Jenks's Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland [Me.]) 1799-1802, 1799-12-23
MONDAY, DECEMBER IS, 1899.

and the New Nicer. Though thefe foundations
were not in general very deep, yet they ferved,
through the number of undncoyerdble bitches
which they concealed, To renders the meadows
totally impallible to aa army. In this fituation
of the country, the Only poaible method Of APP
preaching Amlerdan was along the roads
which run gu the top of the dykes but even
hefe feemed in a great meafure impradicable
to an amy TO advance in the face OF an enemy !;
for, beGdes, the water was nearly in many
places on a level with the dykes, they were in
general 70 narrow that very few men could
match ahaealt, AMI nor, above one, or ar the
moa two pieces Of ordnance could any where
be brought 10 bear ut one time, upon the
defentiye batteries"
This narrative will thew cur readers, that
his royal highnelS the Duke of York, though
commanding an army of near SO coo men, has
a mon arduous talk TO accomplish, and partic
nlarly as The ftaion moi unfortunately fayors
The natural defences Of the country. He has,
however, the advantage of the Znyder Tea open
10 him, and he may undoubtedly collect an
immeufe number OF fiat botton,ed boats, by
which to approach The city on that, its mott
vulnerable fde. Here, however, be will have
to encounter all the ability OF the belt French
enplLeers, VINO nave DdI Nnlg ~ GiSSt bdllSttss
and to prepare for iuch an attack.
But even if Amaerdam and all the peninnla
fhould fall. il is TO be con6dered what further
movements our army could make At this feafon
of the year. The French, then defperate,
might totally inundate the country. The Wi
ter whom we quoted above, defcri6es their
power of doing 10 in III. following Pahase;
f" 1t Can fearcely pats unoeferyed by thofe
who know The nature of the country. that
Amherdam upon this location paiied over one
fource OF deferce which would have feetually
fecnred them from the immediate dehgns of
their enemy. This was no other than render
ing the inundations perfect for by letting the
waters of the Ye into the Haeiiem Lake at
Halt Wegen, the dykes as well as the fields
would have beeo laid under water in fuch
maEler as 10 render all approach 10 the CITY
imponible. But as this was the laa, 70 would
it have BEEN moi Desperate reicuree. and
fuch as eolld lcarcely be warranted BY any
thing leis than the approach OF 70 barbarious
an enemy, that determination, or mahacre were
the expected coniequtnces OF his inecels For
very great part OF the province OF Holland
would not only have been ruined for the prefent
by the inundalion, but the beggsry would be
entailei e., foue years upon the people, thro'
the length of time, and the very great exPence,
which a ieeond recovery OF The lani from the
dominion OF The water would oecahon Such
a nea(ure would likcwif. exafpera'e all orders
of the people to 70 great degree both in the
towns and in The country, all iotfeIing ieverely
under the common calamity, that tie repub'i
can party could icarcely hope after to exit
among them From ihefe caufes and from
feemngly we'll founded reliance on the fccnrity
afforded by their prefent barrier, Amiterdam
did not yet relort to this laa and difmal ex
tremity."