approached Penzance, however, the romantic beauties of St. Michael's Mount, alternately an island and a peninsula, unfolded themselves. On its top stands the seat of Sir John St. Aubyn, somewhat resembling a church, but happily adapted by the architect to its situation. We visited this attractive spot, and from the tower could see half across the channel. This was formerly used as a garrison, and within its bounds Charles I. confined the Duke of Hamilton. In still earlier periods, it was devoted to religious purposes, being the site of a Benedictine priory. At the bottom of the Mount are docks for shipping, with a few scattered houses, which however, give some degree of animation to the scene.

We soon reached Penzance, situated on Mount's Bay, the last town of any note towards the Land's End, and the residence of many Cornish gentlemen. Here we saw a tin mine worked in the sea, and I was happy enough to pick up some marine spoils on the beach, which like the Roman empe.

Ꮐ

ror, I shall display as evidences of my triumphs in Cornwall.

From hence, it is but a few miles to the Land's End; and we soon stood on the extreme point of that part of the island, which at the distance of about 300 miles from the metropolis, juts south-west into the sea. From this spot, the entrance of the British and Bristol Channel may be seen at once, and the Scilly Islands rose at a distance, amidst the deep gloom that enveloped them. The wind was high, and dashed the waves against the rocks, which seem piled one upon another in rude confusion; the sea fowl screamed around us, as if indignant that we should intrude upon their domain; and the whole scene with its accompaniments, was at mixture of the terrible and the sublime.

From this stupendous promontory, we hastened to inspect the Logan stone, at Castle Treryn, an immense rock of about 150 tors weight, poised in such an exact manner on another stone below, that it moves with a gentle touch. These rocking, or Loganstones, though more frequent in Cornwall,

are found, it is said, in other parts of Great Britain. We heard of one in the Scilly Islands, still more remarkable than what we saw here, and i should have been happy to have taken a little voyage to see that cluster of isles or rather rocks, which are the terror of mariners, and the admiration of the curious; but the time was almost elapsed which we had allotted to this part of the coast, and we returned through Penzance to Redruth.

This town lies in the centre of the mines, and derives all its consequence from this circumstance. After taking a rapid survey of the curiosities in the vicinity, we proceeded to St. Michael, a borough without a market, and possessing neither trade nor privilege, except that of sending two representatives to parliament.

Our next stage was St. Columb, a small but pleasant market town agreeably situated on the banks of a little river; and without any pause, we hastened from hence to Bodmin, which we reached about the hour of dinner, and were received by our worthy and respectable friend Dr.

who at

this time is principal magistrate of the place, with all that cordiality and marked attention, which is natural to his character. Under his hospitable roof, I soon forgot the dreary wastes which we had been encountering in succession for some days; and pleased myself with the reflection, that in the remainder of our excursion, I should not be again so far removed from you, as I was this morning, when I stood on the extreme promontory of the Land's End, and cast my eyes over the expanse of waters which forbade me to advance a single step farther. Farewell!

LETTER VII.

Journey from Bodmin, through Barnstaple, Taunton, and Wells, to Batk.

MY DEAR SISTER,

Bath, July 10.

BODMIN, where we spent two days in the most agreeable manner, and refreshed ourselves from our journey, which was not un

accompanied with fatigue, is a large borough town, with a population of nearly gooo souls; and on account of its centrical situation is the place where the assizes are frequently held. It has been conspicuous. in two or three rebellions and insurrections. Perkin Warbeck collected his forces here; in the reign of Henry VII. some malcontents issued from Bodmin, and reached Blackheath near London, before they were defeated; and in the reign of Edward VI. the Mayor of the place was put to death with circumstances of the most wanton cruelty, for having taken an active part in the insurrection of the men of Devonshire and Cornwall.

Leaving Bodmin, which will ever be endeared to me from the kindness I experienced here, we passed over a most dreary track in our way to Launceston, which is generally considered as the county town, and still bears marks of its original consequence. The castle which is now a picturesque ruin, was once regarded as the bulwark of Cornwall. It stands on a rising