FOR GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND. 67 



lantern of Noss Head Lighthouse, February 15, 1853, 

 during a north-east gale. The lantern was 175 ft. above 

 the sea ; time, one hour before high water." 



" On November 23, 1824, one hour and a half before high 

 water, a very alarming wave struck the Eddystone Tower, 

 and enveloped the house to a most unusual extent. Five 

 panes of glass were broken in the light room." This must 

 be what is known as the great November gale, when the 

 writer has been informed that 42 vessels were wrecked at 

 Plymouth, and a fearful amount of damage was done to all 

 the towns on the neighbouring coast. 



At Lyme Regis, at this time, the water rose 40 ft. perpen- 

 dicularly ; usual rise of tide about 13 ft. 



"At Peterhead, on January 10, 1849, a crowd of people 

 were down about two Jiours before high water helping to secure 

 the whalers and other craft, when three successive waves 

 bursting over the harbour, carried away 3 1 5 feet of bulwark, 

 founded 9^ feet above high water springs, which had 

 stood many years. One piece of wall weighing 13 tons 

 was moved 50 feet. After this the waves became more 

 moderate until about two hours after high water, by which 

 time the large whalers had taken the ground, when other 

 three enormous waves again swept over the harbour, sub- 

 merging the quays to the depth of 6 or 7 feet, and occa- 

 sioning the loss of 1 6 people." 



CHARACTERISTICS OF COASTS, THE EXPOSURE OF 

 WHICH ARE MUCH AFFECTED BY THE TIDES. 



From the preceding statements Mr. Stevenson deduces 

 the following conclusions : 



"i. As the waves approach to parallelism with the shore- 

 line their destructive power is increased 



" 2. Their power is increased in proportion as the direction 



F 2 



