it is necessary for our present inquiry to make a close examination of each step in his progress.
   The first thing to be noticed is, that Caesar twice mentions his desire to learn what ports on the coast of Britain were capable of receiving his fleet; it may therefore be concluded that his wish was to land in, or close to, a haven where his ships might be made secure. The way in which he speaks of the place where he first arrived is also remarkable, and to this I wish to call particular attention, because I venture to think that Caesar's words have been misunderstood. The general assumption has been that they are not to be interpreted with perfect strictness; it may however be presumed that he was well able to give an accurate account of whatever he intended to describe, and it is difficult to believe that he can have described a peculiar conformation of the coast which he did not find: in this respect, therefore, I must avow myself to be, though a Briton, Caesar's advocate, and contend for a literal interpretation of his words. His description is very concise, but it has every appearance of exactness, and is perfectly clear: " Cujus loci haec erat natura: adeo montibus angustis mare continebatur, uti ex locis superioribus in littus telum adjici posset."  The introductory words give emphasis to what follows, and the whole passage seems to imply, that he was struck, if not surprised, by the peculiarities of the place. His subsequent proceedings appear to show that he was embarrassed by the obstacles
   (continued from page 98) nebatur, uti ex locis superioribus in littus telum adjici posset. Hunc ad egrediendum nequaquam idoneum arbitratus locum, dum reliquae naves eo convenirent, ad horam nonam in anchoris expectavit. Interim legatis tribunisque militum convocatis, et quae ex Voluseno cognovisset, et quae fieri vellet, ostendit, monuitque, (ut rei militaris ratio, maxime ut maritimse res postularent, ut quae celerem atque instabilem motum haberent,) ad nutum et ad tempus.omnes res ab iis administcrarentur. His dimissis, et ventum et aestum uno tempore nactus secundum, dato signo et sublatis anchoris, circiter millia passuum viij (al. vij) ab eo loco progressus, aperto ac piano littore naves constituit."—De Bell. Gall., lib. iv. c. 21.