A DISCOURSE OF SEAPORTS; Principally of the Port and Haven of Dover:  
Written by Sir Walter Raleigh, and Addressed to Queen Elizabeth.  
With useful Remarks, etc. on that Subject, by Command of his late Majesty K. Charles the Second.  
Never before made Public.  
LONDON: Printed for and Sold by john Nutt, near Stationers-Hall. 1700. Price 6 d.   

To the Right Honourable THE Earl of Rumney, Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, etc.  
My Lord,  
THe Publisher of this Discourse has no other motive of his Address to your Lordship, than that the Design may receive Protection from some Powerful Hand, by which being Sheltered in its Infancy from the blasts of Malevolence (which will blow from more corners than one) it may have leave to strike Root and grow to strength enough to be able to stand alone. The Subject Matter seems to belong to your Lordship in Propriety as you are Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports; and the Patronage of so Noble and National a Project could be claimed no where so rightfully as from your Lordship, who being equally great by Birth, Power, the Favour of your Prince and the Love of your Country; I could not withstand the justice of making this Oblation of my Duty and Good wishes to your Lordship, by thus tendering it to your Election to be the Father and Protector of so Needful and Magnificent a Work, abounding in Public Honour, Safety and Emolument; whereby you may consign your Name to Posterity, by a Monument more durable and of greater dignity than the Records and Patents of your Ancestors or the Statues of Antiquity.  
The Manuscript fell casually into my hands during the last Session of Parliament, which being relished by such Worthy Members of that Honourable Body as I had an Opportunity to impart it to; I thought I could not do a more Grateful Office to my Country, than to be the means of its Publication, for which freedom I ask the Author's pardon, as I do your Lordship's for the presumption of this Dedication: who am,  
Your Lordship's most Humble and Dutiful Servant,   

A MEMORIAL OF Sir Walter Raleigh to Q. Elizabeth Touching the Port of Dover.  

A Brief Discourse, declaring how Honourable and Profitatable to your most Excellent Majesty, and how Necessary and Commodious for your Realm, the making of Dover Haven shall be, and in what sort, what least Charges in greatest Perfection the same may be Accomplished.  
THere is no one thing, most renowned Sovereign, of greater necessity to Maintain the Honour and Safety of this your Majesty's Realm, than by all convenient means to increase Navigation, Shipping and Mariners, these being a strength in time of War; and in time of Peace, Members most Profitable and Commodious.  
But this can neither be had, increased, nor Maintained, if First, sure Harbours be not provided, as Safe Receptacle to Receive and guard them from Storms, Enemies, etc.  
This hath moved that Industrious Nation of the low Countries in Holland, Zealand and Flanders, where, by Reason of their Sandy Coast, tho' God hath scarcely in any Place allowed them any good Havens Natural, yet seeing the Necessity and Commodity of Harbours, they have, without regard of any Charges or Travel, with Infinite Expenses, made many Havens Artificial, even in such Places as Nature denied them all the hopes of help; Whereby we see they have drawn such Intercourse and Traffic both of Foreign Nations for Merchandise, and also by their Industry for Fishing, that in few Years (almost in our Age) they have been able to Build a Number of most Sumptuous, Rich, and Beautiful Cities, furnished the Coast with a great Number of Ships and Mariners, and are become the most Populous and Rich Nation the Sun did ever shine on; And not only the Sea Coasts, but also the Inland Countries, by quick vent of their Commodities, do Participate of the same Benefit and Felicity; And such their Charges in Havens and Harbours bestowed, do yield them the Fruit of Riches, Wealth, and Commodity most plentiful throughout their whole Dominion.  
But contrariwise, with us this last Parliament, lamentable Relation hath been made of the great Decay of Mariners and Fishermen, to the Number of many Hundred Sail upon our Coast of England, even in this Age, and within Memory; And also of the present Poverty, and Desolate Habitation of many Frontier Towns.  
Whereby it plainly appeareth, That as the Excessive Expense of the Low countries' bestowed on Havens, hath not Impoverished, but the clean contrary, greatly Enriched them by Incomparable Wealth and Treasure, with Number of Rich, Fair and Populous Towns; So our Sparing Mind, or rather greedy Getting, Gaining, and Enriching Land from your Majesty's Havens and Navigable Channels, hath utterly Destroyed and Spoilt many good Havens by Nature left us, and thereby wrought very Beggary, Misery and Desolation in these your Frontier Towns.  
