occupy any one of these places, and know nothing of the rest? Such never could have been the confined scale of military operations. Mr. Lewis ridicules a publication previous to the date of his own, because the author had stated "That when Cæsar conquered this nation he landed at Romansgatt." Here he affords us another proof that such a tradition was current and believed by some ancient authors, for the individual who had thus written half a century before Mr. Lewis's time must have had some authority, now the alteration of one little word in the narrative would reconcile this matter. In lieu of nation, we read people, tribe, place, or island, then we should understand, what tradition informs us, “That when Cæsar's legions passed over from the opposite shore of the Rutupian Estuary to invade and possess Thanet, they landed at the nearest valley or port, and called it Ramans-gatt."

The detachment of an invading army, at a period when the strength and resources of the country thus invested were yet unknown to them, could not take a more skilful position than a line stretching from Romangatt to Mergatt, thus occupying a space of only four miles, and covering a peninsula whose sea line was nine miles with three points of embarkation in the event of their suffering a defeat. It is impossible they could have possessed themselves of either of these points for a week without extending their operations to the other two, and there can be little doubt that Mergate and Broadstairs were also Roman stations. The Romans soon sent their victorious coherts far into the centre of the kingdom. Is it likely they left the Isle of Tenet untouched? the shores of which on one side formed the estuary where their fleet was anchored, and on the other required defence against the Sea-King pirates of the North.

The encroachment of the sea upon the chalky barrier between Ramsgate and Broadstairs is gradual and severe. The deeds of some of the estates will give an average of more than a foot loss upon the edge of the cliff every year, some by actual admeasurement seven feet in ten years, and the headlands (as before stated) at least a two feet annual waste.

CLIFFORD'S PLAN FOR LOWERING SHIP'S BOATS.

Since we last noticed this excellent invention, it has been tested by the most scientific and nautical talent the country can boast of; and is pronounced by them the most efficient system ever produced for lowering boats, especially in stormy weather; and notwithstanding nautical men have brought forward plans for a similar purpose,—a landsman has succeeded in gaining the patronage of the whole maritime community; and

he has achieved a glorious triumph in perfecting a means of saving life, which, when it becomes the "Law of the laud" that all steam and sailing craft shall carry a Life-boat, will, in connection therewith, preserve from a watery grave many a human life.

The Lords of the Admiralty have ordered trials to be made, and as will be seen by the following extracts with perfect success :—

"A severe test with Clifford's invention was made (in a gale then blowing) from H.M. store-ship Dee, Master-commander Pullen. Shortly before she was brought to anchor, and while she was steaming at full speed, her starboard cutter which had been fitted with Clifford's lowering apparatus, and was hanging immediately abaft the paddle-box, manned with her full crew (nine in number,) was instantly and safely unlashed, lowered, and entirely freed from the ship by one hand only of the crew in the boat. It was scarcely possible to subject the plan to a more severe trial, from the severity of the gale blowing at the time, and which was expressly chosen. The result was extremely satisfactory, scarcely a single drop of water having entered the boat."

"Mr. Clifford the Patentee, exhibited at Devonport his invention for speedily lowering boats. A skiff fitted with his apparatus was suspended from the davits of the Zephyr, 3, which steamed several times into Hamoaze, and, on returning under full power, dropped the boat in front of the dockyard, in the presence of Port-Admiral Sir William Parker, Admiral Superintendent Plumridge, Mr. Mills, Captain Wise, flag-ship Impregnable; Captain Jerningham, Cambridge; Captain Hay, Indus ; Mr. Thompson, Queen's harbour-master, and others. The trials which were entirely under the control of the naval authorities, appeared to give great satisfaction: the Indus, 78, now fitting at Devonport for the West India station, is to be supplied with Mr. Clifford's invention."

Extract from minutes of the Seaman's United Friendly Association, held at Aberdeen on the 11th of December, 1856.

