888.—Dover Cliffs. details
Notes:
The white cliffs of dover, complete with fishing boats. The plate is signed “SIBLY” but that could be the original artist or the engraver (or both).
“In the latter part of the summer of the year 55 B. C. (Halley, the astronomer, has gone far to prove that the exact day was the 26th of August), a Roman fleet crossed the Channel, bearing the infantry of two legions, about ten thousand men. This army was collected at the Portus Itius (Witsand), between Calais and Boulogne. Eighty galleys (Fig. 86) bore the invaders across the narrow seas. As they neared the white cliffs, which frowned upon their enterprise (Figs. 87, 88, 90), Cæsar beheld them covered with armed natives, ready to dispute his landing. The laurelled conqueror (Figs. 83, 84), who, according to Suetonius, only experienced three reverses during nine years’ command in Gaul, would not risk the Roman discipline against the British courage, on a coast thus girt with natural defences.” (p. 26)
I wasn’t certain if this plate was damaged, or if the white lines represent fishing lines or bad weather or something. What do you think?
