It is computed, that the whole might be finiihed in about fix
years, if fufiicient money could be obtained for that purpofe ; but
according to the flow manner in which the work is now carrying
on, a century mull elapfe before its. completion.
The works are really itupendous; and worthy of the ancient
Romans. The walls of the fortifications are chiefly of hewn
“granite, covered with earth, and sure from fix to ten feet thick,
and in a few places not lefs than 48 in height. The batteries,
which begin upon, a level with the'water,, and rife in tiers one
above the other in all dire£tions, commanding the only channel
through which large veflels can fail to Helfingfors, render
the paflage of the enemy's fleet extremely dangerous, if not im-
prafticable.
In Warg-on is a dry dock, which is capable of containing ten
frigates. It is hollowed in the folid rock, is 800 feet long, 200
broad, and about fourteen deep. It is divided into three equal
parts by two brick walls, which run lengthways ; eachpart contains
four frigates, and may be clofed with fluice-gates,, fo that
- each veflel lies feparately from the others. The whole is covered
with a wooden pent-houfe roof, in order to preferve the frigates
from the rain. When I was there this-bafon contained eleven
frigates, which, in cafe of war, would be removed by letting in the
water, and opening the fluice-gates.
At one extremity of this dock is a fmall bafon 200 feet fquare,
clofed at each end with fluice-gates, which ferves for the entrance
and exit of the frigates, and, likewife for. repairing or building
fir ip s.
fhips. At the other extremity another bafon was quite finiihed
of the fame dimenfions with the former, for a man of war. This
bafon may likewife fervefor the paflage of the frigates, whenever
the other is employed in repairing or building ihips. The magazines
for the Ihips ftores and artillery are built clofe to the edge
of the water, which is of fufiicient depth to admit each veflel to
lie clofe to the quay, and be equipped without further trouble.
There is an excellent port for 70 Ihips of the line, and a fmall.
harbour no lefs fecure for ten frigates.
The garrifon, in the month of Odtober 1784, confided of 350
foldiers and 6oomarines; but when the whole fortifications are:
completed, will require 12,000 men.
For the purpofe of building Ihips at Sveaborg, the Swedes procure
the oak from Gothland, part of the flax from Finland, hemp1
and mails from Riga. Such, in Odtober 1784, was the ilate of.
the fortifications of Sveaborg; a fortrefs, which, even in its pre-
fent unfiniihed ilate, will be capable of harrafling the Ruflians in
cafe of a war, and which, if ever it ibould be completed, may
juilly be called the Gibraltar of the north.
T R A V E L S