CHAPTEE V. 



" IIow various the shades of marine vegetation, 



Thrown here the rough flints and sea-pebbles among ! 

 The feathered Conferva of deepest carnation. 

 The dark purple Sloke, and the olive Sea-thong !" 



Charlotte Smith, 



Every one who has paid a visit to Weymouth is 

 familiar with the Nothe, an elevated promontory that 

 juts out a considerable distance to the eastward, 

 forming the southern boundary of the harbour. It is 

 a favourite walk ; and great numbers of persons climb 

 on a summer's afternoon the steep steps that lead up 

 to its grassy summit, whence they turn, and cast a 

 glance at the busy shipyard and the narrow harbour 

 lying beneath their feet, and, beyond the pier, at the 

 crowded esplanade receding in its sweeping curve till 

 it is lost in the distant shore. The long and lofty 

 barrier of this headland affords a most valuable shel- 

 ter from the violence of the south and west winds, 

 completely protecting the harbour in this quarter ; 

 and the benefit thus gained is often sensibly appreci- 

 ated when, from the quiet calm below, we mount the 

 ridge, and suddenly encounter the force of a breeze 

 that is curling the waters of the Bay, and covering the 

 dark green space between us and Portland with broad 

 sheets of driving foam. The extremity of the pro- 

 montory is occupied by the premises of the Coast- 



