1 14 Notice regarding the different Character of the 
ming, published in the Transactions of the Cambridge Philo- 
sophical Society for 1821. 
Art. 'KY .^Notice regarding the different Character of the 
Waves of the Western Ocean^ and of the British Seas. 
-A.CCORD 1 NG to the observations of a gentleman conversant in 
marine affairs, there is a remarkable difference in the appear- 
ance, and also in the destructive effects, of the waves of the 
British Seas, compared with those of the Western Ocean. ^ 
We doubt not that many will be surprised to be told, that the 
waves of the Bay of Biscay do not seem to be so destructive, in 
proportion to their great extent and weight, as those of our own 
seas. This appears to be owing to the slow pace at which these 
oceanic billows roll along in majestic style ; while the surges of 
the British seas are quick in their motion, and impinge upon an 
obstacle with violent impulse. 
In evidence of the fact, it may be remarked, that the great plat- 
form of the Tour de Corduan, situate in the Bay of Biscay, at the 
entrance of the Garonne, is only about 18 feet above the level 
of the sunken rock on which this magnificent structure is erect- 
ed ; and that the top of the parapet, or wall of circumvallation, 
which includes the store-rooms and other offices of the lighthouse, 
does not exceed 12 feet above theplatform. Now, although theCor- 
duan Rock is of much greater extent than the Edystone or the Bell 
Rock, yet, judging from the appearance of things, as represented 
in the vignette to Mr Smeaton’s Narrative of the Edystone Light- 
house, and the frontispiece to Mr Stevenson’s Account of the Bell 
Rock Lighthouse, inboth of which the seas are represented as run- 
ning up the building to the height of near 100 feet, we are led to 
apprehend, that, under like circumstances, the platform at Corduan 
would often be completely deluged with water, and that the of- 
fices erected upon it would be rendered wholly untenantable. 
And such would certainly be the case, but for the less velocity 
of the waves of the Bay of Biscay : Occasional seas and sprays 
do pass over the parapet-wall in very stormy weather, but not 
with such violence as to occasion material inconvenience to the 
inhabitants of the Tour de Corduan. 
