SIR, TO THE EDITOR OF THE NAVAL CHRONICLE. IT is much to be wished, that our naval officers, when describing an action, would be more particular in mentioning the wind, the weather, and the situation of their ships, or that of the different ships of their squadron, as to the tack on which they were in action, and what sail the ship carried at the time, whether double, close-reefed, or whole top-sails. I also, Mr. Editor, take this opportunity to notice a considerable change, which lately has taken place in sea-terms: for merly the term to bear down was used, when putting before the wind, or going large; whereas now the term in vogue is, to bear up.-Q. Do they mean putting the helm up, when they use this expression? otherwise it must be bearing down, or rather to bear down ; a vessel to leeward is downward, being from the wind, 1. I am, Sir, Your constant reader, G. G. S. It The following Letter from CAPTAIN POPHAM of the Navy, to General SIR CHARLES GREY, was written at the Time the former was employed to establish SEA FENCIBLES on the Coast of Sussex. contains some useful hints for the Mode of Defence, had the Enemy put his Threats of Invasion into Execution. SIR, CONSIDERING my appointment as commanding the Sea Fen cibles from Beachy Head to Deal inclusive, I feel it not only my duty, but very much my inclination, to submit to you such ideas as have suggested themselves to me, on the practicability of the enemy's landing in the above district; to which, although it may be correct to confine a public report, yet I hope I shall not be marked as impertinent in cases, where I presume to make any observation beyond the limits of my station. It cannot be supposed that a predatory incursion, or partial invasion, will have any effect on this Country beyond the first moments of its operation; consequently it is necessary to determine with what wind a general invasion may be made, so as to comprehenend the coasts of Essex, Sussex, and Kent, which are all the coasts that cap be possibly estimated as within the narrow seas; but to make the combination complete, it must also be considered what wind will permit the transports to sail out of every port in Holland, Flanders, and France, to the eastward of Havre de Grace, and at the same time insure the smoothest water on the coast of England; because they can have no covering navy, and must very much depend on small vessels for the advantage of beaching *. The wind from E. to E N. E. will enable them to sail from the Brille, Helvoetsluys, and Flushing, for the southern part of Suffolk, and the coast of Essex; that is, from Orfordness to Malden river. The distance across the sea may be about thirty-five leagues, From Sluys, Ostend, Nieuport, and Dunkirk, the same wind will carry them through the Queen's Channel, and South Channel, up the Swale; and the distance from Sluys, which is the easternmost port to Faversham, will not exceed 30 leagues; and I believe it will scarce be necessary for me to say, that they have more schoots and bilanders in Holland, than they can have occasion for on such an expedition; and that the turbot men are as well acquainted with the coasts of Kent and Essex, and the channels leading to the Thames, as our own pilots. Taking it for granted that the invasion will be confined to the narrow seas, unless an attempt is made on Guernsey or Jersey, previous to its commencement, I have named in the margin† the number of places, from whence an embarkation may be made, between Gravelines and Havre; and I shall now proceed to offer a few remarks on the coast between the South Foreland and Beachy, which is the western limit of my district; at the same time, Sir, I assure you I shall be much flattered to be asked an opinion of any other part of the coast, where my local knowledge may enable me to assist you. The fleet in the Downs, with the Goodwin Sands, are such securi. ties to the coast, between the two forelands, that little is to be apprehended in that space. In Eastware Bay, which is about a mile and a quarter long, a landing may be effected; but it is so surrounded with cliffs, that I think the attempt would be very dangerous, as the enemy cannot expect any immediate support from the eastward. From a little westward of Folkstone, to the sea wall near Dymchurch, there is a fine bay of six miles, in which infantry may land at any time, and cannon and cavalry may be landed at half tide; and in many places, particularly near Sandgate Castle, it is so bold a shore, that large ships may anchor within half a mile, in case the enemy mean to use any of the Dutch men of war to cover their landing. In severe frosts, with light moderate S. É winds, it is remarked that there is by no means so much surf on the coast, as with the same portion of wind in ppen weather. + Gravelines Calais St. Vallery Havre de Grace Distance from these places to the S W. coast of Kent, and coast of Sussex, from 18 to 25 leagues. To the westward of Dymchurch the land begins to trench to the southward, and consequently the E. N. E. wind, which I hold out as the best wind for a general invasion, would make so much sea from thence to the Ness Point, that it would be impossible to attempt a landing; independent of which, the shore is so flat at and near Romney, that under the most favourable circumstances of wind and weather, the enemy could only land infantry in small boats, except at high water. From the Ness Point to the entrance of Rye Old Harbour, there is a fine shingle beach, steep too, and with an easterly wind it is as smooth as possible. From Rye Old Harbour to Hooksledge, or the end of Pitlevel, a distance of five miles, there is an uncommon fine beach of sand and shingle, on which, with an easterly wind, a debarkation to any extent may be made. In this space there is an harbour of more consequence than people are in general aware of; it is formed by a natural beach thrown up parallel