"Mr. Batten of Aberdeen, at the request of this fraternity, attended the meeting, and exhibited a working model of Clifford's Patent Lowering Apparatus, which was repeatedly tried in presence of this meeting, who are all practical seamen; and this meeting unanimously approve of this simple and much wanted invention, and they are of opinion that every foreign-going and coasting ship should immediately adopt it, that, in case of need, such ready means of saving human life be at hand. And this meeting earnestly hope that Government will make such arrangement with Mr. Clifford, that every coasting craft shall be able to fit her boats. And it was resolved that a petition be prepared and sent to Parliament next session."

MEMORANDA OF MONTHLY MEETINGS.

The Clubs generally commence this year with the most brilliant prospects and ample means to carry on the forthcoming season with liberality; and it is gratifying to notice that the members of the principal Metropolitan club are impressed with the conviction that the "Sanitary move" will cause the Below bridge Yacht Clubs to abandon their present sphere of action, or be subjected to the inhalation of a pestilential atmosphere when assembled on the bosom of Old Father Thames. Mr. Wilkinson's speech will be read with much interest, and we would suggest to other clubs the necessity of co-operation with the R.T Y.C. in the endeavour to avert this evil, which, if carried out will be destructive to their annual sports.

ROYAL THAMES YACHT CLUB.

The first meeting for 1857 was held at the Club house on the 7th ult, James Hutcheons, Esq., the Treasurer, in the chair.

The financial report showed that the club funds on the 31st of December, 1856, were upwards of £2,050. The announcement of which gave general satisfaction.

The Chairman in the course of the evening said he was anxious to bring under the notice of the club a matter most seriously affecting its interest. It was generally understood that the Metropolitan Board of Works had sent up for Government approval, a plan for the drainage of the metropolis, by which it was proposed that all the filthy sewage of London should be discharged into the Thames at Erith. Now, Erith had become of late years their favourite rendezvous for matches, and he apprehended such a proposal would utterly spoil the place for such a purpose, not only so, but the whole stream of the river would be so disgustingly impure and poisoned as to render sailing upon it not only unpleasant, but absolutely dangerous to health. Let them conceive the horror of drifting down from Erith to Sea Reach, on such a hot breezeless summer day as sometimes occurs on their matches, with a mass of the thickest London sewage floating under their bows and around them. He saw present among the members Mr. Josiah Wilkinson, who was not only an old member of the Club, but also a member of the Metropolitan Board of Works, and he thought the club would be much obliged to that gentleman if he would atate how the matter really stood, and what prospect there was that the drainage scheme would be so carried out.

Mr. J. Wilkinson, felt much obliged to the Treasurer for giving him the opportunity of assuring the Club, that he had not been so unmindful of the national sport, in which they were so deeply interested, as not to oppose to the utmost in his power at the Board a project which he thought must be attended with the most prejudicial results, not only to all frequenting the Thames for purposes of pleasure, but to the mercantile marine who used its noble stream for the purposes of commerce. For the information of those