And if we Search the very Cause of the Flourishing State of London, which almost alone in Quantity, People, and Wealth in this Age or Realm is so increased, and contrariwise of the Poverty or rather Beggary and Decay of Winchelsea, Rye, Rumney, Hid, Dover, and many other Poor Towns, we shall find the Decay of these Havens, and Preservation of the Thames, the only or chief Occasion.  
Hereby sufficiently appeareth how Incomparable Jewels Havens, and sure Harbours are for Gaining, Maintaining and Increasing People, Wealth and Commodity in any Realm.  
And no lesser Strength and Security do they bring in time of War, as well by the Multitude of Mariners (a most Serviceable People) and Shipping, which they Breed, as also the Inhabitation of the Frontiers.  
But in the whole Circuit of this your Majesty's Famous Island, there is not any one either in Respect of Security and Defence, or of Traffic or Intercourse, more Convenient, Needful, or rather of Necessity to be Regarded than this of Dover, Situate on a Promontory next Fronting a Puissant Foreign King, and in the very straight Passage and Intercourse of almost all the Shipping of Christendom.  
And if that our Renowned King, your Majesty's Father, of Famous Memory, Henry the 8 th' in his time, found how Necessary it was to make a Haven at Dover (when Sandwich, Rye, Camber and others were good Havens, and Calais also then in his Possession) and yet spared not to bestow of his own Treasure, so great a Mass in building of that Pier, which then Secured a Probable mean to perform the same: How much more is the same now needful, or rather of Necessity (those good Havens being extremely decayed,) no safe Harbour being left in all the Coast almost between Portsmouth and Tarmouth: Seeing the same also may be performed without the Expense of your Majesty's Private Treasure, the present Gift of Parliament considered, and their ready Wills so plainly discovered, to supply whatsoever Charge shall be needful, whensoever by your Gracious Providence they shall see the Realm armed with such a Shield, and endowed with so great a Jewel.   

The Commodities that thereby both to Your Majesty and Realm shall ensure, are.  
First, A Place of Refuge and Safeguard to all Merchants, your Majesty's Subjects who Passing from London, and all other the East and North Parts of England, to France, Spain, Barbary the Levant, the Islands, or other Parts South, or West of the World, for want of Harbour at Dover, either going forth or returning, shall be enforced to Ride it out in open Road, to their great Peril, or in time of War, for want of such Succour, to Throw themselves on the contrary Coast into the Arms of their Enemies.  
For all other Strangers, your Majesty's Friends, that pass the Sea from Hambrough, Danzick, Lubeck, Embden, Scotland, Denmark, or any parts of the Low Countries, to any Parts of the World, South, and South-West, (whereof there are daily great Numbers) or of Spain, Portugal, France or Italy, bound Northward, either to London, or any of the Northern Provinces, both Passing and Repassing, they must of necessity Touch, as it were, upon this Promontory, and upon any change of Wind, or Fear of Enemy, for sure Refuge, will most willingly and thankfully Embrace so sweet and safe a Sanctuary.  
No Promontory, Town or Haven of Christendom, is so placed by Nature and Situation, both to Gratify Friends and Annoy Enemies, as this your majesties Town of Dover.  
No Place or Town of Christendom, is so settled to receive and deliver Intelligence for all Matters and Actions in Europe, from time to time.  
No Town of all the Low Countries, although by their Industry they have a great Number, Excessive Populous, Fair and Rich, is by Nature so settled, either to Allure Intercourse by Sea, or to Train Inhabitants by Land, to make it Great, Fair, Rich and Populous.  
For Alluring Intercourse by Sea there is already sufficient said.  
By Land, It hath better Air and Water, Two chief Elements, than all the Rich Towns in Holland and Zealand.  
For Fire, The Country round about is far better Wooded than theirs, and the whole Shire wherein it standeth, and round about the Town Itself the Soil is so well sorted for Arable and Pasture of all sorts; For Marish and Meadows sufficiently furnished, as Heart of Man cannot wish or desire it better.  
A Quary of Stone at hand sufficient to Build both Town and Haven in most sufficient, large and Beautiful manner. There wanteth nothing by Land, Sea or Air that can be wished, And if those Industrious People of the Low Countries had in all their Province such a Seat with like Commodities, they would make it a Spectacle to the World without Respect of Charge whatsoever.  
