QUEENBOROUGH CASTLE.

453

A Hoy goes occasionally from this place to London; here is a good copperas work, and the common people employ themselves in the catching of oysters. It is said, the inhabitants enjoy certain privileges, granted to induce strangers to settle on the spot. Places that seem to be at the world's end, ought to possess some attractions to make up for their remote and secluded situations. What is called the Minster, at the top of the hill, above Queenborough, is a very old church, at least from a distance it has this appearance, and seems covered with the hoar of antiquity. Most of the churches on the sea coast of Kent, particularly those in the Isle of Thanet, are of an aged cast, because it was into this county Christianity was first planted, when introduced in this island. It is even pretended that ST. PAUL preached in the little old church of St. Martin's at Canterbury!

QUEENBOROUGH had formerly a castle, which is supposed to have been built at the same time along with the town. Historians tell us also that it was repaired and enlarged in the reign of Henry the Fourth, but becoming ruinous, Henry the Eighth spent a good deal of money in restoring it. It is now no

more !

Lo! on yon pyramid sublime,

Where lies OLD EGYPT'S desert clime,
Bleak, naked, wild, where ruin lowers
'Mid fanes and wrecks and tumbling towers:
On the steep height waste and bare
Stands THE POWER with hoary hair!

O'er his scythe he bends, his hand
Slowly shakes the flowing sand;
While the hours in airy ring
Lightly flit with downy wing,

And sap the works of MAN, and shade

With silver'd locks his furrow'd head.

Thence rolls THE MIGHTY POWER his broad survey,

And seals the nation's awful doom;

He sees proud grandeur's meteor ray,

He yields to joy the FESTIVE DAY,

Then sweeps the lengthening shade and marks them for THE

TOMB!

OGILVIE. *

At twelve o'clock we were opposite SHEERNESS, which cut no despicable figure as we were approaching it. It is erected on a point of Sheppey Island, and is a royal fortress, raised by Charles the Second, in the room of the castle which had been demolished at Queenborough. It was suggested by the daring effort of the DUTCH, who had entered the Medway and penetrated as far as Chatham, where they burnt several of our ships, and committed other depredations. Were the enemy in our days to make the attempt, they would meet with proper chastisement. Our NAVY, while it bears the British flag triumphant

* On the history of ruined castles, Mr. GROSE'S Works, though expensive on account of their numerous engravings, form an inexhaustible fund of information and entertainment. And no mean thanks are due to J. Britton, F. A. S. for his successful researches into the sacred architectural antiquities of his country.

o'er the seas, in both hemispheres, constitutes at once the bulwark and glory of our land!

The town of Sheerness consists of three streets, with apartments for the officers of the ordnance, of the navy and of the garrison. Here is a platform with a line of cannon facing the Medway. The dock is an appendage to Chatham, and here are the usual officers with their respective salaries. The GARRISON has its governor, lieutenant-governor, fort-major, a company of invalids, an engineer and a surgeon, A packet and hoy sail hence to London every week. Some artificers used, with their families, to live here in old ships unfit for service, called Break-water, because they are placed to break the violence of the waves. Many of them are comfortable dwellings. A hospital was erected some years ago for the sick and wounded of the garrison. A curious well may be seen here worth inspection. Sheerness is not reckoned a healthy situation.

As at Woolwich, here are a large number of convicts, chained two and two, condemned to hard labour for the expiation of crimes committed against society. The individuals composing this wretched band have been sentenced to BOTANY BAY, but the expense incurred by government is very great in sending them to that distant part, more than half the circumnavigation of the globe!

At SHEERNESS I expected to land, but we shot past and bore down towards the Nore. Here the MEDWAY became so widened on every side, that the

456

THE NORE LIGHT.

Its

land on the right and left was at a considerable dis-
tance from us. . On the right, the Isle of Sheppey
still appeared in sight, and behind it lay Feversham,
but concealed from our view by an intervening emi-
nence of ground. It was thence, that misguided and
oppressive Monarch, James the Second, attempted
to escape to France. On the left we could distinctly
perceive the south-eastern extremity of the County of
Essex. Here, SOUTHEND was full in view.
terrace was a conspicuous and pleasing object. From
its windows there must be a delightful view of the
ocean, and of the opposite coast of Kent. Indeed,
the vessels passing to and fro, from the Thames and
Medway, have a picturesque effect. Southend, as a
WATERING PLACE, is frequented by the citizens of
London: it being the nearest place of the kind to the
metropolis, is no small recommendation-

Freed from THE COUCH of sickness, grief and pain,
Hither the fainting sufferer comes to lave,
In the cool freshness of THE BRACING WAVE
His languid limbs, if so, he may regain
The thousand blessings that compose the train
Of ROSY HEALTH!

White are the sails beneath thy suns that glide,
Sweet are the sounds that steal across thy tide!

BAYLEY.

Being not far from the NORE LIGHT, we lowered our sails, and suffered our vessel to drift with the tide. This was done with the view of throwing our net, which being let down, remained in the sea for a

full hour. We then prepared for dinner, and had all a keen relish for it. I had taken nothing since I left Rochester, though porter, cyder and wine, with biscuit, had been handed round more than once with liberality. The sailors (except the helmsman) leaving the vessel to itself, waited upon us, and no London Tavern waiter could pay greater attention. In a few moments our TABLE CLOTH was spread over the hatchway, but it was in the act of being wafted overboard, till the plates were put down upon it in rapid succession. Provision then poured forth from every quarter. Fowls, ham, beef, mutton and veal, with cucumbers, cherry-pie, &c. appeared to satisfy the craving appetite. Porter and cyder, wine and spirits, were at hand also to quench our thirst. We had likewise a DESSERT of cherries, currants, &c. Indeed, though the articles of provision belonged to individuals, yet we partook of them in common. By this interchange different tastes were gratified, and it could not fail to increase the aggregate of enjoyment. It was, indeed, not exactly the community of goods practised by THE FIRST CHRISTIANS, but it had some little resemblance, for it was a community of provision, and partaken of with a truly Christian good humour and harmony! With satisfaction also I perceived that the utmost decorum of manners was observed; not an oath was uttered by the sailors. That vulgar and profane practice of swearing on every trifling occasion was not known amongst us. I the

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