the main land. At the Portland end the pebbles
are of the size of a hen's egg, gradually diminishing to that of a bean
at the other extremity. This enabled smugglers to ascertain on the
darkest night the part of the shore they had reached. The west side of
the bank is known as Dead Man's Bay, from the number of persons who have
perished there. The most disastrous event occurred in 1794, when a
fleet of transports, under convoy of Admiral Christian, bound out for
the West Indies, stranded in the bay, and one thousand persons were
drowned. In this century, the Abergavenny and Alexander (Indiamen) were
driven on this treacherous shore, and upwards of two hundred persons
perished; and as late as 1838, the Columbine was wrecked on the bank,
and many of her crew lost. In those days there were no lifeboats to
hasten to the rescue of the helpless seamen.

Passing amid quarries, we observed enormous square blocks of stone hewn
out and ready to be transported to the shore by carts, with long teams
of horses harnessed--often nine together. In the upper layer of the
quarries was discovered a fossil pine-tree, upwards of thirty feet in
length, and a foot in diameter, with two or three branches.

Next morning we and the Dolphin again got under weigh, and the wind
being off shore stood close round the Bill of Portland, having the
Shambles light-vessel, which has a single fixed light, on our port beam.
The Shambles is a large shoal, so called from the number of vessels
lost on it with all hands. A fine Indiaman was wrecked there many years
ago, coming home full of passengers, not one of whom was saved. In
another day they expected to be reunited to their friends, from whom
they had long been absent. How sad it seems! We who were sailing over
the comparatively tranquil sea could scarcely believe it possible that
so many of our fellow-creatures had thus perished within sight of land.

In former years many ships were lost in consequence of the masters not
knowing their exact position. In the present day the coast is much
better lighted than formerly. The character of every part of the bottom
of the Channel is well-known, so that a ship may grope her way up with
the lead going, the mud, sand, or shells, which are brought up sticking
to the grease in a little hollow at the end of the lead, showing
whereabouts she is. Then the quadrants, chronometers, and other
nautical instruments are of superior construction, and their use b