HC Deb 09 May 1862 vol 166 cc1482-3
MR. BENTINCK

said, he wished to call attention to a subject which he had already brought before the House on a former evening. It appeared that a fort was about to be constructed in Plymouth Sound, upon an artificial island inside the breakwater. He thought that, even if the fort were necessary, the site was injudiciously chosen, and the fort ought rather to be built upon the breakwater than upon an island which would encroach upon the already limited anchorage in the Sound. The site that had been selected was commanded by numerous batteries, and the formation of an artificial island would be a matter of considerable expense. The right hon. Baronet the Secretary for War had declined to delay the work, although he consented to submit the question as to the necessity of the fort to the Defence Commission. That appeared to be an illogical course of proceeding, because if the Defence Commissioners should report against the fort, every penny that had been expended upon it would be wasted. The right hon. Baronet had stated that it was not possible to put the fort on the breakwater because the breakwater was not sufficiently strong to bear it, but it would be cheaper to strengthen it than to make an island. He wished to know upon what grounds the right hon. Gentleman prepared to defend the course which he had intimated his intention of adopting?