There wanteth nothing but a Harbour, which when compassed, all other parts of Peopling, Wealth and Strength will follow of itself.  
A Marvellous Number of Poor People both by this Work, till the Haven is made, and after by the Shipping, Fishing, etc. will be Employed, who now for want of Work are Whipped, Marked, and Hanged.  
The Quick uttering of Commodities, which always followeth by Increase of Intercourse, will cause all the Coast and Shire to be notably Manured and Peopled, not with Poor; Idle, But Painful, Industrious and Rich Persons, a great Ornament and Commodity in Peace, and sure defence in War, the same being the Frontier nearest Coast to a most Dangerous, Puissant, Active and Aspiring Neighbour.  
The increase of Navigation, Fishing and Traffic that hereby will grow, and the great Wealth and Commodity thereof ariseing will not be contained in one Shire alone, but poured forth into all parts of the Realm, to the great Relief of the Poor, and Contentation of all Degrees, Increasing of Arts and Occupations, a Pattern whereof we may behold even in our next Neighbours the Low Countries; not Feigned in Imagination, but actually by them put in Execution, and great shame it were for us, to despair attaining that, which we see others our Neighbours have Atcheiv'd before us.  
As the whole Realm in General, So your Majesty also in Respect of your Particular Revenue, shall Reap great Profit by Increase of Subsidies, which always will grow greater, together with the Wealth of the Land, besides the increase of Customs and such other Revenues as shall be there made of the Soil there gained from the Seas.  
The Shire of Kent being within few Years Grown Marvellous Industrious in Tilling and Manuring their Grounds, when they shall see so convenient a Port to Vend their Superfluous Commodities, will not only increase in Wealth and People, but also Yield to your Majesty's Coffers for Transportation of their excise in Wheat, Barley and Beer, great Increase of Revenues; And all other Shires taking Example by them, will likewise grow in Labour, Industry, Wealth and People.  
There can be no Pitch, Tar, Mafts, Cables, or other Tackle for Shipping, pass from Danzick, Denmark or other Northern Parts to France, Spain or Italy, But your Majesty having a strong Hand of Shipping at Dover, may Command for Money the choice thereof before any King in Christendom in time of Peace; And in time of War, thereby also Disable Enemies and content Friends; Besides the Infinite Commodity that may happily grow to the whole Nation in General, and to your Majesty's Coffers also by a staple, that in time, with good Policy may be Erected there to serve both South and North Countries with their Mutual Commodities.  
In time of War how Dangerous attempt may be made with small Frigates of Fire, or otherwise, to Endanger your Majesty's Navy where it now lieth, with hope sufficient to escape and Return again before any Shipping can be made out of the Thames to Rescue or Revenge, the Expertest Soldiers and Seamen best know: But this Harbour being made and furnished with good Shipping, as always it will be, no such attempt will ever be made, the Enemy being assured, however the Wind Blow, upon any Alarm either from London or Dover, to be surprised, and no hope left to escape.  
Your Majesty having shipping at Dover, may also upon all suddainness, with lesser Charge, set forth to Scour the Seas of Pirates, whereby your Navy of Merchants will Marvellously increase and Flourish, both in the great Strength and Wealth of the Realm, and to the great Increase of your Majesty's Customs.  
In like sort your Fishing Navies may be Maintained and Protected from Pilsering Pirates, or other Violence of Strangers, and thereby Reap the Benefit of your Seas, whereby our strength by Sea will Marvellously increase, and great Number of poor People be Employed as well on Land in Knitting Nets, and making and mending both Ships and Tackle, as also in getting of Fish, a Food greatly to Relieve the Poverty of the Realm, and excessively to increase your Majesty's Revenue, by Custom of such Commodities as shall be brought in abundantly for exchanging of those our Fish.  
The Fishing Navies being by this means both protected and greatly increased, all Laws for Punishment, and Taxes for Relieving Idle and poor People, will then Cease; for there shall be no Person for Age or Sickness, all most so Impotent but shall find hereby some Trade whereby to get their living, as by Example of the low Countries we may plainly behold.  
What greater Honour to your Majesty than like, as you are, (in Right of Inheritance) Lady of the Narrow Seas, so to be able indeed to Maintain that Seignory, and to put the same in Execution at all times, as far forth as your Highness shall find convenient.  
