68 AN AMERICAN FARMER IN ENGLAND. 



which, at high-water, vessels enter or leave. When the water 

 has slightly fallen they are closed, and the water being 

 retained, the ships are left securely floating at a height con 

 venient for removing their cargoes. The docks are all en 

 closed by high brick walls, but between these and the water 

 there is room enough for passing of carts, and for the tempo 

 rary protection of goods under wooden sheds, as they are 

 hoisted out, and before they can be removed. The streets 

 about the docks are mostly lined with very large and strong 

 fire-proof warehouses. The quay outside the docks is broad 

 enough to afford a wide terrace upon the river, which is called 

 the Marine Parade, and is much resorted to as a promenade. 

 Stone stairs at intervals descend to the bottom of the river, 

 and there are similar ones within the docks to give access to 

 small boats. There are buoys and life-preservers lashed to 

 the rails of the bridges, and small houses, occasionally fur 

 nished with instruments and remedies, for the resuscitation of 

 drowning persons. 



There are graving docks in which the depth of water can 

 be regulated at pleasure, for the inspection and repair of the 

 bottoms of vessels ; and there are large basins for coasters, to 

 which there are no gates, and in which the tide rises and falls, 

 leaving them in the mud at the ebb. The large docks are 

 connected with each other, and with the graving docks, by 

 canals, so a vessel can go from one to another at any time of 

 tide, and without going into the river. 



But you have yet no idea of the spaciousness and gran 

 deur of the docks. Some of them enclose within their walls 

 ten or twelve acres, half of which, or more, is occupied by 

 vessels. The twelve now completed (there are more build 

 ing) extend along in front of the town uninterrupted by 

 buildings for more than two miles, or farther than from 

 Whitehall Stairs to Corl ear s Hook, in New York. On the 



