Passing the pleasant little town of Yarmouth, the wind once more shifting enabled us to lay our course direct for Hurst Castle.  We passed the village of Freshwater, with several very pretty villas perched on the hill on the west side of it.  Here also is the commencement of a line of batteries which extend alone: the shore towards the Needles.  The ground is high and broken, and very picturesque, with bays, and points, and headlands.  On our starboard, or northern side, appeared the long spit of sand at the end of which Hurst Castle stands, with two high red lighthouses like two giant skittles. Besides the old castle, a line of immensely strong fortifications extend along the beach, armed with the heaviest guns, so that from the batteries of the two shores an enemy's ship attempting to enter would be sunk, or would be so shattered as to be unable to cope with any vessel of inferior force sent against her.