beneath the projecting window that was now and again washed by the spray of the sea. They were not permitted, however, to continue the sport with impunity, for having to do battle with a wave of more than ordinary persistency, these would-be doughty champions found themselves coming out of the conflict with the gain of a douche and the loss of their caps. The incident is worthy of a passing notice, if only by associating it with an after event one is induced to regard their sousing as a baptism of pluck. During the following summer, while sailing their toy-boats near the Saxon groyne the two boys Fuggle and Smith rescued from a perilous position a girl named Colbran whom they had observed fall backwards into the sea. But although thus rescued, the poor girl at a subsequent date, came to a melancholy end which would seem to support the fatalistic aphorism, that "one who is born to be burnt will never be drowned." Sad to say, the girl was burnt to death.
But, to return to the Commissioners, from what source were they to obtain the money with which to meet their ever-increasing liabilities? They held a special meeting on the 16th of August to devise the "ways and means." Five-hundred pounds was the amount required to pay off the interest due to bondholders, and as the exchequer was empty, the Clerk was desired to apply to Mrs. Matthews, and to Messrs. Greenough, Middleton, Naylor and Duckworth, to accept further bonds for the arrears bearing interest at five per cent., and also to obtain an additional £900 on similar terms. The application was complied with, and thus for a time the Commissioners' minds were again made easy The walls were put into thorough repair, the new groyne eastward of the Colonnade was completed, and the shingle collected on the "weather" or westernside in a considerable quantity; but the usual effect of the sea forcing itself in on the "leeward" or eastern side of the new groyne was observed, and which in a short time realised the prediction that damage would accrue in that direction. During the equinoctial spring tides a breach in the wall and parade was made in front of Adelaide place, and on the 28th of October - twelve months to the day after the destructive hurricane of 1837 - a terrific south west gale sprung up and lashed the Channel into a condition of abnormal turbulence. Additional destruction of the wall and esplanade ensued, and nearly all the piles of the groyne near the Saxon Hotel were torn up and carried away, besides other losses which the Eversfield Estate sustained. The same gale caused great destruction of property in London, the flood-tide in the Thames being of such a height as not to have been equalled since then until the year 1868. It occurred on Sunday, and it is a curious circumstance that nearly all the destructive gales and high tides on this coast within my own memory have been on Sundays.
It was only the day before this particular storm that an American sailor, named Scott, performed a feat which attracted an immense crowd of spectators to the very spot whence the groyne was next day carried away. He jumped, feet foremost, into the sea from a chair at the top of a ladder, 60 feet high, and swam ashore in gallant style Three years later, this American diver whilst practising hanging on London Bridge, as it was said for a joke, but as I surmise to get money, hanged himself in earnest. This fatality occurred on January 11th, 1841.
From ladders to steps, figuratively speaking, is but a step, and thus my readers are easily taken from Scott's flight or descent in front of the Saxon Hotel to Rawson's proposed flight, or ascent behind the Conqueror Hotel. It was a long way from the Colonnade to the top of East Ascent by way of the Mews-road steps or even by the Harold steps, and the Commissioners therefore accepted the offer of Mr. Rawson to build a flight of steps at his own expense to lead up to the top of East Ascent and Mercatoria. Permission was also given to Dr. Harwood to make alterations and improvements leading from his house at West Ascent towards Quarry cottage and the West hill, provided he got the sanction of the other interested parties, and contributed towards the expense of a brick drain across the bottom of the West-hill road. It was also ordered at the same meeting (Dec. 29th) that a proper conveyance be given to Mr. Alfred Burton, at his own expense, of the site of the old road on the West cliff, in exchange for the land which he was willing to give up for the formation of a new and more convenient road over the West hill.
One of the last acts of the Commissioners at their December meeting was to instruct their Committee to watch the proceedings of the Hastings people in their endeavours to obtain a harbour, and in the event of any proposition being made to levy a borough rate for that object to immediately summon a special meeting. This, of course, had reference to the meetings which were being held in Hastings to revive or to intensify the agitation for a harbour either at the Priory or at the fishmarket, for which see Chap. XX.
