BY G. A. MORELL, ESQ., C.E. >_>.-; 



venture to force a passage under the fire of strong batteries, with 

 heavy guns at George Head and Green Point, supported by 

 others on Middle Head and Inner South Head. Vessels would be 

 raked fore and aft by two batteries in whatever position they should 

 occupy, and a rapid and accurate fire from heavy guns would 

 soon oblige them to surrender or drive them on the shoal in their 

 attempt to retreat. The firing of the enemy could not do much 

 damage to strong works constructed at a proper elevation to 

 resist shot and shell, whereas the enemy would be exposed to the 

 fire of our batteries, from which every shot would tell with 

 unerring precision. 



In order to be prepared in case of surprise we ought to have 

 two strong batteries within the obstructions, one on Shark Point 

 and the other on Bradley Point ; a strong iron fort on the " Sow 

 and Pigs" rock, with the heaviest guns procurable, would prove the 

 most formidable of all our works, for every shot from these guns 

 at such short ranges could sink a vessel. Subsidiary Works on 

 Point Piper, Darling Point, and Careening Point would also be 

 required, to be furnished with guns from Head-quarters when 

 necessary. The lower part of the Harbour below Dawes Point 

 must likewise be protected by similar works on Fort Phillip, 

 Goat Island, and Long Nose Point. 



The comparative economy of the second system of defence 

 was my reason for proposing it to the Select Committee of the 

 Legislative Assembly on Harbour Defences. 



The plan I then proposed consists of: 



A Tower, on the " Sow and Pigs" rock, covered with 6-inch 

 armour plates, backed with timber and Iron frames, armed with 

 one 60(Kpounder Armstrong rifled shunt gun, mounted under a 

 cupola (non-revolving), and with two 300-pouncler Armstrong 

 rifled shunt guns mounted on traversing platforms and turn-tables ; 

 the guns to fire through embrasures. 



Four Dykes partly closing the entrance of the Harbour at the 

 " Sow and Pigs" Shoal, and leaving two openings for navigation of 

 400 yards each, one in the Western Channel and one in the Eastern. 



Movable booms to be stretched across the channel between 

 the dykes, or removed on each side of them when the passages 

 are open. 



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