in different ages; the encouragement (by indeed, been fo frequently misled by knavish or chimerical projectors, that 'tis no wonder it fhou'd be on its guard, when ever any thing of this kind is farted; but to argue against all projects in general, (becaufe great numbers have been stupid or fallacious) would be equally unjust, as to affirm that there is no fuch thing as true religion, merely because too many enthusiasts or impostors, have abused that first gift of heaven. That this proje has nothing romantick or Utopian in it; nothing allied to the refearches after that bubble the phi lofopher's-fone, or any of its airy brethren, is further evident from the fubftantial, the B prodigious advantages which the Dutch have gain'd, and fill gain by it. Juftly has it been confider'd by many, as the grand column on which their induftrious ftate is fix'd: And, a circumftance we ought to blush at, is; this berring-fifbery, which brings in almost incredible fums (Sir Walter Raleigh making the yearly amount above two milions Sterling; and fome writers more) is carried on by foreigners on our own coafts. No one is ignorant of the great fertility of our ifland; but every one is not appriz'd of the vaft fruitfulnefs of the liquid (if I may be allow'd this epithet) Garden, which providence has thrown round us. Strongly to excite our countrymen, not to neglect (fo fhames fully,) any longer, the ufe which ought to be made of this mighty blefling, is the fole end in publishing this remarkable performance. I must farther observe, that the account of C this fishery and the manner of carrying it on, was not collected merely from books; the gentleman in queftion, who is indefatigable in his purfuit after every thing useful, having alfo procur'd many living witneffes, of undoubted veracity and confummate experience in these matters; fome of whom appear'd laft feffions before a committee of D the House of Commons; and the refult of the informations given in by thofe witnesses, is alfo inferted in this pamphlet. Previous to the examination of thofe witneffes, is exhibited an exact state of the Dutch berring-fifbery, and the manner of conducting it last year, [1748.] Next comes a petition, which was figned by a very confiderable number of merchants of the E greatest figure in London; and presented the 11th of laft May, to parliament. This was follow'd by a bill, which went so far in the House of Commons laft feffions, as to be committed. (See p. 409, 410.) Both the petition and bill are introduced in the pamphlet. The reader is then entertain'd with ome particulars concerning this fishery F as carried on by the French; after which comes a general account of this ffry, with various other curious and interesting matters, relative to that fubject; the whole concluding with a plan, for recovering the British berring and cod fishery; (which fee, P. 423.) What I have here given is a faint and imperfect sketch, of the numberless inter- G cfting particulars contained in this pamphlet, which has this peculiar merit, that the greatest part of it was thought worthy the moft ferious deliberation of fome members of the Houfe of Commons, in their legislative capacity, laft winter, The world has, This branch of commerce deferves more immediately our regard, as it compizes every advantage which could be with'd for by a trading kingdom. Many articles of trade are the deftruction of the individuals who conftitute the bulk of it, and prove fatal to the nation by whom it is carried on; fuch as the rich Spanish mines in America, and the nation to whom the produce of them is confign'd; the rulers of which kingdom enflave the common people, and enrich other countries only, (if we except what they themselves extort :) Whereas from the berring and cod fisheries, arife every benefit which a fagacious people could be felicitous for, fuch as health, protection, glory, and riches, the most de firable of all fublunary enjoyments. But from all that has been related above, the reader, (as was hinted,) will have only a very imperfect idea of the numberless emoluments which must neceffarily accrue to the British islands, from a proper pursuit of this trade. The perufal of this pamphlet must therefore fire every true lover of his country with ardor; and make him anxious till the fcheme propofed in it takes place. -The B "The main bulk and mafs of herrings (fays the pamphlet, (1) pag. 