The Nautical Magazine and Naval Chronicle: A Journal of Papers on Subjects ...

culties that would attend if attempted on our levels; I do so through the medium of your pages, and first I will contemplate the attempt as about to be made by a fleet of steam-vessels steering for, and intending to enter the said harbour.

Vessels of an enemy could only enter one at a time, the tide sweeping strong across the Harbour's mouth which is narrow, and should one of them fall athwart, he would block out all the rest, I have found some difficulty in getting a French steamer berthed in any moderate time with all the assistance I could render them, how a fleet of them encumbered with troops would pick up berths for themselves I cannot conceive, but that "confusion worse confounded” would follow the attempt I am certain. It requires a quick eye and steady hand on the part of the helmsman to enter any of these tidal harbours in proper seaman-like style, even with a clear head-way in the area, and if I mistake not, the entrance itself would be obscured by the smoke of a steady and well directed fire from its walls, for be it remembered a body of troops may be passed down from Canterbury in thirty minutes, and I am sure they would be supported by our hardy population, fellows,-who fear not to face the Goodwin Sands and the tempest, are not likely to cower down before the enemy.

I cannot imagine a more dangerous experiment than this for an invading force to make, to run pell mell into a circumscribed area, out of which there are but two or three narrow streets, which of course would be barricaded effectually even by the levelling some of our own houses by artillery. There is no other passage; at a time of tide when they could approach our shores the sea leaves the base of our chalk walls, the white cliffs, and it is very rarely free from uncomfortable

undulations.

Again-If it was desirable to block them out of the harbour, I would do this effectually in one hour with blocks of stone and crafts which we have always at hand, the entrance might be closed at a short notice in such a way as to make it a work of many days to clear again. It is true they might march from any other point and take possession, but we should be fools indeed to leave behind us in our retreat an available port of communication for or with their fleet: so much for Ramsgate harbour as it would be found available for an invading foe. As for Dover, the Lord Warden held that for King John, and his successor would find no difficulty in doing the same for Queen Victoria. Margate, Folkstone, Rye, Newhaven, Shoreham, beautiful harbours! capacious quays, and long lines of wharfs, for disembarking cavalry and artillery! Where? Echo replies, "where?" Steam packet masters quarrelling about room for turn and precedence, offer a fine prospect for transports capable of conveying fifty thousand men.

No! no! To make any calculation upon the facilities of our harbours on this line for disembarking cavalry and artillery would prove erroneous; and equally so in my opinion the embarking them from Dunkirk, Calais, Boulogne, or Dieppe, with any thing like the celerity anticipated, they being all tidal harbours, and only available for large steam men-of-war NO. 2.-VOL. XVII.

at high water. As for Cherberg or the Seine, the width of the channel there preserves us from the meditated surprise, and enables our heavy ships of war, to manœuvre and circumvent them. I presume to offer an opinion, having commanded steam vessels more than twenty years,―let us then consider that vessels calculated to approach our shores, would carry 250 rank and file each, with their ammunition and commisariat necessary for the attempt, in addition to their officers and crew. Here then is a necessity for a fleet of 200 sail to be got out of a tidal harbour, and marshalled in defensive divisions outside of it, before they could venture to give way, and go-ahead, with their 50,000 men. Have the alarmists given it a thought, that the speed of every one of these vessels will differ? that 250 men and materiel would reduce many small class steamers to a third of their speed. What is to be said of those with transports in tow. I opine they would form an indiscribable line, scattered in a tide way, and extending from one side of the channel to the other. Will the fast vessels wait for the sluggards? If so, we shall have plenty of time to prepare for them.

Oh! but they will wait an opportunity, to combine sail and steam. Bravo! I should like to be in a fine sailing frigate of fifty guns to give them a welcome; I can also fancy the steamer Terrible unencumbered with supernumeraries saluting the commander-in-chief and his staff, when they "all were half seas over." But the main body does approach the shore, we will suppose, and avoiding fortified points they present themselves before one of the levels on the British coast, they are all similar, but I will take my own locality, the marsh level, and Sandwich flats; they have beaten off a fleet in the Downs, saluted the Lord Warden at Walmer Castle, their heaviest steam frigates have anchored to cover the disembarkation, and their light vessels make for the shore; but it is a long muddy flat and for a mile, (and at some places more,) they must wade on in slush, out of which a sportsman with a light fowling piece, finds it difficult to drag one leg after the other; a nice position for sea sick battalions rather different perhaps to a frontier crossing in parade order, with comfortable camp equipage, ration waggons, and squadrons of cavalry for their protection in flank and rear. I suppose there would be some splashing of the ducks and drakes from what artillery we could muster, some drenching of uniforms and swamping the ammunition in their cartouch boxes, granted; and the 50,000 which left La Belle France, have become beautifully less; but after hours of miserable fatigue the army of invasion have drawn up in line upon the stedfast shore: is night coming on? they cannot advance a foot, the windings of the muddy Stour intersect their way, and dikes are filled with water and lowlands flooded! Is it daylight? They must traverse the marsh to the scarp of the higher ground, and in lieu of flying to London, a day would be expended in reaching the vicinity of Canterbury; every thing has been driven away on their approach, there is no feasting on the fat oxen of the levels, and the nation which lost one of the finest armies in the world in an attempt to occupy Spain, and in an invasion of Russia, have now to try the mettle of Englishmen backed by enormous resources, united as one man in the most sacred cause which can actuate a brave and determined people.

