But few store-houses, or other buildings necessary for a naval establishment, are yet erected ; but there is an ample space laid out for every purpose that can be required to make Cherbourg one of the first val arsenals in Europe ; and a narrow canal, between the walls of Fort du Hemet and the wall of the wet dock, leads to a most convenient space for mast ponds and mast-houses.
The fortifications for the protection of the an chorage in the roadstead, and the new naval arsenal, are, 1. Querqueville. 2. Fort du Homet. S. Fort du Galet. 4. Fort Royal, on Isle Pelee. Fort Royal, and Fort du Homet, have circular faces to wards the sea, with each two tiers of guns, and tur rets above them ; the former mounts about 80 guns, the latter 65, and Querqueville about 30 guns.
The principal from the road to the sea is at the western end of the breakwater, which, for large ships, is not more than half a mile in width ; and this want of space will always make it difficult for ships of the line to work out; but, on the other hand, a fleet may push out to the westward in south erly winds, which sock up the English porta in the Channel.
The eastern channel is a very indifferent one; and, from the position of the Isle Pelee and the main, is likely to become worse, from the accumulation of sand, which the French officers say is actually the case.
Such, as are here described, were the mighty pre parations of that extraordinary man for the destruc tion of the naval power of Great Britain, and, with it, of the national glory, pride, and prosperity; which, whether elated with success, or depressed by rever ses, he never attempted to conceal as being the object nearest to his heart ; and he had sufficient cause for his hatred, well knowing that it was Eng land, and England's navy, that opposed the only ob stacle between him and the subjugation of the world to his dominion.
To give the greater eclat to this grand undertak ing, he sent the ex-Empress Maria Louisa to be pre sent at the opening of the basin. When the time arrived for the water to be let in, and the dam broken down, her approach Was announced by flourishes of warlike music and numerous discharges of artillery. " Cries of joy," says M. Lair, " were mingled for a long time with the thunder of the batteries. Her Majesty took her place in the pavilion which bad been prepared for her, when the of Contan ces, surrounded by his clergy, advancing towards her, pronounced an address suitable to the occasion. After the ceremonies and cusprayers, he turn ed round towards the basin, and assed this work of man. It is delightful to see a nation consecrating by religious rites an event so memorable, and causing the divinity to intervene in all its grand • undertak ings." He speaks with rapture on the gratification he derived from seeing men born on the shores of the Tiber, and on the banks of the Guadalquiver, working under the direction of French engineers, at the establishment of a port in the channel, formida ble to the English navy ; and suffers no expression of regret to escape him at the idea of these poor Italian and Spanish prisoners of war being compelled to la bour in chains at a work, for which they were neither paid, nor in which they could take the least possible interest.