Picturesque views, on the River Medway, from the Nore to the vicinity of its source in Sussex : with observations on the public buildings and other works of art in its neighbourhood . Sails filld, and ftreamers waving,** Courted by all the winds that hold them play.* Descending from the village, we pafsthe remains of Gillingham fort, a placenever capable of much defence, but nowtotally in ruin. And here I cannot refrainfrom dwelling with pride and pleafureupon the glorious fcene before me, whichrenders fuch defence nearly ufelefs. Thefcene to which I allude comprizes about fortymen of war now
Picturesque views, on the River Medway, from the Nore to the vicinity of its source in Sussex : with observations on the public buildings and other works of art in its neighbourhood . Sails filld, and ftreamers waving,** Courted by all the winds that hold them play.* Descending from the village, we pafsthe remains of Gillingham fort, a placenever capable of much defence, but nowtotally in ruin. And here I cannot refrainfrom dwelling with pride and pleafureupon the glorious fcene before me, whichrenders fuch defence nearly ufelefs. Thefcene to which I allude comprizes about fortymen of war now lying in ordinary in thisriver, a fight that muft animate the breaflof every Engliiliman, to retain that domi-nion. ^ { 35 ) nion which their fathers left them in pof-feflion of, and to convince them, while theyhold it, of the abfurdity of fortifying byland, when thefe wooden walls, as they areemphatically termed, can be fo readily calledforth on any fudden attack of the enemy. Jupiter e ligno dat maenia fafta Minervae,* Quae tibi fola tuisque ferant inviiSla falutem/* From hence Upnor caftle, confidered asa pleafing obje6l of the pi6lurefque kind,on the banks of the river, claims ourwarmeft commendation; but, as a place ofnational defence, I fear has never anfweredany purpofe whatever; yet it muft be allow-ed to have its merits as a place of fnugfecurity for a governor, ftorekeeper, clerkof the cheque, Sec. &c. The governor hasthe command of all the forts on the riverexcept Sheernefs. This caftle was erefled by queen Eliza-beth, in the third year of her reign. It is E 3 built ( 36 ) built principally of ftone, and is in the formof a parallelogram: the longeft fide is to-wards the river, which,
Size: 1295px × 1930px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bo, bookauthorirelandsamueld1800, bookcentury1700, bookdecade1790