20, 21) from whence the Dutch raise fo many millions yearly, which enrich fo many other countries, and likewife their own people, proceedeth from our feas and islands; and the return of the commodities and coin, they bring home, in exchange for fib, and A other things, are fo huge, as wou'd require' a large difcourfe apart; and all the amends they make us, is, they beat us out of our trade, in all parts, with our own commodities." The fame great author had before declared in the pamphlet, (2)“ That fishermen are of the greatest ufe to a country, 1. For taking God's bleffing out of the fea, to enrich the realm, which otherwise we lofe. 2. For fetting all kinds of people (the young, the old, the lame, &c.) to work. 3. For making plenty and cheapnefs in the realm. 4. For increasing ships to make the land powerful. 5. For a continual nursery for breeding mariners. 6. For enriching the royal coffers, by means of merchandizes, in return for berring and C other fib." Sir Walter Raleigh gives us afterwards the very remarkable words following: "To our fea-coafts only, God has fent and given these great bleffings, and multitude of riches for us to take, howfoever it has been neglected, to the hurt of thefe kingdoms, that any nation fhould carry thereout, fuch great males of money D yearly, for fifh taken in our feas; and parti of them fold again to us, which must needs be a great difhonour to this nation.'' Another most fagacious writer, quoted alfo in our pamphlet (3) fays that: "According to the valuation of the produce of the berring fifbery, [three millions of pounds Sterling per annum,] this fishery alone amounts to more, than either the whole manufactures E and commodities of England apart; or the whole manufactures of France apart, and confequently to more than the whole plate, and annual production of Spain confider'd apart. The fifbing therefore being added to all the rest of the manufactures of Holland, both woollen and linen, and to the greatness of its Eaft. India trade, doth unavoidably caufe a fuper-balance upon Holland, more than upon any state of Europe befides, nay even near to the double; and by this means, a fuper- balance alfo of stock and strength at fea proportionably." Hence this writer concludes, that the fishing is the very goal or prize of trade, and the very prize of the dominion of the This pamphlet contains alfo fome very judicious obfervations, made by one Mr. Andrew Tarrington. "In his opinion there (4) ought to be a fea-faring or fishing city, established fomewhere, and endowed with great immunities; because this will draw numbers of inhabitants, and is rightly calculated for the enterprize of fifhing." Another intelligent writer, (Sir John Bur roughs) (5) who has favour'd us with his thoughts on this important fubject, employs the remarkable words following:"It maketh much to the fhame and ignominy of this nation, that God and nature offering us fo great a treasure, even at our own doors, we do notwithstanding neglect the benefit thereof, and by paying money to ftrangers, for the fish of our own feas, impoverish ourselves to make them rich; infomuch that, for want of care and indufry in this particular, 225 fiber-towns are decay'd, and reduced to extreme poverty :" (6) He fays afterwards -"Confidering therefore, that the kings of England, by immemorial prescription, continual usage and poffeffion, the acknowledgment of all our neighbour states, and the municipal laws of the kingdom, have ever held the fovereign lordship of the feas of England; and that unto his majesty, by reafon of fuch fovereignity, the fupreme command and jurisdiction over the paffage, and fishing in the fame rightfully appertaineth: Confidering alfo the natural fite of those our feas, which interpose themfelves between the great nothern commerce, and of the east, weft and fouthera climes; and withal the infinite commodities which, by fishing, in the fame is daily made, it cannot be doubted but that his majefly, by means of his own wifdom and virtue, and by the industry of his own fubjects, may easily without injuftice to any prince or person whatsoever, be made the greatest monarch for com mand and wealth; and his people the mat opulent and flourishing nation in the world. (7) But as the gentleman to whom we owe this pamphlet, did not think the greate private authorities fufficient, he also takes notice, of the ftrong