However much some of the Hastings people might have exerted themselves to keep the harbour scheme afloat, the public, as a whole, appeared to be quite as much interested in the opening of new roads. Nearly two years had passed since the project was started for a shorter road from St. Leonards to London and North Kent by way of Sedlescomb, and more than twelve months had elapsed since an Act was obtained for the same and the work begun. By avoiding the Hastings hill by way of Ore and the old road through Battle, a saving of three miles was to be effected. This having excited an alarm in the minds of the Battle and a few of the inhabitants of north-east Hastings and Ore, steps were immediately taken by them to obtain Government sanction for the Hastings and Hollington Road, to shorten the distance to Battle. Both schemes were sanctioned, and both were put into operation, but instead of both parties confining their attention exclusively to their own respective works, for the benefit of the two towns and for lessening the costs of construction, the promoters of the rival schemes sought in various direct and indirect methods to impede each other's progress. Thus it happened that notwithstanding the statement made at a meeting in 1837 that the St. Leonards and Sedlescomb road would be opened throughout in the following spring, the month of July had arrived without a fulfilment of the promise. The trustees required a small piece of land belonging to Lady Webster, who had obtained a legal injunction, which put a stop to the work. Against this act of her ladyship proceedings had to be taken, which after drawing their "slow length along" for several months, were again met by a petition to the House of Commons by Lady Charlotte Webster, which being presented by Mr. Darby and referred to a select committee, was ultimately rejected. Finally a Bill passed the Legislature for the removal of all obstructions on the St. Leonards and Sedlescomb new road. Yet, even then, the difficulties were not all surmounted, for as late as the 30th of October in the following year the dispute between Lady Webster came on for settlement by arbitration. The award for the piece of land was £286, of only £6 more than was originally tendered for it; and to obtain which, the Webster family had obstinately incurred an expense of several hundred pounds, whilst the Trustees had also been put to a legal outlay of over £1000. But, to increase the latters' vexation, it was discovered that in conveying the piece of land in dispute, Sir Godfrey could not make a good title; and it became necessary therefore to summons a jury, and to deposit their verdict in the Bank of England. Perhaps, after all, it was the knowledge of this inability to show a clear title that gave rise to Lady Webster's application for an injunction; but if not that, then the action favours the assumption that it was done to help the opposition of the Battle people, who very naturally wished to retain the traffic through their own town either by the old route or by the shorter road via Hollington, then forming in rivalry to the Sedlescome (sic) road. Anyhow, it had the effect of greatly delaying the undertaking and of increasing the expense, whilst it enabled the Hollington Trust to get their road opened first. This took place on the 20th of August, 1838, but it was not viewed with general favour; for the tolls were so enormous as to be ever after a source of annoyance and complaint. To have to pay eightpence for a carriage, five times repeated, between St. Leonards and Battle was thought to be a greater impost (sic) than was compensated for by the saving of distance, and it was held - justly so, in my opinion - that instead of families being attracted hither by the so-called improvements, they were repelled. The complaint was met by a statement that the Hollington trustees had been in a similar predicament to that of the Sedlescomb in having to accept a hard bargain from landowners; and that, consequently, the outlay had been much greater than the original estimate. In this dilemma it was publicly advised that an application be made to Parliament to consolidate the Trusts, or to take the roads under Government management. Several exciting scenes and stormy meetings took place in connection with these roads, but as they more properly belong to the history of 1839, a notice of them will be deferred until that period is reached.
As a correlative subject to that of the new roads leading to Battle and Sedlescomb, it may be stated that the attempt made in 1837 to force the inhabitants residing eastward of the St. Leonards Archway to keep in repair the new road and parade on the Eversfield Estate, was repeated in 1838. On the 7th of November a meeting was held at the Saxon Hotel, with Mr. Troup in the chair, to consider the necessity for supporting or opposing a Bill to be submitted to Parliament for relieving the trustees of the Eversfield Estate of certain liabilities by means of a "Lighting and Paving Act." There had been only a few days' notice of the meeting,but in that short time the inhabitants naturally took steps to protect themselves; and with that view, they appointed Mr. Briggs, a solicitor, of Lewes, to meet the Eversfield agents with themselves on the following Friday. The objects and conditions were then discussed; and after the said agents had withdrawn, by request, the meeting resolved that it was inexpedient to apply to Parliament for the proposed Bill. Thus did the inhabitants of St. Leonards-Without, resist, a second time, the attempted imposition of an incumbrance similar to that which the denizens of St. Leonards-Within felt themselves to be labouring under. They did even more - as will be shown further on - when by a bold attitude they took the initiative in putting the Eversfield agents on their defence.
