[May, 18G2.] 



KENTISH BOTANY. 

 Romney Marsh, its general Aspect, Formation, and Vegetation. 



Our readers will, it is presumed, have a better idea of Rouiuey 

 Marsh when they are reminded that it is a miniature Delta, of 

 which there are several in the world besides the famous aneient 

 Egyptian Delta. 



It has not the shape of the Greek letter delta, neither is it so 

 large as the deltas of the Amazon, the Ganges, the Tiulus, or of 

 the Nile, but it has been formed on principles, and by natural 

 operations, exactly similar to those which have produced the al- 

 luvial deposits at the efflux of the above-named celebrated rivers. 



It may be conceded that the Rother, the chief or sole river iii 

 Romney Marsh, is not so large as the Nile, neither are the two 

 towns situated at its eastern and western extreaiities, quite as 

 large, and of as eminent historical fame, as Alexandria and 

 Damietta. But both Rye and Hythe are ancient towns, and pro- 

 bably as old as their Egyptian rivals, although not so celebrated. 



The Nile is reputed to have seven mouths, by which it dis- 

 charges its waters into the Mediterranean ; the Rother has pro- 

 bably as many, but individually and collectively they contain and 

 convey less water to the ocean, because Kent is much smaller 

 than Egypt and Abyssinia. 



The analogy nevertheless is perfect ; parvis componerc magna, 

 a dwarf may iltly be compared to a giant, only he is not so big. 

 Romney Marsh, its river with its numerous outlets, its towns, 

 and its aspect, may be called a miniature representative of the 

 great deltas formed by rivers which flow thousands of miles. It 

 may be truly assumed that all reading people have read more 

 about Egjqit than they have about their own nalive land, and 

 a fortiori that they know infinitely better what is the nature and 

 aspect of the delta of the Nile, than they do about the formation 

 and general appearance of the delta of the Rother, i. e. Romney 

 Marsh. The principal branch of this river now enters the Eng- 

 lish Channel two miles south of Rye, and there are other streams 

 or drains, or guts, as they are called here, v/hich convey the 

 water from the interior of the marsh, and discharge it into the 

 sea at or near Lydd, Dymchurch, etc. The principal stream, 

 once flowed into the sea at New Romney, but in King EdwardjI.'s 

 time it was diverted or turned out of its ancient course by a 



N. S. VOL. VI, s 



