The Sun.
London, England, 1845-01-28 00:00:00

DUNGENESS.

This place is a singular formation of shingle, spread-
ing over a space of several miles, stretching out seawiud
into the fairway of the channel, and having at its termi-
nation deep water close to the beach. It is without build-
ings, except the lighthouse and several batteries, the
barracks of whiCh are occupied by the coast guard.
The point of Dungeness has lengthened out consider-
ably since the present lighthouse was built, in 1792.
There is an inscription within the tower by which it ap-
pears that at the time it was built the sea was at a dis-
tance of 100 yards at low water. We, on our visit to
that place, measured it, and found it to be about 190
yards, showing that it has lengthened out 90 yards in
52 years.
It is to be regretted that no periodical account has
been kept of the lengthening out of the point, which, if
it had been taken every year and registered in the light-
house, would have afforded information of great impor-
tance, and would have shown whether the rate of elon-
gation has been uniform or otherwise. The Commission
consider it very desirable that an accurate record be pre-
served hereafter of all alterations of Dungeness point
and its immediate vicinity; of its annual extension sea-
ward; of the effects of great storms upon it; and gene-
rally of the movement of the shingle. For this purpose
the Commission beg to suggest that the Admiralty, in
conjunction with the Trinity•house, be requested to give
directions on the subject.
Dungeness has ever been remarkable for its good
holding ground. both bays afford excellent and exten-
sive anchorage, according to the state of the wind. It
is in evidence that upwards of 300 sail have been shel-
tered in the East Bay at one time, and that more than
100 vessels were at anchor in the West Bay a few days
before the Commission arrived there. Where nature
presents so much accommodation and shelter, it will al-
ways be a matter for serious consideration whether it
may not be well to be satisfied with what is already
so good, and to give to other places of acknowledged
importance, in point of position, the artificial assistance
they need, in order to render them available as places of
secure anchorage. Dungeness does not possess the ad-
vantage of an inner harbour, as Dover, Seaford, and
Portland. This, however, takes nothing from its value
as a roadstead for merchantmen and for ships of war.
Having come to the conclusion that it was not expe-
dient to construct a breakwatt.r at Dungeness, we do not
advert in detail to what has appeared in evidence as to
the effects which such a work would be likely to produce
on the lengthening or otherwise of the point; and on the
anchorage in the East and West Bays ; but we refer to
the opinions of several eminent engineers touching the
advantages of this important place.

BEACHY HEAD, EASTBOURNE, AND SEAFORD.
We have now to draw your Lordships' attention to the
bay on the east side of Beachy Head, and westward of
Langley Point, which the Commission of 1840 proposed
as a site for a breakwater. _

The shoals called the Royal Sovereign and others as
laid down in the Admiralty chart, first attracted our no-
tice.with reference to this work ; it was, therefore,