What greater Honour to your Majesty than to be the Founder of so Notable a Monument, lying in the Eye of almost all the Shipping of Europe, a thing to which your Majesty's Father Aspired, with the Fxpence of so great a Mass of his own Treasure.  
What greater Honour than to be able in time of Peace or War to Protect Friends, and Offend Enemies more than any other Prince of Europe.  
Seeing then it hath pleased God to leave unto this Realm such a Situation for a Port, and Town as all Christendom hath not the like, and Endowed the same with all Commodities by Land and Sea that can be wished to make the Harbour Allure Intercourse, and Maintain Inhabitants; And that the same once performed (in all probable Discourse of Reason) shall bring such increase of Commodity, not only for Augmentation of your Majesty's particular Revenues, but also of Welfare and Riches to the whole Realm in General, the same also being a thing so needful, or rather of necessity, as well for succouring and Protecting Friends, as Annoying and Offending Enemies both in War and Peace; And that it hath pleased God in his Providence to Reserve the same as an Ornament of your time, to be now performed by your Majesty, and left as an Honourable Monument of your happy Reign to all Posterity, Methinks there remaineth no other Deliberation in this Case, but how most sufficiently, and with greatest Perfection possible, most speedily, the same may be accomplished.  
And in Discharge of some part of my bounden Duty to the Advancement of your Majesty's Service, having not only heard by the Examination of the most ancient and skilful Mariners and Inhabitants in Dover, the true Estate of all Alterations there, for these 40 Years passed, But also myself seen and sounded all the Channels, Shelves and Roads there, and set them down exactly in Plate; having also Conferred the Sundry Opinions of strangers, and also of our own Nation, for the Repairing or making a New Haven there, and comparing the same with what myself have seen put in Execution in sundry places of the Low Countries, for making Havens Artificial, I have in the End Resolved upon one Form of Plate, which of all others (as well for the use and Commodity, when it is finished, as for the possibility, or rather for the Facility in making, for the Probability, or rather assured certainty of continuance, for avoiding great Wast of Timber, and saving a great Mass of Treasure) I find and Judge of most perfection. And albeit the Flemish Plate, in former conference of Commissioners, was adjudged of all others then Offered, the most probable, Yet upon due Consideration, this Plate, I presume, will appear in all Respects more Commodious, more feizable, more assured to continue; of far less Cost in Maintenance, and at least 20000 l. dat charge in making, as by the Articles of Explanation, and charges, more evidently may appear. This which I humbly present to your Majesty's Gracious Consideration, as a matter of great moment both in Peace and War, for your Highness' Service, for the great comfort of all the Navy of your Realm, and a Monument most Honourable, and none of the least to all posterity of your Majesty's most Gracious, Prosperous and Happy Reign.    

The foregoing Discourse was part of a Memorial, drawn up either by Sir Walter Raleigh or Sir Dudley Diggs, which I found among the Rubbish of old papers while I had the Honour to serve in the Office of the Ordnance, and was Searching after Light into the Ancient History and Services of Dover, to which Curiosity ` I had divers motives, viz. I had made several Essays to awaken his late Majesty King Charles out of the Lethargy he seemed to me to be under, upon the French King's so loudly Alarming us by the Profuse Expense he had been at in Fortifying his Coast, making Artificial Ports, and sparing no Coast where he had the least Prospect of Compassing Harbour and Defence for Shipping, and Improving his Naval Strength and Projects; which to me appeared as so many Comets, whose Malevolence was Calculated, and could not fail, one time or other to fall on us. I had in those days, frequent occasions of Privacy with the King in his Closet, where I improved every Opportunity to Warm his Jealousy of the Growing Naval Power of France; And albeit he gave me many a Gracious Hearing, and seemed to take Pleasure in my Discourse on that Subject, and would often himself Reason with great Sagacity on Naval Matters; yet I grew at length convinced, that I Laboured in Vain, and had been all the while Blowing a Dead Coal, as by this short following Account may appear.  
