Sir,--On August 22nd, at 5 p.m., on August 28th, at 9 a.m., and on
August 29th, at 10 a.m., I achieved in a more successful measure than
had hitherto been accomplished the problem of swimming round Mont
St. Michael, Normandy, at high water. Previously acquainted with the
certainty that an adverse current would at one point or another be
met, I pre-arranged, and made three bold attempts, and by going in a
certain direction, met with the greatest success at the first essay.
The tides that rise and flow against the base of the mount are more
insidious and taxing to strike against than those which encircle the
Mount of St. Michael, in Cornwall; but then the quality of the sea
must be more pure and far more buoyant off the Cornish coast, and
freshens to a greater extent the elastic movements of the swimmer. The
sea, speaking from experience, does not harass one, swimming in the
bay of St. Michael, Normandy, until the "retirage" is met; when all
the force that can be exerted is necessarily called forth to prevent
being seaward swept.
Yours faithfully,