(as she is) flat-floored, and without a keel, in order that they may skim over the shallows, or flats, which abound along the coast. There are two

cabins in her stern: the after-one is decked over with a hatchway for entrance; the other, adjoining it, was covered over with a caboose, which fell in on being exposed, and the sand taken from under it; there is also a short deck forward, with an enclosure beneath it; but the midship part is entirely open.

Her bulwarks and washboards clearly manifest that she has been a sea vessel; and her beams, which are much stronger than would be required for a vessel for inland navigation, prove that our forefathers were not ignorant of apportioning a due strength to the stress upon timber, from the circumstance of their being three times as deep as they are broad. Her timbers and planks are remarkably sound and hard, and so completely saturated as to have become, in many parts, quite black she is caulked with moss, which is consi'dered by ship-builders as very remarkable; and there is much singularity in the method of steering, which Mr. Elphee states, was discovered by a gentleman, who visited the vessel several times during the progress of her excavation; and who fixed the beam, and explained how the rudder was acted on: there were rudder-bands, which yoked it; and by an alternate motion of the ropes, which were fixed to

the back of the rudder, it was made to revolve on the pintles, as a centre of motion, the breadth of the rudder being the leverage. The rudder is very broad, which makes the power more effective, and the vessel much easier to steer.

There is a curious windlass on the aft-deck, which shews, from its contrivance, that the builders had not much idea of getting rid of friction; and at the fore part of the vessel there had evidently been another, fixed from side to side. There are many other curious specimens of rude architecture in her, well worthy of observation. Her planks are immensely broad, and of a close and hard texture; they appear to be oak, although some maintain them to be of chesnut.

The dimensions of this vessel, which were accurately measured by the proprietor of this work, who was present at the excavation, were found to be as follows:—

.

So various are the conjectures respecting the antiquity of this vessel, that it would be assuming

F

too much, perhaps, to offer any opinion of our own. We have stated, as briefly as possible, the leading circumstances attending her excavation, leaving the solution of her age to others more able than ourselvest.

In the year 893, a body of Danes, arriving with a fleet of two hundred and fifty sail, landed near Rye, and possessed themselves of the fort of Apuldon; might not this ship, plate 30, be one of these Danish vessels, being found close to the fort of Apuldon?

Its shape and build correspond more with the coarse naval architecture of the northern nations, than with the high-decked vessels and triremes of the Mediterranean Sea; and if it were piloted to this river by the Romans, we are acquainted with the fact, that the vessels of all the Gallic and other tributary districts, were contributed for their expeditions.

We read, in the narrative of St. Paul's shipwreck, of "loosing the rudder-bands."-Acts, c. 17, v. 40. It may, perhaps, be an interesting query in naval mechanics, to endeavour to ascertain when the tiller was first used.

+ Surrounding plate 30, are represented the different reliques which were found in this ancient ship, with an accompanying explanation. They will assist the curious in forming their opinion as to the nation she belonged to; the sandal, and hour glass, may appear to be Roman, and there are also some figured fragments of tiles.

PLATE XXXI.

Pevensey Bay, from Crowhurst Park.-North

View.

THE ground, from Crowhurst, rising with a gradual ascent, gives a fine view of Pevensey Bay, the landing-place of William the Conqueror, when he came to assert his right against Harold to the Crown of England. From the same spot, there is also a good view of Beechy Head, Bexhill, and Standard-hill.

Crowhurst Park, the seat of John Cresset Pelham, Esq. whence this drawing was taken, is situated in a fine picturesque country, interspersed with plains and woodlands; it is close to the high road, and within a mile of Battle.

PLATE XXXII.

Ruins of Crowhurst, near Battle.-West View.

THIS drawing describes the remains of a religious house, which, from the appearance of the old walls and foundation, must have been of considerable extent. It seems to be of Norman structure, and nearly, or quite as old, as Battle Abbey.

On the side of the Church-yard, and behind the present farm-house, are considerable remains of the walls of a very substantial stone building. The highest wall, nearly facing the east, has a large Gothic window in the upper part of it; great part of the four walls of this room is still standing, and it is called the Chapel. On the south are more ruins of walls and Gothic arches: perhaps this latter building was the old Mansion-house; the farm-house was called the Court-Lodge, and therein the courts of the manor were kept.

BATTLE.

PLATE XXXIII.

Gate-house, from the Park, Battle Abbey.—
East View.

THIS drawing was taken from the lawn. On the wall, to the left, within the smaller arch here

Battle is a parish and market town in the hundred of Battle, 26 miles south-east of Tunbridge, and 56 south of London; containing 460 houses, and 2852 inhabitants. Its ancient name was Epiton, in Saxon times. There are several powder-mills in the neighbourhood, and the town has been long famous for the best gunpowder in Europe. The market is on Thursday, which, till 1600, was held on Sunday. The living is a vicarage, value 241. 13s. 4d.