Item 130 - Letter from Frederick William Beechey

4 pp

HMS Firefly, Habbs Point - The Admiralty have grounded FWB this summer for the purpose of investigating the tides in the Irish Channel: 'The object is mainly to determine the direction and turn of the stream throughout the tide as compared with times of High and Low water'. FWB does not think he can do anything with the rise and fall in mid-channel, since 'the high and low waters throughout, nearly, occur about the time of the strongest stream' - could WW give any suggestions. Further, he finds that 'in a tide of 30 feet range, at the half interval between high and low water the flood will stand at less than 15 feet and at the half interval again (on the ebb) the water will again have passed the 15 feet, and stand at something lower. It is so with all the observations I have...is this in accordance with your observation?'