Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-02-20

without possessing the talent ofneat dlawinr.
snail endeavor to procure one in Norfolk if
possible, but IN case otmy not succeeding,
can only pomiseyou accuracy, without much
ueatnesS.
l have The honor TO remain.
With high respect,
NouI ob'dt serv't,
Corr. InHN RonGERs,
t'res,dfAt ~ de Board
~ Macy COMMISSIONERS
Washington.
Letter from Cdptdin Ro5er. r. Spence. da-
tea hay 26th, 1910, IN relation to tie Tan
ger Isiands.
en- Nay 10th, 1916.
me islands known by the name of the
langIer Islands, have hitherto been very fall.
hciously represented, especially duri,,| tSa
! late war, when, from the circumstances of
there having been rendezvous for British
fnafduders ana depository for their stolen ne
s'oes, IL became necessary to throw IN
temporary buildings for shelter and breast
WORKS TO secure them from surprise Yhes.
sheds we're represented as Highly coplnlodi-
Gus, and their works OF defence consist;nc of
shbahkments OF sand partially Sodded TO rem.
DER them less mutabe than they otberv-is a
would nave been, were maenisied Inv thp az
acgeratIng fancy OF the tmiti Into reo,ilar for
uhcations, mounting heavy cannon. caIcuja.
ten 20 protect theisland, and TO give security
10 the shipping anchored in the sOuud It
was understood that an abundance of pooi
Wstel was afforded, and their gardens dos
cTlbed TO be IN high state Of cnitiva+io,
we're spoken OF as furnishing a snfiiciency OF
vegetables for reireShment and for health -
All these partial and Elusive accounts ware
oeiteNed by many who had not the means of
Deihg better informed, and by others VIII,
were wholly Indifferent TO the fact. Having,
IN compliance with an order from the board
OF commissioners, explored. and from aeon
rata surveys, obtained correct charts of the
islands, spared no pain. 10 inform myself on
snE E points as my Instructions particularly
called my attention to, as
ISL he relative situation of these islands m
each oiher, their distance from each other. and
from the main "''H
I'd. The length and breadth of eacb
81. The topography OF each
Attn. The channeiOn all sides & those laad;rc
TO each island and separating them.
9th The particular positions occupied bv the
structed by them. '
9th How far they are at this time defensible.
ana what works would render them completely
9TH. The harbours afforded by these ISL
9Th. Whether theyafforded good fresh water
in abundance.
9'h. Whether they afford good settle for a
Naval establishment anu rendezvous III time
10th. The soundings at least three miles ON
all sides, that it may be seen how neara
nrst rate ship or war can safely approach them
NJ Every point, especially at that point which
may be Judged the hest for Naval establish
meut The charts have prepared aud trans
mt 10 the board, having been executed with
attention, are sufficiently minute 10 furnish fun
information upon all these particulars.-T' hev
afford kind of graphical report oxhibitinr ar
one view the relative positions ofthe islands.
their distance from each other their LENGTH
and breadth their topography the pariicu-
Tar positions occupied by the British during the
late war, and that of the works constructed
cy them the harhouTs afforded bV the islands
as also the souudings on all sides, even beyond
Tie distance prescribed by the Commissioners.
10 therefore only remains for me To offer
brief general account, and few remarks on
such points upon which the charts cannot be
alone satisfactory
The Tangier Islands (if Islands they NAV be
called situated about eight miles from the
main, are nothing more than banks of sand
which are here and there interposed with
an upper stratum of soil, owing TO its original
formation 70 sea weed and other marine pro
ductions, deposited by inundatlons. TO which
IN strong eaSterly winds, the islands arc Who'll
~ subject, save here and there y small sDOt
elevated for the purpose Of cultivation and
occupied by the possesSOr. That section of
tie islands on which the British formed tLeir
establishments, is level surface OF white
sand, tie margin Of which. though not more
than three teet in height, is higher Than the
area II surrounds, in which The Britivh had
'iDl hoAi'ltaios Ntoit-NONAeS. tlclI stolen lie
gTOes, graye-yards, aud works of defence
OF which there ISnOthne remaining save mo
morals Of death, aud atigstati0ns OF the dele
ferrous erect of the water. The STRENGTH Of |
their detences may readily be cpniocfurcd
from the materials OF which they were com |
posed, and from their forms. ylicn ara ia
some places entire, while the outlines ara |
distinctly visible. They consisted Of semi |
CIRCULAR cm5Sukments- constructed of sfaLes
driven eGuidisiant mo tie foundation. inter |
woven with brush and filed in vith ss,,d !
the formation Of which gave constant cmpIny, /
lnent TO an inimence number Of negroes thev |
mad collected from different paris OF the Chcs |
apedke. ON these works. q leW small wuns |
were mounted, but of what calibre 7 could |
not, with any certainty, ascertain. On abau |
dGniug che island the whole was cop0aprsf |
ed, aHH as the brush consumed. tie sand re-
turned more or less 60 its former level Nor |
". 'nStanding enongil has been explained 70
r. tabliSh the tutiiiy Of attempting an esfa
olishmont at such place the "rangiers' |
there stii remains other objections more co. |
gent cid less Temidable. 4 want OF fresh |
wafer is here, during the summer months |
severely experienced. Wells formed bv flte
Insertion OF barrels o. extra length (boigg
rom tue nature OF tue ground bat fey. afford |
it parUcular periods d scanty supply. the sa-
line imprcgnatiOn OF Which must produce. with
that destructive disease which daily robbed hi.
'niaWc Majesty of uiue or ten 0f lis lo.al ,
'nbleciS. lh.s mortality was said had lie
IeiniHed the cOIHsNiting dduifaltu abandon.
al tg" ensuing sc1son.d spot oulv subject /
10 dangerous mandatpue bat 20 Which /
want of waller agd oihet ~tuses. bad give.
more the appearance Ola hos pitdi taan a naval
rendl1cCus.
Wuviu-, however, these objections. and (
ftHft ..f ID q e. /. q q ed. az.