The best _Escarpe_ is made of masonry, either in wet or dry ditches, be the earthen one ever so well fraized or palissaded. The earthen one may be stormed without making a breach. The escarpe should be 30 or 35 feet high. The _Counterscarpe_ should also be of masonry, and not less than 12 feet high. The inconveniences of an earth or low counterscarpe, are the impossibility of defending to the last the covert way; as the enemy may descend into the ditch, and again mount the covert way, and so get in the rear of the traverses. The enemy may find his way along the natural slope of an earth counterscarpe, and is not delayed by a tedious operation of getting into the ditch. Besides, the natural slope of the end of an earth traverse prevents its effectually covering the covert way. _Ditches_ are generally 15 or 18 toises wide. Dry ditches are always preferable to wet ones, on account of the shelter they afford the troops, and the ready communication with the outworks, without the constant trouble and danger of bridges. The _Covert way_ should be 5 toises wide; less would crowd the troops, and more would allow room for the enemy to erect batteries in it. The whole of the glacis should be seen, not only from the crest of the parapet, but from the embrazures in the parapet. The _Tenaile_, must not be so high as to prevent the flank guns in one bastion seeing the breach that may be made in the collateral one. _Ravelins_ are best without flanks; their faces directed to 10 toises from the shoulders of the bastions. The crest of the parapet of the body of the place should be 8 feet above the crest of the glacis, to command it across a ditch of 15 or 20 toises. The crest of the parapet of the ravelin is 3 feet lower than that of the body of the place, in order that it may be more effectually commanded from the place; and therefore to enable the parapet of the ravelin to command its own glacis, the ditch is only made 10 toises, and this glacis is a foot lower than that of the body of the place. There must be an equilibrium of defence established through every front of a fortified place; for it will be needless to strengthen any particular front, if the others from their weakness be left exposed. The following remarks may enable an observer to appreciate the value of particular works, in the proper application and arrangement of which that equilibrium consists.