Morning herald., 1839-12-23

The action of the sea upon varioas parts Of the Eng
lish coast has leng attracted the notice OF philoso-
pliers who have hitherto been unable to aceount sats-
factorly for the contrary results produced by the
same tides within distance OF a few miles, On the
eastern shore for instance, the an has made fright
full inroads for long series OF years; Dunwlch was
once called "the sp.e did city, and boosted an ar
chcpscopacy-nothlng now remains OF It's grandeur
hut the dilapidared walls OF one Of the religious
houses; and this solitary ruin owes It's preservaonto
its cliff built ocalty-the invading waters have long
since covered the site of the whole city. Al Cromer
a market town some short distance from DunwIch,
the fishermen now cast their anchors amongst the
dwellings Of their fathers, aad the remnants OF brick
walls may distinctly be seen al ncap tides. Between
these two instances Of the sea sencroachmenf many
acres OF sandy beach which formerly endured the
beatines of the SURF have been left high and dry by
the retiring Of the sea.
Along the whole extent Of this perton OF the coast,
the avisation is rendered difficult and dangerous by
innumerabe shoals and sand banke, the dsbns Of the
frable beach, deposited by the opposite action OF the
tides and currents Of the German Oceaa and the brr
tish Channel. These banks or shoals are posuve
euicksands on which vessel, once aground Is al
mosf certain 10 suffer a speedy and total wreck
The LIGHT sandy particles give rapid way TO the &C.
tion OF the water; the keel, which at first scarcely
erazes the reacherous surface quickly SINKS deeper
and deeper, while the hull Of the vessel serves as
barrier or dam TO the washed up sands which clog
around the ceomod craft, and ensure its destruction
The returning tide seldom has power sufficient e oa
vessel left for few hours to the nsdious acuon Oh
= sand bank oil the Norfolk or Suffolk coasts. In
calm weather. the act of half dozen tides 10 sfh
ient 10 enpufthe su OF good szed ship, while the
chance Of heavy swell from the North Sea, or the
recurrence OF s the austy squalls peculiar 10 that
coast dooms the grounded vessel to INSTANT destrsc
ton
drv At low waer for extent Of several miles screen
the adjacent shores from he furious beating of the
storm tossed seas; the secnrest anchorage 10 to be
found in the rosdsteads or channels between the
-. IA ~. k.~o Var moi de n
supposed to present the safest and most capacious
shelter for shipping in the world but the coast equal
ly eminent for its dangerous nay2at on; is the RE-
ouent sc,ne Of ffrahfu disaster and the loss Of pro-
fy aud life. Y.
The deep.water passages running amongst the shifting
banks 10 only 10 hsobtalned by constant observation
and practice. Manya tall and goodly ship has been
lost by the ventnrous daring Of the hsmeward bound
mariner who, assaled by the ,empests Of the north
ern seas runs for the shelter OF the Yarmouth or
Lowestofft roads, ard, presuming upon partial
knowledge of the navi ,aon, ncsrs the danger he 10
flying 70 avoid Ihs puots bred IN the ne'ehoarhee
are distinguished by their excellence in navigation
and disregard OF danger when called on to display
Their knowledge of the fculiies Of the coast But
their united energies and sSill are nnavaing when a
vessel sctsary aground upon any OF the sand banks
in heavy sea. or gale of wind.
The whole Of this portion Of the coast from the
mouth Of the yer Orwell 10 the Wash. is studded
with villages and small towns, the inhabitants Of
which are ncrNNv pilots and nsneYmpn, IN conse-
ouepco of the establishment Of the coast blockade
having nterered with the faverte practices Of
smuggling During the heat Of the summer, a few of
the provincial gentry flock 10 varisus points Of the
coast for the enjoyment Of sea bahng-although the
beachmen count more upon the annual migration of
the herrinrs than the unc srtan vsitatlons OF the
audseons Of fashos. But the height Of their hopes
Is a stormy equinox or severe and proractcd gale
fer they consider themselves under the, immediate
protection Of Providence when the neighborng shore
is trewed with wrecks.
short residence in the borough Of Great far-
mouth afforded me an opportunity OF witnessing moro
than one wreck upon the neghborIng sands, and Of
cleaning some curious particulars OF = life along
shore" which mere present 10 nv readars--assur-
ing them that nothing . advanced in my relation be-
yond mere recital of positive facts Ha
One Sunday, in the month cf March, the wind
which had been blowing pretty strongly from the
north-west daring the day, towards nghtall increas
ed in violence, and roared in ftfsl gusts, driving
dark rack Of clouds star liz sky with incon
ceivabe rapdity. At the close OF evening service rs
the church eoers were Fastening through tho streets
the sound of cannon, fired ~ short bat regular in.
tervas rs a signal ofdistress, came from scawsrd =
and attracted general attention. In company with
three or four of the citizens ran towardsthe Dencs
sandy tract lying between the city and tho sea. A
few largo drops OF rain fen from passing cloud, as
we hurried on and the roar n he ground swell broke
upon with unusual force, as soon as we clear
ed the limits Of the town.
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