JV in Chester 



never dared to approach within reach of the fort. 

 It is a regular square fortification, with four bastions, 

 mounting twenty-four cannon; the length of each 

 curtain, if I am not mistaken, is about eighty yards. 

 Within, there are barracks for 450 men. The 

 materials of which it is constructed are logs filled 

 up with earth: the soldiers attempted to surround 

 it with a dry ditch; but the rock was so extremely 

 hard and impenetrable that they were obliged to 

 desist. It is still unfinished; and, I fear, going to 

 ruin; for the assembly, who seldom look a great way 

 before them, after having spent about 9,000 1. cur- 

 rency upon it, cannot be prevailed upon to give 

 another thousand towards finishing it, because we 

 are in possession of Pittsburg; and, as they suppose, 

 quite secure on this account; yet it is certain, that, 

 in case of another Indian war on this side, which is 

 by no means improbable, considering our general 

 treatment of that people, it would be of the utmost 

 advantage and security. 



There is a peculiarity in the water at Winchester, 

 owing, I was told, to the soil's being of a limy quality, 

 which is frequently productive of severe gripings, 

 especially in strangers; but it is generally supposed, 

 on the other hand, to be specific against some other 

 diseases.* 



* Professor Haller, in his notes to the German translation of 

 this book, supposes that the water at Winchester may be impreg- 

 nated with Vitriolic Magnesia, Sal Amarum. 



[75] 



