1845.] 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECTS JOURNAL. 



95 



communication and co-operation between Dover and Falmouth, a distance of 300 rallof . 



There is everything at Portland to render the conslrnctlon of « breakwater easy, tlu-np, 

 and expeditious, ami the holdiug ground in th« road is particularly good. A large puit of 

 the island tQtiiig the bay ii Crown pr.-perly, anil containn abundance of stone. It hns 

 numerous springs, and pleuty of tiie best water may be had In any direction for the supply 

 of ships. 



The roadstead also possessesjthe advantage of an Inner harbour at WcTmouth. 



HARWICH HARBOUB. 



We have now to submit to your Lordships u few observations respecting Harwich har- 

 bour, whiih we consider one of very great importance to the tru'e of the country. 



This harbour, formed by the junction of the rivers Stour and Orwell, Is one of the finest, 

 and may be rendered one of the most useful havens in the kingdom. It has a sutticient 

 depth of water and good holding ground over an extent cupubic of containing many hun- 

 dred ships. 



But, wiih the exception of a channel of IS feet in depth, too narrow for general pur- 

 poses, the entrance to this port is not deep enough to admit ships of more than IJ feet 

 draught of water at low spring tides ; it is tUifrefore at present a tidal harbour as rcijarria 

 •hips of a larger class. 



It is remarkably well situated for the couveuience ot a north sea squadron, nnd for tl e 

 protection of the mouth of the Thames. 



It is the only safe harbour along this coa^t, and is In the direct line of traffic between 

 the Thames and the northern porta of the kingdom, as well as of the tradefrom the north 

 of Europe. 



There is a dock>'ard, with building slips belonging to the Crown, and the property under 

 the Ordminte department is extensive. 



It appears In evidence that by the falling away of Beacon Cliff, on the west side of the 

 entrance, and the lengthening out of LniTguard Point, on the east side, the harbour has 

 sustuiued great damage within the last l'r> years. 



The bottom at the entrance to the harbour, and the coast on cncii side, are composed of 

 blue or London clay, ill which are layers of "cement stone," in great demand both in 

 Knglami and on the continent. Hundreds of hands are constantly engaged in collecting 

 it, and the evidence shows that by excavating the cement stone in front of the Ordnance 

 premises, near the foot of Beacon Cliff, the water has spread so as t» be diverted from its 

 natural courKc. and the tide rendered so comparatively feeble, that it no longer acts with 

 liM accustomed force on Lnoguard Point, which has consequently grown out 600 yards 

 within the past 40 years, as shown by the plan. It has already nearly filled up the deep 

 water channel, and by its farther increase thri/atens to destroy the entrance. 



In the appendix there are reports to the Admiralty, from the officer carrying on the sur- 

 veying service in the neighbourho.>fi of Harwich, to which we beg to refer for a full con- 

 tirnmtion of our o;>inion of the necessity of taking immediate measures for the preserva- 

 lioD and improvemeut of this harbour. If this be not done soon, it is impossible to calcu- 

 late on the extent of mischief which may take place j for, on every south-west gale the 

 Beacon Cliff is in peril of being washed into the sea. 



We, therefore, feel it to be our duty to submit to your Lordships the pressing necessity 

 for carrying out a breakwater or stone groyne, from the outsitie of the Beacon Clitl, so as 

 to surround the foot of it, and to extend the same over the shoat water to the nortli part 

 of the Cllff.foot rocks, as described in the plan No. 6. 



We also recommend deepening the channel to the harbour to 18 feet at low water spring 

 tides, by removing the shoals called the "Altars/* and the eastvru part of another shoal 

 called the "Glutton," 



PROPOSED BREAKWATERS. 



Having made such observ;*tions respecting the didertnt ports as may be necessary to 



enable yeur Lordsliips to form a judgment on thi; proposals we have to submit, and having 



given to the subject referred to us all the attention which its importance demands, we le- 



I. That a harbour be constructed in Dover Bay, according to plan No. 1, with an area 

 of 320 acres up to low water mark, or .^bO acres without the two-fathom ed|;ej with an 

 entrance 70U feet wide on the south front, and another of 150 at the east end, 



Entertaining the strong opinion we have expressed of the necessity of providing, without 

 delay, a sheltered anchorage in Dover Bay, we venture to urge upon your I^ordships* at- 

 tentioo the advantage of immediately beginning the work by carrying out that portion 

 which 13 to coinmonce at CJieesmau's-Iiead. 



Whatever may be finally decided u|)nn as to the form and extent of the works in Dover 

 Bay, the pier from Cheesmao's-head, run out into seven fathoms water, appears to be 

 indispensable as n comnieucement, and it will aflbrd both facility and shelter to the works 

 to be subst'quently carried on for their completion. 



This will give sheltered jccess to the present harbour during south-west gales, and pro- 

 tect it from the entrant of shingle from the westward ; it will afford time also for ob- 

 servation on the movement of the shingle within the bay, and for further enquiry as to 

 the tendency which harbours of large area, on this part of the coast, may have to silt up. 



