. 
BON Gs ak OD, 
fafety of its port, where veffels ride in full fecurity under the fhelter of the lofty 
head-land. Smithie fand, the only one between Flamborough and Spurn Head, ftretches 
acrofs the entrance into Bridlington bay, and, in hard gales from the north and north+ 
eaft, adds to the fecurity of that noble afylum for the coafting veffels. Sureby, an 
adjacent village, feems no more than a tranflation from the old appellation. The 
Romans, in all probability, had a naval ftation here; for here ends the road, vifible in 
many places between this place and Yoré, and named, from its founders, the Roman 
ridge. 
The head is formed of lime-ftone, of a fnowy whitenefs *, of a ftupendous 
height, and vaft magnificence, vifible far at fea. If we may depend on Richard of 
Cirencefter, the Romans named it Brigantum Extrema, and the bay Portus Felix. 
The Saxons ftyled the cape Fleamburg, perhaps from the lights which directed the 
great Ida, founder of the Northumberland kingdom, to land here, in 5475 witha 
great body of their countrymen. 
The vaft height of the precipices, and the amazing grandeur of the caverns 
which open on the north fide, giving wide and folemn admiffion, through moft 
' exalted arches, into the body of the mountain; together with the gradual decline of 
light, the deep filence of the place unlefs interrupted by the ftriking of the oar, 
the collifion of a fwelling wave againft the fides, or the loud flutter of the pigeons 
affrighted from their nefts in the diftant roof ; afford pleafures of fcenery which 
fuch formations as this alone can yield. Thefe alfo are wonderfully diverfified. 
In fome parts the caverns penetrate far, and end in darknefs ; in others are per-~ 
vious, and give a romantic paflage by another opening equally fuperb. Many of the 
rocks are infulated, of a pyramidal form, and foar toa great height. The bafes of 
moft are folid ; but in fome pierced through and arched. All are covered with the 
dung of the innumerable flocks of migratory birds which refort here annually to 
breed, and fill every little projeGtion, every hole, which will give them leave to reft. 
Multitudes were fwimming about ; others {warmed in the air, and ftunned us with 
% Soft near the top, and of a crumbling quality when expofed long to the froft. At the foot of the 
cliff it is hard, folid, and fmooth. Boats are employed every f{ummer in carrying great quantities te 
Sunderland, where it is burnt into excellent lime. Mot of the lime-ftone ufed at Scarborough is made 
from ftones ffung up by the fea. It may be remarked, that whatfoever degree of hardnefs any lime- 
ftone poffeffes in the quarry, the mortar made from it, by proper management, may be made as hard, 
but by no meang harder. Mot of the houfes in and about London are built with lime made of chalk ; 
hence the many miferable cafualties there, by the fall of houfes. The workmen, fenfible of the weaknefs of 
that kind of mortar, endeavour to keep the walls together by lodging frames of timber in them ; which 
being confumed in cafes of fire, the whole building tumbles fuddenly, and renders all attempts to ex- 
tinguith the fire very dangerous, —Mr. Travis. 
b 2 the 
RE 
FramBoroucs 
Heap. 
