THE EROSION OF THE COAST. 183 



proper with sand, and the almost entire removal of that beautiful 

 stretch of sands known as Smallmouth. 



Before, however, going any further either in criticising the report 

 or giving my own views of what has occurred in recent times with 

 respect to the foreshore near Weymouth, I should like to explain 

 that this paper is not offered in a dogmatic spirit, but rather as the 

 contribution of a layman, with no profession of knowledge in this 

 department of science, to the solution of problems which will, it is 

 feared, soon have to be seriously confronted, and mainly with the 

 view of exciting discussion, and so eliciting the opinions of persons 

 having special acquaintance with the subject. 



In pre-Breakwater times the waters of Weymouth Bay were 

 agitated by all winds coming from between the north-east and 

 south-east points of the compass, but from the latter came by far 

 the most violent and destructive storms and the heaviest water. 



For the Esplanade wall to be breached was no unfrequent 

 occurrence, the damage usually occurring on that part between the 

 opening to the sands and the top of Bond Street. The upper 

 section was rarely injured except on very special occasions, such as 

 the great November gale of 1824, and, perhaps, some others. But 

 no sooner had the Portland Breakwater made substantial progress 

 than its influence was felt in diverting the course of the waves 

 coming in with gales from the south-east; the heavy water fell 

 year by year higher up the Esplanade in a northerly direction, and 

 there, meeting with but feeble resistance, every year was signalized 

 by a breach in the Avail which cost the town several hundred 

 pounds to repair. The wall opposite Brunswick Terrace, Avhich, 

 though of weak construction, had, hitherto, being helped by the 

 beach in front of it, managed to hold its own, finally gave way, and 

 its reconstruction practically completed the renewal of the sea wall 

 of half the Esplanade. 



The Breakwater still pushing forward, Greenhill appeared to be 

 threatened. A sea Avail Avas accordingly erected for its protection ; 

 Avhich was promptly knocked down Avithin tAvo years or so of its 

 construction, just in time, in fact, to save the pocket of the 



