wicked-too sublime for the vulgar! What an invaluable blessing is he in whose heart pure morality and genuine Can piety concentrate their lustre. perfidy find its way there? never! Can treachery corrupt that soul? Oh ! never. It spurns with abhorrence every thing that approaches to vice. It tramples beneath its feet, every common feeling of distinction. No matter how deep may be the abyss of poverty to which its object is reduced; it is there to revive the drooping head. No matter how aggravated may be the sorrows of the forlorn sufferer; it flies to his succour, to bind up the broken heart; and when the flatterer in prosperity leaves the mourner to weep alone, true friendship is faithful to the end. But such friendship is not confined to this world. It lingers, but relunctantly, amidst sublunary scenes. It takes excursive flights beyond the confines of time; and in imagination, tempered by faith, revels in the realities of another world. It longs for the purer atmosphere of Heaven; it pants for the participation of the nobler and more elevated joys of Paradise; it looks with contempt upon the gay visions of time; and feels itself confined within the narrow limits of mortality. It dwells with rapture, upon the felicity springing up beyond death and the grave; and feels assured that associations destroyed by the extinction of human life will be renewed, when "time shall be no longer," in more tender relations-more undecaying joys more permanent ties. How inspiring the theme; how real the joy; how secure the confidence reposed in such friendship as this: there the troubled spirit finds repose-the energies of the mind assume their wonted strength-and the storm of affliction beats in vain. Such friendship is the balm of life, the sun of the soul, round which all its other emotions revolve; and reflect the brightness they receive with ineffable mildness and lustre. It is indeed the pledge of nobler bliss beyond death and the grave! JUNIUS., BIRTHS IN JANUARY. At Truro, Mrs. J. Hodge of a son At Redruth, Mrs. Honey of a daughter At S.. Michael's Mount, Mrs. Chiegwin of a daughter At Bodmin, Mrs. Clarke of a daughter At Falmouth, Mrs. E. C. Carne of a son At Leviddon, Mrs. J. Chappel of a daughter At Camborne, Mrs. N. Vivian Jun. of a son Mrs. Macadams of a daughter Mrs. Brown of a daughter At St. Enoder, N. F. Bassett, Esq. to Miss E. At Stoke, Mr. W. Rowe to Miss M. Hocking At Falmouth, Mr. Whitter to Miss Angove At St. Kew, Mr. Menhinnick to Miss Mary Hocking At Lower St. Columb, Mr. E. Behenna to Miss At Madron, Mr. Lugg to Miss E. Pearce At Fowey, Mr. T. Jewell to Miss E. Jonas DEATHS IN JANUARY. At Bodmin, Mrs. T. Rowell aged 20 At Helston, Mr. Hawkins At St. Austell. Mr. H. Hennah • Printed and Published by J. PHILP, Falmouth, and sold by most Booksellers in the County. No. 17 | The Selector. "WE CULL THE CHOICEST." APRIL, 1827. SKETCHES OF CORNWALL. To the Editor of the Selector. SIR, IN pursuing the Sketch of various interesting scenes in this County, let us travel onward from St. Michael'sMount towards the termination of our boundary the LAND'S-END, from whence the eye has only to range And o'er both land and sea raise new delight. And rocks that catch the sun's departing flame! In passing, let us notice the Church of Ludgvan situate on the distant bill, for there the Rev, Dr. W. Borlase was Rector for above half a century, and died there A. D. 1772 aged 76, this, his native County is highly indebted to him for his able works on the ancient and natural history of Cornwall and the Scilly Islands, with many Papers presented to and published by the Royal VOL. 2 E [Price 3d. Society of London ;-being both a Scholar and Antiquarian, he held correspondence with the literary characters of that age, among them POPE, whose Grotto at Twickenham shone decorated with the fine geological specimens sent to him. PENZANCE is at the distance of 3 miles, and in "Carew's-Survey" it is recorded that A. D. 1595. Four Spanish Gallies invaded this Coast,-they landed on the Merial rock at Mousehole, burnt that village and Newlyn with St. Paul Church and then to Penzance;-Carew says, "an old prophecy in Cornish,--that enemies would set their feet on the rock of Merlin and destroy them!-favored the invader and at first caused fear, but Sir Francis Godolphin raising his standard, soon collected a force, and the brave Men of Cornwall drove the intruders from their shores for ever." It is a corporate town now much improved, respectable and populous, containing above church is Madron a mile or two inland, 4000 inhabitants, the ancient motherbut there has very long existed a large Chapel near the sea, and another has just been erected, besides places of worship for dissenting Congregations and a synagogue for the descendants of Israel. The present harbour is formed by a Stone Pier built about 70 years ago with a Light house at the extremity, and the Trade is very considerable in the Pilchard fishery and in the export of Tin and Copper Ore, for it is one of the Stannary towns. The lands are very fertile in the soil, mach assisted by the mild atmosphere and the manure of limestone and sea-weed, pro ducing thereby such fine speedy crops that from £5 to £10 per acre around the town is usual rent, and even £13 has been known. The air is soft and salubrious, provisions cheap and abundant,--the faculty justly recommend it to invalids, and many can testify that united with every comfort and pleasure their convalescence has here been perfected. Penzance cannot be quiited without recurring to another great genius which this County can boast of,Sir Humphry Davy Bart was born here in 1779, whose scientific labors and numerous published works attest his innate talent particularly in Chemistry, but his invention of the "Safety- Lamp" for Coal mines, would alone render his name imperishable, by preventing the fatal explosion of Gas and thereby saving the lives of our useful and industrious fellow creatutes. By his great merit alone he has acquired title and honor and high renown, and is now, "President of the Royal Society." On the shore about half a mile to wards the old