1make Choice of that Haven into whoſe Mouth
none blow but the moſt gentle and temperate
Winds, and where you may enter or go out,
with the moſt eaſy Breezes, without being
forced to wait too long for them.
none blow but the moſt gentle and temperate
Winds, and where you may enter or go out,
with the moſt eaſy Breezes, without being
forced to wait too long for them.
THEY ſay, that of all Winds the North is
the gentleſt; and that when the Sea is di
ſturbed by this Wind, as ſoon as ever the
Wind ceaſes, it is calm again: But if a South
wind raiſes a Storm, the Sea continues turbu
lent a long while. But as Places are various,
our Buſineſs is to chuſe ſuch a one as is beſt
provided with all Conveniencies for Shipping:
we muſt be ſure to have ſuch a Depth, in the
Mouth, Boſem and Sides of the Haven, as
will nor refuſe Ships of Burthen, though
ever ſo deep laden; the Bottom too ought to
be clear, and not ſull of any Sort of Weeds:
Though, ſometimes, thick entangled Weeds
are of a good deal of Uſe in faſtening the An
chor. Yet I ſhould rather chuſe an Haven
that does not produce any thing which can
contaminate the Purity of the Air, or preju
dice the Ships, as Ruſhes and Weeds which
grow in the Water really do; for they en
gender a great many Kinds of Worms which
get into the Timbers of the Veſſel, and the
rotting of the Weeds raiſes unwholeſome Va
pours. There is another Thing which makes
an Haven noiſome and unhealthy, and that is
a Mixture of freſh Water; eſpecially Rain
water that runs down from Hills: Though I
would be ſure to have Streams and Springs in
the Neighbourhood, from whence, freſh Water
that will keep may be brought for the Uſe of
the Veſſels. A Port alſo ought to have a clear,
ſtrait and ſafe Paſſage outwards, with a Bot
tom not often ſhifting, free from all Impedi
ments, and ſecure from the Ambuſhes of Ene
mies and Pirates. Moreover, I would have
it covered with ſome high ſteep Hill, that may
be ſeen a great Way off, and ſerve as a Land
mark for the Sailors to ſteer their Courſe by.
Within the Port we ſhould make a Key and
a Bridge for the more eaſy unlading of the
Shipping. Theſe Works the Ancients raiſed
in different Ways, which it is not yet our
Time to ſpeak of; and we ſhall come to it
more properly when we ſpeak of the Method
of improving a Haven and running up a Pier.
Beſides all this, a good Haven ſhould have
Places to walk in, and a Portico and Temple,
for the Reception of Perſons that are juſt
landed; nor ſhould it want Pillars, Bars and
Rings to faſten Ships to; and there ſhould alſo
be a good Number of Warehouſes or Vaults
for the laying up of Goods. We ſhould alſo
at the Mouth erect high and ſtrong Towers,
from the Lanterns of which we may ſpy what
Sails approach, and by Fires give Directions to
the Mariners, and which by their Fortificati
ons may defend the Veſſels of our Friends, and
lay Chains acroſs the Port to keep out an
Enemy. And from the Port ſtrait thro' the
Heart of the City ought to run a large Street,
in which ſeveral other Quarters of the Town
ſhould center, that the Inhabitants may pre
ſently run thither from all Parts to repulſe any
Inſult from an Enemy. Within the Boſom of
the Haven likewiſe, ſhould be ſeveral ſmaller
Docks, where battered Veſſels may refit. But
there is one Thing which we ought not to
omit, ſince it relates entirely to the Haven;
which is, that there have been, and now are,
many famous Cities, whoſe greateſt Security
has lain in the unſafe and uncertain Entrance
of their Harbours, and from the Variety of its
Channels made almoſt hourly for the con
tinual Alteration of the Bottom. Thus much
we thought proper to ſay of publick Works in
the univerſal Acceptation; and I cannot tell
whether there is any Occaſion to add what
ſome inſiſt upon, that there ought to be ſe
veral Squares laid out in different Parts of the
City, ſome for the expoſing of Merchandizes
to ſale in Time of Peace; others for the Exer
ciſes proper for Youth; and others for laying
up Stores in Time of War, of Timber, For
age, and the like Proviſions neceſſary for the
ſuſtaining of a Siege. As for Temples, Cha
pels, Halls for the Adminiſtration of Juſtice,
and Places for Shows, they are Buildings that,
tho' for publick Uſe, are yet the Property of
only a few Perſons; which are the Prieſts
and Magiſtrates; and therefore we ſhall treat
of them in their proper Places.
