member of its iron-bound framing was shifted. Some of the wooden flooring cracked and gave way in several directions, and some ornamental parts fell, but the beautiful fabric itself was happily uninjured. ornaments at the entrance to the Chain Pier esplanade were carried away; and the water-wheel by the groyne south of the toll-house was completely removed by the wind and waves. The sea-wall, at the rear of where Russell House once stood, was entirely torn down, and the Albion Hotel, then being erected on its site, was in great jeopardy. It was at one time surrounded by water, the sea beating every now and then over the building, and deluging the road with its spray.

After the storm a new toll-house would appear to have been erected and the access to the entrance improved. (See annexed illustration.)

The Pier's Popularity and Progress.

With regard to the popularity of the Pier as a place of fashionable resort, the records are of the scantiest, and little information is obtainable as to its financial success or otherwise: but it is probable that the next few years— down to 1832-33-were among the most flourishing of its earlier history. On the last Sunday in July, 1825, as many as 4,300 persons went on the Pier. The town, it may be stated, continued to increase rapidly both in population and in building; and the stream of fashionable visitors knew no retiring ebb. The Pier became, despite the rivalry of the Libraries, more and more a fashionable lounge; and at one time a favourite pastime. with many visitors and townsfolk was to resort to the Pier to watch the sea at special high tides. The fine steam vessels put on the Station in 1825, and sub

sequently those of the General Steam Navigation Company, tended much, in the season, to induce people to resort to the Pier during the times of embarkation and debarkation. But another help to the Pier came later on, verifying the axiom that "there is nothing new under the sun," and this was the running of one of the steamers for sea trips, as now, to various places along the coast and to the Isle of Wight. The Company (aided by Mr. Matthews, the first Pier Master) did their best to make. the Pier attractive; and the issue of annual subscription tickets at one guinea each further tended to increase its popularity as a place of fashionable resort. The Saloon reading-room was apparently all that could be desired; and there were occasional accessories in the way of vocal and instrumental music. The "Camera Obscura," which for several years had done duty on the Steine beach, immediately east of Russell House, was also placed at the Pier-head. (Later on this was removed to its present position, immediately over the Saloon, with an entrance to it from the Marine-parade.) The Pier esplanade was greatly improved in 1831 (in digging out for the foundation of its new enclosing wall, Dr. Mantell tells us, "four very fine and perfect molar teeth of the Asiatic elephant were discovered "). The Towers were all let, and served as useful resorts for gossip and purchases. A dozen new and commodious baths-douche and shower-for ladies and gentlemen, were constructed at the Pier-head, and fitted up with every convenience. The Regimental Band played once a week. There were also occasional exhibitions such as of life-preservers; and Jones had, in the autumn and winter season, exhibitions of fireworks, his sole remuneration being the voluntary contributions from spectators. Town improvements, too, trended. Eastward at this period, and helped, for a time, to make

COPYRIGHT.

THE CHAIN PIER, BRIGHTON-EASTERN ENTRANCE, about 1826. (Kindly lent by Mr. J. H. DANIELS, of Brighton.)

it more fashionable than the Westward. The Steine had been newly enclosed and improved in 1824 (the year it was first lit with gas); and the Pier and the Marineparade being within easy access from it visitors resorted to them. The Eastern entrance to the Pier, from the Marine-parade down the New Steine steps, was also a great accommodation to visitors and those residing Eastward; and the structure itself, from an Eastern point of view, was exceedingly attractive and picturesque. (See annexed illustration.) Castle-square about 1825-26 was opened for vehicular traffic; and the new road in front of the York and Albion "followed suit," making an easier and muchneeded route Eastward. Kemp Town had been commenced; and to still further help matters in the same direction, the first instalment of that splendid effort of Brighton's pioneers in improvement-the new sea wall— was completed from the Pier entrance to beyond the New Steine, and the Marine-parade itself was widened. Then the formation of another sea wall along the central front of the town in 1827, which led the way to the opening, two years later, of the Junction-road (from the back of the site now occupied by Markwell's Royal Hotel to the Marine-parade) was another special benefit to the East, by affording a continuous route to it from the West. These public works must have been advantageous in many ways to the Pier. But things Westwardly were not standing still; and signs were not wanting that the West. was fast pushing forward its claims as a charming residential locality-with its fine houses and squares, and by the growth of Brunswick Town (as Brunswick-square and terrace were at one time called), and more especially by the formation of the Royal (Western) Esplanade from the old King's-road Battery to Brunswick-terrace.

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