These enquiries the commission consider to be of essential impoitauce. and the results 

 will atford the means of determining on the greater or less width that should be given to 

 the entrances of the proposed harbour. 



'2. We propose ttiat a breakwater be constructed in Seaford Road, In a depth of about 

 seven fathoms uf water, on« mile iu extent, and sheltering an area of ;J00 acres, as shown 

 in plan No. 'J. 



3. That a l)reakwati'r be constructed in Portland Bay, to extend a mile and a quarter in 

 a north-eastern direction, from near the northern point of the island, in about seven 

 fathoms of water, having an opening of 150 feet at a quarter of a mile from the shore, and 

 ■beltering an area of nearly 1,200 acres, as shown in plan No. 3. 



If only one work is to be imdertaken at a time, we give the preference to Dover , dcaI t 

 Portland, and thirdly to Seaford. 



MODE OF CONSTRUCTION. 



Various plans for constructing breakwaters have been laid before us by highly intelli- 



gent individuals^ whose projects are noted in the appendix, and fully explained in the 



We are directed by your Lordships to report on the expense to be incurred by the com- 

 pletion of the worlcs which we recommend; but, as no approximate estimate of this can 

 be made without determining the general principles and modes of construction, we have 

 examined the engineers who have come before us and other authorities upon these im- 

 purtant poinLs. 



The various opinions have been considered by the commission, who prefer for the con- 

 struction of breakwaters, and for the security of the works of defence upon them, the 

 erec^tion of walls of masonry. 



The commission do not olfer any opinion as to the profile or degree of slope necessary 

 to insure to the structure the requisite stability. They consider that this will be best de- 

 cided by the (iovernment, uuder professional advice, when the works shall be finally de- 

 termined on. 



Th«» cost of cither mode of construction having been stated to be nearly the same, 

 whether It be masonry or a long slope of lough stone similar to that of Plymouth break- 

 1 beg to lay before your Lordships an approximate estimate of the 



lar- ..:.. 



Dover 

 Seaford 



Portland 



MILITAUY DEFENCES, 



The military members of the commission are of opinion that there will be no difficulty 

 in providing fur the defence of the proposed harboui-s. 



'i'liey recommend that cahomatvd butteries be constructed on the breakwaters thim- 

 eclves, and that these should be supported by works and defences on the shore, flanking 

 the approach to them and to the entrance to the harbours. 



At Dover and Seaford there nlready oxist works of defence contimious to the alta of the 

 ]iro))03ed breakwaters, capable of being adapted to this object. 



The islami of Portland possesses gieat natural advantages for defence, atid for the 

 formation of a naval and military depdt, during war, to nny extent that may be required. 



The military olficers are further of opinion, that the position and conitruction of the 

 works necessary for the defence of the proposed harbours cannot be decided on until the 

 exact site and relation of the latter to th« sliore shall have been finally determined. 



CONCLUSION. 

 The commission cannot close their report without expressing In the strongest terms 

 their unanimous opinion and entire conviction that measures are indispensably necessary 

 to give to the south-eastern frontier of the kingdom means and faciliti«B, which it does 

 not now possess, for powerful naval protection. Witliout any, except tidal harbours along 

 the whole coast between Portsmouth and the Thames, and none accessible to large 

 sleamers, there is now, when steam points to such great changes in maritime affairs, an 

 imperative necessary for supplying, by artificial means, the want of harbours throughout 

 the narrow part of the channel. 



The distance chart which accompanies this report shows the positions where. If our 

 recommendations are carried out, harbours of refu^^e or well-protected roadsteads will 

 afford shelter to our commi-rce. By these muans, and with the advantages of steam by 

 sea, aiui of railroads and telegraphic communication by land, the naval and military force 

 of the country may be tlirown in gmat strength upon any poiutof thecoastln a few hours. 

 The several recommendations we have thought it our duty to lay before your Lordships 

 must, if adopted, occasion a large outlay of the public money, but when life, property, 

 and national security are the inteiests at stake, we do not believe that pecuniary conside- 

 rations will be allowed to impede the accomplishment of objects of such vast importance. 



T. BVAM BLIRTIN. Admiral, Chairman. 



HOWARD DOUGLAS, Lieutenunt-Geaeral. 



J. D. DUNDAS, Rear-Admiral. 



J. H. PELLY. 



PETER KISHKB. Captain, U.N. 



J. N. COLQUHOUN, Lieutenant-Colonel. R.A, 



B. C. ALDKRSON. Lieutenant-Colonel, R.E. 



JOHN WASHINGTON, Captain, R.N. 



J. WALKER. 

 I dissent from this report, because I consider the mass of evidence to be in favour of 

 Dungeness, and because I cannot recommend a large close harbour at Dover, where the 

 jdlots consider the holding-ground generolly indifferent, and the engineers say it will silt 

 up. 



