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Article LETTERS FROM T. DUNCKERLEY, ESQ. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Letters From T. Dunckerley, Esq.
LETTERS FROM T . DUNCKERLEY , ESQ .
TO THE LATE EARL OF CHESTERFIELD .
LETTER II .
J Port Mabon , on the Island of Minorca , June r , 174 8 . I HAD the honour of sending to your Lordship some account of St . George ' s Cave at Gibraltar , and now proceed to give you a description of that garrison . Gibraltar is a very high and steep lull , of an oblong figure , arising . out of a plain almost perpendicular , which adds greatly to its loftiness .
This place is the key to the Mediterranean , by reason that no fleet can pass to or from it unobserved or unlicensed by the masters of this important spot , which were formerly the Spaniards , but at present the English . Though the fortifications- of this place are universally allowed to be the most regular and strong imaginable , yet is all that art has effected but a poor superstructure upon the most wonderful
production of nature , who seems to have played the engineer here with utmost skill . The Eastern , or back part of the hill , is one continued horrid precipice ; the North side , which arises out of a low marshy plain , is extremely rugged and steep ; and the South part , or Europa Point , is also very steep , and runs out into the sea . On the North side , towards the Spanish lines ( the advanced posts of which are not above a pistol-shot from ours ) , on the declivity of the hill , is
a very strong battery of several brass pieces , called Willis s Battery , which has communication under ground with the lines which run up the side of the hill , and ate , as I am informed by connoisseurs , of incredible strength ; all along the side , and up to the top of the hill , appear the vestiges of the old Moorish lines , cast up by them when they were in possession of this place ; there are , also , the ruins of an old Moorish castle . At the top of the hill is the Signal-house
, which has a most extensive prospect , and from whence , by signals , the garrison is informed bf whatever ships are , either coming into or going out of the Streig hts . Towards Europa Point , on the South side of the hill , is the New Mole , capable of containing ships of the greatest burthen , where our men of war commonly heave down and refit : a little above thisupon the side of the hillis
, , the hospital for sick and wounded seamen . This is a very good building on the inside ; the wards are very neat and clean ; there is a large spacious court-yard in the middle , surrounded by several apartments , which are built upon piazzas , and form an open kind VOL . III . Q
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Letters From T. Dunckerley, Esq.
LETTERS FROM T . DUNCKERLEY , ESQ .
TO THE LATE EARL OF CHESTERFIELD .
LETTER II .
J Port Mabon , on the Island of Minorca , June r , 174 8 . I HAD the honour of sending to your Lordship some account of St . George ' s Cave at Gibraltar , and now proceed to give you a description of that garrison . Gibraltar is a very high and steep lull , of an oblong figure , arising . out of a plain almost perpendicular , which adds greatly to its loftiness .
This place is the key to the Mediterranean , by reason that no fleet can pass to or from it unobserved or unlicensed by the masters of this important spot , which were formerly the Spaniards , but at present the English . Though the fortifications- of this place are universally allowed to be the most regular and strong imaginable , yet is all that art has effected but a poor superstructure upon the most wonderful
production of nature , who seems to have played the engineer here with utmost skill . The Eastern , or back part of the hill , is one continued horrid precipice ; the North side , which arises out of a low marshy plain , is extremely rugged and steep ; and the South part , or Europa Point , is also very steep , and runs out into the sea . On the North side , towards the Spanish lines ( the advanced posts of which are not above a pistol-shot from ours ) , on the declivity of the hill , is
a very strong battery of several brass pieces , called Willis s Battery , which has communication under ground with the lines which run up the side of the hill , and ate , as I am informed by connoisseurs , of incredible strength ; all along the side , and up to the top of the hill , appear the vestiges of the old Moorish lines , cast up by them when they were in possession of this place ; there are , also , the ruins of an old Moorish castle . At the top of the hill is the Signal-house
, which has a most extensive prospect , and from whence , by signals , the garrison is informed bf whatever ships are , either coming into or going out of the Streig hts . Towards Europa Point , on the South side of the hill , is the New Mole , capable of containing ships of the greatest burthen , where our men of war commonly heave down and refit : a little above thisupon the side of the hillis
, , the hospital for sick and wounded seamen . This is a very good building on the inside ; the wards are very neat and clean ; there is a large spacious court-yard in the middle , surrounded by several apartments , which are built upon piazzas , and form an open kind VOL . III . Q