cate a nature.

Mr. Courtenay moved for the Commiffon appointing the Mafter General of the Ordnance Prefident of the Board of Enquiry.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer wifhed to be informed how the Hon. Gentleman had been induced to change his mind, and contrary to the notice he had juft given of making a motion on Thurfday next, to make it on that day. This was an inconfiftency which the Honourable Gentleman had been led into, he fuppofed on very good grounds, and by very found advice, but still it was one which it would be but candid to explain to the Houfe.

Mr. Courtenay faid, that furely there could be no fort of objection to producing the commiffion by which the Mafter General of the Ordnance had been appointed prefident of a Board, which he again defcribed as one inftituted as a controul upon himself.

Mr. Sheridan faid, that there could be no danger in laying the inftructions and commiffion before the Houfe, though there might in publishing the report of the officers.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer expreffed his furprize at the change that ap

A Tax on

A Tax on batchelors above 25 years of age, the gentlemen of the army and Navy excepted, is fad to have been propofed to the Minifter in lieu of the fhop tax; and is to be divided into the following claffes :

peared to him to have taken place in the minds of the Hon. Gentlemen; they had appeared grievously offended but two days ago to find the Army Estimates taken into confideration before the navy, and yet now they were defirous of entering into a long debate on the Ordnance and Fortifications, a much lefs favourite fubject, though by fo doing, they were poftponing that fervice which on all occafions they feemed to have fo much at heart, namely, that of the Navy, which had been appointed for that day; to prevent therefore an abufe of time in a long and ufelefs converfation, he should move the Order of the day.

Mr. Courtenay faid a few words, challenging the Minifter to fhew any fair reafon for witholding the commiffion, appointing the Mater General of the Ordnance prefident of the Board of Officers.

Mr. Sheridan obferved, that the difficulty was now ftill lefs than it appeared before, the inftructions being no longer demanded, but fimply the inftrument annexed to them by which the Mafter General was appointed Prefident.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer declared that he could not recollect whether there had been any fuch formal inftrument annexed to the inftructions; but at all events this was no proper time to detain the House from one of the most important departments of its duty, the care of the Navyhe fhould therefore infift upon the motion he had made for the order of the day.

Mr. Courtenay made his motion, but the order of the day was carried.

Batchelors.

affeffed 20l. per annum.

2d. Great and eminent Commoners rol. per annum.

3d. People of the first eminence in the law, phyfic and merchandife, and all places in church or ftate, of pool. per annum, or upwards, 51. per annum.

4th. Gentlemen, the head of the veomanry, and all places in church and state, of 100l, and not exceeding gool. at 21.

per annum.

5th. Common farmers, tradefmen, and inferior places in church or ftate, at 10s.

per annum.

6th. Day labourers, artificers, and mechanics, ar is. per annum.

POL. MAG, VOL. X. FEB. 1786.

rank.

S

Extrafts

Report of the Board of Land and Sea Officers appointed by your Majefly to inveftigate and report on the proper Syftem of Defence, and on the Expediency and Efficacy of the propofed Plans for better fecuring the Dock-lards at Portsmouth and Plymouth,

HAVING fully taken into our confideration your Majefty's inftructions, under your Majefty's fignet and fign manual, dated the 13th day of April, 1785, and obferving that your Majefty has been graciously pleafed to allow us to vary or add to the data contained therein, as we fhould fee occafion, we have availed our. Felves of your Majefty's permiffion fo to

do; and as, in confequence of fuch alterations,some of the heads and questions under them appeared to us to have been already anfwered in fome of the data, we conceiv ed any difcuffion of them became unnecellary, as will more fully be feen in the minutes of our proceedings herewith laid before your Majefty.

We therefore, in obedience to your Majefty's commands, beg leave humbly to report to your Majesty, that we have agreed on the following data, as the grounds on which our fubfequent opinions have been formed.

Fift Datum agreed to unanimously by both Land and Sea Officers at Portfmouth and at Plymouth,

That it is perfectly right, neceffary and wife, effectually to provide in time of peace, for the fecurity of your Majefty's Dock Yards at Portfmouth and Plymouth, by fortifications capable of refifting fuch an attack as an enemy may be able to make upon them during the abfence of the fleet, or whilft, from other caufes, the fleet may be prevented from affording it's protection to the Dock yards.

Second Datum, agreed to unanimoufly by both Land and Sea Officers at Portsmouth and Plymouth,

That, as far as is confiftent with dua confideration of expence, and the probable ftrength of the land forces, it will be advifeable to provide a defence by fortifica tions for the Dock Yards at Portsmouth and Plymouth, against the chances of the fleet, or fuch part thereof as might give them protection, being abfent for (a cer

tain time named, which is omitted as not being proper to be disclosed).

[Note.

The third Datum, ftating the force of the enemy, against which it may be pru dent to guard, the number of embarka tions, and the detailed account of thirs proper for this purpose, and agreed to u panimously

nanimously by both Land and Sea Officers, is omitted, as it cannot be proper that fuch particulars fhould be difcloted.

