The recommendations of the Commission were carried out almost in their entirety. In the case of Portsmouth, for instance, the reinforcement of the Hilsea Lines, decided on only two years previously, was suspended in favour of a defence of far greater radius—a circle of forts some of which were designed to prevent an enemy from gaining possession, from the land side, of Portsdown Hill, a ridge less than five miles from the Dockyard and therefore a position from which, with the new artillery, the Dockyard could be bombarded. A similar girdle of defences was given to Plymouth.
[129] Commander R. A. E. Scott, R.N.
[130] Lloyd and Hadcock.
[131] Woodcroft: Steam Navigation, 1848.
[132] de la Roncière: La Marine Française.
[133] Woodcroft: Steam Navigation.
[134] Rigaud: Early Proposals for Steam Navigation.
[135] Enouf: Papin; Sa Vie et Son Œuvre.
[136] Quoted in Fincham’s Naval Architecture.
[137] Mr. Taylor’s evidence to Select Committee, 1824. Quoted in Woodcroft’s Steam Navigation.