xxxv m 



and Plymouth, prepared projects for occupying particular lines of 

 ground by forts, and, with, a staff of specially selected officers, 

 designed the works to be constructed. 



The movement for the protection of our dockyards and naval 

 arsenals originated in the celebrated letter of the Duke of Wellington 

 and in a Memorandum prepared in 1847 by Lord Palmerston with the 

 assistance of Sir John Burgoyne. In the latter paper it was pointed 

 out that it was possible for France, under certain conditions, to land a 

 force which, amongst other operations, might destroy our dockyards, 

 and so paralyse our naval resources for years. Public opinion was 

 at the time opposed to the movement, but, after the Crimean War, 

 a change took place, and some progress was made, as already men- 

 tioned, in designing works. It was not, however, until 1858, when 

 the Government received private information that the French, were 

 secretly making preparations for war, and were obliged to take 

 measures of precaution, that the importance of the question forced 

 itself upon public attention. In 1859 Lord Palmerston, who was a 

 strong supporter of the view that it was necessary to secure our 

 naval bases against any hostile enterprise, again became Prime 

 Minister. A Royal Commission on the National Defences was 

 appointed, with Major Jervois as secretary, and, in 1860, it reported 

 to Parliament. After much discussion a resolution was carried in 

 the House of Commons to the effect that the recommendations of the 

 Commission should be carried out as rapidly as possible, and that the 

 cost should be met by a loan. 



Major Jervois, who had practically guided the work of the Com- 

 mission, and the preparation of the Report, was now entrusted with 

 the task of fortifying the naval bases and arsenals and the principal 

 harbours and coasting stations of the United Kingdom, the Colonies, 

 and dependencies. On this duty he was employed until 1875 when 

 the accounts of the great loan for fortifications were finally wound up 

 with a saving of more than £200,000. The nineteen years spent at 

 the War Office formed the most important period of Sir W. Jervois' 

 life. During the whole of it he acted as secretary to the Committee on 

 the Defence of the Empire, and rendered very valuable services to 

 his country. The fortifications, chiefly from a mistaken view of 

 their object, have been much criticised. They were projected and 

 carried out in accordance with the strong recommendations of men 

 of the largest experience in actual war, and were intended to render 

 the bases from which the navy worked secure. The great works 

 themselves will always be a monument to the ability and energy of 

 Sir W. Jervois. The difficulties that had to be encountered and over- 

 come were very great. When the work was commenced rifled artil- 

 lery was in its infancy ; armour plating was in the experimental 

 stage ; torpedoes and submarine mines had made no progress ; and 