The fourth Datum, aftertaining the precife number and fort of troops which may reasonably be expected to be had for the defence of Portsmouth and Plymouth, as eftablished by the Land Officers, and an obfervation thereupon, is of a nature not proper to be difclofed. The diffent of Lieut. Generals Burgoyne and Earl Percy is in fubftance contained in their provifo under another head hereafter stated at length: but the particular reafons contained in this diffent of Lieut. Generals Burgoyne and Earl Percy, are for the fame reafon omitted.

The fifth Datum, agreed to unanimoufly by the Land Officers, afcertaining the time it may require before the ftrength of the country can be collected from other parts of the kingdom in fuch force as to defeat fuch an attempt as is fuppofed is for the fame reafon omitted.

Your Majefty's Land Officers at Portfmouth and Plymouth are unanimously of opinion, that fuch is the fituation of the prefent works, that no finifhing, repairs, or improvements, without additional works, can, under the circumftances of the data, afford that degree of fecurity to the dock yards, (for the time mentioned in the preceding Datum) as may enable your Majefty to employ your whole fleet, if neceffary, on foreign fervice,

[Note

All the details relative to the infufficiency of the prefent fortifications, unanimoufly agreed to by the Land Officers, are omitted.]

Your Majefty's Land Officers (both at Portsmouth and Plymouth) are unanimously of opinion, that a system of detached forts is the most proper for the purpofe of protecting the dock yards.

Your Majefty's Land Officers (both at Portfmouth and Plymouth) are unanimoufly of opinion, that the fyftem of detached works, as propofed, has in the extenfive fituations of Portsmouth and Plymouth, this advantage, that the fecurity to be derived therefrom will not be wholly delayed till the whole of the propofed plan is executed, but an additional degree of ftrength will be acquired as the detached works are progreffively finished.

Your Majefty's Land Officers (both at Portsmouth and Plymouth) are unanimoufly of opinion, that the fituations (of the feveral places therein fpecified) are

well chofen for detached works.

Your Majefty's Land Officers (at Portf mouth and Plymouth) are unanimously of opinion, that the new works propofed are well adapted to thofe fituations.

[Note.

The detail of the peculiar ad vantages of thefe works, unanimoufly agreed to by the Land Officers, is omitted.]

Your Majefty's Land Officers (at Plymouth) are unanimoufly of opinion, that the diftance of the fituation propofed, in heu of Merrifield, from the dock, appears too great for the circumstances of the data; and would, if fortified, require a greater garrifon and greater expence, and would not afford the fame fecurity to the dock-vard as Merrifield, and therefore the Land Officers must give the preference to Merrifield.

Your Majefty's Land officers (at Portfmouth) are unanimously of opinion, that the propofed finishing works already begun, the improvements of old ones, and the plan for rebuilding South Sea Caftle will, together with the works proposed give a reasonable degree of fecurity for your Majefty's Dock-yard at Portsmouth, for the time and under the circumstances of the data with a garrifon, of the numbers before fpecified (regulars and militia) which the land-officers are of opinion, is fufficient for its defence; whereas the prefent works, even when repaired, finished, and improved, would require a large force for their defence, with which they would ftill be ineffectual for the purpose of securing this dock yard.

Your Majefty's land forces (at Plymouth) are unanimously of opinion, that a garrifon (of the numbers before specified, regulars and militia) appears fufficient, if the proposed new works, and repair of old ones, are executed; aud that for the prefent works, even when repaired, a much larger garrifon would be ineffectual for the purpofe of fecuring this dock-yard.

Your Majefty's land officers having taken into confideration the whole fituation of Plymouth, are unanimoufly of opinion, the propoted new works, in addition to the old ones, when properly repaired, as fuggefted in our proceedings (with a garrifon of the numbers before specified, regulars and militia) will give a reasonable degree of fecurity for your Majefty's dock yards at Plymouth for the time, and under the circumftances of the data.

Your Majesty's land officers, as far as they were refpectively concerned at Portf

$ 2

mouth

mouth or at Plymouth, do report to your Majefty, that from the Report of the Committee of Engineers at the Tower, which they have unanimoufly agreed to adopt, it appears that the expence of the works propofed for fecuring your Majefty's dockyards at Portfmouth and Plymouth, will be as follows: [Note.

This paper has beena Iready delivered to the Houfe.]

Your Majefty's inftructions, under the 23d head, having required what improvements or alterations, or what other fyftem of defence, the Board would fuggeft, the unanimous opinion of your Majesty's Sea Officers is, that (a certain number therein fpecified) of gun-boats at Portsmouth and Plymouth will form a great arm of defence against an invading enemy.

And your Majefty's land officers en. tirely concur in this opinion with the fea officers, confidering thefe gun-boats, as a great improvement in the defence of thefe places.

Your Majefty's land and fea officers beg leave to recommend a fet of fignals to be established on the projecting head lands (of certain parts of the coaft therein specified) with intelligent mariners to make them, as of effential advantage in conveying early intelligence of the approach of an enemy, and for the protection of com

Capt. Macbride entered the following objection to the third datum, on the fub ject of the enemy's force against which the Board thought it neceffary to provide.

