Admiralty resolved to carry into execution this great undertaking, the most important, perhaps, that ever was executed for the glory of the empire and safety of the British navy. Before the formation of this work, the Sound bore so bad a character among naval officers, that Lord Howe used to say, it would one day be the grave of the British fleet. That the idea originated with Lord St. Vincent, and that he was the first promoter of it, seems undisputed; although for its accomplishment, the nation is chiefly indebted to the late Right Hon. Charles Yorke,* uncle of the present Earl of Hardwicke, and who was First Lord of the Admiralty in 1812. On the 12th of August in that year, being the anniversary of the birth-day of his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, afterwards George IV., the first stone was laid. The following details of this work are from a pamphlet published in 1820, written, I believe, by Lieutenant Cooke, R.N. ESTIMATE of the probable Expense of a Breakwater and Pier, for the sheltering of Plymouth Sound and Bouvisand Bay. To 2,000,000 of tons of limestone, in blocks of from one and-a-half to two tons weight, in the Breakwater, 7s. 6d. per ton To 360,000 tons, in the pier proposed to be built from .... £.750,000 126,000 175,200 £1,051,200 * Admiral Sir Joseph Sydney Yorke, father of the Earl, was drowned together with the Captains Bradby and Young, on the 5th May 1831, while going in a boat from Portsmouth to Hamble; the boat was struck with lightning, and all on board killed near Monkton Fort. ESTIMATE of the probable Expense of a Cut-stone Pier, and two Light-Houses, to be built on the top of the great Breakwater. To 42,000 cubic yards of masonry, in the out and inside walls of the pier, 27s. .... £.44,700 To 62,000 cubic yards of rubble filling, between the out 18,600 8,500 square yards ..... 22,950 To two light houses, with reflectors and Argand lamps 5,000 Contingencies, £20. per cent 28,650 £119,900 Further REPORT of Mr. Rennie, to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, dated 24th September 1806, on the same subject. "My Lords, London, Sept. 24, 1806. "In consequence of your lordships' directions, I have considered what appears to me the best manner of proceeding with the various preparations for carrying into execution the great Mole or Breakwater, proposed to be constructed in Plymouth Sound. I beg leave to state the following, as what occurs for that purpose. "The first and most material step is to procure a sufficient quantity of rock, which may be quarried, for the Break water. "The greatest part of the margins of Plymouth Sound, Cawsand Bay, and Catwater, may be said to be rock; but, except what is at the upper end of the Sound between Plymouth-dock and what is in Catwater, the rest is all rock, apparently much intersected with fissures. To raise stones thereof of large magnitude from such places, proper for this purpose, will, I doubt, be attended with great expense, as well as much delay. It is, however, possible, that after quarries are opened in several of these places, the rock may turn out to be more suitable to the purpose than what, on a cursory inspection, they appear capable of affording. "The rock at the head of the Sound, which lies between Plymouth and Dock, is mostly limestone; and a considerable part of it appears very suitable to the purpose in question, as well as most of the rock in Catwater. The sides of Plymouth Sound and Cawsand Bay are very much exposed, according as the winds blow: Cawsand Bay, and all towards Mount Edgcumbe, to south, south-easterly, and easterly winds; Bouvisand Bay, Staddon Point within the Withy Hedge, and all the head of the Sound, to south, south-westerly, and westerly winds. And as these are the prevailing winds in this country, the seas that break on these shores are such as to prevent the possibility (if the winds are at all considerable) of vessels taking in cargoes of stone from places so exposed. "The interior part of Catwater, where the principal quarries are, is sheltered from all winds; and though the distance from the work to be performed is greater than many of the other places, and although going into and coming out of it is more difficult, yet the advantage of being able to load at all times, and lie in security when loaded, is so great, that it is peculiarly eligible, for such a work as this. I have, therefore, to advise, that the rock around the Sound and Bay should be tried, and such places as will produce proper stone be purchased, that advantage may be taken of them when the winds and weather will permit. But I am persuaded that Catwater will ultimately be found the best, and, indeed, the principal place from which the great supply of stones must be procured, and therefore that the great purchases should be made there. The rock is also known to be suitable to the purpose; a sufficiency should therefore be procured there for the principal part of the work. "The quantity of limestone rock in Catwater is very great: I have given a person directions to survey it, but this will require time. After I have got his report, I shall state the particulars to your lordships. "I know it will be urged by the proprietors of the rock in Catwater, of what immense advantage it is to the country, as a manure; and I fully believe the truth and extent of this assertion. But I would propose that all the rock or stone which is not fit for the purpose of the Breakwater, be sold to the country for lime, at a price something under what they now pay. It is as good for their purpose as the large stones, and as it will come cheaper, they will be considerable gainers. By this, the public will also be gainers, by selling what is not fit for their purpose. But I will suppose that in time all this rock should be exhausted; still there is enough between Plymouth and Dock for the purposes of the country, for many centuries to come; and when the Breakwater is completed, this situation will be so sheltered, as to enable small vessels to frequent it with great ease. "Supposing a sufficient quantity of rock to be purchased in the Catwater, and in the other situations I have mentioned, it appears to me that this rock should be parcelled out in lots or pieces, and that these pieces should be given to different people, and who, supplied with a certain number of convicts, should be paid a certain price per ton for the quantity of stones they quarry and deliver on board of vessels. LETTER from Mr. Rennie to J. W. Croker, Esq. dated 15th April 1811, with an estimate of the expense wanted in the first year. "Sir: 66 Agreeably to the request of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, signified to me in your letter of the 8th instant, I have taken into consideration the steps proper to be taken for the purpose of commencing the works of the Breakwater, intended to be built in Plymouth Sound; and beg leave to recommend to their lordships' consideration the following, as the most likely, in my opinion, to forward that measure with advantage and economy to the public. "The first step which appears to me necessary to be taken, is to appoint a fit and proper person to superintend and manage the execution of the whole of the works, and in whose assiduity, skill, and integrity, the utmost reliance can be placed. "This person will require several assistants; some to act in the capacity of surveyors and superintendents of the stone quarries; others in the direction of the vessels to be employed in the conveyance and deposition of the stone; and others to keep accounts, and to check the returns of the quantity of work performed. "The principal superintendent, with his assistants, should proceed as early as convenient to Plymouth, for the purpose of surveying and marking out the most suitable places to supply the requisite quantity of stone, and where the piers should be built for loading the vessels that are to convey the stone to, and deposit it in, the Breakwater The quantity of stone round the margins of Plymouth Sound, and fit for the purposes of the Breakwater, are im mense. |