ebbing and flowing stream at Bridlington. 
their vessels, and are rarely obliged to wait for more than 
five minutes. 
Such is the state of facts, and it appears to open a subject 
of curious investigation to those whose habits and practical 
knowledge qualify them for it. The appearances seem not 
to admit of any satisfactory explanation, without supposing 
some mode of subterranean communication, by which the 
water of the sea, and that of the spring in question, are brought 
into actual contact, so as to exert a reciprocal action. This 
supposition receives considerable support from a circumstance 
which I had no opportunity to observe, but which Mr. Milne 
has had frequent occasion to notice ; and which he describes 
by remarking, that after stormy weather, when there is a 
heavy sea on that coast, the water is discharged, even from 
the waste pipes of the reservoir, with an evident undulation ; 
which, of course, would be more considerable from the origi- 
nal bore. 
Mr. Milne has framed an hypothesis to satisfy his own 
mind on this curious subject. He believes the stratum of clay 
found in the harbour, to extend over the whole bay in front 
of it, as far as the Smithwick sand, which forms a bar across 
the opening of the bay, in a direction from Flamborough head 
towards the Spurn point, and about four miles from the quay 
in a south-easterly direction. This bank is supported by a 
reef of rock ; and though there are openings, which are well 
known, and admit vessels of considerable burden at all times 
of the tide, there is in general but a small draft of water on 
this bank, when the tide is out. On the outward or east side, 
towards the ocean, the rock is quite perpendicular, and a great 
depth of water is immediately behind it. As the copious source 
mdcccxv. I 