I object to this datum, because it is founded upon a calculation of large imaginary force. My idea of a defcent goes only to the probability of an armament that may poffibly confift of (a certain force which he specifies) which I think fufficient to provide against.

To the queftion, What improvement or alterations, or what other system of defence, the Board would fuggeft?

Lieut. Generals Burgoyne, and Earl Percy; Vice Adm. Milbanke, and Major Gen. Green ftated, that they had none to fuggeft under the circumstances of the data.

Rear Admiral Graves @ated, that he had none to fuggeft under the excess of the data.

Vice Adm. Barrington, Rear Adm. Lord Hood, Captains Hotham, Bowyer, Sir Andrew Snape Hammond, and the Hon. James Luttrell, ftated, that they thought it more properly belonging to the land officers of this Board than to them, as the minutes of their proceedings will fhew, to enter into any fyftem of defence or fortifications, except fuch parts as are intended for a defence against ships of war, and the propofals they have offered for gun-boats.

Capt. Macbride stated, that he had no further improvements to fuggeft; but entered his objections to the propofed fyltem of defence. [Note.

Captain Macbride's objections are omitted, because they contain detailed defcriptions of the coaft, roadft ads, currents, tides, and bottoms, and anchorage, by no means proper to be divulged. Capt. Macbride concludes his objections with thefe words :]

I am therefore of opinion, that no new works are at prefent necessary to be erect ed at Plymouth.

Signed J. Macbride. On the board having declared it to be their unanimous opinion, that no member is precluded by the data agreed to by the Board

board, from fuggefting any other fyftem of defence, on thofe or any other data, for the confideration of the board, in anfwer to the question contained in the 23d head under his Majefty's inftructions;

The following provifo was added: But we do not think ourselves required, as individuals, by his Majefty's inftructions, or any queftions under them, to produce any other system, or other data. Signed Thos. Graves,

S. Barrington, J. Burgoyne, Percy,

M. Milbanks,

Will. Green, Will. Hotham, J. Jarvis, Geo. Bowyer. Rear. Adm. Graves, in affenting to the article of the report, expreffing the full confidence of the board, that the providing an additional fecurity to the dock yard at Plymouth is in no refpect inconfiftent with the neceffary fupport of the navy; to avoid being misunderstood, defired to explain himfelf by the following provifo :

I perfectly agree with the reft of the board as to the importance of the royal navy towards the fafety and profperity of this maritime and infular kingdom; but would not have it implied that I think any new fyftem of additional land fortifications for the fecurity of Plymouth neceffary.

Signed T. Graves.

Lieut. Generals Burgoyne and Earl Percy, Vice Admiral Millbanke, Rear Admiral Graves, and Capt. Sir John Jarvis, on figning the report beg leave to reprefent to your Majefty as follows:

That our proceedings have been found ed upon the fuppofition of the whole fleet being abfent for (a certain time) as mentioned in the fecond datum, and therefore that the enemy may bring over an army (of the force mentioned in the third datum) with an artillery proportionate to an attack on Portsmouth or Plymouth, having (a certain time) to act in uninter rupted by the British fleet, as mentioned in the third datum: The bare poffibility of fuch an event we do not pretend to deny; but how far it is probable that the whole British fleet may be fent on any fervice requiring fo long an abfence, at a time when the enemy is prepared to invade this country with (a force as that mentioned in the third datum) we must humbly leave to your Majefty's fuperior wisdom; and therefore whether it is neceffary in confequence of fuch a fuppotition, to erect works of fo expenfive a nature as thofe propofed, and which require fuch large garrifons to defend them. Signed J. Burgoyne, Percy, M. Millbanke,

T. Graves. J. Jarvis.

Lieut. Generals Burgoyne, and Earl Percy, on agreeing to the erection of new works, and to the fyftem of detached forts being the most proper for the preservation of the dock yard at Portsmouth, entered the following provifo:

We approve of the fyftem of detached works, and we agree to the above, under the circumstances fettled in the data, provided the expence to be incurred, fhall not exceed fuch fums as the ftate can afford to grant for thefe purposes, and that the number of troops fuppofed to be allotted by the fourth datum, can be spared for with the general defence of the kingdom. the defence of Portfmouth, confiftently Signed J. Burgoyne,

Percy,

To which provifo the rest of the land officers members of this board, think it their duty to add :

That we the under written humbly defire that it may be understood by your Majefty, that we never entertained an idea that any expence to be incurred should exceed fuch fums as the state could afford for these purpofès, as we apprehend is fully stated in our fecond datum; or that we meant to recommend works requiring a greater number of troops to defend than could be fpared for the defence of Portfmouth, confiftently with the general defence of the kingdom.

On the contrary, the works we recommend appear to us to be calculated upon the most economical principles, and to require the fmalleft number of troops poffible to answer the purpofe of effectually fecuring your Majefty's dock yards at Portfmouth and Plymouth. We conceive that fuch numbers can be fpared for this purpofe: we confider fuch protection to be an effential object for the fafety of the State, and intimately connected with the general defence of the kingdom; but we do not confider it to be our province minutely to enter into a confideration of the abilities of the State to provide the neceffary up plies for this purpose.