to the shore, and at right angles with the entrance of Rye New Harbour; it is called Providence Harbour, and the sketch, which I have the honour to lay before you, will give you some idea of it, till I have an opportunity of completing a survey of it for the information of government :-but in the interim I have reported to the Admiralty in a few words, that I have seen fifteen square-rigged vessels lie there; that large cutters drawing eleven feet water use it; but as there is not more than two feet at low water over a muddy bottom, any vessels they chuse to send there must take the ground. The tide runs on the springs from eleven to eighteen feet; and with a very trifling expence, and a little exertion, vessels of ten feet draught of water may be got out, and in, at half tide; but unless it is thought an object to give the harbour some protection, I left it for their superior judgment to decide, whether it would not be more politic to block it up than to open it. I believe the harbour would be completely under the range of mortars from Winchelsea Terrace; but of this, Sir, you must be the best judge, nor should I now have presumed to touch on this subject, had I not observed mortars dismounted lying on the coast. From Hooksledge, to Hastings, there is an inaccessible cliff of five miles, having only two narrow passes, Ecclesbourne and Govers; from Hastings to Bowpeep Barracks the shore is rocky, and a landing would be attended with some risk at low water; but from Bowpeep to Bulverhithe, a distance of two miles, there is probably as fine a beach as any in the world to land infantry, cavalry, or cannon; and large ships may anchor within half a mile of the shore. From Bulverhithe Point about four miles to the westward, the shore is rocky, and cannot be used at low water; from thence to Beachy Head, there is in general so fine a beach, that a landing may be made at any time of tide; but an E. N. E. wind would make a considerable sea from Pevensey to Langney Point, as the coast trenches there much to the southward; but from Langley Point nearly to the pitch of Beachy Head, the water would be perfectly smooth. Although I have pointed out some spots between Hastings and Beachy, that are rocky, yet they are not to be considered as barriers to a general debarkation in this bay, which certainly presents itself as a very spacious one, with the advantage of having been used with success on a former occasion: but you, Sir, must be the best judge of the back country, and the opposition an enemy may meet in this extent of eighteen miles. From Beachy Head to Selsey Bill, there are some partial spots that are rocky, but an E. N. E. wind makes such smooth water along the coast, that the rocks can scarcely be said to prevent any part of it being made use for the purpose of debarkation; but I take it for granted that the commanding officer of that district will send you a report as to the coast, harbours, &c. &c. &c. I am now building at Dover a Row Galley, to carry one heavy gun, and I think the Admiralty will give orders for others of the same description to be built; indeed they have applied to the Treasury at my instance, to order three smuggling vessels, lately taken by the custom-house cutters, to be delivered over to me for the purpose of being lengthened and fitted as galleys; and when I get these vessels under my orders, I think I shall be able to prevent the French row boats from coming near this coast, either to reconnoitre, or annoy our trade. I hope, Sir, in a few days, to be enabled to wait on you with a return of the number of men, we are likely to obtain as Sea Fencibles, and to take your orders as to their disposition. Your devoted humble servant, I have the honor to be, Sir, Dover, 6th April 1798. H. P. PRINCIPAL INVASIONS OF ENGLAND BY SEA. INVADED by Sweyn, King of Denmark 1103 1013 NAVAL LITERATURE. Voyages to the East Indies by the late John Splinter Stavorinus, Esq. in the Years 1768-1771; in 1774 and 1775; and 1775-1778 Rear Admiral in the Service of the States General. Translated from the original Dutch by Samuel Hull Wilcocke, with considerable Notes, and Additions, in three Volumes, 8vo. illustrated with Maps. The whole comprising a full and accurate Account of all the present and late Possessions of the Dutch in India, and at the Cape of Good Hope, with a general Index. Robinsons. 1. 4s. 1798.-Volume the first considered, containing the Years 1768-1771. Pages 572. THE HE original of this work constituted two distinct ones; the Voyage to Batavia, Bantam, and Bengal ; and the Voyage to Samarang, Macasser, Amboyna, &c. owing to which some repetitions have been introduced. The translator has corrected passages that were incorrect in the original, and also the typographical errors, and mistakes in numerical characters, with which it abounded. The notes, and additions, that make a very valuable part of the work, were inserted from the Dutch writers, from authentic documents, manuscripts, and statements; and, in a few instances, from oral information. Mr. Wilcocke, the translator, had been long employed in collecting materials, with an idea of forming them into a general account of the Dutch Indian settlements; but meeting with these Voyages, he incorporated the whole with them as notes, During a long period of peace, Mr. Stavorinus, in the year 1768, requested permission of the States to be allowed to go to the East Indies, as captain in the employ of the Dutch East India Company, retaining however his rank of post captain in the navy. He was afterwards promoted to the rank of rear admiral, which he held at the time of his death. We found this volume improve considerably as we advanced in its perusal. The first pages are certainly not among the most interesting, or the best composed but the reader, who examines the whole of the work, will find much commend, with an ample source of information, at the |