of whose shaggy columns, the sea drives with vehemence, its rapid course. The sailor passes of necessity close to the Needles, on making this passage; the entrance to the Channel being confined to the north side of this immediate spot, by reason of a long bank, which runs out from the Hampshire coast, two miles, in a southeasterly direction; at the end of which, in a commanding situation, stands Hurst Castle, the scene of Charles I. captivity. Wight may be twenty miles from east to west, and twelve from north to south; but I think its northern coast must be nearly thirty miles,

Taking leave of this lovely island, we soon reached Dorsetshire, when night came again upon us, and the wind again rose high, and the sea again began to swell. We were up and down, rolling and knocking about; so that it was difficult to walk the deck. I could stand it no longer; and descending to the grand cabin, ordered the steward to prepare an infusion of the Chinese tea-leaf. I ate heartily of toast

and butter, and drank freely of the grateful beverage, without the ordinary saccharine and lacteous appendages: hereupon I retired to my berth, and passed the second night.

The third morning I arose betimes, and walked on deck. We were then off Devonshire, the scenery of whose coast is magnificent; presenting to the view bays, and promontories and lofty hills, with downs sloping to the coast. Beneath a vast steep, you may see a village in the distance; while the immediate vicinity of the coast is adorned with little farm houses, and other indications, of agricultural and pastoral pursuits. We soon arrived at

PLYMOUTH;

the entrance to whose harbour is truly panoramic. The first object which arrested my attention was the break-water; which Herculean labour has already lasted many years, and will not probably be completed for some years to come. It is a mass of immense lime stones, let down into the sea,

and heaped one upon another; till they have risen above the surface at high-water. This work has been extended across the mouth of the harbour; leaving an entrance at either end. They are going to make a pier-head at each end of the break-water; and will no doubt have a light-house on each pier-head. The next object which presents itself at the western side is mount Edgecumbe, a romantic peninsula, comprising a beautiful park, the grounds rising from the sea to a considerable height, and whose wood-clad summit appears to smile upon, and animate the surrounding scene. In this park is a seat of the noble lord, whose title corresponds with the name of the place. On an island stands the citadel, a fort of great strength, which dominates the port and the circumjacent localities. On a small peninsula, to the east, are the - ruins of a fort, called after Cromwell.

In

the interior, on the west shore, stands St. Ann's battery, which, before the citadel was thus erected and fortified, principally

defended the harbour. Our steamer now entered the Catwater, and came to her mooring, for the purpose of delivering her Plymouth cargo, and taking in fresh goods for Dublin, as also coals for her remaining voyage thither.

A concourse of boats crowded against our steps, scrambling to get nearest; and I saw not less than two or three drop their boat-hooks in the water, in their eagerness for passengers. As soon as the scramble was over, and such passengers were gone, as had Plymouth for their destination, I hired a boat, and went ashore.

Here I visited the quarry from whence the lime-stone is taken for the break-water. I selected as large a specimen as was portable, and which is by no means an unsightly mineral; and it is now, with many other specimens of minerals and metals, which I collected in the Far West, in the museum, at my little place in Surrey.

The blocks of stone are obtained by boring the rock five or six feet deep, and

insinuating gunpowder, which being ignited, (after the aperture is as much closed as it can be, consistently with the needful space for the igniting train to penetrate,) rends the rock asunder.

In Cornwall, however, the largest blocks of granite are severed from the main rock, by means of small iron wedges, which are driven into the surface of the rock. Several men work at once, hammering the wedges; when, after repeated blows, the granitic mass is severed, and, generally, is cut off in a tolerably straight line. The granite of Cornwall was used for the erection of Waterloo bridge; and was principally shipped from Penryn: the ships of Mr. Trenery, of that place, being engaged in conveying it to London.

I scrambled up a steep hill, by the water side, and made my way to Cat-down farm; where I got breakfast,-consisting of dried pilchards, eggs and brown bread, coffee, and clotted cream. Whilst breakfast was preparing, I viewed the beautiful scenery,

!