after which they received payment. The chief officer of
the Cinque Ports was called the Lord Warden. It was considered a high
dignity, and was long held by the Duke of Wellington.

Many of their privileges have now been abrogated, as the ports have long
been relieved of their responsibilities. It would certainly astonish
the inhabitants of Winchelsea or Dover if the Queen should inform them
that they must send half a dozen ironclads to complete the fleet off
Spithead!

Sailing as close as we could under Shakespeare's Cliff, we passed
Folkestone, standing partly in a hollow between two cliffs, and partly
up the side of that on the west. Then we rounded the headland of
Dungeness; and sailing by Rye and Winchelsea, we passed Hastings,
renowned in history, a portion, looking old and venerable, joined to the
spic-and-span new town of Saint Leonard's.

Running past Eastbourne, we arrived off the bold, wild-looking point of
Beachy Head. The weather becoming threatening, the wind, which had
hitherto been off shore, began to shift, and drew more and more to the
westward, the sky having anything but a pleasant appearance. Dark
clouds gathered in dense masses on the horizon, and there was every
indication of a heavy gale. Although so near the end of our voyage,
there appeared a probability of its being continued for several days
longer.

Papa having hailed Uncle Tom, it was agreed that we should stand
close-hauled on the starboard tack away from the land, and endeavour to
fetch Spithead.

We sighted two small places, Seaford and Newhaven, and could make out
Brighton, covering a wide extent of ground along the seashore, and
reaching the slopes of the hills and downs beyond.

"By standing on we shall have Shoreham under our lee; and we can but run
in there, if we find it impossible to beat to the westward against the
gale," observed papa. "It is not exactly the port in which one would
choose to be weather-bound, but we may be thankful if we get there."

The bright revolving light at Beachy Head shone forth astern. We were
gradually sinking it lower and lower; at length we lost sight of it
altogether. It might be our last night at sea, and I begged papa to let
us remain on deck.

He laughed. "You may, as long as you like to keep awake; but you must
take care not to topple overboard."

Dick and I for some time walked the deck, believing that we were keeping
watch, and, of course, looking out on every side.

"T