Elizabeth, called the Block House, but is now converted into a powder magazine.

In the place of the counterscarp, designed to fill up the vacant space on both sides of the platform, are mounted one hundred and six cannons, carrying balls from $2 to 42lbs. presenting an appearance awful and terrible. On the bastions and curtains surrounding, are mounted, at regular distances, guns carrying balls of 9lbs. each.

The situation of the fort is truly singular on this account, being built on the confines of two parishes, viz. Chadwell and West Tilbury, through the middle of which formerly ran the great road leading to the passage at Gravesend. On the west-side, situated in Chadwell parish, are erected the barracks for the soldiers, guard-house, suttling-house, and chapel. In the West Tilbury confines, are built the houses for the principal officers of the garrison. They consist of seven distinct habitations, divided into various apartments, and suited to the rank of the officers. The exterior of the houses, viewed from the gate, present a pleasant aspect, being all built in a neat and regular manner. But the interior parts are not commodiously adapted to form separate apartments, insomuch, that when a great number of officers reside, no small inconvenience arises from the distribution of the rooms, which generally run one into another.

The greatest inconvenience, however, is often felt from a scarcity of good water. Here is no spring or well of fresh water, and the garrison depends, for supply, ou rain, which is collected, from the roofs of the houses, into reservoirs, and pumped from the same when occasion requires; but in dry summers, when the garrison is full of soldiers, it is conveyed by water carriage from Gravesend.

Here is to be seen a gun, cast in the time of the Commonwealth, under its protector, Oliver Cromwell, taken from an old redoubt near Gravesend, and said to be erected by Henry the Eighth, when he fortified the coast against the incursions of his continental enemies.

The barracks for the soldiers are capable of receiving three hundred men. A desirable and necessary improvement is intended, and about to be carried into execution, viz. a large building to be erected behind the soldiers' barracks the upper part is designed for an hospital, and the lower for a common kitchen and wash-house; the present state of the garrison requires these accommodations. The barracks are chiefly occupied by recruits, who daily arrive from London, and the northern parts of the kingdom, particularly from Scotland. After being examined and approved by the general of the district, they are sent on board a transport, hired for the purpose of conveying them to the grand depot in the Isle of Wight; and from thence they are distributed into their respective regiments in the East and West Indies.

To preserve order and regularity in the garrison, a detachment of soldiers, from Chatham, under the command of a lieutenant, amounting to fifty rank and file, mount guard, and are changed every month. For the purpose of keeping the batteries in good order, are stationed six invalid artillery-men, under the command of a master gunner. But the principal use of the fort, at this time, consists in its being a grand powder magazine. The buildings are bombproof, and contain many thousand barrels filled with ballcartridges; from them the fleet and army are conveniently supplied.

The present governor is General Sir Thomas Musgrave, Bart. His salary is £.300 per annum; besides the profits arising from the rents of the suttling and ferry houses, which greatly exceed that sum; and, from present circumstances, might admit of being easily raised to twice that amount. The salaries of the other officers are inadequate to their support; that of the chaplain does not exceed £.35 per annum.

Near the principal gate, and above the guard-house, there is fitted up a small but neat chapel, wherein is per

formed divine service on Sundays and other solemn occasions.

In the northern part of the parish, at West Tilbury heath, the four Roman proconsular ways crossed each other. In the year 630 the village gave name to the see of a bishop, called St. Ceadda, or St. Chadd, who converted the East Saxons to the Christian faith.

On the glebe of the rector of the parish was discovered, in the year 1727, a spring of chalybeate water. It is situated in a field below the church, covered by a small building, and yields a considerable increase to the income of the living. In the manor-house, adjoining the church, the property of Hunt Micklefield, Esq. is a well of the same quality, yielding equal advantage to the possessor.

Near this place Queen Elizabeth assembled her forces when the kingdom was threatened by the Spanish Armada, arrogantly, as it was falsely, called. Whatever were the foibles of Elizabeth, as a woman, the British throne was never filled by a more consummate politician:-her talents in the cabinet were only equalled by her personal courage. Her reign was an era of glory, which, for splendour and permanence, is unrivalled in the annals of England. Her great qualities acquired not only the implicit confidence, but the real affection of all ranks of her people.

"The counsel, upon mature deliberation, gave order for the executing and disposing of land service, and chiefly what strength, and in what place, it were best to plant an armie of defence, and in the end it was concluded, the rendevous should be at Tylbury. The ground having been survayed before, forthwith were trenches cutte; their next thwart neighbour, Gravesend, was then likewise fortified; and westerne barges thither brought, to make a bridge like to that at Antwerp, to stop the entrance of the daring foe, and give free passage to horse and foote between Kent and Essex, as occasion served." The Queen then made a progress to Tilbury, where she thus addressed the army :-" My

loving people, we have been persuaded by some that are careful of our safety, to take heed how we commit ourselves to armed multitudes, for fear of treachery; but assure you I do not desire to live to distrust my faithful and loving people. Let tyrants fear;-I have always so behaved myself, that, under God, I have placed my chiefest strength and safeguard in the loyal hearts and good-will of my subjects. And therefore, I am come amongst you at this time, not as for my recreation or sport, but being resolved, in the midst and heat of the battle, to live or die amongst you all; to lay down, for my God, and for my people, my honour and my blood, even in the dust. I know I have but the body of a week and feeble woman, but I have the heart of a king, and of a king of England too; and think foul scorn that Parma or Spain, or any prince of Europe, should dare to invade the borders of my realms; to which, rather than any dishonour should grow by me, I, myself, will take up arms-I, myself, will be your general-judge-and rewarder of every one of your virtues in the field."

Upon this an universal acclamation rent the air; and, although this little army consisted of no more than fifteen thousand foot and three thousand horse, "in the campe their most felicite was hope of fight with the enemy, where ofttimes divers rumours ran of their foes approch, and that present battell would be given them, then they were as joyfull at such newes as if lustie giants were to run a race †.”

In the long train of glorious events which have succeeded the reign of Elizabeth, it would be difficult to point out one which has dignified the name of Britons in a more eminent manner, or has, perhaps, had an equal tendency to impress foreign countries with a reverence for the English name, than the memorable defence made by Elizabeth at the period of the Spanish invasion.

This view is taken from the river;-the chapel appears

*Nichol's Progresses of Queen Elizabeth:

+ Ibid.

on the left hand-the causeway under the principal gate is for the king's troops only—the suttling-house adjoins—the next causeway is for ordinary purposes-the block-house, now a powder-magazine, is seen behind the vessels-the gunpowder wharf is extended into the river for the purpose of receiving it into the fort at all times of the tide; at its extremity is seen the crane, and beyond that the flag-staff battery. The river, at this place, is about three quarters of a mile wide, and in the view is seen under the influence of a fresh breeze, with vessels working down the river, the small Gravesend boats are making up for passengers, whom they are privileged to bring on shore.