On approaching the towns of East and West Looe, the scenery becomes highly romantic. These towns derive their appellation from the river, on the banks of which they are built, and over which is a low narrow stone bridge of 12 arches. Both places return members to Parliament, but in themselves contain little to interest the traveller. Several delightful modern residences have been built on the banks of the Looe river; among the most prominent, is Col. Lemon’s, near Polvellan. The population of both towns amounts to about 1300, and the inhabitants are mostly engaged in maritime employments.

About three miles west of Looe, is Trelawny House, the seat of the Rev. Sir Harry Trelawny, Bart., a venerable mansion, but built at different periods. It contains a few good family portraits, particularly one by Sir Godfrey Kneller, of Sir Jonathan Trelawny, Bishop of Winchester.

In Pelynt Church, which is not far distant from the house, there is a very curious monument to the memory of Francis Buller, Esq., who died in l6l5.

About five miles from hence, is Fowey,[[5]] an antient Borough and market town, situated in one of the most delightful and romantic parts of the county, on the western bank of the river, from which its name is derived. It is distant 24 miles from Plymouth, and 244 from London. The houses are very irregularly built, with foundations composed of a hard bluish slate, (termed by Mineralogists, Fat-quatz, from its greasiness to the touch,) and the principal street extends nearly a mile in length.

Fowey has returned members to Parliament since the 13th year of the reign of Elizabeth, and the right of election is now chiefly vested in the inhabitants paying scot and lot. The Corporation consists of a Mayor, eight Aldermen, a Recorder, and Town Clerk. The number of inhabitants, by the late census, amounts to 1455.

The Church, a handsome fabric, is composed of three aisles, with a lofty pinnacled tower at the west end. In the north aisle is a noble altar-tomb of marble, with a full-length figure of the deceased, in alabaster, richly carved, and inscribed to the memory of John Rashleigh, Esq., who died Aug. 11, 1582, with the following curious inscription:

JOHN RASHLEIGH LIVED YEARS THREESCORE THREE
AND THEN DID YIELD TO DIE,
HE DID BEQUEATH HIS SOUL TO GOD
HIS CORPSE HEREIN TO LIE.		THE DEVONSHIRE HOUSE YET RASHLEIGH’S HEIGHT
WELL SHOWETH FROM WHENCE
HE CAME,
HIS VIRTUOUS LIFE IN FOWEY TOWN
DESERVETH ENDLESS FAME.

LANYON HE DID TAKE TO WIFE, BY HER HAD CHILDREN STORE, YET AT HIS DEATH BUT DAUGHTERS SIX, ONE SON, HE HAD NO MORE: ALL THEM TO PARTAKE UNDER HERE, BECAUSE FIT SPACE WAS NONE, THE SON WHOSE ONLY CHARGE THIS WAS, IS THEREFORE SET ALONE.

There are also several other memorials of the Rashleigh and the Trespy families in this church.

On an eminence near the church, is Place or Trespy House, a very antient building, and which is said to have been partly rebuilt in the reign of Henry VI., by one of the Trespy family. It is an interesting building and displays some rich Gothic work on the southern front; yet has been greatly altered by modern improvements. The owner, J. T. Austen, Esq., is a gentleman of considerable ability, and has furnished Mr. Lysons with much information respecting this county.