Hamoaze from Mount Edgcumbe (1825)

Daniell, William. A voyage round Great Britain, undertaken in the summer of the year 1813 and commencing from the Land's-End, Cornwall. London: Longman & Co and W. Daniell, 1825. Vol. VIII. pp. 35 - 36Another visit was paid to these enchanting grounds [Mount Edgecumbe] on the following morning, when new beauties presented themselves, and those which had been previously contemplated appeared to suffer no diminution. To do justice to this, and to other parts of the vicinity of Plymouth, might require a series of at least twenty-five views, in the selection of which many fine and picturesque scenes must be necessarily rejected. To avoid the embarrassment that might have been caused by such a multitude of interesting subjects, from which only one could be admissible within the just proportions of this work, it was requisite to adhere to the ruling principle of exhibiting the coast features, and choice was accordingly made of HAMOAZE. The Bay properly so called is about, four miles in length, from its entrance to its inland extremity at the mouth of the Tamar; its general breadth is about half a mile; the bottom is of mud; the greatest depth, at high water, is between eighteen and twenty fathoms; at low water, about fifteen fathoms. The entrance from the Sound is so intricate and dangerous, that the aid of a pilot is always necessary. The objects represented on the surface of the Bay are ships laid up in ordinary, of which the nearest is the flag-ship. It may here be necessary to explain, that ships laid up in ordinary are stripped of all their rigging, which, with the guns, stores, and other moveables, are taken on shore; the men and officers having been all paid off, except the boatswain, gunner, carpenter, cook, and six ordinary seamen, who remain on board. The ships are moored by large chains of iron, sixty fathoms long, consisting of 120 links, and having at each end a large anchor. The chains are stretched across the harbour, and the anchors sunk in the mud. In the middle of each chain is a large iron ring, and a swivel, to which are attached two thick cables, or bridles, sufficiently long to be taken on board the ships to be moored. These bridles, when not in use, are constantly sunk; a small cable being fastened to them, which is brought to a buoy on the surface of the water, and there made fast. When wanted, the ends are easily hauled up by means of the buoy rope, and are then passed through each ship's hawse-holes, and secured on board. The bridles being fastened to the same swivel, the ships swing easily with the tide; which runs so strong, especially at ebb with the wind at north, that no boat can make head against it. In Hamoaze there are ninety-two of these moorings, all capable of holding line-of-battle ships. In time of war a rear-admiral is appointed to this station; and one of his peculiar duties is to preside over naval courts-martial, which are always held on board the flag-ship.[Text may be taken from a different source or edition than that listed as the source by Somers Cocks.]

Aquatint

163x236mm

S40. DANIELL William (text by AYTON, Richard): A VOYAGE
ROUND GREAT BRITAIN UNDERTAKEN IN THE SUMMER OF THE YEAR 1813 AND COMMENCING FROM THE LAND'S END, CORNWALL.

As in the year 1813