08 Sir T. H. Pacer’s Deferiptions of the - 
fand pounds per annum, or occafionally from Queenborough, 
neither of which fupplies could be continued in cafe of a fiege, 
which of courfe would be of fhort:duration from this cireum- 
flance. Some attempts had been. made in former times to ob- 
tain water on the fpot, by finking wells, but they had failed; 
and fuccefs in fuch undertakings was at laft confidered as impof- 
fible, from the great difficulty they had met with in the vaft 
quantities of fea-water, that came by filtration through the 
{ands into their wells, and rendered a progrefs to any con- 
fiderable depth impraéticable. It is probable, that the courfe 
of the river Medway has undergone many changes, and had 
once an out-fall to the fea, near the high ground of the Ifle of 
Shepey. The docks, garrifons, buildings, &c. for a confi- 
derable diftance into the ifland, confequently ftand upon very 
loofe materials, which were found, upon finking the well in 
Fort Townfhend, to confift of mud, fea-beach, and quick- 
fand, nearly to the prefent depth of the river Medway, and 
admit fo ftrong a filtration of falt-water, as muft ever render 
the finking of wells exceedingly difficult. ‘This was the fitua- 
tion in which I found Sheernefs. 
Landguard-Fort was not more eligible refpecting water, asa 
place of ftrength. It was, indeed, better fupplied under any 
other confideration, a pipe beang laid into the place from a good 
{pring about two miles diftant, which furnifhed a plentiful 
quantity of water; but fuch is the difadvantage of fituation 
that, in cafe of attack, that {pring muft fall into the pofleffion 
of the enemy, and our garrifon of courfe would be deprived of 
its ufe. This was a ferious confideration and objection toa 
great extent of fortification, however eligible in other refpects 
the place might be. 
Harwich 
3 
