The harbour of Plymouth comprehends the Sound and its various AMP. About 14 miles south stands the EDDYSTONE LIGHT110IISE, built in 1759, on a reef of rocks stretching north and south 100 fathoms. The Sound is a considerable inlet of the English Channel, 3 miles wide at the entrance from Penlee Point on the west to the opposite headland on the east, and extending inland about 3 miles to the citadel and town of Plymouth. On the western side of the Sound Is Cawsand Bay. The coast is generally rocky and abrupt, and the rocky island of St. Nicholas (sometimes called Drake's Island) rises out of the water not far from the north shore. The estuary of the Tamer forms the harbour for the ships of war, and is called Hamoaze ; it opens into the north-west corner of the Sound. The testuary of the Plym, or Lam, forms another harbour, chiefly used for merchant vessels, and in time of war for transports, captured vessels, &c.: it is called Catwater, and is capable of containing 1000 sail of such vessels. Hero is also an extensive wet- and dry-dock. Catwater opens into the north-east corner of the Sound, and has at its month the rocky pro montory of 3Iount Batten, opposite Plymouth. It is not so deep as Hauteur. Sutton Pool is a tide-harbour, also used by merchant vessels; and a pier in Mill Lay accommodates the largest class of steam-ships at all times of the tide. Extensive docks for vessels of large tonnage are being constructed at Mill Bay harbour. The harbour of llamoaze is 4 miles long, and has a depth of water of 15 fathoms at ebb-tide ; there are moorings for nearly 100 sail of the line. The dockyard is on Hamoazo. The harbour was long exposed to the heavy sea which rolled into the Sound with gales from the southward, and great damage was at various times done. To remedy this a breakwater, or dyke, formed of loose stones, was commenced in 1812. It runs across the middle of the Sound, having a total length of 1700 yards, namely, 1000 yards in the centre, which runs in a direction nearly from east to west, with a continuation of 350 yards at each end, turning more to the north, and forming a con siderable angle with the direction of the centre. A lighthouse has been erected at the western end. The total cost of this noble work has been about 1,700,0001. Its efficiency as a protection to the harbour has been proved In many severe gales. The harbour and town are defended by the citadel of Plymouth, by the fortifications on the island of St. Nicholas, and by other works, of which some important parts are now in process of construction.
The number and tonnage of vessels registered as belonging to the port of Plymouth on December 31st 1853 were :—Sailing-vessels under 50 tons 250, tonnage 7394 ; above 50 tons 200, tonnage 36,759 : steam-vessels 6, tonnage 371. During 1353 there entered the port in the coasting-trade, sailing-vessels 3197, tonnage 264,739 ; steam-vessels 466, tonnage 185,497: and there cleared 1348 sailing-vessels of 102,230 tons, and 455 steam-vessels of 150,121 tons aggregate burden. In the colonial trade there entered 218 sailing-vessels of 23,604 tons, and 33 steam-vessels of 3069 tons; and there cleared 266 sailing-vessels of 25,362 tons, and 22 steam-vessels of 2046 tons. In the foreign trade there entered 248 British vessels of 17,345 tons, and 216 foreign vessels of 26,053 tons; and there cleared 150 British vessels of 10,569 tons, and 149 foreign vessels of 19,704 tons.
The trade of Plymouth is important Considerable commerce is carried on with the West Indies, the Baltic, and the Mediterranean, and coastwise with London and other ports ; and there is an active fishery, especially of whiting and hake. The imports are timber and West India produce; the exports, manganese to Scotland, wool to Hull, and lead to London and Bristol. There are an extensive sail-cloth manufactory, a sugar refinery, a glass-house, a very large soap factory, distilleries, and a starch factory. Granite, slate, limestone, and marble,
are quarried in the neighbourhood. The limestone or marble of the Oreston quarries, on the shore of Catwater, opposite to Plymouth, was the material chiefly employed for the breakwater. Near these quarries is an iron bridge of five elliptical arches over Catwater, built at the expense of the Earl of Morley. A floating steam-bridge crosses the Hamoaze between Devouport and Torpoint at short intervals throughout the day, and conveys the mail-coaches, carriages, horses, and passengers. A railway from Sutton Pool, 24 miles long, connects Plymouth with Prince Town, on Dartmoor. There are markets on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday ; and fairs in April and November. A county court is held in Plymouth. Races are apnually held in a meadow near the town, and a regatta in the Sound. There are nu hospital for merchant seamen, a public dispensary, an eye infirmary, and several other charities.
Devonport contains the government dockyards, and is familiarly called ' The Dock,' its name having been, till 1824, Plymouth Dock. It is now the most important of the maritime ports in Devon shire. The military and naval officers reside at Devonport. The town owes its importance to a naval arsenal established here in the reign of William III. It was first fortified in the reign of George II., but the fortifications have since been considerably enlarged and improved.
Davenport is bounded on the south and west by the mouth of the Tamer, and on the cast by Stonehouse Creek. The streets are wide and regular, well paved, and lighted with gas; the footpaths are made of marble obtained in the neighbourhood. The Fore-street is approached from the east through a handsome gateway, with a fosse and a draw bridge, and forms a thoroughfare to the dockyard. A wall 12 feet in height, called 'the king's interior boundary wall,' defends the town on the north-east and south sides; and the heavy batteries on Mount Wise protect the entrance from the sea. Without the wall is a hine,or breast work, with a fosse excavated in the solid rock from 12 to 20 feet deep. There are three gates in the line, the North-gate, the State-barrier, and the Stonehouse-gato. A chapel erected by government is in the dockyard. There are two chapels of ease at Devonport—St Aubyn's, erected in 1771, and St. John's, erected in 1799. The inhabitants have access also to the dockyard chapel. There are places of worship for Baptists, Independents, Wesleyan Methodists, and 31oraviaus. A classical school was established by subscription in 1821, and a public school for boys in 1808. There is a school for girls, where about 100 are educated and clothed. The Baptists and Methodists have each their respective schools. A public dispensary for this town and East Stonehouse was erected in 1815. There is a savings bank in the town, also one connected with the dockyard, and one entitled the Royal Naval Annuitant and Naval Savings Bank. The markets on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays arc well supplied with provisions of all kinds. There are in Devonport a small theatre, a subscription library, and a spacious and elegant assembly-room at the Royal hotel, where balls are held. Water is brought from Dartmoor in a circuitous line of about 30 miles, to a reservoir on the north side of the town, whence it is conveyed in pipes to the different houses. The town-hall is a spacious and handsome building, with a Doric portico. It contains a county meeting-room, 75 feet by 40 feet, a watch-house, temporary prison, &c. Near it is a fluted column of the Doric order, to com memorate the naming of the town in 1824. From the top of the column a splendid view of the harbour is obtained. The post-office, the mechanics institute, and the public library are fine buildings. To the south of the town are the houses of the port-admiral and the governor, the telegraph establishment, and the Grand Parade.