258 PLYMOUTH BREAKWATER. PART VII. 



to lay down railways to the wharves, to erect cranes, to 

 build vessels suitable for conveyance of the stone, and 

 to provide the various appliances required for carrying 

 out the undertaking. 



On the 12th of August, 1811, the birthday of the 

 Prince Eegent, the first stone of the main ridge was 

 deposited on the Shovelbank rock, nearly in the centre 

 of the work. Lord Keith, commander of the Channel 

 Fleet, was present, attended by the chief naval, mili- 

 tary, and civil authorities of the port, together with 

 the staff and men of the building establishment. From 

 this time forward the operations were carried on with 

 every despatch when weather would permit, beginning 

 at the centre and working towards the extremities. The 

 lines of the Breakwater were carefully marked out by 

 buoys, to which the barges laden with the stone blocks 

 were attached whilst they were being emptied into the 

 sea ; after which they returned to the quarry wharves, 

 about five miles distant, for fresh cargoes. For nearly 

 two years this process of emptying in the rubble pro- 

 ceeded, until in March, 1813, portions of the work began 

 to be visible at low water, and by the end of July there 

 appeared a continuous line of about 720 yards. By the 

 month of March in the following year the ridge had been 

 so raised, that its effect in tranquillizing the waters of the 

 Sound during violent south-westerly gales was very con- 

 siderable, and vessels of all classes sought its protection, 

 and came to anchor behind it with perfect confidence. 

 The Admiral's ship on the station, the Queen Charlotte, of 

 120 guns, had been accustomed heretofore to ride in 

 Cawsand Bay ; but it was now brought to an anchor 

 under the lee of the Breakwater. Among other vessels 

 which took shelter there in 1814 was a large French 

 three-decker, which rode out a severe gale in safety. 

 The year after, when Napoleon entered Plymouth Sound 

 on board the Betterophon, he expressed himself in such 

 terms of the work, as gave Mr. Eennie much gratifica- 



