THE ENGLISH CHANNEL. 41 



the sea were reduced by sixty yards the two coun- 

 tries would be united by a natural causeway; nay, 

 if the water were only drawn off to the extent of 

 eight yards in depth, an island would be left in the 

 middle of the narrow passage. Unhappily for the 

 enemies of England, the contrary of this is more 

 likely to occur, as the tendency of the soil in tliis 

 part of Europe is to sink, as will be seen further on. 



