youngest brother of archbishop Chichele. Through various descents it came by sale to the family of Bowater; and, with the manor of Jeffrys, is in the present pos session of that family, though subordinate to the royal manor of Eltham. The DOCK YARD has, in many instances, the preference to most others in the kingdom; the largest ships. may ride in safety near the town; the Thames being remarkably deep, and, at high water, nearly a mile broad. The yard has been progressively enlarged, from the time of its establishment; and includes a space of five furlongs in length, and one broad; in which are two dry docks, several slips, three mast-ponds, a smith's shop, with forges for making anchors, a model loft, storehouses of various descriptions, mast-houses, sheds for timber, dwellings for the different officers, and other buildings. The whole, as in Deptford, is under the immediate inspection of the Navy Board. The resident officers are a clerk of the checque, a storekeeper, a master shipwright, and his assistants, a clerk of the survey, a master attendant, a surgeon, &c. The number of artificers and labourers, is between three and four thousand. Several very fine first and second-rate ships have been built here, as well as many third-rates and frigates to which will shortly be added the lord Nelson, of one hundred and ten guns; and the Venerable, of seventy-four. The ill-fated Royal George, which sunk at Spithead, with the brave admiral Kempenfelt, and upwards of four hundred of her crew, besides two hundred women, was built here in 1751; as was the Sovereign of the seas, in the reign of Charles the First, This ship, which was the largest that had then been built in England, was one thousand six hundred and thirty-seven tons burthen. The Dutch are said to have called her the "Golden Devil," from the havock which her cannon made among their seamen. She was curiously ornamented by carving, gilding, and emblematical devices, designed by Haywood, the dramatist, who described her, in a quarto tract, which accompanied an engraving on two plates by Payne, R 2 Payne, published in 1637, the year she was launched. In this description, her length is stated at one hundred and twenty-eight feet, and her breadth at forty-eight: she had three flush decks, a forecastle, half-deck, quarter-deck, and round-house; and carried one hundred and seventy-six pieces of ordnance: she had five lanthorns, one of which would contain eleven persons standing upright; and eleven anchors, the largest weighing four thousand four hundred pounds. The largest cables for men of war are made in an extensive ROPE WALK, and on the lower part of the town is GUNPACK, containing vast quantities of cannon for the use of the navy, in tiers; there are often laid up eight thousand pieces of ordnance, besides innumerable mortars, shells, and other implements of destruction. The military and civil branches of the OFFICE OF ORDNANCE, have subsisted since the reign of George I. in this place, and have been very instrumental in its rapid increase of population. The nature of this institution has been so amply detailed in various publications, that it would be improper to dwell on the subject. The Foundery for cannon, was originally at the back of Upper Moorfields, near Windmill Hill, at a place used afterwards as a Dissenting chapel by Mr. John Wesley. A dreadful accident happening there in consequence of recasting some cannon, in 1716, which had been previously mentioned by Mr. Andrew Schalch, a Swiss, from his experience in casting metals; that gentleman was sought out by public advertisement, and he was told that "the Board of Ordnance had it in contemplation to erect a new foundery at a distance from the metropolis, and that through the representation which had been made of his ability, they of fered him a commission to make choice of any spot within twelve miles of London, for the erection of such a building, (having proper reference to the extensive nature of the works, and carriage of the heavy materials,) and also to engage him as superintendent of the whole concern." This This proposal was too advantageous not to be readily accepted by Schalch, who immediately began his search for a proper place for the new establishment; and having inspected various spots, at length fixed on the Warren at Woolwich, as the most eligible situation. Here the new foundery was erected; and the first specimens of ordnance cast by Mr. Schalch, were so highly approved, that he was fixed in the situation of master founder, and continued to hold that office for about sixty years, when he retired to Charlton, having been assisted during the latter part of that term, by his nephew, Mr. Lewis Gaschlin; who, though more than eighty years old, is still employed in the arsenal, as principal modeller for the military repository. Mr. Schalch died in 1776, when about the age of ninety, and lies buried in the churchyard in this town: he had one daughter, who was married to general Belford, of the artillery. Some of the largest mortars now remaining in the arsenal, were cast under his direction, and have his name upon them. them. His attention, and scientific knowledge, were so successfully exerted, that not a single accident happened amidst all the hazardous processes in which he was engaged during the very long period they were dircted by him*. Thus rose the ROYAL ARSENAL, SO stiled by his majesty George III. The LABORATORY is under the care of a comptroller, and subordinate officers, and is appropriated for the making cartridges and fireworks for the use of the navy. The other structures in the arsenal are storehouses, workshops, in one of which is a planing machine, and offices of various descriptions. The number of artificers, labourers, and boys, employed in the various departments, is about three thousand; exclusive of the convicts, for several offences against the public, belonging to one of the Hulks, which is stationed on the river, opposite to the arsenal: the other hulk lies before the dock yard. The convicts amount to about nine hundred; they are generally employed in the * Beauties of England; extracted from Mr. Moser's Vestiges. &c. most most laborious offices, as pile-driving, &c. under the care of proper persons*. The ROYAL MILITARY ACADEMY is also under the comptrol of the Board of Ordnance; the master-general being always considered the governor of the academy, which is conducted at present by a professor of mathematics; a professor of fortification; a professor of chemistry; mathematical masters; arithmetic, and other masters in the several branches of elegant education. Though the building was erected about the year 1719, for the accommodation of the various branches of this establishment, the arrangements do not seem to have taken place till 1741, when George the Second, by warrants, dated on the thirtieth of April, and the eighteenth of November, directed the establishment to be for instructing persons belonging to the military part of the ordnance, in the several branches of the mathematics, fortifications, &c. proper to qualify them for the service of artillery, and the office of engineers +. Many improvements have been made in the institution, which has been particularly fortunate in the abilities of its mathematical professors; the first of whom, though prior to the regular establisment of the academy, was the rev. Dr. Derham. In 1743, Mr. Simpson was appointed. The present professor is the learned and venerable Charles Hutton, D. C. L. and F. R. S. The number of masters has been gradually increased with that of the pupils, who are called Cadets, and are of the most respectable families, amounting to about three thousand. "They must be four feet nine nches high at their admission, and sufficiently instructed in Latin grammar, and fractional arithmetic, to pass an examination; a further recommendation is a knowledge of the French tongue; the age of admission is from fourteen to sixteen, to which they are limited. An annual stipend of 45l. 12s. 6d. is immediately allowed to each of the young * Beauties of England; extracted from Mr. Moser's Vestiges, &c. ↑ Hutton's Philosophical and Mathematical Dictionary, Vol. I. gentlemen, |