into the sea full one thousand feet, at the extremity of which at high water, spring tides, there is full forty feet, and at low water not less than ten feet. It is needless to expatiate on the boauty, solidity, and elegance of the structure; it is without an equal in any part of the Kentish or Sussex Coast, if not beyond. To visitors to Deal and Walmer it cannot fail to be a most charming retreat, when in search of health, from the penetrating effects of sea breezes. Here, on this Pier, one can imagine himself on the deck of some huge vessel in the Downs at anchor, enjoying the invigorating and life-giving effects of a sea voyage in the Channel. To enlarge further on the merits of the Pier would be superfluous. The accommodation to the public is very great and the charges are very moderate, and it is expected of the whole community corresponding countenance and support. In the pages of this history the peculiar habits and characteristics of this body of mariners have been fully narrated. It will not, however, be considered superfluous, if the opinion and sentiments of other writers be given, and more especially of such an one as Charles Dickens, Esq., who says as follows:: "All the best qualities combined in one boat will not compensate for want of seamanship and judgment. *** It is not only the peculiarly good quality in the form of the Yarmouth and Deal luggers, that enables them to brave the sea in all weathers, but it is the admirable manner in which they are handled by their hardy crews.' One more tribute to the high deserts of these gallant fellows has been furnished in the pages of Dickens' Household Words, from which we extract the following. The author, after speaking of the listless manner in which they spend their lives, says: "Do not judge him by deceitful appearances. These are amongst the bravest and most skilful mariners that exist. Let a gale arise and swell into a storm; let a sea run that might appal the stoutest heart that ever beat; let the lightboat on the Goodwin Sands throw up a rocket in the night; or let them hear through the angry roar, the signal guns of a ship in distress, and these men spring up into activity, so dauntless, so valiant and heroic, that the world cannot surpass it. Cavillers may object that they chiefly live upon the salvage. So they do, and God knows it is no great living that they get out of the deadly risk they run. But put the hope of gain aside. Let these rough fellows be asked in any storm 'Who volunteers for the lifeboat,' to save some perishing souls, as poor and empty handed as themselves, whose lives the perfection of human reason does not rate at the value of a farthing each, and that boat will be manned, as surely and cheerfully as if a thousand pounds were told down on the weather beaten pier. For this, and for the recollection of their comrades whom we have known, whom the raging sea has ingulphed before their children's eyes in such brave efforts, whom the secret sand has buried, we hold the boatmen of our watering-place in our love and honour, and are tender of the fame they well deserve." Willingly would we close this sketch with the above extract, but truth compels us to remark, that although these men are watching the sea day and night, and are always at hand whenever their services are required, yet, from the precarious nature of their employment, and the still greater uncertainty of their remuneration, they are, with their families, frequently in a state of almost destitution. The cold, calculating, worldly minded man, may accuse them of improvident habits; let him embark with them in a boisterous night; let him witness the perils they encounter; let him see the temptations they are exposed to, and have the moral courage to resist, and then let him, if he can, "cast the first stone." LIFE BOATS. The distinguished characteristics of the Deal Boatmen have been fully narrated in these pages. It is unnecessary, therefore, to enlarge upon that topic, except to say that in former times every Deal lugger was considered a Lifeboat; as such, always at the command of any number of men that chose to man and launch them, when in cases of sudden emergency their services were required, no matter whether or not there was any probability of their receiving any reward. A few months since the National Lifeboat Institution stationed one of their boats at Walmer, and, recently, another of a similar description has been fixed at the North-end of Deal, very near the Windmill. The Committee of Management have displayed sound judgment in placing these two boats in the manner described. In cases of ships getting on shore, either to the north or south of the Goodwin Sand-heads, assistance can be rendered. The crews of both the boats are picked men; their characters for good and sailor-like qualities are well established, and, consequently, reliance is placed on them, that in the time of need, when their fellow creatures are on the brink of death, by being cast away on the ill-fated Goodwin, they will not delay in running to their rescue. There can be no doubt that Upper Deal was the part of the parish described by Leland as the "Fisher Village," and was the original town of Deal. The immense increase of trade and commerce which took place in Queen Elizabeth's reign naturally required accommodation nearer the shore than was furnished by the old town, which necessitated the erection of a new town, and to distinguish it from the ancient village was called Lower Deal. The population of Deal in 1701 was about three thousand; in 1771 it had increased to four thousand; but, by the census taken in 1801, the population amounted to five thousand four hundred and twenty. The constant influx of strangers coming to Deal to pursue their trade and calling, and which the exigences of the war with France created, led to the erection of many hundred new houses, so that within the space of fifteen years the town had doubled itself, at all points. Up to the year 1800, the town consisted of the following streets-South Street, extending northwards to Alfred Square, comprehending within that area, Beach Street, Middle Street, and the east side of Lower Street. There were here and there several detached dwellings-Five Bell Lane for instance; so that with few exceptions the town of Deal is of very modern formation. All the streets and outlets, from Chapel Street to Noah's Ark Lane, have been formed, and built on land formerly used as gardens. There was in Deal a great number of wells in public places that had been sunk to supply, not the inhabitants only, but the shipping, with water. From their great number, it was proved an inconvenience, and they were, by the authorities, either filled up or covered over. All the wells in Deal are affected with the tide-that is, the water rises and falls with the flood and ebb, so that it is often, when low water, an easy matter to pump the wells dry. How valuable, therefore, is the construction of Waterworks at Upper Deal, where the purest water can be procured, as clear as rock crystal. To a stranger on first coming to Deal, he is struck with the singularity of the streets-that is, their narrowness, compared with the streets and thoroughfares of other places. If he had ever visited the coast towns on the Continent, he would have seen a very marked resemblance. The contiguity of the places necessarily engendered a taste for imitation, particularly so, on remembering the incursion of the invader when war existed. To the credit of the Commissioners of Pavement, great vigilance is exerted in street-cleansing operations, and so effectually are they carried on, that the stones and pavement are of dainty whiteness. The water courses are on the surface, it is true, but, notwithstanding that circumstance, the total absence of malignant cholera in Deal, at times when almost every other town in England has been afflicted with the visitation, is one of the most striking characteristics of the place. Diseases of an endemic or epidemic character never prevailed here periodically, as is the case in some towns, and the average death rate seldom or ever exceeds twenty-two in the thousand, taking seven years as data. Not a single case of cholera has occurred at Deal within the memory of the oldest inhabitant; so that, taking into consideration the open drainage, little, or rather we ought to say, no ill-consequences has ever resulted from that fact. THE GUILDHALL, ETC. Is a plain unornamented building, situated in Lower Street. It was erected in 1803, in lieu of the old fabric near Market Street, principally by funds in the nature of loans, secured by bonds issued by the Corporation. It cost, with the Market House, Gaol, and Factor's House, was £2,961 12s. 5d. The Hall, in which the Borough Quarter Sessions are held, and which is used for other purposes as the requirements of the inhabitants make it necessary, is fifty-seven feet long, by twenty-seven feet wide. It contains potraits of King William III., William IV., Lord Chief Justice Ward, Mrs. Elizabeth Carter, and the late Recorder, Mr. Robinson. There is also a room for the Magistrates, in which Petty Sessions are held, so inconveniently small, that, in summer, when there is a pressure of business and many persons collected to hear cases, there is a deficiency of vital air, as to be really oppressive. The Council Chamber is of very good size, but not large enough to admit many of the public to be present. The Gaol contains four cells, which are used for temporary purposes; prisoners |