between Fairleigh and the North Foreland. 225 
and if he can reach it by high water, he calculates rightly, 
that he will have an ebb tide thence, which will carry him to 
the westward for nearly six hours longer. From this it is 
evident that the tides from the northward and eastward, and 
southward and westward, both meet at the Kentish Knock,* as 
they both make high water about the same time at the same 
point ; and then the ebb tide recedes from this point in the 
opposite directions to which the flood had advanced. The 
formation of the coast too, by gradually altering the course 
of the flood tide between the South Foreland and Buoy of 
the Nore, from E. N. E. to W. N. W. within the stream of 
the Goodwin Sands (while without this sand it continues to 
run E. N. E. and easterly), in a great measure prepares for 
their meeting, without that wild commotion and furious con- 
tention which their coming together in a directly opposite 
line across the channel, would inevitably occasion. It also 
admits of their gently blending their waters together, and 
smoothly taking the same course, along both sides of the 
Long Sand, &c. the one, viz. the flood tide from the eastward 
up the King’s Channel into the Thames, and the other (the 
flood tide from the westward through the Downs) up the 
Queen’s Channel into the Medway, making only a strong 
eddy or whirlpool about the Knock, and a foamy rippling 
where they meet, as they proceed onwards together. 
But, although the tide from the northward and eastward 
makes flood tide along the N. E. coast of England to the 
Kentish Knock, yet it is equally well ascertained, that the 
tide from the southward and westward makes flood tide 
along the opposite coasts of Flanders, Holland and Jutland, 
* This sand is of a circular shape, so formed by the continually whirling eddy of 
the tides. 
MDCCCXIX, Gg 
