convenient Harbours, are things to be prised, but I find also that some Persons of Honour, and great parts, have been aim- ing at the same thing, and within some late years have fixed upon a place in Sussex, to make a safe Harbour for Shipping, which I may without arrogancy say, that no one place in this Island doth or can exceed it for the great relief of all Vessels and Ships sailing through the narrow Seas, as also for the benefit and relief of our Men of War, in the times both of War and Peace ; this place is New-Haven, in Sussex, where some progress hath been made towards the advancing so generous and Noble a design, wherein I presume Pour or Five Thousand pound hath been expended, and the work in some measure advanced, but in this, as in most other publick things, I suppose there was not that helping hand given to it by the publick as it merited ; nor I fear countenanced as it deserved by the Gentlemen of the Countrey ; bnt why such a place so fitted and adapted for such good uses, should lie unfinished, and not incouraged by the Publick, I know not ; I having at the desire of a Person of Quality, and the Inhabitants of East- Greensted, in Sussex, surveyed that place ; I here give you my observations thereof.
" First, Of its usefulness, if once perfected.
" Secondly, Of the reasons of its being at present choaked
up. And " Thirdly, The means to be used for perfecting the same,
with the Charge it will cost. " First, New-Haven lyeth over against the Naval of France, and there is no safe or convenient Harbour to secure Shipping all along that Coast, for at least Sixty Miles ; and what strange Rekes and Damage are our Merchants and Strangers put unto continually upon that Coast ; and if some of our greatest Mer- chants are not mistaken, that Harbour, if well opened and secured, would be to them and their Trade very advantageous, and in the time of War, the King's Ships which draw not above Twenty Foot Water, may there lie well secured, and upon all occasions be quick out at Sea, and there small Ships of War may be built and repaired ; many Shipwracks pre- vented, and certainly it will invite all persons sailing that way to set a great value upon that Harbour, as now they do on Ph 'mouth and Falmouth.
