( 190 ) 



ifland, leaving a proper proportion of water to 

 occupy the middle fpace. 



Leap is one of the port-towns of the foreft : 

 and as it lies oppofite to Cowes, it is the 

 common place of embarkation, in thefe parts, 

 to the ifland. 



In this remote part, it is fuppofed, the 

 Dauphin, after his fruitlefs expedition to Eng- 

 land, embarked privately, on the death of John, 

 for France ; burning the country behind him, 

 as he fled. His embarkation from fo obfcure 

 a place, fhews in a fl:rong light, how much his 

 hopes were humbled. 



To this little port alfo, the unfortunate 

 Charles was brought from Tichfield-houfe, in 

 his way to Carifl)roke-cafl:le, through the ill- 

 ■ fliarred guidance of Afliburnham. Here he was 

 feated in an open boat -, and from thefe {hores 

 bad a lafl: farewell to all his hopes in England. 



The village of Leap conflfl:s only of about 

 half a dozen houfes : and flielters perhaps as 

 many fifliing boats. All the coaft indeed from 

 St. Helen's to xhe Needles, and around the ifland 

 is in peaceable times, a fcene of fifhing. In the 

 whiting-feafon efpecially, fleets of twenty or 

 thirty boats are often feen lying on the banks ; 

 or fl:anding a little out at fea. 



Fowling 



