P. 439: “Ferrol, a town and harbour for the royal navy, in the Pontus Magnus, to the north-north-east of Corunna, and ten leagues from Cabo Ortegal, has been, since the middle of the eighteenth century, one of the most famous maritime places in Europe, and one of the best in Spain. Previous to the year 1752, Ferrol was only a kind of hamlet inhabited by the sailors of coasting vessels, and fishermen; but a town has been raised, built upon a regular plan, the population of which has always been increasing. The harbour is very safe, being protected on every side from the winds ; it is surrounded by redoubts, mounting five cannon on each front, and four on each side; the whole is connected by an intrenchment and a parapet, which mask the interior works.
p. 440: This place is at present the first arsenal of the royal navy of Spain. Ferdinand VI, the father of Charles III, ordered it to be erected in consequence of the information given to him respecting it by the marquis. Ensenada, then minister. The position of the harbour is extremely strong; for ships to go from it into the sea, must, for the distance of a league, file off one by one, and pass along a shore defended by forts, and which, in case of necessity, may be dammed up with piles, while on the land side it may be easily defended in case of a disembarkation. Art and nature have conspired to make it impregnable. To lay a regular siege would be almost impossible ; the nature of the soil does not admit of trenches being opened; and to force the entrance of the harbour would be equally difficult, this being lined with strong batteries, and the mole being itself well provided with heavy artillery. The basin for the fleet is immense; each ship has a separate warehouse, where the tackle, rigging, and all the spare stores are marked and placed in the greatest order. The presidiario is composed of six hundred galley slaves, who are employed in the most laborious works of the harbour. Two castles, that of St. Philip, and that of the Palma, defend the approach of the coast between Corunna and Ferrol; the road goes between them. In short the government have spared nothing to render this place the most complete and considerable naval establishment in the world; neither money nor pains have been spared, and every thing bears the stamp of magnificence, which the Spanish government display in things useful to the state. Ferrol, being more a military than a civil place, has only an alcalde mayor, and some alcaldes of districts, to attend to the police of the town; but it has a military commandant, a governor, an intendant, a complete and numerous staff, who serve for the fortifications, the harbour, and the garrison, which is always very strong. As the port of Ferrol is intended entirely for the royal navy, general commerce and all foreign merchant ships are excluded; only coasting vessels and Spanish ships which bring articles of necessity, are admitted. There are a number of fountains of excellent water in the environs of the town, and river and sea fish in abundance. As to manufactories, there is only one, which is for sail-cloth.”
Source
A view of Spain; comprising a descriptive itinerary, of each province, and a general statistical account of the country; including its population, agriculture, manufactures, commerce and finances, its government, civil and ecclesiastical establishments; the state of arts, sciences, and literature; its manner, customs, etc. Translated from the French of Alexander de Laborde. Vol II. London, 1809. Digitized by Google.
