now used in Portsmouth Harbour . 191 



Copy of a Letter addressed to the Hon. the Navy Board. 



Portsmouth-yard, Nov. 2, 2814. 



HoNOURAELE SIRS, — Haviiig from my first appointment to 

 Portsmouth-yard as junior master attendant, dedicated as much 

 time and attention as in mv power towards acquiring a ;horough 

 knowledge of the harbour, both as to the depth of water and 

 quality of the ground, and also to the method of preparing and 

 laying down moorings, together with any improvements that 

 might be made, either for their security or for increasing their 

 nimbers by a more advantageous arrangement, or by laying 

 down additional ones where found practicable: 



I h?.ve in the course of my practice (which has been now up- 

 wards of 19 years) experienced many inconveniences, which I 

 have long conceived might be removed by making some alteration 

 in the manner of securing the ground-chain. 



I have likewise been of opinion from an early period after my 

 appointment, that many advantageous alterations might be made 

 an^.ong the moorings in various parts of the harbour, as well as 

 that new moorings might be laid down both for ships of the line 

 and frigates in the different lakes; and having'submitted the same 

 to your Honourable Board by letters of the 30th April 1812, and 

 26th July 1814, was directed by your warrants of the Sth May 

 1812, and 2Sth July 1814, to carry the propositions into effect : 

 in consequence of which, several alterations have been made, and 

 many new moorings laid down, and much may yet be done when 

 the other duties of the port will admit : but as I am preparing a 

 plan of tlie harbour, which will show the alterations, k.c. much 

 plainer than any written description, I shall decline saying more 

 at present, and endeavour to describe the manner of securing the 

 ground-chain, with the inconveniences alluded to. 



The ground-chain of all the swinging moorings in the harbour 

 is secured as follows : 



One end is fixed to what is termed a claw, namely, a frame of 

 wood, with an iron ring in the front for shackling the cliain to, 

 which claw is buried below the surface from 2 to 3 feet, by dig- 

 ging away the mud or ground as near the low water m:irk at 

 spring tides as circumstances will admit, with piles driven in the 

 front, and when completed, the mud which has been removed is 

 thrown on the claw so as to cover it. 



The oilier end of the chain is secured by a mooring anchor, 

 namely, two anchors of about 70 cwt. each, in one stock, with 

 their )ip|)er hooks eitiicr taken off or beaten down on the shank ; 

 this is for lineof-l)attlc ships' moorings ; frig;itcs' moorings have 

 only one anchor of al)out (iO cwt. 



From this harbour having for some years become a rendezvous 

 for ships in the transport service, and tiierel)v crowded with ships 



of 



