The ancient harbours have been affected by another disturbing cause peculiar to this part of the coast : owing to the tidal wave passing from west to east,and the prevalence of south-westerly winds, the loose soil and shingle are continually moving eastward ; being checked at the river-mouth, a considerable portion is deposited south-west of the entrance , and a bank of shingle is formed nearly across the river, which is forced to turn to the east, if not entirely choked up. This effect may be noticed at Limme, Hythe, Romney and Seaford, and is particularly observable in the Priory Brook , a valley in which the stream gradually altered its course till it wound round the base of the Castle Cliff. Its bed -- long filled up -- is, however, easily traceable, as it followed the direction of the existing thoroughfares of York Buildings and Castle Street.
The site of the haven (the present cricket ground ) has within my own memory been several times under water : and I will conclude this portion of my subject with an extract from the Hastings Chronicle of Sept. 26th, 1866. " A flood at the priory is by no means a novelty, for it is an occurrence which even the oldest inhabitant' may associate with the remembrance of early days. Of late years the inundations,which at one time were regarded as periodical events, have diminished both in number and extent, and, therefore, it is not a matter of great surprise that the flood , which came with unusual magnitude on Saturday morning last, found the denizens of the neighbourhood unprepared . Most of our readers are aware that the unpleasant inunda-
