VII. CALAIS

VII. CALAIS

I only consider the claims of Calais because their one modern advocate, General von Göler,[2752] was a distinguished Caesarian scholar. There is no evidence that Calais was ever used as a harbour in, or for twelve centuries after, the time of Caesar. If Caesar started from the Portus Itius on his first expedition, it is impossible, on the theory that Calais was the Portus Itius, to find the _ulterior portus_. Moreover, it would have been impossible for Caesar to sail, on his second expedition, from Calais to any point of the Kentish coast between Walmer and Sandwich.[2753] For, as the wind was from the south-west, he would have had to sail within seven points and a half of the wind on a flood tide, which would have tended to carry him into the North Sea, and with shallow flat-bottomed vessels which made excessive lee-way.[2754] Finally, Calais Harbour is not natural but artificial; and it is certain that it did not exist in the time of Caesar.[2755]