8 
PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY 
extensive bay, comprehended between Beachy 
Head and Selsey Bill, and is sheltered by a range 
of hills on the east, north, and north-east ; the pe- 
culiarities of its site, and the structure of the clifts 
in its vicinity, will be hereafter particularised. 
Lewes is delightfully situated on the eastern 
extremity of this range. It lies 50° 52' north lati- 
tude, and is distant fifty miles south from London. 
The Downs form an amphitheatre of hills to the 
east and west of the town ; but the northern and 
southern slopes are skirted by tlie Levels. 
The Cliff Hills, near Lewes, constitute the 
last division of the South Downs ; they are a small 
insulated group, separated from the central and 
western chains by the intervention of Lewes 
Levels. The edge of this range runs parallel with 
the road from Southerham to Glynd and Glynd- 
boLirn, passes near Ringmer in its course westward, 
and terminates at Old Mailing, near the banks of 
the Ouse. The south-eastern angle is formed by 
Mount Caburn, and the western escarpment is 
deeply indented by the steep valley of the Coombe. 
“ The soil of the Downs is subject to consider- 
able variation. On the summit it is usually very 
shallow ; the substratum is chalk, and over tliat a 
layer of chalk rubble, and partially rolled chalk 
flints, with a slight covering of vegetable mould. 
Along the more elevated ridges there is sometimes 
merely a covering of flints, ujion which the turf 
grows spontaneously. Advancing down the hills, 
the soil becomes deeper, and at the bottom is con- 
stantly found to be of very suflicient de])th for 
ploughing; here the loam is excellent, generally 
