THE EARTH. 189 



However this be, we have numerous histories ot the sea's in- 

 uudations, and its burying whole provinces in its bosom. Many 

 countries that have been thus destroyed, bear melancholy witness 

 to the truth of history; and show 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 have in 

 Uistory, 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 Godwin Sands. In the year 1546, a simi- 

 lar irruption of the sea destroyed a hundred thousand persons in 

 the territory of Dort ; and yet a greater number round Dullart. 

 In Friezland, and Zealand, there were more than three hundred 

 villages overwhelmed ; and their ruins continue still visible at the 

 bottom of the water in a clear day. The Baltic Sea has, by slow 

 degrees, covered a large part of Pomerania ; and, among others, 

 destroyed and ovenvhelmed the famous port of V^meta. Ln the 

 same manner, the Nor\vegian Sea has formed several little islands 

 from the main land, and stiU 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 show some- 

 thing that it has lost, or something that it has gained from 

 the sea. 



There are some shores on which the sea has made temporary 

 dejjredations ; where it has overflowed, and after remaining per- 

 haps some age£, it has again retired of its own accord, or been 

 di'iven back by the industry of man.^ There are many lands in 

 Norway, Scotland, and the llaldivia 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 gi-apes also, that aflbrded excellent 

 wine. The accounts of that time are copious in the description 

 of its verdure and fertility ; its lich pastures covered with flowers 



2 Kuffon, viil. ii. p. lia. 



