the　accommodation　of　the　inner　harbour　by　a　considerable　extension；　but
  it　would　afford　an　admirable　position　for　a　series　of　docks；　and　yards
  for　the　repairing　of　vessels。　I　walked　through　the　whole　of　this
  confined　mass　of　rocks；　silt；　and　water　only　a　few　inches　deep；　and　was
  much　impressed　with　the　capabilities　of　the　locality。　Such　powerful
  dredgers　as　are　used　in　the　Suez　Canal　would　clear　away　the　deposit；
  with　an　outlay　that　could　be　calculated　by　the　cubic　contents；　and　the
  large　margin　that　must　generally　be　allowed　in　all　estimates　for　harbour
  works　would；　in　the　case　of　Famagousta；　be　superfluous。
  There　are　two　enemies　to　be　resistedthe　sea；　and　the　silt。　The　latter
  has　been　and　still　is　brought　down　by　the　Pedias　river；　this　has
  entirely　blocked　the　ancient　harbour　of　Salamis；　and　partially　destroyed
  that　of　Famagousta。　The　engineer　has　to　repel　these　enemies；　and　he
  possesses　a　great　advantage　in　the　fact　that　Famagousta　has　already
  existed　as　a　most　important　harbour；　therefore　he　is　not　experimenting
  upon　an　unknown　bottom。　The　line　of　reefs　affords　the　engineer's　chief
  desideratum；　〃a　sound　foundation；〃　and　the　materials　for　his　concrete
  blocks　are　close　at　hand　in　the　chaotic　mass　of　stone　now　choking　with
  ruins　the　area　of　the　city；　in　the　neighbouring　ruins　of　Salamis；　and；
  nearer　still；　in　the　native　rock　from　which　Famagousta　has　been
  quarried。　The　island　of　Santorin　from　whence　the　pozzolano　is　supplied
  for　hydraulic　cement；　is　only　three　days　distant。　Few　places　possess　in
  so　high　a　degree　the　natural　advantages　for　becoming　a　first…class
  harbour；　and　it　has　been　computed　that　about　300　acres　of　water　can　be
  converted　into　a　wall…locked　basin；　with　an　entrance　from　the　south
  that　would　be　secure　during　all　weathers。　The　Bay　of　Famagousta　is
  extremely　deep；　exceeding　150　fathoms　which　affords　an　additional
  facility　for　getting　rid　of　the　contents　of　the　lighters；　as　the　mud
  from　the　dredgers　could　be　discharged　at　sea　without　danger　of　its
  return。
  All　competent　persons　who　have　examined　the　present　harbour　are
  unanimous　in　the　opinion　that　〃a　very　moderate　outlay　would　secure　a
  first…class　port；　which　would；　as　an　impregnable　coaling…depot　and
  arsenal；　complete　the　links　of　the　chain　of　fortresses　which　are　the
  guardians　of　the　Mediterranean。　In　a　war　with　any　maritime　Power　the
  first　necessity　is　an　uninterrupted　line　of　fortified　coaling…stations；
  at　intervals　not　exceeding　five　days'　steaming　at　ten　knots。　A　naval　war
  will　depend　entirely　upon　the　supply　of　coal；　which　will　in　all
  probability　be　declared　〃contraband　of　war。〃　In　the　absence　of　a
  dependable　chain　of　stations　THROUGHOUT　THE　WORLD；　the　action　of　the
  most　powerful　cruisers　will　be　extremely　limited；　as　they　will　be
  rendered　helpless　when　their　supply　is　reduced　to　the　minimum　sufficient
  to　carry　them　to　a　friendly　port。
  Where　oceans　must　be　traversed；　the　difficulty　will　be　increased；　as　the
  coal…capacity　of　the　vessel　will　only　command　a　given　mileage；　she　will
  therefore　be　in　her　weakest　condition　after　a　long　voyage；　and　as　her
  fighting　power　must　depend　upon　her　steam；　precisely　as　the　strength　of
  man　depends　upon　his　food；　she　must　be　absolutely　certain　of　obtaining　a
  supply　of　coal　in　every　sea　where　her　presence　is　required。
  Should　the　most　powerful　vessel　afloat；　after　a　long　cruise　during　which
  she　has　encountered　head…winds　and　weather　that　had　caused　delay　and　a
  great　consumption　of　fuel；　be　reduced　to　only　a　few　hours'　steaming；　she
  would　be　at　the　mercy　of　an　inferior　antagonist　whose　bunkers　might　be
  well　filled。　The　commerce　and　the　colonies　of　Great　Britain　demand　the
  presence　of　our　vessels　in　every　sea；　the　greater　part　of　that　enormous
  carrying…power　is　now　represented　by　steamers　which　have　replaced　the
  sailing…vessels　of　old：　therefore　in　the　event　of　war　we　must　possess
  coaling…depots　which　in　case　of　necessity　could　meet　the　demands　of　any
  of　our　ships；　whether　naval　or　commercial。
  The　attention　of　the　usually　far…seeing　public　is　seldom　directed　to
  this　important　question　of　coaling…stations；　but　an　examination　of　a
  recently　constructed　globe　will　discover　the　apparently　insignificant
  red　dots　which　represent　the　dominant　power　of　England　in　every　portion
  of　the　world。　The　smallest　island　may　become　the　most　impregnable　and
  important　coaling…depot。　It　is　the　fashion　for　some　modern　reformers
  （happily　few）　to　suggest　a　curtailment　of　the　British　Empire；　on　the
  principle　that　〃by　pruning　we　should　improve　the　strength　of　the
  national　tree。〃　If　there　are　rotten　boughs；　or　exhausting　and　useless
