GRAVESEND. 449 



reckoned the best in England. The principal support of 

 the inhabitants consists here in selling all kinds of pro- 

 visions and liqueurs to sea-folk and travellers. All ships 

 which come from abroad to London here take a Custom 

 House officer on board. Here also nearly all ships from 

 London furnish themselves with fresh provisions before 

 they commit themselves to the seas. The ships generally 

 go some days beforehand from London to Gravesend, 

 partly [T. II. p. 102] to furnish themselves afresh, partly 

 to, as it were, undergo from the Custom House officer a 

 new clearing before they go to sea, and the captain and 

 passengers commonly come down here 4 or 5 days after 

 the ship. 



Exactly opposite Gravesend on the other side of the 

 river Thames, in Essex, lies the fortification called 

 Tilbury Fort, which commands the approach to London. 



Between Gravesend and London there run daily 

 several small yachts or boats, which convey passengers 

 and other travellers there and back. 



2G 



