CHAP. IX. ItOYAL DOCKYAEDS. 243 



the strong opinion that the political importance of adopt- 

 ing such a measure would far outweigh the expense, 

 however large, which it might be necessary in the first 

 place to incur. 



The subject was felt by the Admiralty authorities to 

 be of so much importance, that Mr. Rennie was again 

 requested to report as to the most advisable site for 

 a great naval harbour and arsenal such as he had pro- 

 posed ; and he was requested by Lord Howick (then 

 First Lord) more particularly to state his views as 

 to the eligibility of Northfleet on the Thames, which 

 had been suggested as the most desirable situation. 

 In his visit of inspection to the place, Mr. Rennie 

 was accompanied by his venerable friend James Watt, 

 and his confidential assistant Mr. Southern, together 

 with Mr. Whidbey, acting master-attendant at Wool- 

 wich Dockyard ; and he had the benefit of their great 

 experience in assisting him to mature the design which 

 he shortly laid before the Admiralty for their con- 

 sideration. The site seemed to him most convenient for 

 the purpose. " Northfleet," he said, " possesses every 

 advantage that can possibly be wished for in a naval 

 station, and it is capable of being rendered as complete 

 and perfect an establishment as can be made for building, 

 repairing, and fitting out vessels of war of all classes, 

 011 the largest scale." The Thames at that point pre- 

 sented abundant depth of water ; there was a large space 

 of flat land available for the harbour and docks, which 

 might be so laid out as to be almost indefinitely extended ; 

 the situation was on the weather shore, well protected, 

 and capable of being strongly defended ; it would be in 

 direct connection by water with Woolwich, Deptford, 

 and London, as well as with Chatham and Sheerness ; 

 and as a great national harbour and arsenal he regarded 

 its situation on the Thames, at the entrance to the greatest 

 port in the world, as in all respects the most suitable and 

 appropriate. Accompanying his report was a carefully 



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