The post you are reporting:
SMITHEN, Wm employed on railway works near Shakespeare Cliff, chalk gave way and he was killed. Inquest: accidental death. Left wife and several children (Dover Telegraph 9 June 1838 p.8)
BROWN, Joseph, aged 40. Killed by fall of chalk near Shakespeare Cliff. Inquest: "Accidental death"
GRAFFAN, Thomas aged 64, killed by a fall of chalk near Shakespeare Cliff, Dover. Inquest: Accidental death
(both mentioned in Dover Telegraph 15 Sep 1838 p.8)
"SHAKESPEARE SLIPPING"
Shakespeare's Cliff: This cliff has suffered from another of those falls which, since the time of our honoured bard, has lessened its altitude. Early on Monday morning last a surface of chalk 254 feet in height, extending to a length of 353 ft on the eastern face, 15 ft thick, measuring 47,131 yards and supposed to contain about 48,000 tons of chalk, scaled off and fell to the base; from a fog at the time the slip was not seen but the noise of the fall was heard at a long distance. This recent fall will doubtless repay the search of the geologist. A smaller fall of about 10,000 cu.yds has since occurred. (Kentish Gazette 9 March 1847 back page col.2)
and I like this account of the slippage:
An extensive slip has occurred at Shakespeare's Cliff which seems to be gradually breaking up its establishment and leaving England in disgust. This may be in consequence of the little hold Shakespeare has lately had upon his native country; and the cliff, probably is only crossing the Channel to seek a home in more congenial lands. Wither will it go to ? Will it settle on the French coast or sail direct for New York? It would be curious to find Shakespeare's cliff at Calais with a board stuck up "Removed from over the way". We are confident that Shakespeare himself will be thought all the more of if he had a firm footing in France and that his drama and his cliff would rise much higher in the public estimation when pieces of it could be taken from the French (Punch) (Kentish Gazette 23 March 1847 back page col.1)
