1may in a Moment, in the midſt of an Engage
ment, be filled with ſharp Points ſticking up
cloſe to one another, ſo that an Enemy can
never ſet his Foot any where without a Wound;
and on the other Hand when there is Occaſion,
how all theſe may in leſs Space of Time be all
removed and cleared away; but this is not a
proper Place for repeating it again, and it is
ſufficient to have given the Hint to an ingeni
ous Mind. Moreover I have found a Way how,
with a ſlight Stroke of a Hammer, to throw
down the whole Floor, with all the Men that
have boarded the Veſſel and ſtand upon it, and
then again with very little Labour to replace
it as it was before, whenever it is thought ne
ceſſary ſo to do. Neither is this a proper Place
to relate the Methods which I have invented
to ſink and burn the Enemy's Ships and de
ſtroy their Crews by miſerable Deaths. We
may perhaps ſpeak of them elſewhere. One
Thing muſt not be omitted, namely, that Veſ
ſels of different Heights and Sizes are requi
ſite in different Places. In the Mare Mag
giore, in the Narrows among the Iſlands, a
large Ship, that cannot be managed with
out a great Number of Hands, is very un
ſafe when the Winds are any thing boiſterous:
On the Contrary out of the Strait's Mouth, in
the wide Ocean, a little Veſſel will not be able
to live. To this Head of maritime Affairs alſo
belong the Defending and Blocking up a Ha
ven. This may be done by ſinking any great
Body, or by Moles, Piers, Chains and the like,
whereof we have treated in the preceding
Book. Drive in Piles, block the Port up with
huge Stones, and ſink large hollow Frames
made either of Planks or Oziers and filled
with any heavy Stuff. But if the Nature of
the Place, or the Greatneſs of the Expence will
not allow of this, as for Inſtance, if the Bot
tom be a Sand or Mud continually moving, or
the Water be of too great a Depth, you may
then block up the Haven in the following
Manner. Make a Float of great Barrels faſten
ed together, with Planks and Timbers joyned
croſs-ways to one another, and with large
Spikes and ſharp Beaks ſticking out from the
Float, and Piles with Points of Iron, ſuch as
are called ſhod Piles, to the Intent that none
of the Enemy's light Ships may dare to drive
againſt the Float with full Sails, in order to
endeavour to break or paſs it. Dawb the Float
over with Mud to ſecure it againſt Fire, and
fortify it with a Paliſado of Hurdles or ſtrong
Boards, and in convenient Places with wooden
Towers, faſtening the whole Work againſt the
Fury of the Waves with a good Number of
Anchors concealed from the Enemy. It would
not be amiſs to make ſuch a Work ſinuous or
wavy, with the Backs of the Arches turned
againſt the Streſs of the Weather, that the
Float may bear the lefs upon its Anchors.
But upon this Subject, thus much may ſuffice.
ment, be filled with ſharp Points ſticking up
cloſe to one another, ſo that an Enemy can
never ſet his Foot any where without a Wound;
and on the other Hand when there is Occaſion,
how all theſe may in leſs Space of Time be all
removed and cleared away; but this is not a
proper Place for repeating it again, and it is
ſufficient to have given the Hint to an ingeni
ous Mind. Moreover I have found a Way how,
with a ſlight Stroke of a Hammer, to throw
down the whole Floor, with all the Men that
have boarded the Veſſel and ſtand upon it, and
then again with very little Labour to replace
it as it was before, whenever it is thought ne
ceſſary ſo to do. Neither is this a proper Place
to relate the Methods which I have invented
to ſink and burn the Enemy's Ships and de
ſtroy their Crews by miſerable Deaths. We
may perhaps ſpeak of them elſewhere. One
Thing muſt not be omitted, namely, that Veſ
ſels of different Heights and Sizes are requi
ſite in different Places. In the Mare Mag
giore, in the Narrows among the Iſlands, a
large Ship, that cannot be managed with
out a great Number of Hands, is very un
ſafe when the Winds are any thing boiſterous:
On the Contrary out of the Strait's Mouth, in
the wide Ocean, a little Veſſel will not be able
to live. To this Head of maritime Affairs alſo
