"Secondly, I conceive one great reason, why this so beneficial a work was not perfected, was the want of an Act of Parliament to support the doing thereof, as also it is possible the Engineer first imployed, was not so knowing as was requisite in so great an undertaking, for as the thing now stands, there was one Peer made, which is on the North, but had the Western Peer been first Finished, then the quantities of Sands now lodged in the mouth of the Harbour, had been carried away to Sea, and the freshes of water descending out of the River, would have kept open the mouth of the Harbour.
"Thirdly, This Noble work may be brought to perfection, by making of a Western Peer, as in the Map is described ; and thereby all the Sands and Earth which falls from the sides of the Hills and Clifts will be carried to Sea ; as also two Turnpikes to be made in the River, to let down flashes of water upon all necessary occasions, to drive and keep out those Sands already lodged in the mouth of the Harbour, or that may hereafter chance to be brought in ; and I suppose all the work may be compleated for about Six Thousand Pounds. The Map of the place, and how the work may be Accomplished, is hereunto affixed."—Pp. 97-99.
Could the good Mr. Yarranton revisit Newhaven at the present day, he would behold, in the substantial "western pier" and other improvements connected with the harbour, a partial carrying out of his views. Still, very much remains to be done for the full developement of the natural capabilities of a port which is destined to occupy a high rank among the harbours of England. Fortunately the supineness of the country gentlemen of the seventeenth century upon this subject is not manifested by their descendants of the nineteenth, and as these latter possess influence in a quarter more remote than East Grinstead (and due north from that good old town), Mr. Yarranton's brightest visions must ere long become un fait accompli! These anticipations, however, belong not to Archaeology.[1]
- ↑ I am indebted to R. W. Blencowe, Esq., for calling attention to Yarranton's wish ; and to J. H. Hnrdis, Esq., for etching in his own excellent manner, Newhaven and Yainville churches.
