Page:The military history of the Madras engineers and pioneers, from 1743 up to the present time (IA militaryhistoryo01viba).pdf/34

4 Directors of the East India Company to send out an experienced engineer officer, Major Charles Kuipe, to report on the state of the fortifications His short and pithy report, given below, will show that in 1743 the fort was hardly entitled to its name.

"Major Charles Knipe having surveyed the fortifications of the town on the west side from Charles' Point to Queen's Point, delivers in a report.


 * "To the Honourable Richard Benyon, Esq.,
 * "President and Governor.

"In obedience to your Honour's commands, I have taken a survey of your city of Madraspatam from Charles' Point to the Queen's Point, being that part of the fortifications, as it is called, which faces towards the island; but I must take the liberty to assure you it is no fortification at all, but rather an offensive than defensive wall to your garrison. Was it not for the support it has from the several outhouses of the inhabitants which are all built against it through the whole extent above-mentioned, it could not stand, nor was it more than sufficient for a garden-wall when first erected. As to the river that runs by it, that neither is any addition to the strength of your works, but rather a nuisance to the town; for I observe in every part of it, it is continually forded at less than two feet deep. The plan laid down for enlarging your city and carrying a new fortification across the island from Charles' Point to Queen's Point, above mentioned, I have by your Honour's direction very carefully examined in regard to a foundation, by making small wells of considerable depth from the surface, and by boring several feet deeper in the bottom of each of them through the whole extent of the intended fortification, and find the soil is clay and sand capable of sustaining any weight, especially if assisted with a few wells under the foundation near the river's side, where it is a little spungy. As to the river, I will engage to turn that quite off from your town at a very small expense, and supply its