BRISTOL BUILT. Ill 



greater sublimity, we found that we had been led to expect 

 too much, and were rather disappointed with it. 



We took passage from Chepstow to Bristol in a small 

 iron screw-steamer. She was sharp and neatly modelled, and 

 made very good speed about fifteen knots. The captain 

 said he could show his stern to any side-wheel steamer of her 

 size in England. Near the junction of the Wye and the Sev 

 ern there is a good breadth of water, and we found here a 

 heavy swell and a reefing breeze. The little boat, with a small 

 gaff-sail forward, &quot;just to steady her,&quot; threw it off one side 

 and the other, and made her way along very handsomely and 

 comfortably. It is my impression, that the English have got 

 a good deal ahead of us with screw-craft. 



The tide-current in these rivers is a furious deluge. The 

 rise and fall at Chepstow is FIFTY-THREE FEET ! (Daniels Ship 

 master s Directory.) At Bristol, I think it is even greater than 

 this. The striking effects upon the banks, and the difficulty 

 of navigation, may be imagined. Hence it is that Bristol 

 ships have always been noted for strength, and so arose the 

 term &quot;Bristol-built&quot; to describe any structure well put to^ 

 gether. 



St. Vincent s rocks, of which I had often heard sailors 

 speak immense banks of solid rock, that, for some miles be 

 low Bristol, the narrow, canal-like river flows between are 

 indeed amazingly grand. It was most impressive and belit 

 tling to one s earthy self to meet between them a merchant 

 ship of the largest class the tiny boy that we looked upright 

 to see upon her royal yard not high enough- by some hun 

 dred feet to look over them. And yet so perpendicular are 

 they, and so narrow is the stream, that they are preparing to 

 throw an arch over between them. 



Passing with too little delay through the interesting towns 

 of Clifton and Bristol, I parted with my friends, and went on 



