Military Observations Respecting Ireland, Its Attack and Defense; And to Shew That at All Events, Property Should Be Armed to Resist Plunder and Anarc (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1804 edition. Excerpt: ...The plan of martello towers lately thought of, is (under proper distribution) an improvement to the country's defence.--I would be glad to have such a tower in every large town, or rather near each town, as an excellent check to the mob, and a comparatively cheap system of internal fortisication. The erection of such towers on the sea coast, may in certain points be useful, but as a general plan all round the afforded. The defence of these realms requires that the strength of the empire should be consolidated, to enable us to oppose our enemies. It is under that view that I have mentioned the Union, as it is of importance to remove discontent--i and I do not see why that same act should not, like any other, be revised and corrected, and such an act of union passed as would have the desired effect.. the coast, would in my opinion, be a bad expenditure of public money. Such towers it is true, are to be found along the Spanish, and Italian coast, in the Mediteranean; their object is to defend the coast against pirates, Algerines and rovers, who frequently land, and do mischief in those countries; but they were not built as an opposition to an invading army. Such towers could not, I think, prevent an enemy from landing, covered by men of war, and it is also to be feared, that the building of them on the coast generally, would turn out a mere job, to put money in the land-holders, and contracters pockets. But to a certain degree, I approve of them on the coast. Another observation worth the attention of government, is, that until the morals of the people are more attended to--whiskey abolished--and some attempt made, to identify the country into one interest, by a change of the system; it is in vain to expect our natives will be any thing better than...