belong the Defending and Blocking up a Ha
ven. This may be done by ſinking any great
Body, or by Moles, Piers, Chains and the like,
whereof we have treated in the preceding
Book. Drive in Piles, block the Port up with
huge Stones, and ſink large hollow Frames
made either of Planks or Oziers and filled
with any heavy Stuff. But if the Nature of
the Place, or the Greatneſs of the Expence will
not allow of this, as for Inſtance, if the Bot
tom be a Sand or Mud continually moving, or
the Water be of too great a Depth, you may
then block up the Haven in the following
Manner. Make a Float of great Barrels faſten
ed together, with Planks and Timbers joyned
croſs-ways to one another, and with large
Spikes and ſharp Beaks ſticking out from the
Float, and Piles with Points of Iron, ſuch as
are called ſhod Piles, to the Intent that none
of the Enemy's light Ships may dare to drive
againſt the Float with full Sails, in order to
endeavour to break or paſs it. Dawb the Float
over with Mud to ſecure it againſt Fire, and
fortify it with a Paliſado of Hurdles or ſtrong
Boards, and in convenient Places with wooden
Towers, faſtening the whole Work againſt the
Fury of the Waves with a good Number of
Anchors concealed from the Enemy. It would
not be amiſs to make ſuch a Work ſinuous or
wavy, with the Backs of the Arches turned
againſt the Streſs of the Weather, that the
Float may bear the lefs upon its Anchors.
But upon this Subject, thus much may ſuffice.
CHAP. XIII.
Of the Commiſſaries, Chamberlains, publick Receivers and the like Magiſtrates,
whoſe Buſineſs is to ſupply and preſide over the publick Granaries, Chambers
of Accompts, Arſenals, Marts, Docks and Stables; as alſo of the three Sorts
of Priſons, their Structures, Situations and Compartitions.
whoſe Buſineſs is to ſupply and preſide over the publick Granaries, Chambers
of Accompts, Arſenals, Marts, Docks and Stables; as alſo of the three Sorts
of Priſons, their Structures, Situations and Compartitions.
Now as the Execution of all theſe
Things requires good Store of Proviſi
ons, and of Treaſures to ſupply the Expence;
it will be neceſſary to ſay ſomething of the Ma
giſtrates who have the Care of this Part of the
Buſineſs; as for Inſtance, Commiſſaries, Cham
berlains, publick Receivers, and the like, for
whom the following Structures muſt Be erect
ed: The Granary, the Chamber for keeping
the Treaſures, the Arſenal, the Mart or Place
for the tranſacting Commerce, the Dock and
the publick Stables for Horſes. We ſhall have
but little to ſay here upon theſe Heads, but
that little muſt not be neglected. It is evident
to every Man's Reaſon, that the Granary, the
Chamber of Accompts, and the Arſenal or
Magazine for Arms ought to be placed in the
Heart of the City, and in the Place of great
eſt Honour, for the greater Security and Con
veniency. The Docks or Arſenals for Ship
ping ſhould be placed at a Diſtance from the
Houſes of the Citizens, for fear of Fire. We
ſhould alſo be ſure, in this laſt Sort of Struc
ture, to raife a good many entire Party-walls
Things requires good Store of Proviſi
ons, and of Treaſures to ſupply the Expence;
it will be neceſſary to ſay ſomething of the Ma
giſtrates who have the Care of this Part of the
Buſineſs; as for Inſtance, Commiſſaries, Cham
berlains, publick Receivers, and the like, for
whom the following Structures muſt Be erect
ed: The Granary, the Chamber for keeping
the Treaſures, the Arſenal, the Mart or Place
for the tranſacting Commerce, the Dock and
the publick Stables for Horſes. We ſhall have
but little to ſay here upon theſe Heads, but
that little muſt not be neglected. It is evident
to every Man's Reaſon, that the Granary, the
Chamber of Accompts, and the Arſenal or
Magazine for Arms ought to be placed in the
Heart of the City, and in the Place of great
eſt Honour, for the greater Security and Con
veniency. The Docks or Arſenals for Ship
ping ſhould be placed at a Diſtance from the
Houſes of the Citizens, for fear of Fire. We
ſhould alſo be ſure, in this laſt Sort of Struc
ture, to raife a good many entire Party-walls