Folios 143-146. Letter from the Earl of Buckingham to the Lord Viscount Weymouth...

Folios 143-146. Letter from the Earl of Buckingham to the Lord Viscount Weymouth enclosing a letter from Sir John Irwine regarding his investigations into reports of the defenceless state of Cork Harbour. Dated at Dublin Castle. Enclosed: Folios 145-146: Letter from Sir John Irwine to the Earl of Buckingham, dated 24 June 1777 at the Royal Hospital, reporting his concerns regarding the defencelessness of Cork Harbour upon his examination of the fort and harbour there. He indicates that: there is nothing to prevent armed vessels sailing immediately up to the city, except a battery of eight guns at the fort at the cove; that ships of all nations sail in and out at pleasure without being any otherwise examined than by the officers of the revenue; armed boats may pass up to the city without meeting with any resistance even from the aforementioned battery, which they need not go near at high water. He recommends, that for the safety of the shipping at Cork, a ship of war be constantly stationed near the Fort at the Cove, or between that or Spike Island.