Ciiai*. VIII.
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shipping of 200 tons ; in the neighbourhood are many canals and railroads, which greatlycontribute to the business of this port.
Bristol is one of the most important cities of the.empire, and the great emporium of thewestern counties; in the eleventh century, we find its inhabitants trading with Ireland ,Norway, and every part of Europe : though the city is situated at a distance of 8 milesfrom the ocean, yet the Avon and Frome are of sufficient importance to allow vessels ofanv burthen to arrive at it. The quay and harbour have received improvements at varioustimes, and a company was established in 1804, that undertook the formation of extensivedocks, which were completed about five years afterwards, covering 82 acres of ground ;they extend 2.^ miles, and at all hours vessels may pass from Dunhead to the quays, anddischarge their cargoes while afloat: the arms of Bristol , which consist of a ship and acastle, have the motto Virtute et industrial which should be ever remembered by commercialmen.
The Frome, below its junction with the Avon, resembles a vast basin, which traverses thegreater part of the city ; around this artificial port are a range of quays. The vesselscoming up the Avon are first admitted by a lock into an entrance dock, called Cum-berland lock, which can be made dry ; then, by a second and third lock, they enter the greatbasin.
The Cumberland dock is built of stone, and its subterranean aqueducts, with ellipticalopenings, are admirably contrived for sluicing and clearing away the mud. Here aredocks for building and careening vessels, spacious timber-yards, and numerous basins,where ships may always remain afloat.
This port is greatly indebted to the skill and knowledge displayed by its engineer ,Mr. William Jessop, whose father was engaged to superintend the erection of the Eddystonelighthouse, under the direction of Air. Smeaton : the engineer employed at Bristol was bornat Plymouth, in the year 1745, and died in 1814 ; the improvements he made were highlyimportant, and chiefly consisted of the conversion of the river Avon into an immensefloating dock, which extended over 70 acres; this was effected by diverting the riverAvon for a length of two miles, and then cutting a canal to carry off its waters at the backof the city; by such a project three miles of the rivers Avon and Frome were convertedinto a deep wet dock, an entrance basin, with double lock chambers opening into theAvon below, and a single chamber into the old river above.
Bridgewater is a port where the title rises 40 feet, and frequently occasions damage tothe shipping. The most considerable portion of the town formerly occupied the eastside of the river; now it is on the western, there is an ancient bridge of three arches,built in the reign of Edward I. , to the north of which is the quay.
Watehet and Minehead are two small ports on this coast, and from the first named isshipped the lime so celebrated for hydraulic purposes.
Ilfracombe has its port, surrounded by a semicircle of hills, which contribute much to itssecurity.
Barnstaple , at the mouth of the Taw, is a town of importance, and vessels can safelyanchor under its long and spacious quay, which extends for a considerable distance be-yond a bridge of sixteen arches, which crosses the river. At the mouth of the Tawe abar is thrown up, which prevents vessels exceeding 200 tons entering the river.
Bideford is another port, south of Bristol , where merchant vessels may anchor alongside aspacious quay, built at the side of the river.
Hartland is a small artificial port, built in the reign of Elizabeth, for the convenience ofthe fishermen frequenting this coast.
Padstow , on the south bank of the Camel, is the best port on this coast; here is achannel for ships at low water, 18 feet deep, and 400 feet in width ; and vessels can at alltimes come alongside the quay, and to the custom-house built adjoining it.
St. Ive's Harbour is situated five leagues north-east of Cape Cornwall, and upon the entryof the British Channel lies nearly opposite Mount’s Bay ; this harbour is in depth about 2miles, and in width 4 miles, having in the middle, at low water, full 10 fathoms. Thebottom is clean, and composed of a fine white sand, or the fragments of sea-shells ; under-neath this is a blue clay, forming excellent anchorage ground. A bold rocky promontory,called the Island , is situated at the north-west corner of the bay ; this is joined by a narrowneck to the main land, and projecting towards the east forms an harbour on the north-westside of the hay, which is well defended from all winds, except those from the north-east.This interior harbour is almost left dry at low spring tides; but the fine soft sand thatlines the bottom of this bay affords an easy bed for ships when left by the tides ; for largervessels there is an excellent road, where they may ride safe from all north-westerly,westerly, south-westerly, southerly, and south-easterly winds, in 6 or 7 fathoms of water,at low spring-tides. Mr. Smeaton visited this port in the year 1766, and furnished adesign for a pier, 60 fathoms in length ; and he advised that if upon an examination of thesoil, there should not he found any rock upon which the foundations might be laid, theyshould work upon the principle the French call pierre perdu . or cast-stones, that is to