light in which parliaments have confider'd this fishery; and gives us the preamble to one of the acts, (8) for eftablishing a royal fishery in this kingdom, which runs thus:Whereas the publick honour, wealth, and fafety of this realm, as well in the maintenance of trade, fea; and that thing fingly, which abaforver G and support of navigation, as in many oiber gains makes bimself master of both these." (1) From Sir Walter Raleigh. respects, (2) Page 18, 19. (3) The pamphlet, p. 22, 236 This writer is Dr. Benjamin Worley, fecretary to the council of trade and plantations, un der Charles II. (I believe.) (4) The pamphlet, p. 25. (5) Suppos'd a naval officer, (7) The pamphlet,p. 34. (8) The 13 and 14 of Charles II, refpects, dob in a bigb degree depend upon the improvement, and encouragement of the fifhery, be it therefore enacted, (9) &c. But the numberless benefits which will arife to this nation, from the due establishment of this fishery, cannot be more emphatically fet forth, than in the petition of the London merchants hinted at above: The A British berring and (10) ifland cod fisheries, -fay the petitioners, if fablished on right principles, conducted with skill and integrity, and powerfully supported, is capable of anfwering every beneficial purpose that can be propofed by any new fcheme of commerce. The civilizing his majefty's Highland fubjects, the encreafing the vent of our faple manufac eures, the multiplying of feamen, the em B ploying a vast number of industrious, and other wife belpless poor, lefening the parochial incumbrances, eafing the publick taxes, and im proving the national wealth. (11) That therefore the great plan here propofed, may take place as speedily as poffible, is the ardent with of, PISCATOR. EPIGRAM, to the Author of the SURPRIZE, Nymph unequall'd! furely, Sir, you A Gloucefter, 08. 23. DESCRIPTION of the County of C has 171 parishes, and 27 market-towns, 21 of which fend each 2 members to parliament, viz. Launceflon, Lefkard, Leftwithiel, Truro, Bodmin, Helfton, Salta, Camelford, Weftloe, Grampound, Eafiloe, Penryn, Tregony, Boffiney, St. Ives, Fowey, St. Germans, St. Michael, Newport, St. Maws, and Kellington; fo that, with the 2 knights of the fhire, this county fends 44 members to parliament, which are more than are fent by any other county. It has 6 caftles, 9 parks and 32 bridges. The air of this county is sharp, but healthful; the ground generally hilly, and more inclin'd to barrennels than fertility; but the valleys, and parts adjacent to the fea, and the inclofures near the towns, are more fertile, producing good crops of corn, and grazing large numbers of cattle. There is great store of game, both for the hawk, and the hound; and the feas and rivers are plentifully ftock'd with many forts of fish and fowl. Their chief fish are pilchards, of which they make great C profit. The manner of curing them, &c. fhall be in our next. Here are quarries of ftone and flate, and feveral forts of marble, which yield the inhabitants confiderable profit. Here are alfo found transparent ftones, call'd Cornij diamondo; they are found in clusters, all rifing to a point. Cornwall abounds alfo with copper and tin ore, and here is a mineral call'd mundick. from which fome pretend the copper is drawn; but that is a mistake, they being two diftin&t things. Copper is an ore of itfelf, and has been fometimes found malleable: Several attempts have been made to fix mundick into a body, and all to no effect. But what this county is chiefly famous for, is its tin, to encourage and E promote the working of which, the tinners have been for many ages incorporated under ancient laws and great privileges, in four divifions, in each of which stannary courts are held; and upon extraordinary emergencies, parliaments of the whole fociety are affembled under the lord-warden of the stannaries. Of the progrefs of tin, from the ore to the black, we shall give fome account in our next. The eldest fons of our kings, are dukes of Cornwall by birth. The boroughs, market-towns, and other places of note are as follows. D ORNWALL, anciently Cornubia, fo call'd from its growing (maller and smaller, in the form of a horn, and fo thrusting itfelf into the fea, has part of the Atlantick on the W. the Britif Channel on the S. Bristol Channel on the N. and Devonshire on the E. from which it is divided by the river Tamer. As in all F