36 Prececdiiigs of the 



the North Downs as they round towards the south after passing the Hog's 

 Back. This line of hill runs W. of Petersfield, and joins the South Downs 

 at Biitser Hill, near Petersfield, completing the rampart which bounds the 

 "Wealden series to the W. Butser Hill on the chalk may be seen from 

 Leith Hill, but I doubt it being seen from Eeigate ; it is over 900 feet, and 

 commands a view of Winchester and Salisbury Cathedrals. Crooksbury 

 Hill is within our view, but is best seen from St Martha's Hill, nearer 

 Guildford. We havo mentioned the Hog's Back, where the chalk range is 

 narrowed to a mere ridge. The old coach road from Guildford to South- 

 ampton runs on the top of this ridge, giving a commanding prospect on 

 each side for about six miles of road. The extreme end of the Hog's Back 

 is in view. The prospect is then licuited to the valley between the green- 

 sand range and the chalk range as far as Gomshall, a valley esccedingl}' 

 rich and beautiful, which continues to our feet. Quitting the knoll on 

 which we have in imagination stood so long and enjoyed so delightful and 

 vaiied a prospect, we take the read towards Walton Heath, and again com- 

 mit trespass by going into a field near the road, but it is scarcch- worth 

 ■while doing so, for although there arc occasional glimpses from the field at 

 the north of the beeches of the country in the direction of Windsor and ex- 

 tending over to Buckinghamshire, the high land on Walton Heath and (he 

 trees in the immediate neighbourhood obscure the prospect. 



Heic I think I have completed the round. Not that I have described a 

 tenth p.irt of the beauties of the prospect ; mj' subject was the crtcnt of 

 the prospect, not a description of it. Summing up the extent, the view from 

 N. to S. extends about 55 miles ; from E. to W. about 80 miles ; and 

 taking the extreme jjoints visible all round they embrace about 2,200 square 

 miles. It has been said that the sea can be seen from Eeigate Hill. 

 This I am persuaded is a mistake. The elevation of Eeigate Hill at 

 its highest point is about 7C0 feet abave the level of the sea, and 

 the knoll is about 700 feet. The limit of vision down to the sea-level 

 is about 34 miles, supposing no high land to intervene ; but between the 

 sea and Eeigate are the South Downs, having an elevation of at least .500 feet, 

 and in some places 700 feet. There is no gap until Shoreham, and the angle 

 of opening is in the wrong direction to see through it from lleigate, 

 although it is open from Leith Hill. But then Leith Hill is five miles nearer 

 the coast than Eeigate Hill, and is 200 feet higher. Within the circle of 

 the prospect are the head waters of the Wey, the Mole, the Darent, the 

 Bledway, the Rother, the Ouse, the Adur, and the Arun, besides smaller 

 streams which take their rise on the northern slope of the North Downs, 

 such as the Wandlc and the RavLnsbourne. If my hasty sketch has 

 afforded interest then I am rewarded ; my review of the prospect is 

 pleasant to myself, and I think it would be to all who may have the 

 opportunity of studying the prospect itself. 



Some discussion followed the reading of the paper, as to the alleged 

 instances in which the sea, or objects upon it, are stated to have been seen 

 from Eeigate or the neighbourhood. In particular one instance w^as re- 



