HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
509 
Ct Some engineers have imagined, that batteries, judiciously disposed along the 
Coast, would be sufficient to prevent the besiegers from landing; but it has been 
since ascertained, that the island is accessible to boats in the greatest part of its 
circumference, and that even, in several places, a descent could be effected by 
force, under the protection of the men of war; this plan, therefore, has been 
relinquished. It has been understood, that there would be an infinite number of 
posts to fortify; that the expences would be endless; that too many troops would 
be wanted; and that the distribution of them would leave every point exposed to 
the consequence of a landing, executed suddenly, or by surprise. 
“ The idea of a war of posts has not been thought a more fortunate one. The 
Isle of France, notwithstanding the advantage of posts, will never collect a suffi¬ 
cient body of troops to resist those which the enemy may bring there. The persons 
who have proposed this idea, have laid a stress upon the assistance to be obtained 
from the colonists and the slaves; but they have been obliged at length to acknow¬ 
ledge, that this multitude, which might possibly be of use behind good jamparts, 
could be of little or no service in the open field. 
“ The project of building and fortifying a town in the inland parts, has long 
since had its partizans. Such an establishment appeared to them to be calculated 
to keep the besiegers at a distance from the centre of the colony, and to force them, 
in time, to relinquish any advantage which they might have gained at first: they 
would not be convinced that, without any movement on the part of the enemy, 
who was already become master of the ports, and the coasts, the garrison, deprived 
of every external communication, would soon be reduced to the necessity of sur¬ 
rendering at discretion, or of perishing with famine; and, even if the enemy were 
to do nothing more than fill up the roads, and destroy the arsenals, magazines, and 
public edifices, would not their principal object be fulfilled ? of what concern could 
it be then to them, that there should be a fortress and a garrison in the midst of an 
island, incapable of giving them any uneasiness, or of exciting their future jealousy ? 
“ After so many various and uncertain opinions, the government begins to 
be convinced, that the only method of defending the colony is to provide for 
the security of its two ports; to establish an internal communication between 
them, that shall facilitate a ready distribution of the forces, according to the designs 
of the enemy, and make the succours which might arrive from without, by one or 
other of its roads, common to both parts. 