In the Year 1682 Waiting one day on the King in his Closet, after some General Discourse, his Majesty was pleased to tell me that I had often hinted to him how busy the French King was on his Coast, and what Vast Designs he had conceived for the Improvement of his Naval Power, which was Visible by his fortifying of Dunkirk, in a most expensive manner, and Projecting Extraordinary Works there, making Peers, Channels, Basins, and every Provision that Art can Suggest, and Money Compass, to Render that Place easy of Access, and make it a safe, Capacious and Commodious Harbour for Shipping. I told his Majesty, that not only at Dunkirk, Breast, and other Places where nature and Situation had given them some Help and Encouragement to Prosecute their Maritime Projects; but even every where else upon his Coast, in every Creek, Cove, or Inlet, where they can make Depth of Water, and give the least Harbour and Retreat for Shipping, they are, and have been on that Article equally Industrious, which, as I had often told his Majesty, seemed to me to have a very Evil Aspect on all the Maritin States of Europe, but more especially his Majesty. That nothing (humanly speaking) could prevent and defeat the Mighty Purposes of that Ambitious Monarch, so much as his want of Natural Aid towards the Increase of his Naval Strength; his Coast not yielding him one good Port on all that Frontier which Regards us, which he most Providently weighing, had from an Harbourless. Inhospitable Shoar, by Art, Industry, and a most Lavish Expense of Treasure, in a very great Degree, Repuired; Insomuch that there is hardly 5 Leagues of Distance upon that Line, of their Coast Fronting ours, that does not yield marks of their Care and Application. Barrs, Rocks and Shelves are removed, and Channels Opened and Deepned, to give safe and easy Entrance to such small Ports as they have by Nature. And in other Places (where Art could be thought to avail) they have spared no pains or Treasure to compass; Artificial Havens, Peers and Provisions of Succour for Shipping. They have also Built Fortresses; raised Batteries, and Planted Cannon Innumerable, all along their Coast, and performed every wise and needful Work towards the attaining their Ends of becoming Formidable by Sea, and all this against the Grain, and as it were in Despite of Nature, which yields them little or no Encouragement. While we on our Coast, where Providence is so bountiful, have been so very little on our Guard, that tho' Navigation be the Prime Jewel of the Crown, and is the Fountain and Foundation of both our Wealth and Safety; and without which we should be a Contemptible Nation; have not only omitted to Improve the Tenders which Nature makes us for the Increase and Cultivating of our Naval Power; But have in this last Age consented to see many of our useful Ports, Run to Decay, and at length to Ruin, and to become totally lost to the Nation; which a very little Foresight, and as little charge might have prevented, while the Evil was Growing; which at a long Run becomes incurable. Among which Ports I instanced Sandwich. Dover, Rye, Winchelsea, etc. which were reckoned heretofore as so many Bulwarks against our Ambitious Neighbour. The King hereupon Replied, that he Confessed he laid a little to heart the loss of the Haven of Dover; because it has fallen to decay mostly in his Reign; had yielded him good Service in the First Dutch War, and in that which was made by the Parliament with that Nation, he was well assured that we had a Squadron of Cruizers which sailed out of that Place, where they Fitted, Cleaned and Victualled, which did the Enemy more Damage than any in the whole Channel beside. That therefore (if he thought that Haven could be recovered by any Tolerable Charge) he was then more than ever disposed to engage in such a Work, inasmuch as that he was well assured, that not only all that I had said was true, but that the French King (to whom tho' he had signified already by his Ambassador,— That the great Bustle he had made upon the Coast had given Jealously and Distaste to the Nation, and was not very pleasing to him) had nevertheless Engaged very lately in a New Expensive Work of the same Nature, with those I had mentioned, in the Neighbourhood of Calais, where great Numbers of Men were then actually Employed in Fortifying the Coast, and making an Harbour, and Basin for Reception of Shipping, etc. Which being just under his Nose, he said he had so much the more Reason to Resent it, and which he could not do in a better manner than by attempting the Recovery of Dover Haven, wherein if he Succeeded; as it would give an occasion of Ease to the People's Jealousy, so it would obviate in some Measure the Danger that Threatened us from so Restless and Projecting a Neighbour. I Replied to his Majesty, with great Joy, that I thought it would be a most acceptable Instance to the Nation, of his Care for their safety, and a useful Proof to the Murmuring People of his Just Dislike and Suspicion of the French King's Proceed, and that I was in no doubt whenever his Majesty should appear to go in earnest, about so Laudable and Needful a Work, that the Parliament would Frankly Assist him towards the Expense.  
