Chap. VIII.

BRITAIN .

S2I

depth ; anil that about twenty years before this survey, the direction of the harbour out tosea was north-west, and that vessels could be easily brought, during all the time of Hood, inthe direction of the channel. The entrance had veered, so as to be north-east or north-

Fig. 324.

WELLS HARDOC!

east by north, which rendered it difficult for vessels to enter. The distance from thequay to the channel was then between three or four miles, and the course of the waterswas through broad and open sands, from the northward or out end of the pool to itsoutfall into the sea ; the sand is perfectly clean, and so free from any particles of othermatter that produce tenacity, that when dried by the sun it is moved easily by the wind,and is also considerably acted upon during storms; these sands now extend very consi-derably more in breadth than formerly.

Smeaton observed that the annual rains did not, in any way, increase the waters of theocean, so as to cause it to swell its limits, exhalation raised by the power of the sunand winds keeping it at a constant level, but that the floods and rivers carried with themearthy matter, which was left either in the channels of rivers, or was borne out to sea;that these matters were not returned to the land, as water is by evaporation, but wasleft to a slow increase, and by the flux of the tides, and the agitation of the winds, was con-stantly in a state of motion, not only about the mouths of rivers, but in more distant parts;that there is no power of nature to return these particles of earthy matter to the coasts orhigh grounds, from whence they may have been disintegrated, and that, by their accumu-lation in the ocean, they must always be on the increase, and so continue, till the place oftheir reception is entirely filled up.

At one period probably the whole of this coast presented nothing more than a nakedsand, lying against the bare shore, upon which the town of Wells now stands; in thecourse of time, the breadth of this sand increasing, and the declivity becoming too smallfor the tidal water left by the flood to make its retreat, so as to keep pace in its returnwith the ebb at sea, a body of water would be left behind, which having a sensibledeclivity towards the sea, made its way into the lowest slades, and there cut a gully, whichwas again enlarged by the influx and efflux of the tide; a scour thus produced would keepthe passage open, by letting a certain quantity of water in and out; but the breadth of thesands gradually increasing, a greater body and surface of water would require a passage,which would increase its power of scouring : the gully by this means would be widenedinto a fleet or creek in the course of time. By this process, the sand furthest distant fromlow water being mixed with clayey matter, brought in by the tide, is on the constantrise, and after the salt water has left it, and it has been some time exposed to the actionof the sun and air, the surface is fitted for vegetation, and in time becomes a saltmarsh.

Tliesc marshes at Wells having increased in height as well as in breadth, a greater bodyof water is left upon them; the gullies or creeks multiplied with the increase of breadth,and the larger ones increase in size and depth: at Wells, these having been collected intoone now .serve to scour the channel.

Y