Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1822-06-15
PORTO CABELLO.

ALIsTs In TIE REPUBLIc or CO.
From the Philadelphia aurora
IL may be acceptable to describe this
last hid of the royal force, which is at
present commanded by Gen. Latorre
and has garrison of 1000 men OF all
grades.
Porto Cabello is in n. lat. 10 90, and
west longitude IS 74-S4 miles w. by
n. from Caracas. ADD "a n. w. of Va
lensia, on the Caribbean Sea. 1t con-
sists ofa series of military works estab-
lished on a peninsula and natural
chain of rocks and islands, and town
or suburb within the fortified positions;
which is connected with the fortress by
q bridge.
Nature has prepared this position
with many properties, adapted to de-
fence and to commerce. The neck of
land which forms the harbor or bay
stretches boldly out to the northward,
winding off to the west. Contiguous to
the westernmost point of the peninsula
was a range of small islands, which were
artiicially united with the rest. One
only advanced farther into the Gulph,
and detached from the rest, was FORTH
lied with small work called La Trim
ehera, which was lately taken by coup
de main, and two fne brass culyerins,
"a Founders, taken there were brought
away, and were transplanted to support
the siege of the place on the land side.
The range of works from the PENN
sula TO the west, ct which point is the
entrance, appears as a natural continue.
tion of the main land CT rock, and with
in the works the basin is formed by ma
ture. serene and unruflied as mirror in
all seasons, ana competent to afford
good anchorage in deep water to one
Thousand sail of the line.
The entrance ofthe hartor will admit
the largest vessel, but not more than
one at once, and in the basin ships re-
quire no other security than slight
rope to retain them, and they may lie
In deep water close under the bank, re-
quiring only plank from the rock to
the ships deck, by which vessels may
take in their lading.
Being enveloped by land on the east,
south, and west, the n. E. wind which
agitates the Caribbean sea SO boiste-
rously, cannot approach Porto Cabello;
There were six military points of de.
fence under Spanish authority on the
Main, of which this alone remains.
They we're in Importance in this pro-
erosion. Il. Csrthagena; g. Porto Ca
bello; 5. St. Charles, at the entrance of
Msracaybo; 4. St. Anthony of Cumana;
5. The Moro at n. Barcelona, and 6.
La Guayra.
The entrance to Porto Cabello by sea
has some difficulties, which skillful Pl.
lots know how to avoid. A deep reef
runs out north of the Punta Bravo, and
a strong battery of the place covers the
ohannel thus formed, which consists OF
eight heavy gnns. Towards the west
and south west the fortress whichis re-
guiar Pentagon, or wor,. OF five bas.
tions. which with the batteries on the
rect, the Notifications that surround the
town, and work on an island of the
form OF trapezium, give the place an
air of great strength. A bridge and a
gate we'll fortified, unite the cid and
new town, or suburb, behind which the
basin is formed. Some marshy ground
adjacent, renders the ground unhealthy
and no pains are taken to carry off the
stagnaht waters deposited there.
The main exterior defence of Porto
Cabello consists of those low batteries
on. the neck of land at Punta Bravo, the
fsrslst of ha Tranehers, nnd the GROSS