Original Letters and Biographic Epitomes | Page 6

Auxerre coming
under consideration. The lecturer also drew special attention to the
advantage derived from travelling alone for the purpose of observing
better the archæological wealth, and the customs of the French, having
a distinct and definite line of study and object lesson ever in view; to
his wide sympathy with the French people, to their sumptuous care for
their ancient monuments, their courtesy and reverential manner of
hospitality towards English speaking students; and also in particular to
the unsuspicious, deferential manner in which they are entertained and
regarded by the Ministerial authorities: detailing in precise biographical
manner his experience with bourgeoisie and peasant, ecclesiastic and
soldier. He recorded also minutely the incidents and popular events
associated with travel, as study and the tide of time goaded him onward,
the wave of diurnal events lying upon the open page of history, here
dishevelled, here streaked with adverse episode, and here becalmed.
The hour being late, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded the lecturer,
and the hearing of the conclusion of a most interesting tour was

adjourned to another meeting.

_AQUATICS._
From the CORNISHMAN, _August 2nd_, 1902.
SWIM AROUND ST. MICHAEL'S MOUNT.
On Wednesday, a visitor to Marazion, Mr. J. ATWOOD.SLATER,
from Bristol, in a sea for tranquility suited for the saline venture, swam
completely round St. Michael's Mount, Cornwall. Accompanied by a
local boatman the swimmer rowed out from the mainland, quitting his
boat, and entering ten fathoms in depth of water at two o'clock. A mean
distance of a hundred yards from the coast was, whilst the circuit was
made, preserved. No inconvenience of any sort--excepting, towards the
conclusion,--the chilliness of the water, was encountered; the distance
of one mile and a half being accomplished in the space and record time
of three-quarters of an hour. The swimmer at the finish expressed
himself entirely satisfied with the nerve and capacity of his boatman
(Ivey) and accorded a tribute to the romantic style in which the Mount
and Castle proper are kept. The view from the watery verge being
replete with quaint interest and delightsome variety. The previous
occasion to this feat being performed was three summers ago, when
Lady Agnes Townshend, and six years since, when Colonel
Townshend swam the same distance; but no other authentic instance is
credited, or preserved on record. The swimmer on this latest occasion is
a Royal Academy exhibitor, and the designer of the subject panels in
the reredos in the neighbouring Cathedral of Truro; having moreover
aided the architect, now deceased, of the Cathedral of Cornwall in other
departments of Architectural service.

From the CORNISHMAN, _September 4th,_ 1902.
LONG DISTANCE SWIMS.
IN A CORNER OF MOUNT'S BAY.
(BY THE SWIMMER).
On Thursday, August 14th, Mr. J. Atwood Slater, then staying at

Marazion, who, as recorded in a recent issue, swam completely round
St. Michael's Mount, made an attempt to swim from St. Michael's
Mount to Newlyn. With his boatman (Ivey), he started from Marazion,
entering the water at S.W. corner of the Mount.
Whilst engaged in the preliminaries of the start a moment of suspense
was passed, the distance appearing sufficient (when out of water) to
unnerve all but the most intrepid of swimmers. Striking out in the
direction of Newlyn, and using the breast stroke, the shore and beetling
Mount were gradually left behind, but when a full distance of a mile
and a half was covered, a swell got up from the S.W. and blew a
quantity of water into the face of the swimmer. At each impulse
progress becoming extremely difficult; nevertheless a yet further
interval of half a mile was placed to the swimmer's credit; when,
deeming it impracticable to continue further, and having covered
relatively more than half the distance, in a mood of chagrin, he
re-entered his boat.
Then seizing the oars, and murmuring an ejaculatory note to the ocean
which had sent him not a few malign caresses, he pulled, boatman, craft
and all to Marazion; the time exactly occupied in the exploit, of two
miles and an eighth, being forty-five minutes.
On Saturday, August 23rd, Mr. Slater again, taking with him E. John,
swam in deep water, from close to the pier head St. Michael's Mount to
a point contiguous to Longrock; a distance of a mile and an eighth.
Progress was without hap or hindrance, though in a grey misty light. At
length, whilst the disappearing sun sank to rest behind a belt of clouds,
parted asunder over Penzance, the boatman was called upon to draw in
his boat, the swimmer thereupon going on board.
Experience gained upon these occasions teaches that it emphatically
requires greater nerve to swim in the open sea, always going straight in
deep water, than is called for when propelling oneself round the Mount.
Again, on Tuesday, at