BRISTOL BUILT. 283 



familiar with scenes of 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 modeled, 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 Severn 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, 

 "just to steady her," threw it off one side and the other, and 

 made her way along handsomely and comfortably. It is my im- 

 pression, that the English are a good deal ahead of us with screw- 

 craft. 



The tide-current in these rivers is a furious torrent. The rise 

 and fall at Chepstow is fifty-three feet ! (Daniel's Shipmaster's 

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

 The striking effects upon the banks, and the difficulty of naviga- 

 tion, may be imagined. Hence it is that Bristol ships have 

 always been noted for strength, and so arose the term u Bristol- 

 built," to describe any structure well put together. 



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

 immense banks of solid rock, that, for some miles below Bris- 

 tol, the narrow, canal-like river flows between are indeed very 

 grand. It was most impressive to meet between them a mer- 

 chant ship of the largest class the tiny boy that we looked up- 

 right 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 the 



