FORTIFICATION. 



lined with sucli, they being admirably 

 suited to the defence of so peculiar a sta- 

 tion. There is no want of cannon on the 

 works, which are ample, and were form- 

 ed under the direction of a French engi- 

 neer; they have plenty of water; ample 

 stores kept in immense excavations ; and 

 the most secure lodgment fora numerous 

 garrison. Yet, so soon as the fall of Ban- 

 galore was ascertained, this important 

 and absolutely impregnable fortress, to 

 \vhich, perhaps, there exists not a coun- 

 terpart, surrendered to two battalions of 

 Bengal sepoys. 



It would be impossible to afford any in- 

 structions regarding those works which 

 may be conjoined to natural defences, so 

 as to render the whole complete; such 

 must depend entirely on local circum- 

 stances, of which the skilful engineer will 

 not fail to take advantage. 



Artificial fortification applies to every 

 kind of defence, whether regular or ir- 

 regular, pure or mixed ; and has been di- 

 vided by the most celebrated engineers 

 into two distinct kinds, -viz. offensive and 

 defensive. The former relates princi- 

 pally to the various works used in attacks 

 and sieges; the latter appertains to the 

 more general purpose of securing towns, 

 forming depots, commanding choice si- 

 tuations, defiles, &c. protecting harbours, 

 and, in general, tending more to self-pre- 

 servation, and to control, than to the an- 

 noyance of others, or to the extension of 

 dominion. 



This important science is again sub- 

 divided into the permanent and the tem- 

 porary : the former being with the view 

 to endure the test of ages, while the lat- 

 ter is confined principally to operations in 

 the field ; and such works are, for the 

 most part, abandoned, so soon as the oc- 

 casion for their construction may have 

 subsided. 



Defensive fortification consists of three 

 systems, each of which has its particular 

 uses : 



1. The little which is usually adopted 

 in the construction of works, having four 

 or five sides, or citadels, various small 

 or detached posts, horn-works, crown- 

 works, &c. where the exterior of the de- 

 fences, that is, between the salient angles 

 of the two bastions, does not exceed 350 

 yards. 



2. The mean, which is of general use, 

 and forms a very considerable portion of 

 all regular fortifications, whose exterior 

 sides of defence may be from 350 to about 

 400 yards. 



3. The great, which is principally used 



where the exterior of the defences mea- 

 sures more than 380, and as far as 500 

 yards, or perhaps rather more; it is ob- 

 vious, that such very extensive fronts, 

 even in a hexagon, or figure of six sides, 

 would enclose an immense area ; conse- 

 quently would require a moderate army 

 to man the defences. Hence we gene- 

 rally find this system composing only part 

 of the works ; such as are on the borders 

 of a lake, or of a marsh, or along the 

 bank of a river; while the other sides 

 are composed of the second or mean sys- 

 tem. 



Such are the leading features and ap- 

 plications of the three systems, as settled 

 by the celebrated Vauban, and adopted 

 by the most distinguished professors of 

 our own time. Occasional deviations 

 have, however, been made in several in- 

 stances, with the approbation of pre-emi- 

 nent engineers; but, for the most part, 

 such have been with the view of conform- 

 ing to local necessity, and of effecting a 

 saving, either of materials, where they 

 were scarce, or to disbursement, where 

 parsimony was an object. Anomalies of 

 this description are not to be considered 

 as data whereby to be guided ; but it 

 may be proper to study the practical ef- 

 fects of all innovations, however much 

 they may be abstracted from received 

 theories; for the most happy inventions 

 generally experience much opposition, 

 often, indeed, illiberal contempt, while in 

 their infancy. This should not deter the 

 man of genus from ushering his sugges- 

 tions to the notice of the world; for al- 

 though his inefficient measures may ap- 

 pear wild and eccentric, or eventually be 

 ignominiously decried by those invinci- 

 bles, who, having learnt to work "by line 

 and rule," neither will, nor can, correct 

 their errors; yet there will never be 

 wanting, in this enlightened age, persons 

 who can both comprehend, and duly ap- 

 preciate, the effusions of a vigorous and 

 sensible innovator. 



We now come to the description of the 

 several defences, as regulated by Vauban 3 

 and others of acknowledged skill, premis- 

 ing, that many opinions* have started, and 

 other proportions been recommended hy- 

 men of first rate talents, who have each 

 their advocates. What is now offered may 

 be deemed a concentration of their va- 

 rious hypotheses, so far as they could be 

 assimilated into one general system: to 

 give all would occupy volumes. 



Fortifications may be considered as re- 

 gular, when the enclosed area is of such a 

 form, as can be inscribed in some regular 



