t number of able
artificers. As to the practical use of Milford Haven, for the king's
service, it was only requisite that it should be known; and for the
commander of the channel fleet to give notice, that he considered
Milford Haven as a port where he would detach some of his ships to
victual and water: for, as his lordship observed, before Earl Spencer
ordered ships to be built at Milford, not the smallest assistance could
be obtained; and, indeed, what ship would go thither, while the
agent-victualler resided in Bristol, and had no store for salt
provisions at Milford?--which was, then, actually the case. Such
obstacles, once noticed, must immediately vanish; and he would himself
recommend the trial, if in command. It had been said, there were not
sufficient pilots; but, his lordship observed, there soon would be, if
the arrival of ships sufficient to maintain them might be reasonably
expected. In short, the port of Milford was adapted to become of the
greatest importance to Great Britain, not only in a naval and commercial
view, but as an excellent position for packets to the westward. It would
be particularly convenient, his lordship remarked, for single ships to
go down channel, and rendezvous at Milford Haven, from whence they might
at any time put to sea; either for the purpose of going off Brest, or
stretching for the West Indies, when it was impossible for whole fleets
to clear the channel, where they were now not unfrequently detained as
long a time as would be requisite to make the whole voyage. Adverting to
the example of his esteemed friend, Captain Foley, as a native of
Pembrokeshire, his lordship remarked that, if government would only
continue a fair encouragement to the port, the officers, the seamen, and
the artificers, of the county of Pembroke, it could not fail to effect
important services for the nation. His lordship concluded with
observing, that he felt so happy at beholding such public benefits
combined with the objects established on his friend Sir William
Hamilton's estate, by prudence of plan, unremitted perseverance, and
with small means, under the judicious arrangements of the Honourable Mr.
Greville, that he would, if not on service, promise to return, as often
as it should be in his power, to join them in celebrating the annual
festivity thus established: and hoped that what he now publicly said, or
had previously stated in private to his friends while surveying the
port, would be remembe