this observation I left it to my friends around to give their verdict, as to whether my precipice was steep enough. ( A subsequent measurement by Lieut. OTTLEY, R . E ., shows that the ground has a fall of 40 feet.)
The position we had reached gave us an excellent opportunity of examining various points of interest which could not be so well viewed from other parts of the field . To the south -east a little to our right, as we stood, high up on Telham hill was a cottage, where, tradition tells us, William's Standard was planted on the morning of the battle. Here, doubtless, the main army of the Normans armed themselves after their march from the vicinity of the town of Hastings; here, William, in complete armour, vaulted into the saddle, and seated on his horse,addressed his troops and marshalled them in three divisions. That they dared to march un armed until they came in sight of the Saxon position , leads us to the necessary inference that their vanguard must have held in force some strong position lower down, so as to protect the rest of the army from any sudden onslaught of the foe. This must have been between the Mill and Quarry House, the residence of Mr. Carter, which was visible to our left from the spot where we were; and, when the attack commenced , this advanced division -- wheeling towards us round the head of the ravine by which wewere stationed must have marched parallel to it. If in those days its sides were overgrown with trees and underwood , they may have done this without noticing that they had such a dangerous -
