pt two or
three on the Spanish continent. It is pleasantly situated on a
peninsula, about four miles in compass, at the bottom of a fine bay, (the
Massachusets,) guarded from the roughness of the ocean by several rocks
appearing above water, and by above a dozen islands, many of which are
inhabited. One of these, called Nettle's island, within these few years,
was esteemed worth two or three hundred pounds a year to the owner,
Colonel Shrimpton. There is but one common and safe passage into the
bay, and that not very broad, there being hardly room for three ships to
come in abreast; but, being once in, there is room for the anchorage of
five hundred sail.

The most remarkable of these islands is called Castle-island, from the
castle there built. It stands about a league from the town, upon the
main channel leading to it, and is so conveniently situated, that no ship
of burden can approach the town, without the hazard of being torn in
pieces by its cannon. It was now called Fort William, being mounted with
one hundred pieces of ordnance: two hundred more which were given to the
province of Queen Anne, are placed on a platform near high water mark, so
as to rake a ship fore and aft, before she can bring her broadsides to
bear against the castle. Some of these cannon are forty-two pounders.
Five hundred able men are exempt from all military duty in time of war,
to be ready to attend the service of the castle at an hour's warning,
upon any signal of the approach of an enemy, of which there seems to be
no great danger at Boston; where in twenty-four hours' time, ten thousand
effective men, well armed, might be ready for their defence. To prevent
all possible surprise, there is a light-house built on the rock appearing
above water, about a long league from the town, which in time of war
makes a signal to the castle, and the castle to the town, by hoisting and
lowering the union flag, so many times as there are ships approaching,
which, if they exceed a certain number, the castle fires three guns, to
alarm the town of Boston; and the governor, if need be, orders a beacon
to be fired, which alarms all the adjacent country; so that unless an
enemy can be supposed to sail by so many islands and rocks in a fog, the
town of Boston must have six or more hours to prepare for their
reception; but, supposing they might pass the castle, there are two
batteries at the north and south end of the town that command the whole
bay, and