other parts it is wash'd by the fea, it may not improperly be deem'd a peninsula. It is about 70 miles long from E. to W. and its greatest breadth on the borders of Devonfire, is about 40 miles: From thence it grows narrower and narrower, being indented much by the fea, fo that the narrowest part is not above 4 or 5; but G its circumference, by reafon of its several promontories, makes about 230 miles. It is divided into 9 hundreds, contains about 960,000 acres, and above 25,000 houses, 1. The Lands-End, the most western part of the county, a famous promontory, fuppofed anciently to have reached farther into the fea. Veins of lead and copper appear at low water in the rocks. 2. St. Buriens, 5 miles E. from the Land's End, an independent deanery, held in Commendam by the bishop of Exeter, from whom there lies no appeal but to the king (11) The pamphlet, p. 41. 6) The pamphlet, p. 35. (10) Iceland. king directly. The parishes of Sennan and St. Leven are under its jurifdiction. 3. Bifcaw-woune, or Befcawen, not far from St. Buriens, where 19 ftones ftand in a circle, about 12 foot from one another, and a much larger one in the center, fuppos'd to be an ancient fepulchral monu ment. 4. Penzance, N. E. of St. Buriens, a fmall town with a market on Thursdays, and a good trade. Near this place was the remarkable ftone Maen-Amber, or the ftone of Ambrofius, being a great rock upon fome leffer, and fo equally poised, that it might be moved with one's finger: It was thrown down in the late civil war, but Α not without great labour. St. Maderns- B Wells are in this parish, whofe waters, by drinking and bathing, have perform'd great cures. 5. Mount's-Bay, lying S. of Penzance, fo call'd from a high rock in it, named St. Michael's Mount, which is encompassed by the fea when the tide is in. In the rocks along this coaft build the Cornish choughs, C with red bills and feet: They are very thievish when tame, and fometimes fet houfes on fire. 6. Moufebole, a little market town on Mount's-bay. 7. Market-Jew, 4 miles E. of Penzance, has a market on Thursdays. 8. Godolean, now Godolphin, E. of MarketFeru, a big famous for tin mines, and D giving name to the antient and noble family of Godolphin, who were lords of it in the conqueror's time. 9. Helfton, 10 miles S. E. of MarketJew, is govern'd by a mayor, 4 aldermen, &c. and has a market on Saturdays. Here is a large church, with a high steeple that ferves as a fea mark, a fpacious market- E houfe, and a Guild-ball, Near this place is a large body of fresh water, call'd the Love-Pool, which fometimes rifes fo prodigiously after a wet season, that it stops the mills of Heifion from working; but then to remedy this inconvenience, the mayor of this town has a right, upon carrying 3 half pence to the proprietor of Penrose, the Jands adjoining, to demand that the bar of fand between the Love-Pool and the fea may be cut thro' for draining it off into the ocean; which done, the bar is presently fill'd up again. In this pool are found great quantities of exceeding fine trout, and in the proper feafons are taken out of it great numbers of teal, mallards, ducks, &c. 10. Falmouth, about 9 miles N. E. of Helfor, the most populous town in the county, and noted for an excellent harbour, large enough to contain the royal navy, and fale against all winds by its creeks. At F G the entrance there's on one fide a high rock with the caftle of Pendennis, one of the largest in England, which has always garfon: On the other fide it is guarded by the caftle of St. Mars. Falmouth is a corporation by itself, with a market on burfdays, and gives title of viscount to the family of Boscawen. Adjoining to the town is Arwinnack, the feat of the late Killigrews, belonging to which is a very pleafant walk, now made a rope-walk of, and is undoubtedly the best and most agreeable of the kind in England. 11. St. Maws, an antient borough, fltuate within the harbour of Falmouth, and oppofite to it. It has a caftle well mounted with guns, drives a good trade in fish, is govern'd by a portreeve, and has a great market or fair on the Friday after St. Luke's day. 12. Tregony, to miles N. E. of Falmouth, a fmall corporation town, govern'd by a mayor, recorder, and 8 capital burgeffes; it trades chiefly in making ferges, and has a market on Saturdays. 13. Grampound, 4 miles N. of Tregony, is a borough by prefcription, and of great antiquity, govern'd by a mayor, recorder, &c. and has a market on Tuesdays. 