1801.) | 
view the Caftle, the parifh-church of St. 
Petrox adjoining, and the mouth of the 
river Dart, where it empties itfelf into the 
Englifh Channel. 
You afcend from this to the higher 
ftreet by flights of fteps in various ditec- 
tions, excepting in one inflance, where itis, 
I believe, pafible, with great care and cau- 
tion, to get up and down a {mall one-horfe 
chair, but no other carriage can gain’ ad- 
miffion : and this ftreet is worfe in point 
of building, more confined, filthy, and of- 
fenfive than the other.Proceeding ina fouth- 
ward direction, the houfes are continued on 
oue fide only, when we get into what is 
called the South Town, where the build- 
ings are moftly new, and very good; are 
inhabited by genteel families, and com- 
mand an extenfive and delightful profped, 
tncluding the Harbour and fhipping,Kingf- 
were, the Caftle and Channel, the town, 
and fome diltance up the river. By this 
moft pleafant walk, we are led to the 
Caftle, fituated ona charming fpot, com- 
manding an extenfive fea-profpeét, and 
protecting the entrance to the Harbour by 
two batteries, mounting each fix eighteen- 
pounders. If we proceed northward from 
the New-quay, we pafs through two or 
three narrow dirty ftreets, with here and 
there a good houfe, amidft many old and 
fhabby ones. Afcending the hill, at this 
end of the town, we meet with feveral 
well-built, good houfes, which command a 
more extenfiveand more beautiful and va- 
ried profpeét, than thofe in the South 
‘Town, having not only a full view of the 
Harbour, fhipping, town, Channel, &c. 
but alfo of a beautiful and highly culti- 
vated valley at the weftern fide of the 
town, prefenting indeed to the eye the 
appearance of an extenfive and richly 
adorned garden on both fides the river. 
In this truly romantic fituation ftands 
Dartmouth, fo built, that the chimnies of 
oné tier of houfes are on a level with the 
‘entrances to thofe above them ; and, what 
is both beautiful and fingular, as you walk 
the ftreets, you fee richly cultivated fields 
crowning the whole at-a very confiderable 
height. ° 
The Harbour is very fpacious, and the 
water very deep, capable of containing the 
whole of the Englifh navy. The entrance 
is narrow, rendering it at times difficult 
for large vedlels to come in or go out 
without warping or towing. Paffing the 
town, about half a mile up the river isa 
very commodious dry-dock, capable of 
admitting two or three veffels at a time, 
built by a very public-fpirited man, Mr. 
Sele ; who has alfo contributed greatly to 
Account of Dartmouth. 
195 - 
the enjoyment of the inhabitants, by per- 
mitting, at all times, a walk through a 
noble wood, by the fide of the Dart, to be 
open for their accommodation. ‘This de- 
lightful walk is terminated by a finall fort, 
where a few cannonare placed, and fired 
on particular days. Of the commercial 
importance of this town, little can be faid, 
and that little, unfortunately of an un- 
pleafantkind. TheNewfoundland trade has 
long been its chief dependance, and it has 
in times of peace been a flourifhing and a 
wealthy place; but this difaftrous war has 
completely effected its ruin. I affert ‘it 
upon the authority of refpectable. men, 
merchants concerned in the trade, that there 
have been at ene time three hundred failof 
vellels belonging to Dartmouth employed 
in that ase 5 3 that, a very few years fince, 
it had belonging to ita very large propor- 
tion of that number; and, in the prefent: 
year, not fez have failed tothe land. Nor 
is it at all certain (and by fome perfons 
not thought probable), that even peace, 
confidering the altered ttate of Europe fince 
the commencement of the war, willreftore 
to this town, either ifs trade, or its fpirit 
for commercial fpeculations. The civil 
affairs of this town are managed by a 
mayor, a few aldermen, and freemen, whos 
as opportunity offers, elect two gentlemen 
to reprefent it in Parliament; and, in 
peaceable and flourifhing times, are free 
and generous to their townfmen and neigh- 
bours, by giving public-dmners and other 
entertainments. Its public buildings are 
few ; a very ancient Guildhall, in an al- 
moft ruinous ftate; a neat brick-built 
-Cuftom-houfe, ereéted about fixty years 
fince; three parifh- churches, and two 
“Diffenting-chapels ; one of the Baptif, 
and the other of the Prefbyterian or Uni- 
tarian, denomination ; the latter, however, 
is without a minifter, and it is fuppofed 
will not be opened again. 
There is likewife a houfe in the New 
Quay “folely appropriated to public pur- 
poles, confilting of a coffee room, where 
the Londonand provincial papers are taken 
in, and which is tupported by fub{cription 3 
an affembly-room, and card rooms: there 
is an aflembly here oncea fortnight during 
the winter,and public card- parties through- 
out the year; other public amufcements 
there are none. 
The ftate of literature and fociety is at 
a very low ebb in this town. I have long 
ago heard it remarked, that the further you 
remove from the inetropolis, the lefs ot a 
tafte for literature, and a greater degree of 
indifference is Ober bl: relpe@ling what 
books are publithed, and what takes place 
Cez . in 
