It has stood so many severe gales that there is no probability of its giving way, unless some unexpected movement of the ground below should occur.  Until the Portland Breakwater was built, that at Plymouth was considered the finest structure of the sort in the world.  In those days engineering skill had not advanced as far as it has at present.  The stones were conveyed from the quarries in boats, so contrived that they could be dropped through the bottom, over the spot where it was desired to place them.  The whole cost of the work was a million and a half of money, although a third less in length than the Portland Breakwater. Just inside this ocean barrier several large ships were at anchor, perfectly secure from the gale raging outside it; but we continued our course up the Sound, with the tack triced up and the peak dropped, and even then we had as much sail as we could stagger under.  We were very glad after rounding the Cobbler Rock to bring up in Catwater, which is the eastern harbour of Plymouth.  Passing beneath the citadel, which completely commands the Sound, as soon as we had stowed sails, we went on board the Dolphin.  We found our cousin sitting up in bed.