478 ON THE :6ED or tHE GERMAN OCEAi^f 



which are at the same time exposed to the violent 

 attacks of the sea in storms from the north-eastern 

 and south-western directions, the wasting effects 

 of the sea are altogether so very remarkable, that 

 it may in general be affirmed that these shores are 

 in a progressive state of decay. Beginning with 

 the north-eastern coast, examples of this will sug- 

 gest themselves to the recollection of those who 

 are acquainted with the shores of Northumber- 

 Northum- land, Durham and Yorkshire, as at Holy Island, 

 for example, and the shores near Bamborough 

 Castle, where the sea has made considerable in- 

 roads upon the land. Tynemouth Castle, situated 

 at the entrance of the river Tyne, which now, in 

 a manner, overhangs the sea, had formerly a con- 

 siderable extent of land beyond it ; Tynemouth 

 Head being composed of a soft sandstone, is gra- 

 dually worn away by the action of the sea and the 

 effects of the weather, and every season it falls down 

 in such quantities, that the degradation is quite 

 observable to the inhabitants of the town of Tyne- 

 Duiham. mouth. Upou the southern side of the entrance 

 to the river Tyne, many acres of land have been 

 washed away from the extensive ebb called the 

 Middens : the same thing has happened along the 

 whole shores of the county of Durham, particu- 

 larly between the rivers Tyne and Weir, where 

 the coast is chiefly composed of a soft friable lime- 

 stone ; and indeed the land is obviously in a state 

 of waste all the way to the Tees. Here the an- 