  shoots；　the　analogy　might　be　practical；　but　if　we　examine　carefully　a
  map　of　the　world　it　would　puzzle　the　Royal　Geographical　Society　to
  determine　the　point　that　we　should　abandon。　An　example　of　temporary
  insanity　was　displayed　in　the　evacuation　of　Corfu；　which　would　under　our
  present　foreign　policy　have　become　invaluable　as　a　powerfully　fortified
  coaling…station；　commanding　the　entrance　of　the　Adriatic　and　the
  neighbouring　seas。　It　is　this　unfortunate　precedent　which　is　paralysing
  all　the　natural　elasticity　of　commercial　enterprise　in　Cyprus；　as　the
  inhabitants　and　English　alike　feel　their　insecurity；　and　hesitate　before
  the　uncertain　future；　which　may　depend　upon　a　party　vote　in　the　distant
  House　of　Commons。
  There　can　be　no　doubt　that　Cyprus　or　Crete　was　requisite　to　England　as
  the　missing　link　in　the　chain　of　our　communications　with　Egypt。　As　a
  strategical　point；　Cyprus　must　be　represented　by　Famagousta；　without
  which　it　would　be　useless　for　the　ostensible　purpose　of　its　occupation。
  Many　persons　of　great　practical　experience　would　have　preferred　Crete；
  as　already　possessing　a　safe　harbour　in　Suda　Bay；　with　a　climate
  superior　to　that　of　Cyprus；　while　according　to　our　assumed　defensive
  alliance　with　Turkey　in　the　event　of　a　renewed　attack　by　Russia；　we
  should　have　acquired　the　advantage　of　Cyprus　whenever　required；　without
  the　expense　or　responsibility；　and　we　should　in　addition　have
  established　a　station　on　the　coast　of　Asia　Minor　at　the　secure　harbour
  afforded　by　the　Gulf　of　Ayas　at　Alexandretta。
  These　geographical　questions　are　a　matter　of　opinion；　but　now　that　we
  actually　have　occupied　Cyprus　it　is　absolutely　necessary　to　do
  something。　Without　Famagousta；　the　island　would　be　worthless　as　a　naval
  station；　with　it；　as　a　first…class　harbour　and　arsenal；　we　should
  dominate　the　eastern　portion　of　the　Mediterranean；　entirely　command　the
  approach　to　Egypt；　and　keep　open　our　communications　with　the　Suez　Canal
  and　the　consequent　route　to　India。　In　the　event　of　the　Euphrates　valley
  line　of　railway　becoming　an　accomplished　fact；　Cyprus　will　occupy　the
  most　commanding　position。　But；　all　these　advantages　will　be　neutralised
  unless　Famagousta　shall　represent　the　power　of　England　like　Malta　and
  Gibraltar。　The　more　minutely　that　we　scrutinise　the　question　of　a
  Cyprian　occupation；　the　more　prominent　becomes　the　importance　of
  Famagousta；　with　it；　Cyprus　is　the　key　of　a　great　position；　without　it；
  the　affair　is　a　dead…lock。
  There　is　unfortunately　a　serious　drawback　in　the　extreme　unhealthiness
  of　this　otherwise　invaluable　situation；　Famagousta；　which　would　at
  present　render　it　unfit　for　a　military　station。　There　are　several
  causes；　all　of　which　must　be　removed；　before　the　necessary　sanitary
  change　can　be　accomplished。　The　vast　heaps　of　stones；　all　of　which　are
  of　an　extremely　porous　nature；　have　absorbed　the　accumulated　filth　of
  ages；　and　the　large　area　now　occupied　by　these　ruins　must　be　a　fertile
  source　of　noxious　exhalations。　During　the　rainy　season　the　surface
  water；　carrying　with　it　every　impurity；　furnishes　a　fresh　supply　of
  poison　to　be　stored　beneath　these　health…destroying　masses；　which　cannot
  possibly　be　cleansed　otherwise　than　by　their　complete　obliteration。　It
  may　be　readily　understood　that　the　high　ramparts　of　the　walls　to　a
  certain　extent　prevent　a　due　circulation　of　air；　which　increases　the
  danger　of　miasma　from　the　ruin…covered　and　reeking　area　of　the　old
  Venetian　city。　Should　the　harbour　works　be　commenced；　all　this　now
  useless　and　dangerous　material　will　be　available　for　constructing　the
  blocks　of　concrete　required　for　the　sea…wall；　and　the　surface　of　the
  town　will　be　entirely　freed　from　the　present　nuisance　without　additional
  expense。　The　few　modern　buildings　should　be　compulsorily　purchased　by
  the　Government；　and　entirely　swept　away；　so　that　the　area　inclosed　by
  the　fortification　walls　should　represent　a　perfectly　clean　succession　of
  levels　in　the　form　of　broad　terraces；　which　would　drain　uniformly
  towards　the　sea。　Upon　these　purified　and　well…drained　plateaux　the　new
  town　could　be　erected；　upon　a　special　plan　suitable　to　the　locality；　and
  in　harmony　with　the　military　requirements　of　a　fortified　position。　The
  value　of　the　land　thus　recovered　from　the　existing　ruin　would　be
  considerable；　and；　if　let　on　building　leases；　would　repay　the　expense　of
  levelling；　draining；　and　arranging　for　occupation。　In　this　manner　one　of
  the　prime　causes　of　the　present　unhealthiness　would　be　removed；　by　the
  same　operation；　the　ditch　of　the　citadel　would　be　pumped　dry；　and　all
  communication　shut　off　from　the