14. Truro, 6 miles W. of Tregony, is very antient, and one of the best buils towns in the county, govern'd by a mayor, recorder, and 24 capital bargetes. It is Jarge, and has markets on days and Saturdays. "Tis almost encompaled with two streams, that run into Falmouth haven, after joining at the end of the town, where thae's a good key for veffels of a confiderable burge... 15. Redruth, a market town, about & miles S. W. of Truro Near it is an old caftle, under whose walls have been found fome gold coins, but the impreftion fo imperfect, that 'tis uncertain to whom we fhould afcribe them. 16. St. Michael, 8 miles N. of Truro, a borough by prescription, and one of the oldeft in the county, once confiderable, but now a mean village, and yet continues to fend 2 members to parliament. 17. Penryn, about 4 miles N. W. of Falmouth, an antient borough by prefcription, govern'd by a mayor, recorder, &c. and has markets on Wednesdays and Saturdays. It is large, well built, and fo mix'd with gardens and orchards, that it looks as if it stood in a wood. 'Tis well water'd with rivulets, and has an arm of the fea on each fide, with a good custom-house, and key, to which veffels of 100 ton come up. Their chief trade is in pilchard fithing. 18. Fowey, about 12 miles N. E. of Grampound, an antient borough by prefcription, govern'd Description by a mayor, &c. with a market 19. Leftwithiel, about 7 miles N. of 20. Lefkard, about 11 miles N. E. of horfe-races. 21. Bodmin, 6 miles N. W. of Leftwithiel, has a mayor, town-clerk, 10 aldermen, 24 common-council men, and a plentiful market on Saturday. It is near a mile long, pleafantly fituate between 2 hills, and in an air fo wholefome, that the inhabitants generally live to a great age. certain ftones near it, call'd Wring-Cheese D There are and the Hurlers, fuppofed to be trophies, or rather the funeral monuments of the antient Britons. 22. Weftloe, fo called from the river Loe, on which ftands, about 8 miles E. of Fowey, is govern'd by a mayor and burgeffes, and has a market on Saturdays. 23. Eaftloe, on the other fide of the river, join'd to Weftloe by a bridge of 15 arches. The river is navigable for veffels of reo ton. This town is also govern'd by a mayor and burgeffes, and fends 2 members to parliament, as Weflo likewife does, and has also a market on Saturdays. 24. St. Germans, about 6 miles E. confting now only of a few fishermens cottages, and yet is govern'd by a portreeve, F fends 2 members to parliament, and has a fmail market on Fridays. It has a large handfome church, and is the biggest par th in the courty, being feveral miles round, and containing to hamlets. 25. Saltafh, about 4 miles E. of St. Germans, pleasantly fituate on a rifing hill, with a market on Tuesdays and Saturdays. G "Tis one of the most antient boroughs in the county, and has a mayor, recorder and 10 aldermen. It enjoys (everal royalties, holds an admiralty court, and the inhabiants trade much in malt and beer. 26. Kellington, about 9 miles N. of Salt afb, fituate in a fruitful country, is á borough by prefcription, govern'd by a mayor, has a market on Wednesdays, and trades in the woollen-manufacture. 27. St. Ives, about 8 miles N. E. of Penzance, a neat corporation town, and the people wealthy by fhipping and the pilchard trade: It has markets on Wednesdays and Saturdays. 28. St. Colombs, a little town, about the fame distance N. E. of St. Michael, with a market on Saturdays. 29. Padfiow, 8 miles N. from St. Colombs, a fmall corporation, with a marfor trade with Ireland, ket on Saturdays, and a harbour convenient 30. Warebridge, a market town, a Jittle S. E. of Padflow. 31. Camelford, about 12 miles N. E. from Padflows a small but ancient borough by prefcription, govern'd by a mayor and capital burgeffes, with a market on Fridays. 32. Boffiney, alias Tintagel, a little N. of the former, a fmall but very ancient borough near the Bristol Channel. noted for the birth-place of king Arthur, 'Tis and the remains of his caftle. 33. Stratton lies far to the N. between the Brifial Channel and the river Tamer, is a fmall town, and has a market on Tuesdays. Camelford, reckoned the chiefawn of the the tide of a hill, being part of the king's Near the Manacles on the coaft, are [We shall gros feme account of the Scilly ifles in our next.] JOURNAL |