132 



Fretheme, (the "Scearp-Nesse," "Acute Promontory," and the "Hock 

 Crib," or "curved lying place") comprising the " New Grounds ;" so called 

 from their having been formed, and reclaimed from the Severn, at a 

 very recent period. 



Our object in recording the following observations is to show how 

 many of the objects, which excite our curiosity and enthusiasm, 

 during humed voyages on Highland lochs or Norwegian fiords, submit 

 themselves to investigation in our immediate neighbourhood, we there- 

 fore, invite our audience to accompany us in a day's ramble over the 

 tract in question. 



"We embark at 7 a.m., at Gloucester, in the steamer, "Wave, on a glorious 

 morning in August, and, after breakfasting oil board ^vith her intelligent 

 Captain, JMr. Calway, land at Sharpness about 9.50, in time to witness 

 the entrance of two or three fine ships from America and the Black Sea, 

 with several smaller vessels from less remote shores, and admire the 

 remarkable skill with which they are handled by the dock-master, pilots, 

 and their crews, in the nai-row entrance to the port. 



Taking advantage of the momentary closing of the swing bridge over the 

 outer lock, we pass into the gardens of Lord Fitzhardinge, to which he so 

 liberally grants access, selecting a seat whicli commands the best view of 

 the river channel towards Kingroad, and watch with equal interest the 

 departure of a motley fleet of vessels, composed of French luggers, Dutch 

 galliots, an Austrian polacca, and smaller craft, for various ports of the 

 Bristol Channel, to take in the cargoes with which Gloucester as yet, is 

 not in a position to furnish them ; casting a longing glance at Aust Cliff 

 in the distance, with thoughts of its celebrated bone beds, as the vessels 

 recede rapidly from us upon the falling tide, we re-cross the canal 

 entrance and prepare for the return journey, leaving Sharpness Point at 

 about 1 1 o'clock. Now, commencing the business of the day, we do not 

 proceed far, before we have the satisfaction of knowing, that we have 

 completely mystified a small group of anglers, seated upon a timber raft 

 on the opposite side of the canal, by baring an arm and taking a stone 

 or two from the water, for the puii^ose of satisfying ourselves 

 that our old friends, Xeritina and Ancyhis fluviatilis and Dreissena 

 polymorpha, (which occur here in great number and of large size,) are 

 well, and carrying away a few to supply " the ripe wants of a friend." 

 This done, we proceed towards Purton, plucking from the canal bank 

 here and there, a handful of moss for examination by the way. 



Upon most occasions, we have had no drfiiciilty in adding to our 

 collection, specimens of Zua luhrica, Azeca tridens, and two species of 

 Vertigo, but on the present, from the ch-jmess of the season, we are unsuc 



