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an unfafe pafTage ; and in general thefe narrow 

 feas are frequented only by fmaller veflels. The 

 port of Lymington particularly, which is 

 entered by a long, narrow, fhallow river, is 

 chiefly navigated by light fkiffs, rigged in the 

 cutter-form, with a jib and boom. Thefe are, 

 of all others, the moft beautiful veflels, which 

 frequent a coaft. To make a large (hip a 

 beautiful object, fome peculiar incident is ne- 

 ceflary. She muft be fore-fhortened ; for a 

 fhip in profile is formal. Her fails alfo muft 

 in part be furled : for the fquare fail without 

 any contraft is difgufling. A degree of diftance 

 alfo is requifite, both to lefTen the obje(5t ; and 



to foften the features of it. But the light 



fkiff, with a fingle maft, a jib, and boom, is 

 beautiful almoft in any pofition. As flie is 

 often undecked, the lines of her fides are 

 generally well contrafted ; and the various 

 turns, and fwellings of her fails almoft always 

 prefent fome elegant form. 



Of thefe vefiels great numbers frequent the 

 channel, between the ille of Wight, and the 

 coaft of Hampfhire. And what adds to the 

 animation of the fcene, the river forms two 

 or three bold, and beautiful curves ; fo that 

 you fee each little coafting-velfel, as Ihe tacks 



about 