His Majesty hereupon Commanded me to make a Journey to Dover to Survey the Port, and Enable myself by the best means I could, to give him a true State thereof in order to a Project for the Recovery of that Harbour; which order I carefully executed, and on my Return waited on his Majesty with my Report, together with a Plan and State of the present Peer; an History of the Services that Place had yielded the Crown; how it has fallen to Decay, and how with least Charge it might be Repaired and Rendered useful again. I told his Majesty that the bare Customs and Duties he had lost by the decay of that Port, which for want of Entrance in that Port, as had been Customary (there being no other in many Leagues together on the Coast) and which were therefore now Smugled and totally lost) would be by many Degrees more than enough when recovered (and which would most certainly accrue upon Restoring the Harbour) to Repay the utmost Charge he could be at for its Repair and Improvement, which single Encouragement I thought was Incitement enough to go about so Noble, Useful and Reputable a Work.  
I told his Majesty that the Port was at that time become entirely useless, the Peer within being Filled and Choked up with Sand and Mud, and the Depth of Water lost; That there was a Bank of Beach at the mouth of the Harbour of many Thousand Tuns, which Barred up the Entrance. That the Town (which was wont to abound in Shipping, Seamen, Commerce, People and Plenty of all things) was become Poor desolate and Dispeopled, which was Visible every where, by their Decayed Buildings and Habitations, where half the Houses at least throughout the whole Town had Bills on the Doors; All which could be ascribed to no other Reason than the Decay of their Harbour: touching the true Cause whereof, or the cure, the Inhabitants (with whom I had frequent Conference) could give me little or no Light.  
In this Audience, I gave his Majesty an Extensive Account of all things Relating to the Subject about which he had sent me: I presented him with a Draught of the then State of the Port of Dover, wherein was expressed the manner of its Decay, and the present Ruinous Condition in which it was. I Endeavoured also to explain to him how this Damage had come to pass, and by what means it had grown to that Head, as to have Rendered the Haven now almost lost to the Public. From the Causes of the Disease, I proceeded to my Proposals for the Remedy, wherein I had the good Fortune to explain every Point of my Project, with Evidence enough to oblige his Majesty at that time to say that he was so well satisfied, that he was Resolved he would not Defer the Work a Day. That as I had made every thing plain and intelligible to him; So above all, he was pleased with two most useful and Encourageing Propositions therein contained, Namely, That whereas in most great Works of that kind, Princes were Generally Obliged to Prosecute and go through the whole Expense (which for the most part was very great) before they could Reap the least Profit of their Design, or be assured of the Success; While this Work on the contrary was so ordered and contrived by me, That he was sure to Receive a present Profit from every Sum (be it more or less) which he should at any time think sit to lay out, and that the Benefit would be presently seen, and Gathered, in Proportion to the Charge he should be at; which he might Limit of Respite as he pleased, without Danger of Damage to the Work that should be done, or of losing the Advantage that should be once gained in case of discontinuing the same.  
The Second Point that pleased his Majesty was; That whereas all Artificial Ports that ever he had heard of (which is most true) were Subject to Cheak, and fill up with Sand or Sullage, and to lose by degrees their Depth of Water, without great Care and a continual Charge to prevent it; and which was the Cause for the most part of the decay and loss of such Ports to the Public: That he perceived I had plainly obviated that Evil, and by a New and very Demonstrable Invention had evidently Secured the Depth of Water for ever, which no Neglect could hinder, or towards which any Expense or Annual Charge was Necessary.  
I concluded with this General Incitement to his Majesty, That Multiplicity of Ports in a Maritime Kingdom, (such as his) was above all things to be wished; which in times of Peace was a great Means of Encouragement to our Naval Intercourse, and Coasting Trade, whereby our Capital City became better supplied, and at Cheaper Rates, with all things needful; that Seamen were Proportionably Propagated, Shipping and all the Incident Professions of Shipwrightry and Navigation increased and improved, etc. That in time of War, Shelter, and Defence against an Enemy was by that means more at Hand, whereby our Commerce was better Preserved, our Frontier so much the stronger, and Cruizers had more dispatch; and were better Spread and Disposed at Sea; because wheresoever there are Ports Commodiously Situate, and in the Road of our Commerce, there of course will be Men of War appointed and Entertained in times of Hostility, where they can Clean, Victual and Refit, whereby great Expedition (which is the Life of Action) would be obtained, and half the time gained that was spent in going to Remote Ports, as the Thames, Chatham, Portsmouth, etc. Where, if the Wind hangs out of the way, Ships lie long on Demorage, become Fowl by Staying for a Wind, and lose many Occasions of Service, which in Ports lying upon the Edge of our Channel, as Dover does, can never happen; where you need no Pylotage, and are no sooner out of the Haven but you are at Sea.  
