st. adhelm's head. 365 



the cliffs form a bold cape, called St. Adhelm's 

 Head ; and about midway between these places, 

 the Portland sands emerge from beneath the oolitic 

 limestones, and gradually rise towards the upper 

 part of the cliff, as we proceed westward. The 

 promontory of St. Adhelm's Head is a conspicuous 

 feature of this part of the country, and is flanked 

 by dangerous rocks, which have often proved fatal 

 to mariners. It is a vertical section of the Portland 

 limestone and sands, and of the underlying Kim- 

 meridge strata ; the former appearing at the top in 

 immense square masses, and the latter below in a 

 steep slope, covered by huge fallen blocks and frag- 

 ments of stone. Deep fissures in the upper part 

 of the cliff' predict the impending ruin of other 

 masses, and the agitation of the sea for above a 

 mile from the shore indicates the nature of its 

 rocky bottom ; the remains, no doubt, of land 

 which has been overwhelmed by the ocean. On 

 the summit of this precipice are the remains of 

 St. Adhelm's chapel, a small building of early 

 Saxon architecture, originally a chauntry, where 

 masses were performed for the safety of the 

 mariners that passed by this dangerous shore, who 

 were expected to leave some gratuity at the first port 

 they landed at, for the maintenance of the priest.* 



• Mr. Webster. 

 Y 2 



