FORTIFICATION. 
pet for that purpose. Indeed the interior 
is lined with such, 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 formed 
under the direction of a French engineer ; 
they have plenty of water ; ample stores 
kept in immense excavations ; and the mos 
secure lodgment for a numerous garrison. 
Yet, so soon as the. fall of Bangalore was 
ascertained, this important and absolutely 
impregnable fortress, to which, perhaps, 
there exists not a counterpart, 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 de- 
pend entirely on local circumstances, of 
which the skilful engineer will not fail to 
take advantage. 
Artificial fortification applies to every 
kind of defence, whether regular or irre- 
gular, pure or mixed ; and has been divi- 
ded by the most celebrated engineers in, 
to two distinct kinds, viz. offensive and 
defensive. The former relates principally 
to the various works used in attacks and 
sieges; the latter appertains to the more 
general purpose of securing towns, forming 
depots, commanding choice situations, de- 
files, &c. protecting harbours, and, in ge- 
neral, tending more to self-preservation, 
and to control, than to the annoyance of 
others, or to the extension of dominion. 
This important science is again subdivided 
into the permanent and the temporary : the 
former being with the view to endure the 
test of ages, while the latter is confined 
principally to operations in the field; and 
such works are, for the most part, aban- 
doned so soon as the occasion for their con- 
struction 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 de- 
tached ports, horn-works, crown-works, &c. 
where the exterior of the defences, that 
is, between the saliant 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 measures 
more than 380, and as far as 500 yards, or 
perhaps rather more ; it is obvious, that 
such very extensive fronts, even in a hex- 
agon, or figure of six sides, would enclose 
an immense area; consequently would re- 
quire a moderate army to man the de- 
fences. Hence we generally find this sys- 
tem 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 system. 
Such are the leading features and appli- 
cations 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 instances, with the 
approbation of pre-eminent engineers ; but, 
for the most part, such have been with the 
view of conforming to local necessity, and 
of effecting a saving, either of materials, 
where they were scarce, or to disburse- 
ment, where parsimony was ah object. 
Anomalies of this description are not to be 
considered as data whereby to be guided ; 
but it may be proper to study the practi- 
cal effects of all innovations, however much 
they may be abstracted from received theo- 
ries ; for the most happy inventions generally 
experience much opposition, often, indeed, 
illiberal contempt, while in their infancy. 
This' should not deter the man of genius 
from ushering his suggestions to the notice 
of the world ; for although his inefficient 
measures may appear wild and eccentric, 
or eventually be ignominiously decried by 
those invincibles, 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, 
and others of acknowledged skill, premis- 
ing, that many opinions have started, and 
other proportions been recommended by 
men of first rate talents, who have each 
their advocates. What is now offered may 
be deemed a concentration of their various 
hypotheses, so far as they could be assimi- 
lated into one general system : to give all 
would occupy volumes. 
Fortifications may be considered as regu- 
