70 Geographical Ohfervations upon the Sea Co a β 



Gate of the Sea, which confifting of a double Row of Cannon, 

 commands the Entrance into the Port, and the Road before It. 

 Th.'^port. jj^e Pqj.|- jg of an oblong Figure, a hundred and thirty Fa- 

 thom long, and eighty broad. The Eaftern Mound of It, which 

 w msioxmQUy The IJland, is well fecured by feveral Fortifications. 

 "^hJlfh" ^^'^^ Round Cafile, (built by the Spaniards whilil they were Ma- 

 ilers of The Ifland) and the two remote Batteries, (erefted with- 

 in this Century) are faid to be Bomh-Troof\ and have each of 

 them Their lower Emhrafures mounted with thirty fix Pounders. 

 But the middle Battery, which appears to be the oldeil, is of 

 the lea ft Defence. Yet it maybe obferved, as none of the For- 

 tifications I have mentioned are afliited with either Mines or 

 advanced Works•, and as the Soldiers, who are to guard and de- 

 fend Them,camiot be kept up to any regular Courfes of Duty and 

 Attendance, that a few refolute Battalions, proteoled even by a 

 fmall Squadron of Ships, would have no great Difficulty to make 

 Themfelves quickly Mafters of the very ftrongeit of Them. 

 The Navy. j|^^ uaval Forcc of the y^lgerines hath been for fome Years 

 in a declining Condition. If we except Their Row-Boats and 

 Brigantines, They had A. D. MDCCXXXII only half a dozen 

 capital Ships, from thirty fix to fifty Guns ; and at the fame Time 

 had not half that Number of brave and experienced Captains. 

 A general Peace with the Three trading Nations, and the Im- 

 poifibiUty of keeping up a fuitable Difcipline, where every pri- 

 vate Soldier difputes Authority with His Officer, are fome of 

 the principal Reafons, why fo fmall a Number of VefTels are 

 fitted out, and why fo few Perfons of Merit are afterwards will- 

 ing to command Them. Their Want likewife of Experience, 

 with the few Engagements They have been lately concerned in 

 at Sea^ have equally contributed to This Diminution of Their 

 naval Characler. However, if, by proper Difcipline and Encou- 

 ragement, they fliould once more affume Their wonted Cou- 1 

 rage and Bravery, They have always in Readinefs fuch a Quan- 

 tity of naval Stores, as will put Them in a Capacity of making 

 confiderable Augmentations to Their Fleet : though, even at pre- 

 fent, we find Them troublefome enough to the Trade oi Europe. 

 Few Α,,ιψι- There is little within the City, that merits the Attention of 

 giers.' ^ ' the Curious. Upon the Tower of the great Mojqiie, we have 

 fome broken Infcriptions ; but the Letters, (though of a fuffi- 

 cient Bignefs to be feen at a Diftance) are all of Them filled up 

 ':• to 



