( i6i ) 



weft, fo much greater and more continued, 

 than from any other quarter, is the natural, 

 and obvious caufe. The fame thing happens 

 at the entrance of Portfmouth-harbour. Spit- 

 head is the barrier of it's channel, which 

 runs clofe along the eaftern fliore under 

 South-fea-caftle, and Portfmouth-wall, much 

 in the fame manner as the channel of Beaulieu, 

 or rather Exbury-haven, runs clofe under the 

 fhore from Leap. Wherever there is a low, 

 or gravelly coaft, undefended, on the fouthern 

 lide of our iiland, it gives way to the fury 

 of the Atlantic winds and tides. The rocks 

 of Purbeck proted: the gravelly coaft about 

 Pool, and Chrift-church. To the eaft of 

 thefe places there have certainly been depre- 

 dations. Wight defends Portfmouth, and the 

 ftiores eaftward as far as Arundel ; which would 

 probably go to fea, if they were equally unpro- 

 teded from the weft, as from the eaft. 



We had now entered Beaulieu-river, which 

 appears to be about half a mile broad. For 

 fome time Needfore-point on the left, con- 

 tinued a low, winding ftiore ; doling us in 

 behind; tedious, and unvaried. But, on the 



VOL. II. M other 



