136 LETTERS ON NATURAL MAGIC. 



as he remarks, a most beautiful scene presented 

 itself to his view. He beheld at once Dungeness, 

 Dover cliffs, and the French coast all along from 

 Calais, Boulogne, &c., to St. Vallery, and, as 

 some of the fishermen affirmed, as far west as 

 Dieppe. With the help of a telescope, the French 

 fishing-boats were plainly seen at anchor, and 

 the different colours of the land upon 'the heights, 

 together with the buildings, were perfectly dis- 

 cernible. Mr. Latham likewise states that the 

 cape of land called Dungeness, which extends 

 nearly two miles into the sea, and is about six- 

 teen miles in a straight line from Hastings, 

 appeared as if quite close to it, and the vessels 

 and fishing-boats which were sailing between the 

 two places appeared equally near, and were 

 magnified to a high degree. These curious 

 phenomena continued " in the highest splendour" 

 till past eight o'clock, although a black cloud 

 had for some time totally obscured the face of 

 the sun. 



A phenomenon no less marvellous was seen by 

 Professor Vince, of Cambridge, and another gen- 

 tleman, on the 6th of August, 1806, at Rams- 

 Eite. The summits vwxy of the four turrets of 

 over Castle are usually seen over the hill AB, 

 upon which it stands, lying between Ramsgate 

 and Dover ; but on the day above-mentioned, at 

 seven o'clock in the evening, when the air was 

 very still and a little hazy, not only were the tops 

 vwxyot the four towers of Dover Castle seen 

 over the adjacent hill AB, but the whole of the 

 Castle, mnrs, appeared as if it were situated on the 

 side of the hill next Ramsgate, and rising above 

 the hill as much as usual. This phenomenon 



