between Fairleigh and the North Foreland. 221 
When it is high water without the North Foreland, as at 
Margate, the Kentish Knock, &c., and the tide, which is the 
true or regular ebb tide, returns to the westward through the 
Downs, the water still continues to fall within the Foreland, 
and on to the easternmost point of Fairleigh, for two hours 
and three quarters of the first of the true or regular ebb tide ; 
because the tide is falling generally, and the passage by 
Dungeness discharges the quantity brought by the ebb tide 
during that time. But when the true or regular ebb tide has 
run two hours and three quarters, it is low water by the 
shore, between the North Foreland and Fairleigh ; because 
the channel through the straits of Dover, (becoming again too 
contracted to give vent to the great body of water which now 
presses forward from the Medway and the North Sea, aug- 
mented by the currents and tides discharged from the great 
continental rivers and inlets,) now again accumulates in the 
narrow passage, and in the Downs, from the North Fore- 
land, and thus begins, from the above stated period, to rise 
by the shore. 
It thus continues to rise for the remaining two hours and 
three quarters, at which time the true or regular ebb tide 
has ceased to run to the westward, and it is low zvater every 
where without the North Foreland, and to the westward of 
Fairleigh. But within these limits (viz. between the North 
Foreland and Fairleigh), it is half flood , in consequence of the 
accumulation of the water during the latter part of the ebb 
tide. The true or regular ebb tide, or tide to the westward, 
now ceases to run, and the true or regular flood tide from 
the westward returns, bringing with it a greater quantity 
or body of water than the Dungeness passage can yet admit, 