the gentleſt; and that when the Sea is di
ſturbed by this Wind, as ſoon as ever the
Wind ceaſes, it is calm again: But if a South
wind raiſes a Storm, the Sea continues turbu
lent a long while. But as Places are various,
our Buſineſs is to chuſe ſuch a one as is beſt
provided with all Conveniencies for Shipping:
we muſt be ſure to have ſuch a Depth, in the
Mouth, Boſem and Sides of the Haven, as
will nor refuſe Ships of Burthen, though
ever ſo deep laden; the Bottom too ought to
be clear, and not ſull of any Sort of Weeds:
Though, ſometimes, thick entangled Weeds
are of a good deal of Uſe in faſtening the An
chor. Yet I ſhould rather chuſe an Haven
that does not produce any thing which can
contaminate the Purity of the Air, or preju
dice the Ships, as Ruſhes and Weeds which
grow in the Water really do; for they en
gender a great many Kinds of Worms which
get into the Timbers of the Veſſel, and the
rotting of the Weeds raiſes unwholeſome Va
pours. There is another Thing which makes
an Haven noiſome and unhealthy, and that is
a Mixture of freſh Water; eſpecially Rain
water that runs down from Hills: Though I
would be ſure to have Streams and Springs in
the Neighbourhood, from whence, freſh Water
that will keep may be brought for the Uſe of
the Veſſels. A Port alſo ought to have a clear,
ſtrait and ſafe Paſſage outwards, with a Bot
tom not often ſhifting, free from all Impedi
ments, and ſecure from the Ambuſhes of Ene
mies and Pirates. Moreover, I would have
it covered with ſome high ſteep Hill, that may
be ſeen a great Way off, and ſerve as a Land
mark for the Sailors to ſteer their Courſe by.
Within the Port we ſhould make a Key and
a Bridge for the more eaſy unlading of the
Shipping. Theſe Works the Ancients raiſed
in different Ways, which it is not yet our
Time to ſpeak of; and we ſhall come to it
more properly when we ſpeak of the Method
of improving a Haven and running up a Pier.
Beſides all this, a good Haven ſhould have
Places to walk in, and a Portico and Temple,
for the Reception of Perſons that are juſt
landed; nor ſhould it want Pillars, Bars and
Rings to faſten Ships to; and there ſhould alſo
be a good Number of Warehouſes or Vaults
for the laying up of Goods. We ſhould alſo
at the Mouth erect high and ſtrong Towers,
from the Lanterns of which we may ſpy what
Sails approach, and by Fires give Directions to
the Mariners, and which by their Fortificati
ons may defend the Veſſels of our Friends, and
lay Chains acroſs the Port to keep out an
Enemy. And from the Port ſtrait thro' the
Heart of the City ought to run a large Street,
in which ſeveral other Quarters of the Town
ſhould center, that the Inhabitants may pre
ſently run thither from all Parts to repulſe any
Inſult from an Enemy. Within the Boſom of
the Haven likewiſe, ſhould be ſeveral ſmaller
Docks, where battered Veſſels may refit. But
there is one Thing which we ought not to
omit, ſince it relates entirely to the Haven;
which is, that there have been, and now are,
many famous Cities, whoſe greateſt Security
has lain in the unſafe and uncertain Entrance
of their Harbours, and from the Variety of its
Channels made almoſt hourly for the con
tinual Alteration of the Bottom. Thus much
we thought proper to ſay of publick Works in
the univerſal Acceptation; and I cannot tell
whether there is any Occaſion to add what
ſome inſiſt upon, that there ought to be ſe
veral Squares laid out in different Parts of the
City, ſome for the expoſing of Merchandizes
to ſale in Time of Peace; others for the Exer
ciſes proper for Youth; and others for laying
up Stores in Time of War, of Timber, For
age, and the like Proviſions neceſſary for the
ſuſtaining of a Siege. As for Temples, Cha
pels, Halls for the Adminiſtration of Juſtice,
and Places for Shows, they are Buildings that,
tho' for publick Uſe, are yet the Property of
only a few Perſons; which are the Prieſts
and Magiſtrates; and therefore we ſhall treat
of them in their proper Places.
The End of Book IV.