DEAL, a municipal borough, and member of the parliamentary borough of Sand. with, maritime t. and sea-bathing place, in the c. of Kent, on a bold open beach, near the s. extremity of the Downs, between North and South Foreland, 18 m. e s e. of Can terbury, and 8 in. n.n.c. of Dover. It has three streets running parallel to the beach, and others stretching into the country. A fine anchorage extends 7 or 8 m. between D. and the Goodwin Sands. D. has mainly arisen to supply the wants of vessels which are often detained by the winds in the Downs to the number of 400 or 500 at a time. The chief branches of industry are connected with maritime pursuits, boat building, sail-making, piloting or hoveling, victualing, and naval stores. Pop. '71, 8,009. D. returns two members to parlianeut With Sandwich and Widmer. It has been one of the Cinque ports since the 13th century. The coast near D. is defended by Deal castle, near the town; Sandown castle and three batteries on the n.; and by Walmer castle, a mile to the south. Walmer castle is the official residence of the warden of the Cinque ports, and here the duke of Wellington died in 1852. Henry VIII. built. Deal castle in
1539. Julius Ccesar, with two legions, in 82 ships, landed near D. in 55 B.C. In 1877, 168 vessels, of 11,283 tons, entered the port.
The DEAL BOATMEN, who are an enterprising and courageous body of.men, are like some of the other boatmen on that coast, locally known as " hovelers." They have become noted for giving assistance to ships in distress, and for saving the lives of crews? and passengers. Besides performing these services, they have been useful in carrying off provisions to outward-bound vessels, and in bringing ashore mail-bags requiring to be forwarded by express. Latterly, in consequence of steam-tugs being much employed in expediting outward and inward bound vessels, and also from the mails from many foreign countries being landed at Falmouth and other places, to be forwarded to London by railways, the occupation of the Deal boatmen is nearly gone, and the community has sunk into poverty. Their case being made known by the press, some benevolent exertions were made to succor them. The community may be expected to diminish in proportion to the actual wants of navigation on the coast.