In a Word, I Ended my Discourse to his Majesty, with assuring him that Dover promised every thing he could hope from such a Port; was Situate the nearest of all others to a Great, Dangerous and Aspiring Neighbour, who had given so many Instances of Wisdom and Foresight in the charge he had been at on that Line of his Coast which confronts ours, and which whenever his Majesty should Chance to have a War with that People, would be found to turn every way both Offensively and Defensively to Marvellous Account.  
That Dover stands on a Promontory which Survey's, and might be made to Command the greatest Thoroughfare of Navigation in the World, where no ship can pass unobserved, or escape the danger of being attacked, when there should be cause, and was of the same use by Sea as a Pass is by Land. And, that there was no Design his Majesty could Entertain for its Strength and Improvement, that was not Compassable by Art, and that did not promise a Plentiful Return of Profit and Honour, of any the Greatest Sum he could spare to lay out upon it.  
I departed at that time from his Majesty full of hopes, that what I had done and said on this Subject, would have produced the good Effect of some speedy Resolution; but taking the Liberty some days after to remind him therein, I found him, to my great Disappointment, much calmer than I had left him, and received this short Answer, That it was a Noble Project indeed, but that it was too big for his present Purse, and would Keep Cold. Shortly after I was Dispatched to my Business in a remote Country, and from that time to this have neither said nor heard any thing of Dover.  
Now the Remark I would make on this Sudden and Surprising Coldness of the King's, is namely this, That the long Audience I then had of his Majesty, chanced to be in a certain great Lady's Apartment in White-Hall, where I had no sooner began my Discourse, and produced my Papers, when Mons. Barrillon, the French Ambassador, came in who I observed to Listen with great Attention to what was debated; ask the said Lady very earnestly many Questions about the Subject Matter of our Conference, who I perceived to Interpret to him every thing that was said on that occasion, as did the King afterwards in my hearing; Explaining the whole Project, and the Contents of the several Designs; Expressing his great Approbation of the Report I had made him; whereupon making Reflection on this Occurrence, I was no longer in doubt touching the cause or my Disappointment; but that it was not the French Kings Interest, and therefore not his Pleasure, that we should proceed on this Work, and that so Noble a Project should thus Die in the Birth, who would have been contented (I make no Question) to have given ten times the amount of the Cost to defeat so National an undertaking, which looked with so threatening an aspect on those great Schemes of Naval Power which he has since put in Execution, and is Prosecuting to this day; And I think it therefore becomes every hearty English Man to Conclude that such an Incident as I have here produced, ought to superadd one new and Solid Argument of Incitement to those that have been urged towards some solemn deliberation on so promising and Important a Subject; and if our Forefathers, in those darker times of Queen Eliz. saw a Reason for their Speculations on this Article, then when their views were narrow, their motives less, and the means to attain their purpose hardly to be compassed through the Limited Fonds of Treasure in those days; and the insufficiency of Undertakers to conceive, design, and Prosecute Works of that sort, so Magnificent; So new and out of the way of the World's Practice; It may therefore be hoped, that now, when our motives of Danger, etc. are so visible, and so much Stronger; the means of obtaining so Noble an end every way more within our reach; while we behold by what Arts and Means, and with what Profusion of Treasure, a Neighbouring Prince pursues his Maritime Projects, and since we have seen and felt with what Effect he has succeeded in his Aims to Rival us by Sea, and in a word, while we knew he must naturally ever be more than our Match by Land; and that nothing at this day can insure our safety, but a Demonstruble Superiority of Naval Strength. What greater Wisdom and Precaution can we Manifest, or how can we more laudably publish our Attention to the Public Welfare, than by Seasonably obviating the Evils that seem to Threaten us by the growing Naval Power of France, towards which no one step we can make promises better Fruit than this proposal of Recovering and Improving the Haven of Dover, which is by Nature Situate to our wish, and in my Humble Opinion is capable of being made by Art so useful to ourselves and Friends, and so effectual to bridle, prevent and Annoy our Enemies; that were the Argument duly weighed, I am persuaded we should think no Sum too great to be so Employed.  
FINIS.