towns of Lancaster and Ulverston. These sands, from shore to shore, on the Lancaster side, are about nine miles across; and the great danger arises from the passengers being overtaken by fog, thick weather, or darkness, and thus prevented from distinguishing the land, or the guide who attends at the bed of the rivers to shew the ford; in which case, and should he deviate from the proper route, he would run serious risk of being overtaken by the tide, or overwhelmed in a quicksand. Lieutenant Woollnough drew up a plan and estimate for rendering this passage more safe, which he submitted to Lord George Cavendish, and various gentlemen of property residing in the same neighbourhood. His Lordship’s opinion thereon was conveyed to him in a note, of which the following is a copy:–
“Lord George Cavendish’s compliments to Lieutenant Woollnough, is much obliged to him for the communication, and sketch of the vessel, for insuring the safety of passengers crossing the sands. It appears to be very ingenious, but he should much fear the practicability of carrying it into effect. There would be great difficulty in securing the vessel being stationary, and the expense attending it would not be easily defrayed, or likely to be adopted by the county.”
Subsequently, in exploring the sands and adjacent coasts, Lieutenant Woollnough soon discovered that they were very erroneously laid down in the existing charts; and he therefore set about constructing one of Morecambe Bay and the coast, from the north end of Walney Isle to the entrance of the Ribble, including the river Lune. This he effected at great personal risk, and immense labour, arising from the want of proper assistance. It was presented to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, who honored him, through their secretary, with a very handsome letter of thanks.
Lieutenant Woollnough also published, in the Lancaster newspaper, plain and easy directions for crossing the above mentioned sands, when overtaken by fog, &c. He subsequently presented a copy of his survey to the corporation of Liverpool, for which he received a vote of thanks.
In 1817 and 1818, when the disturbances in the large manufacturing towns in the north of England, agitated by
