Cromer enjoys but little trade, there being no convenient harbour where ships might ride in safety; what there is, consists in the exportation of corn, and importation of coals, tiles, oil-cakes, porter, &c. in vessels of from sixty to one hundred tons burthen. These lie upon the beach, where, at ebb tide, carts are drawn alongside to unlade them, and, when empty, they anchor at a little distance from the shore, and reload by means of boats. This method of lading and unlading is very expensive, as the carts, though drawn by four horses, owing to the steepness of the roads up the cliff, can only carry about half a ton at a time. In this manner they continue passing and repassing till the water has risen so high as to oblige them to desist, and wait till the tide has again receded. About two tides generally serve to complete the ship’s unloading. The sea at Cromer is almost always diversified by a change of moving objects; the trade from Newcastle, Sunderland, and the Baltic, keeping up a constant succession of vessels; to which may be added the regular appearance of the various steam-vessels which ply between London and Scotland, giving life and interest to the scene, though defiling, as it were, the pure elements they have conquered by their ponderous volumes of black and waving smoke. In calm weather passengers may be landed from these vessels, in a boat sent for the purpose; but as the contingency of “wind and weather permitting,” is always expressed, few dare avail themselves of such a conveyance. The cliffs, in many parts, are very lofty, and picturesquely broken; and their base being, for the most part, composed of strong blue clay, or marl, are capable of making considerable resistance to the impetuous attacks of the sea; so that while the upper parts, which are chiefly of sandy materials, are brought down by accidental circumstances, the feet still remain, opposing their bold projections to the waves, and forming a happy relief to the level surface of the beach. This is no place to enter into any geological detail respecting these cliffs; but if the more scientific reader should desire information on this point, we would direct him to an admirable article in the “Philosophical Magazine,” from the pen of Mr. Lyell; {13} or, what would be more acceptable, as well as attainable, we would venture to refer him to Mr. S. Simons, of Cromer, who, we feel convinced, would afford him that information which he is so competent to give. In the winter the cliffs are the favourite resort of many sea-birds, but in the summer some, as geese and ducks, retire to the marshes, while others entirely disappear.