While contributing to the economical support of a peace establishment, by furnishing drill-grounds, parades, quarters, &c.; and to its efficiency still more, by affording facilities both to the regulars and militia for that species of artillery practice so necessary in the defence of water frontiers; they also serve as safe depots of arms and the immense quantity of materials and military munitions so indispensable in modern warfare.

These munitions usually require much time, skill, and expense in their construction, and it is of vast importance that they should be preserved with the utmost care.
Maritime arsenals and depots of naval and military stores on the sea-coast are more particularly exposed to capture and destruction.

Here an enemy can approach by stealth, striking some sudden and fatal blow before any effectual resistance can be organized.

But in addition to the security afforded by harbor fortifications to public property of the highest military value, they also serve to protect the merchant shipping, and the vast amount of private wealth which a commercial people always collect at these points.

They furnish safe retreats, and the means of repair for public vessels injured in battle, or by storms, and to merchantmen a refuge from the dangers of sea, or the threats of hostile fleets.