FOR 



FOT 



tinue firm to their duty, should stimulate 

 each individual to the utmost exertion, 

 and to submit to every hardship without 

 a murmur. The example of the gover- 

 nor, and of the officers in general, rarely 

 fails to produce that happy effect ; and, 

 as we have so gloriously witnessed, in the 

 case of General Elliott's defence of Gib- 

 raltar, creates an enthusiasm, that makes 

 each man a hero ! It is in such places, 

 and in such exigences, that the man of 

 genius may render himself conspicuous 

 and his name immortal ! The planning of 

 defences in opposition to approaches, both 

 numerous and stupendous in their con- 

 struction, and the contrivance of interior 

 safety, as well as the means of protract- 

 ing, and of annihilating, the efforts of a 

 numerous besieging army, composed of 

 the flower of two nations, while they up- 

 held the brave defenders of Gibraltar to 

 the admiration of the world, and endear- 

 ed them to their country, afford the best 

 example, as to the duties of those who 

 are entrusted with the defence of fortified 

 places, and should encourage to the for- 

 mation of work after work in the interior, 

 to prolong the doubtful contest, and to 

 hold out to the very last moment. 



Fortification, under such circumstances, 

 is certainly a most important science; and, 

 when duly executed, often gives a turn to 

 the balance of war, and produces the 

 most extraordinary reverses. Record fur- 

 nishes various instances of comparative 

 handfuls of men having, by the aid of 

 field-works, such as a line of redans or 

 fleches, supported by redoubts, within 

 musket-shot of each other ; or of swal- 

 low-tails, that is, irregularly indented 

 lines, and various other defences, made 

 in favourable positions; such as rising 

 grounds, or between two deep rivers, or 

 around a town, or among heavy woods, so 

 completely foiled all the attempts of large 

 armies, as to cause their retreat, and ulti- 

 mately their rout or dispersion. Field- 

 works are generally slight, being intend- 

 ed only for temporary defence ; they 

 sometimes answer well for the protection 

 of convoys, and are always most formida- 

 ble when flanked by posts made in 

 churches, mills, old castles, and a variety 

 of such edifices. When the ground is un- 

 even, the line should run so as to occupy 

 the most commanding spots ; at which 

 the artillery should be principally sta- 

 tioned. 



Field fortification is full of variety ; for 

 it is perhaps scarcely possible to point out 

 any two stations taken by an army, in the 

 course of many and active campaigns, that 



would suit the same form of defence. 

 Hence the superior ability of an engineer 

 become conspicious. An inferior army is 

 obliged to intrench on the strongest 

 ground it can command, so as to check a 

 superior and conquering enemy, advanc- 

 ing rapidly to its attack. No time is left 

 for deep research, for consultation, for 

 substitution, or for the correction of er- 

 rors : the thing must be done offhand ! 

 When such is the case, the engineer must 

 first observe the weak points, and effec- 

 tually secure them. He must then take 

 every advantage of the strong parts; and 

 connecting the two, so that the former 

 shall be supported by the latter, form 

 such a powerful range of opposition, as 

 may at once appal the eager assailants. 

 The knowledge of component parts, of fit 

 proportions, and of a thousand technical 

 requisites, are attainable by most person* 

 of common intellect ; but many possess a 

 great depth of learning in these particu- 

 lars, who, nevertheless, are wanting in the 

 indispensable qualities of quick percep- 

 tion,and of ready and appropriate decision. 



FORTIFIED, an appellation given to 

 places defended by ramparts, bastions, 

 ditches, covert-ways, half-moons, rave- 

 lines, tenailles, and other out-works. See 

 the preceding article. 



FOSS, in fortification, a hollow place, 

 commonly full of water, lying between 

 the scarp and counterscarp, below the 

 rampart; and turning round a fortified 

 place, or a post that is to be defended. 



Foss -way, one of the four principal 

 highways of England, that anciently led 

 through the kingdom, supposed to be 

 made by the Romans, having a ditch upon 

 one side thereof. 



FOSSA, in our ancient customs, was 

 used to signify a ditch full of water, 

 wherein women convicted of felony 

 were drowned. See FCRCA. 



FOSSIL, in natural history, denotes, in 

 general, every thing dug out of the 

 earth, whether they be natives thereof, as 

 metals, stones, salts, earths, and other mi- 

 nerals; or extraneous, reported in the 

 bowels of the earth by some extraordina- 

 ry means, as earthquakes, the deluge, &c. 

 See MINKRALOGT. 



FOTHERGILLA, in botany, so called 

 in memory of John Fothergill, M. D. a 

 genus of the Polyandria Digynia class and 

 order. Natural order of Armentaceae, Jus- 

 sieu. Essential character : calyx ament, 

 ovate; scales one-flowered; corolla ca- 

 lyx-form, one-petalled, five-cleft. There 

 is but one species. 



FOTHERING, in naval affairs, a pecu- 

 liar method of endeavouring to stop a 