W. 8YM0NDS, Surveyor of. the Navy. 



K.\uNSTADT, IN W'lRTEMBURG. — A Very cxtensive and splendid structure has 



been erected at this place, containing baths, picture and other gal.eries, various rooms lor 

 balls and assemblies, and above all very spacious conser^-ctories, furnished with the choicest 

 plants and disposed iu the most tasteful manner. What name it is to bear does not seem 

 to b'.: yet determined upon, so at present it goes only by the one which it has obtained 

 from the public, of ' Das Maurische Bad,' or the Moorish Bath, in consequence of its being 

 in the Moorish style. It Is constructed of utone of two different lints, laid in alternate 

 courses, and all the architectural members and ornamental details are said to be faithfully 

 rendered from the finest specimens of Arabian architecture iu Spain. In fact, Zanth's 

 (the architect) name is of itsalf almost sufficient pledge for refined taste and most careful 

 study of decoration. No doubt, too, he has availed himself of our own countryman, Owen 

 Jones's magnificent work wn the Alhambra. One conspicuous feature in the design is a 

 copper dome, richly gilt , and the octagon conservatories, whose sides are composed of 

 rich open and lattice work filled !n with glass, have also gilded domes. Further than these 

 few and scanty particulars our information does not go at present, but we trust that we 

 shall be able to give ere long some more full and wxaci account of so singular and interest- 

 ing a building. 



Gartner's Designs. — Professor Gitrtner <,f Munich, Klrnze's successor 

 there as the king's special architect, and who has erected most of the recent monumental 

 structures iu the Bavarian capital, has just commenced a series of all the principal build- 

 ings be has executed, herein foollowiui; the laudable example of both Schinkel and Klenze. 

 We have not yet actually seen tlie publication, but have little doubt it will prove a worthy 

 companion to those above-named, and an interesting and valuable acquisition to the archi- 

 tect's library, which, to say the truth, has not of late received many additions of any kind 

 to its stores. None of our English architects of the present day ever publish correct and 

 detailed designs of their buildings, although some of them, it may be presumed, have 

 executed sucii as are well deserving of being so rcpreaeutGd— very far more so, In lact, than 

 the majority of those which are engraved in previous collections. 



KxPEDiTious Bripge BuiLniNG.— Mr. Urcl^e has just erected a bridge over 

 the J;lackwater river, county Tyrone, Ireland. This bridge has been in contemplation 

 nearly forty years, the only obstacle being the immense expense of any structure on the 

 old system, and probably fur forty or a hundred years more the county would have been 

 deprived of tlje advantage now conferred, but for Mr. Dredge's estimates, and his highly 

 approved plan. Mr. Dredge has not added much to the long delay, by any dilatory pro- 

 cess of construction; when the iron was on the ground he astonisht d the pubHc with the 

 rapidity of the work, the bridge being extended and completed 'in one week.' The bridge 

 is 74 feet span, and for the heaviest traffic. It was erected at the cost of the Earl of 

 Caledon.— ' Wiltshire Inri«penilent.' 



Strasburg Catiikdral. — llie Presse states that the belfry of the Caihedra! 

 of strasburg has deviated considerably from its perpendicular within a short time, and 

 has inclined more than six teet, calcubiting between the elevation of the summit and the 

 base. A catastrophe is feared, which the most skilful architect is incom|)et9otto ptevt-nt. 

 An Kr.EVATEi) .Ska-Beacu. — Ihe (iperalions of opening the ground for the 

 Granton Railway has exposed an interesting section of alluvial soil at Wardie. At'ter a 

 surface of sandy loam, mixed with some peaty substances, from the decay of vegetable 

 remains, there is exposed, at the depth of two or three feet, u bed of sea sand, on the sur- 

 f.ict* of which lie pebbles and sea shells, Imlicuting in the most distinct manner the n - 

 mains of a sea-beach. The shells are smooth and waterworn, and are iirincipally apec'- 

 mens of the univalves, which exist at present on the neighbouring shores. This deposit 

 is elevated about ten or twelve feet, as far as may be hurriedly guessed, absve the level of 

 high water tides— no great elevation when considered geologlcaUy, but still not the less 

 interesting.— 'Caledonian Mercury.' 



Plating upon SrEE!,.— At the Paris Academy of Sciences, Dec. 30 a com- 

 munication was received from M. Desbordeaux.of Caen, proposing a mode of plating upoa 

 steel by the galvonic process. In the mode of operating practised by Mu^sra. Ruoti and 

 Elkint'ion, it is found necessary to cover the article which is to he silvered with a slight 

 coating of copper, without whiih the steel will not receive the silver. M. Dehbordeaux 

 states that the necessity for this coating of copper nmy be avoided by plunging the article 

 for a few seconds in a mixture composed ut one gramme of nitrate of silver, one grainVie 

 of nitrate of mercury, lour grammes of nitric acid, at forty o I Beaun 

 IW grauinies of dhtiUvd water. 