fishing village of Newlyn is the spot where a Tin Mine was worked under the bed of the sea, its name was the WBERRY MINE, and as its history exhibits the ingenuity and adventurous spirit of Cornishmen it will please the reader. This sub-marine mine was first attempted to be worked about A. D. 1700, when at low-water there being some appearance of metal a shaft was sunk some way in the rock, but the difficulty of excluding the water caused its abandonment:-however about 1778 a common Miner of Breage boldly began again and with a very small pittance, a good head and hard work pursued his plan, his difficulties were indeed great, the distance of the rock from the dry beach at high-water above 100 fathoms, at first work could only be done at low-water, and at high spring tides 19 feet of water was above the rock, in winter the heavy waves prevented all operations; after 3 years a pump was fixt in an upright square wooden tunnel or shaft, 20 feet high, cemented to the rock and reaching above the tide, then machinery came into action, thus with great perseverance the Ore was raised and proved so rich, that profit crowned the endeavour and gave the reputation to this mine of a valuable adventure, and added courage to those who had assisted with money the genius of the old miner. In 1791 Wheal Wherry was worked about five fathoms deep, with 18 feet breadth of working. Such success and great indications of metal made the work proceed briskly, as much as the tides and lost time of winter would allow, and in the summer of 1792 it was said that £3,000 worth of Tin was obtained from this extraordinary mine. Then was a Steam-Engine erected on the shore, with a wooden stage or causeway above high water to the rock, on which the working rods were conducted to the mine-pump, and this bridge served to convey the sacks of ore. Imagine (says Dr. Maton) the descent into a mine through the sea! the miners working 17 fathoms below the waves, the rod of the steam-engine on shore 120 fathoms in length, the water always draining through in every part, and the roaring of the sea continually heard!" Those scientific gentlemen J. Hawkins Esq. and D. Gilbert Esq., valuable members of the Geological Society, have ably written on this mine; the former concludes thus,"In this manner the mine was conducted and ORE to the amount of £70,000 was raised from it; the treasures were not exhausted at its close, which occurred in the year 1798, and the conciusion was as romantic as its commencement ;-an American vessel in Gwavas lake broke from its anchorage and striking against the stage demolished the machinery and thus put an end to the adventure, which both in ingenuity and success was probably never equalled in any country." The adventurers were awed by the expense of repair with the perpetual danger and risque, so all was removed, and no trace at this time is visible. The village of Mousehole must be noticed as the place where lived the old woman Dolly Pentreath, the last who could speak the ancient Cornish language; she was born about A. D. 1686; in 1773 the Hon. Daines Barrington states that she gained her living by gabbling that dialect to visitors, and by "Col Dol Pentreath cantz ha deaw It would be unintelligible to the reader were not the translation added, which has some humour, "Old Doll Pentreath, one hundred age and two "Clarice la femme Cheffrei de Bolleit git ici 'dieu de l'alme eit merce: Que pur l'alme prierunt di ior de pardon averuut." There are two curious Stone Crosses in the church-yard perforated with holes and rudely sculptured. The Church is on the highest ground and an interesting object from the ScillyIsles and Land's-end, and also an useful land-mark for vessels,-the village and farms are widely scattered, but for an Antiquary, there is much to gratify in the numerous Druidical remains. In this parish is a Circle of 25 feet, formed by 19 upright stone posts, most probably a Druid temple, like Stonehenge, but tradition will have it they were 19 Maidens thus transformed for dancing on the Sabbath day! Near Cromlech, (an ancient sepulchral mo- Such loud lamentations issued from all quarters for the loss of this great curiosity, that the worthy Lieut Goldsmith being much grieved at his want of forethought of consequences, determined to try his ability in putting it up again; the Admiralty kindly lent him tackle, beams of timber, chain and capstans, which he conveyed in the cruising vessel he commanded, and after much trouble, labor and expence he proved his skill by replacing it on 2nd November the same year; a crowd of visitors were present and the rocks echoed their "Behold that hnge And the dashing of the waves below inspire the mind with blended emotions of terror and admiration. From thence to the LAND'S-IND four miles, alighting at the Inn which has the appropriate sign of the "First and last Inn in Englund,"-and then walking to the extreme point, the eye ranges over sketch cannot better be concluded than with the excellent lines of Davy, the pride of our Province, "On the sea The sun beams tremble, and the purple light The haggard cormorant shrieks; and far beyond Where the great ocean mingles with the sky Yours, &c. ON THE LAMENTED DEATH OF THE J. the wildness and grandeur of the scene; Mount-Sion, April, 1827. REV. R. H. HITCHINS, B. D. Here you can feel the fine description of Shakspeare, "Behold this clift whose high and bending head Diminish'd to her truck, her truck a buoy The expanse of ocean, the effect of light and shade on its surface, with the ships pursuing their varied course, combined with the craggs around you, and the wild screaming of aquatic Oh! ye his Flock join in your sighs In real sorrow share, Our LATE good Shepherd breathless lies, In his great Master's steps he moved And taught his whole command, Has PIETY no winning force Rise holy thoughts! 'tis God's decree To gain the glorious liberty Of heav'n with Christ on high. Blest CHARITY survives the breath It holds a victory in death, And triumphs in the dust! Our friend is gone! by his great worth birds, rivet the attention,-and this Falmouth, February, 1827. DISCIPULUS. |