274 A ship's travels. 



I stood beside tlie water-wheel of the mill at the 

 end of the lane, and gazed over the wide-spread area 

 of broken rocks that I have described on a former 

 occasion, before my eye met the sea. It seemed 

 incredible that under any circumstances of tempest 

 or tide, a vessel of size could be carried to the spot 

 where I was standing. Yet if trustworthy persons 

 are to be trusted, a brig called the " Wilberforce" was 

 a few years ago lifted by the violence of the surf clean 

 over the floor of rocks, and lodged high and dry here 

 by the side of the mill. The crew, it is supposed, had 

 in despair taken to their boat previously, and were all 

 unhappily drowned, their precaution proving their 

 destruction. The brig was comparatively little in- 

 jured; she was bought by a shipwright of Ilfracombe, 

 repaired and floated, and has continued ever since to 

 trade from the harbour. 



I wended my way, over the rocks and through the 

 matted sea-weeds that were crisped and blackened by 

 their brief exposure to so burning a sun, to the coves 

 that I had seen from tlie heights. The rugged cliffs 

 rose perpendicularly like walls, inclosing the most 

 charmingly smooth beaches, whose invitations to bathe 

 in the clear wave I found irresistible. 



On either side 

 The white sand sparkling to the sun ; in front 

 Great Ocean with its everlasting voice, 

 As in perpetual jubilee, proclaim'd v 



The wonders of the Almighty. 



SOUTHEY. 



It was indeed a glorioiTS scene : the majesty of the 

 lofty precipices, their rugged sides leading the eye up 