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members who had not been sufficiently courageous to wade through the dreary debates of the Board of Works, he would state shortly that, by the plan adopted by the Board, and sent up to the Chief Commissioner, it was proposed to concentrate all the sewage of the north side of London at Rainham Creek, and at the south side at a spot about seven-eights of a mile above Erith, and to discharge the accumulated sewage into the river each tide, at or near high-water. It was contended by that portion of the Board which supported the plan, that the excessive dilution of the sewage consequent upon its being discharged into such a bulk of water, would effectually deodorize and render it innoxious. He (Mr. Wilkinson) could not acquiesce in this. He found it proved in evidence before the House of Commons that the daily sewage of London-twenty-four hours sewage only-would, if spread over the surface of Hyde Park, cover that large space seven feet deep; or, if in the form of a river, would constitute a stream equal in bulk and depth to the Thames at Kingston. He did not believe it possible that the discharge of such an enormous mass of filth, concentrated by accumulation, could be otherwise than noxious and offensive in the highest degree, and even if the effects of the first discharge were neutralized, no answer had yet been offered to the objections which he had repeatedly urged before the Board, that the solid matter in suspense would be gradually deposited on the shore, and when exposed to the action of the hot sun, would form perfect hot beds of maleria and disease. He strongly deprecated any discharge of sewage in its foul state into the river at any point between London-bridge and Sea Reach. The only alternatives were to carry the sewage right away through Essex to the German Ocean, or to deodorize it, and thus deprive it of its noxious qualities. He had advocated the latter alternative as the most effectual and economical, and had convinced himself by personal inspection of the works carried on at Leicester, both that the process of deodorizing might be carried on without offence or injury, and that the results, both liquid and solid, were perfectly free from smell, inoffensive and harmless; but he would not invite the club to a discussion upon the merits of deodorizing. All they had to do was to keep their own noble river sweet and clear, and to protest against aud oppose any plan which they believed would poison it and render it impure. The subject was one which well merited the deepest attention of the club, and he thought that the mode in which they could express most effectually their sentiments would be either by a deputation to the Chief Commissioner, or a petition to the House of Commons. So far as the Board of Works was concerned he considered their power of interference was at an end. As a member of that Board he must decline to take the initiative in any course of action which the club might think it right to adopt, lest his so doing might be misconstrued into an act of rebellion against a decision of the majority of the Board; but, if the matter were taken up by the club he should make a point of attending in his place, and giving such information as might guide them in coming to a right decision.

After some further discussion, notice of a motion was given, that the subject might be again taken into consideration at the next monthly meeting.

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ROYAL LONDON YACHT CLUB.

At the January meeting of this club, which was very numerously attended, consequence of a motion that had been given at a previous meeting, relative to the establishment of a permanent club-room, with a regulated tariff for the accommodation of members, on a similar principle to that adopted by the R.T.Y.C., which has been found to work well. By adopting this the nonresident members have the opportunity (when business or pleasure call them to London,) of enjoying a friendly chat with their compeers, which now they are deprived of. We know several members of the Royal Thames who gain much useful yachting information in the club-room from these reunions, and therefore we should hail with pleasure the adoption of permanent club-rooms in each of the Metropolitan Clubs.

The meeting commenced by the Treasurer's half-yearly account being read, which specified that after every claim had been settled the funds in hand amounted to £320. A vote of thanks was unanimously awarded to Mr. Eagles, the Treasurer.

Mr. Eagles having acknowledged the compliment, proposed the re-election of Mr. T. Gregory, the Secretary, whose valuable services and general kindliness of disposition entitle him to the eulogistic terms in which the proposition was made. The re-election was carried with enthusiatic applause. Mr. Eagles again rose to introduce the report, recommending the establishment of a permanent club-room, for such members as wished to enjoy the privilege. He said, when the subject was first mooted a circular was sent to every member of the club, inviting his opinion, and inquiring whether he would belong to it; and the majority of replies that he had in the affirmative indicated the strong feeling of the club in its favour. The Committee are most desirous that this matter should be fully considered, as we have only one object in view, that of complying with the wishes of the members. It will afford to all who are desirous of availing themselves of it an opportunity of meeting in their club-room, where daily papers and other periodicals will be provided, and where they may obtain any refreshment they may require at moderate charges, including attendants and the usual requisites. If it be your wish that a permanent club-room should be established, as proposed, the Committee will feel much pleasure in undertaking the arrangements, having a due regard to the interests of the club; but they would be sorry to prepare themselves for the task without the unanimous vote of the body. It has long been talked of, and the time has now arrived, when it is to be put in shape for your reception or rejection.

Mr. Crockford seconded the motion.

The Commodore (J. Goodson, Esq.,) stated it was not their intention to enter into a large expenditure, but to see that this be done on something like reasonable terms. He had no wish to depart from the old principle of subscription, but this is to afford to such of the members who wish to avail themselves of it, extra advantages upon payment of an additional guinea per If the club is to maintain its proud position, and have that friendly

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