King’s Wells at Sheernefs, &e. 9 
Harwich was judged by the Commander in Chief (Lord 
AmuERST) to be a very proper ftation for a confiderable part 
of the army, in time of war with Holland, as centrical to 
furnifh detachments for fuch parts of the coaft as might be in 
danger, as alfo to cover a very ufeful harbour and increafing 
dock-yard; but his lordfhip was fenfible of the want of whole- 
-fome water in that neighbourhood, and gave particular direc- 
tions to eftablifh fuch a fupply for the camp to be formed 
there, as might appear proper for the health of the troops; 
and the fubfequent orders given by General RainsForp, who 
commanded that diftrict, perfeétly anfwered every defirable 
end, until good water was found within his camp. The inha- 
bitants of the town of Harwich had chiefly depended on rains 
for their fupply, the wells being in general brackifh from the 
filtration of falt-water. The neighbourhood, to many miles 
diftance, was not better furnifhed, there being only ftagnating 
water in ponds or fhallow wells, which were fupplied from the 
upper furface of the ground; and, whether rendered bad by a 
mixture of copperas, or other mineral, it was not fuch as could 
be given for the ufe of the troops with any degree of prudence 
or attention to their health, and they were, to avoid dangerous 
confequences, furnifhed with water, by General RAiNsrorpD’s 
order, from the oppofite fide of the Manningtree River, by 
boats employed for that Buel the beginning of the firft 
campaign. 
I will now endeavour to defcribe the experiments at each 
place, beginning with the ‘well in Fort Townfhend at Sheer- 
nefs, which with a reference to the plans will, I hope, render 
the fubject fufficiently intelligible. 
Vou. LXXIV. ‘a King’s 
