ITS PROPERTIES AND DIVISIONS. 295 



countries that have been thus destroyed, bear melancholy witnesses 

 to the truth of history ; and shew the tops of their houses, and the 

 spires of their steeples, still standing at the bottom of the water. 

 One of the most considerable inundations we meet with in history, 

 is that which happened in the reign of Henry I. which overflowed 

 the estates of the Earl Godwin, and forms now that bank called 

 the Goodwin Sands. In the year 154^ ? a similar irruption of the 

 sea destroyed an hundred thousand persons in the territory of 

 Dort ; and yet a greater number round Dollart. In Friezland and 

 Zealand there were more than three hundred villages overwhelm, 

 ed ; and their remains continue still visible at the bottom of the 

 water in a clear day. The Baltic sea has, by slow degrees, co- 

 vered a large part of Pomerania ; and, among others, destroyed 

 and overwhelmed the famous port of Vineta, In the same man* 

 ner, the Norwegian sea has formed several little islands from the 

 main land, and still daily advances upon the continent. The 

 German sea has advanced upon the shores of Holland, near Catt ; 

 so that the ruins of an ancient citadel of the Romans, which was 

 formerly built upon this coast, are now actually under water. To 

 these accidents several more might be added ; our own historians 

 .and those of other countries abound with them; almost every flat 

 shore of any extent being able to shew something that it has lost, 

 or soijaethiug that it has gained from the sea. 



There are some shores on which live sea has made temporary de- 

 predations; where it has overflowed, and alter remaining perhaps 

 some ages, it has again retired of its own accord, or been driven 

 back by the industry of man. There are many lands in Norway, 

 Scotland, and the Maldives islands, that are at one time covered 

 with water, and at another free. The country round the Isle of 

 Ely, in the times of Bede, about a thousand years ago, was one of 

 the most delightful spots in the whole kingdom. It was not only 

 richly cultivated, and produced all the necessaries of life, but 

 grapes also that afforded excellent wine. The accounts of that 

 time are copious in the description of its verdure and fertility ; its 

 rich pastures, covered with flowers and herbage ; its beautiful 

 shades and wholesome air. But the sea breaking in upon the land, 

 overwhelmed the whole country, took possession of the soil, and 

 totally destroyed one of the most fertile vallies in the world. Its 

 air, from being dry and healthful, from that time become most 



U 4 