But is it to come to this? Have we given up our commerce to other nations, and the narrow seas to our ambitious neighbours? Where is the channel fleet? If there is indeed cause for the slightest apprehension, (and the opinion of so acute and distinguished a tactician who has ventured an opinion, is entitled to more than respect on such a subject.) where is the channel fleet? We then look at a large and valuable fleet of Merchantmen riding in the Downs, we lament insubordination among the crews, tyranny too often on the part of the officers, and other delinquencies to which our Mercantile Marine are exposed, and Is there no appeal afloat for protection? no pendant to overawe the lawless and give confidence to the upright? In addition to this take the following case, nearly 300 sail of Merchant Vessels moored within the walls of this harbour, with them two French national ensigns floating in the breeze, and in these two men-of-war upwards of 150 armed men, thanks to the commanding officers, their conduct was most respectful and quiet, and their discipline, kept the crews in perfect order during a period of several weeks, had it been otherwise, much trouble might have ensued compromising the peace of our respective countries. Why then, is there no guardship in the Downs? the very sound of a morning and evening gun, gives a feeling of confidence and security, and challenges respect from the cruizers of other nations passing through this never ceasing thoroughfare of commerce, while the junior officers employed in the prevention of smuggling, and the protection of our fisheries, would have head quarters for instructions, without beating down channel to Spithead. As a civilian, I speak fearlessly, and disinterestedly, there is not a point on all our circling coast where the honour of our country's flag requires support, more than this Downs anchorage, and it would be well if a block ship like the Blenheim or some other, occasionally steamed across the channel on a fine summer's day to try her speed and efficiency within view of the opposite coast.

It would shew our neighbours that sort of preparation which their military ardour would hesitate to encounter, when packed in dense masses on board small vessels, and unable to change front, or manœuvre; much less to retire.

Let us not, however, encourage an over-weening confidence. The navy is the legitimate defence of an island, of equal importance to us as the standing army of Prussia is to its existance, as an independent state, nations are less to be trusted than individuals, and the most treacherous coalitions sometimes burst upon the political atmosphere, like a clap of thunder upon the natural, giving little time for preparation against the fury of the storm, consult the sense of the British people, they would bear an exclusive tax to support their much cherished navy.

There is not a man who has five pounds to spare, who would not part with half of it in such a cause if convinced of the necessity; and as a nation, I doubt not the means would be furnished to commence an Auxiliary force of fifty steam frigates by voluntary contribution; and how are they to be manned? That must be left to the wisdom of the legislature, but England must be poor indeed in patriotism if it could

not enrol among its maritime population resident upon its sea port towns, ten thousand sea fencibles ready, when summoned, to embark as an auxiliary force, and that with comparatively little expense to the country; but above all other considerations, let us beware, how we tamper with the navigation laws, lest we annililate our nursery for seamen.

Bear with me while I ask again, is it come to this? Are we indeed a nation of shopkeepers to be frightened by the threat of invasion? Is it indeed trus, that the idolatry of mammon worship has so far debased us as to make us forgetful of our high destinies? Of our rank among nations? As the champions of political and religious liberty? Are we to forsake the colonies we have planted? The nations we have humanized? The science we have imparted, and the faith which we have defended? Never! Let us look back upon the past, and emulate our noble ancestry, who, depending on the justness of their cause, appealed to that power, in whose hands are the destinies of nations and individuals, and verified the sublime aspirations of the poet Laureate.

Yet, midst the loudest blasts of Fame!
While most the admiring Nations gaze,
What for herself, docs Britain claim?
Not to herself, she gives the Praise!
But low in dust, her head she bows,

And prostrate pays her grateful vows

To Him! The Almighty Power, by whose decree

She Reigns! and still shall Reign, sole Empress of the Sea.

K. B. MARTIN.

EXAMINATION OF MASTERS AND MATES IN THE MERCHANT SERVICE.

We are glad to have it in our power to lay before our readers another List of Officers who have obtained certificates down to the 31st December. It will be seen that some very well known masters of vessels belonging to the port of London have passed the required ordeal at the Trinity-House, and among others Capt. Holton of the Mount Stewart Elphinstone. We advert to this particularly because in a recent number of the Shipping and Mercantile Gazette one of its correspondents complained that although the Government had given notice that only ships commanded by qualified officers, would be hired in the public service, still the Admiralty were every day breaking this rule. It may be so under some peculiar circumstances, but in this instance the Mount Stewart Elphinstone has been hired as a convict ship, and Capt. Holton has at once yieided to the rule, though from his having made several voyages to the East Indies his owners would not perhaps have deemed this necessary. Another ground of complaint was that the Government only published the names of the Masters and Mates who had qualified to the "London Gazette" now this is too true and if we were permitted to offer an opinion, we certainly would advise a publication in the columns of our respectable contemporary the Shipping and Mercantile Gazette as far preferable, and more likely to give that publicity to the working of the system, which it must be the object of Government to effect, than can produced by the course now followed. We have, however, had much satisfaction in backing the exertions of the committee for managing Lloyd's Register Book, by giving insertion to the Lists published by that committe and thus extending the means of circulating the names of men who have been found good and efficient

officers.