Harwich is in the County of Essex, and lies on the  south side of the  estuary formed by the confluence of the Stour and  the Orwell, about  sixty-two miles to the north-east of London.In 1318, Edward  II incorporated Harwich at the request of his brother,  Thomas de  Brotherton, Earl of Norfolk. In 1347, the town supplied 14  ships and 183  mariners to the grand 
fleet of Edward III. In the  17th and 18th  years of that king’s reign, Harwich returned two members to Parliament; but the exercise of this privilege was discontinued till 1616, when it  was restored by James I.

The trade of  Harwich never appears to  have been extensive; and its prosperity seems  to have greatly depended  on the Post-office packets, which formerly  used to sail from the  place with passengers and letters for the  northern parts of Europe. The introduction of steam-packets has, however, rendered Harwich a place  of no further importance as a  packet-station, and for several years  past the town has been in a  declining state. The fishery, which formerly contributed to  the prosperity of the place, has greatly diminished  since the  commencement of the present century.  Harwich is the only harbour between Yarmouth Roads and the mouth of the Thames that is  capable of affording refuge, in gales of wind from the eastward, to  vessels navigating the eastern coast. During the prevalence of strong  northeast  winds, sometimes from 200 to 300 light colliers, and other vessels proceeding northward, are to be seen anchored in the harbour.

On the south of the town a cliff divides Orwell Haven from the bay that extends to Walton-on-Naze. This cliff is observed to be constantly giving way to the action of the sea, which, it is expected, will at  some  future period force a passage to the opposite shore and insulate Harwich and its vicinity.The cliff contains many acres of land and  its  greatest height is about fifty feet. At the bottom, a bed of clay, of a  bluish colour, about one foot thick, is succeeded by a bed of  stone of nearly the same colour and thickness. Within the latter, shells  and petrifactions, of various escriptions, have been found embedded.  Above the stone are several beds of clay similar to that  under the stone, rising to more than twenty feet. This clay, on  exposure to the  air, hardens into stone, and the streets of Harwich are  paved with it.  The town walls were formed of this material, as were  also the castles of  Oxford and Framingham.

During the fashionable season the town  is visited for sea-bathing, and  excellent accommodations are now provided, bathing machines having  been introduced, and the private  baths rendered most convenient. They  stand in a large reservoir of  seawater, which is changed at every tide,  and supplied with fresh water  every hour, by a contrivance on the  principle of a natural siphon. In  some of these baths, the water is made hot for invalids, who, if they  have neither strength nor courage to plunge themselves into the water,  are assisted with a chair. There  are also vapour oaths, and machinery to  throw the seawater, either hot  or cold, on any part of the body.

There is a delightful walk, called “The Lawn,” much frequented in fine   weather as a promenade; and not far distant from it is the Beacon  Cliff,  on which were formerly the signal-house and telegraph, which  were, some  time ago, destroyed by the encroachments of the sea. This  eminence  commands a grand, interesting and extensive prospect. Parties  are also  frequently made by the visitors for sailing or steaming up the Orwell  and Stour, and making excursions on the bosom of the ocean.  The scenery  of the Orwell possesses peculiar interest, the banks being studded with elegant villas and pleasure grounds.

Aerial Harwich