230 Southport. 



grand swirling and contest of waters, and throwing up 

 of sudden fountains, and toss of drowned tapestry of 

 black bladder-weeds, such as pertains to a rocky coast 

 like that of North Devonshire, Blackpool, save on ex- 

 ceptional days, always has a grand and inspiring sea for 

 us, with breeze to correspond ; sweet solitudes are there 

 also, if we go a little beyond Southshore. Behind South- 

 shore, towards Marton, there are pleasant walks and 

 drives ; and over the " cliffs," towards Fleetwood, there 

 is change again.* 



Once more departing from Bolton, a line due west 

 conveys us to Wigan, noted in history and for its 

 "cannel coal," and thence either to Liverpool or to 

 Southport. The latter is totally destitute, except under 

 unusual circumstances of storm and tide, of the attrac- 

 tions that render Blackpool so fine in its Sea. But at 

 Southport there are sand-hills, in their kind so remarkable 

 and picturesque, and so richly stored with curious plants, 

 and the air is so soft and salubrious, that to the visitor 

 who desires calm, and to the naturalist, it is greatly 

 superior. Over 700 species of our native plants are to 

 be found there ; nearly a hundred kinds of shells may 

 be collected upon the sands, along with at least a score 

 of Crustaceans and Annelids, and the fresh-water shells 



See for many interesting particulars respecting this neighbour- 

 hood, also for sketches of Silverdale, &c, Edwin Waugh's very 

 lively and agreeable " Rambles in the Lake Country and its 

 Borders." 1861. 