It was a singular coincidence that on the same day and at about the same hour that the Halton Church or Chapel was consecrated, the St. Leonards Church or Chapel was partly demolished. A sudden fall of earth from the cliff in the rear, estimated at 200 tons, completely destroyed the chancel and the beautifully painted window therein. This was followed, four days later, by another landslip, which greatly shook the northern ends of the walls, and created misgivings as to the stability of the roof. Happily, those fears were not realised, but the first accident was so serious that a cost of £500, it was calculated, would be incurred in removing the fallen earth and effecting the repairs of the church. As this was not the only disaster of the kind, it suggests the unwisdom of Mr. Burton's compliance with the advice of his friends to erect the church under a crumbling cliff, instead of on a hill, as originally designed. The church was of course repaired, and during the operation the services, by consent of the Bishop, were again held in the St. Leonards Assembly Rooms, and not even then for the last time.
As my readers will have traveled with me to Bexhill (Chap. XX) in a mental journey, where the remains of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel were deposited, perhaps they will not object to be here detained a brief while to contemplate
That burial place, where rests the spirit's clay
Till God shall quicken at the last great day.
It is here that not a few of those who were once among the dwellers of Hastings and St. Leonards are now each of them
The occupant of some small mound of mould,
A mortal remnant of the young or old.
It is the resting place of the Cruttendens, one of whom opened the first butcher's shop in St. Leonards, but who, dying in 1834, left his assistant, Mr. Newton Parks, to be his successful successor. It was the last home of the Careys, John and Ann, and of Ann, the wife of John, the younger. The last named was among the first to build property in St. Leonards, where he served the office of Commissioner, was employed on many constructive works, took a somewhat active part in politics, and for 36 years conducted funerals to all parts of the kingdom. In 1837 Mr. Carey's first wife died at the age of forty, and was buried at Bexhill. In the same year and in the same ground were deposited the remains of Mr. Arthur Deudney, of the Marine Hotel, Hastings, whither those of his father, Mr. Charles Deudney, of Gensing Farm, St. Leonards, had been conveyed eight years previously. Here also is the sepulchre of Sarah, the relict of Arthur Deudney, who having survived her husband until 1863, attained to the age of 89 years. In the same ground may be seen a monumental stone erected to the memory of Elizabeth, the beloved wife of Mr. Newton Parks, the latter of whom was also there interred twenty years later, when in his 83rd year, and after an industrious career in St. Leonards of over half a century. In the south-east part of the ground is the grave of Jane, the daughter of William and Elizabeth Weston, of Hastings, who died at the early age of 25; and close to the church on the south side is a vault containing all that is mortal of Susannah, the widow of William Satterly, a surgeon, of Hastings. Mrs. Satterly died in 1860, at the age of 76 years. She had survived for 36 years her husband, William Satterly, who was buried in the same ground in 1824, his corpse having been conveyed thither from Hastings by a team of oxen. His cousin, the late John Savery, succeeded him as a surgeon at Marine parade, one of the five houses built by their uncle, "Doctor" Samuel Satterley, who died in 1838 (the year still under review), a nonagenarian, after a surgical practice in Hastings of 70 years. The elder Satterley was a sort of local Abernethy - at times facetious, at times sagacious, and at times eccentric. Our old anecdotists could, doubtless, tell many a good story of him, but the only one I know is his recipe for preparing and serving-up cucumbers. It is this :- "carefully pear (sic) off every portion of the rind; cut the cucumber into very even slices; smother them in vinegar, pepper, salt, and any other condiments you please; and when thus prepared, throw them on the dung-heap."
