During the early part of the last century, the Pier was rebuilt and enlarged, and is now capable of affording great shelter to vessels; the advantage of which to the fishermen on the coast is incalculable, as they often put in here for safety in stormy weather. Most of the persons who have taken up their abode on the north side of the mount, are engaged in fishing pursuits, where many cottages have been erected for them.
After proceeding about three miles over the sands of Mount’s Bay, is Penzance. This town has long been noted for the pleasantness of its situation, the salubrity of its air, and the beauty of its natives; and is in consequence much resorted to by travellers, who, in most instances, have derived more benefit than they had anticipated. Indeed the mildness of the climate of Penzance, is often compared to that of Italy. It is situated on the north-west side of Mount’s Bay, and distant little more than 10 miles from the Land’s End, and 283 from London.—Owing to the improvements made of late years, Penzance is now become a very populous and highly respectable place,[[27]] and altogether possesses as many claims as any watering place in the kingdom. The Corporation consists of a Mayor, eight Aldermen, 12 Assistants, and a Recorder; but, like Marazion, does not return members to Parliament.—Beside the chapel dedicated to St. Mary, there are separate meeting-houses for Methodists, Quakers, and Jews.
A very considerable trade is carried on here in the pilchard fisheries, and from thence great quantities of tin and copper are also exported. The market here is abundantly supplied with fish, and all kinds of provisions are remarkably plentiful and reasonable.
About half a mile from the town, is the celebrated Wherry Mine, which has not been worked since the year 1798, owing to the great danger attending the progress of the works. The opening of this mine, says Dr. Maton, “was an astonishingly adventurous undertaking. Imagine the descent into a mine through the sea, the miners working at the depth of 12 fathoms below the waves; the rod of a steam engine extending from the shore to the shaft, a distance of nearly 120 fathoms; and a great number of men momentarily menaced with an inundation of the sea, which continually drains in no small quantity through the roof of the mine, and roars loud enough to be distinctly heard in it.” Tin is the principal produce of this mine, and the ore is extremely rich.
On the western side of Mount’s Bay, about a mile and a half from Penzance, is the small fishing town of Newlyn, and the village of Mousehole; the latter remarkable only as having been the residence of Old Dolly Penkeath, the last person said to have spoken the Cornish dialect, and who died at the age of 102 years, in the month of January, 1778.
About three miles from hence, at a place called Boscawenun, close to the sea, is a very curious piece of antiquity, composed of two large flat stones, one resting on a natural rock, and the other on three large stones; but whether this singular pile is the remain of some Druidical monument, or may be classed under the denomination of Roman Antiquities, is a matter not easily determined. The most interesting Druidical remains in this neighbourhood, are a pile of stones, between St. Burian’s and Sarund, consisting of 19 in number, set upright in a circle 25 feet diameter, one large stone being in the centre.
St. Burian, the next place of any note, was once remarkable as having possessed a college of Secular Canons, said to have been founded by King Athelstan, after the conquest of the Scilly Isles; but not a vestige of this antient edifice now remains. St. Burian’s, however, is an independent deanery, in the gift of the King, and under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Exeter.
The Church, which stands on a commanding eminence, and serves as a land mark, is a spacious fabric, consisting of three aisles, and contains several curious monumental remains; but when it was repaired in 1814, a handsome carved screen and other relics of antiquity were removed. Near the south porch, which is ornamented with embrasures and pinnacles, is a small cross,[[28]] raised on four steps, with a circular head perforated with four holes, and on one side is a representation of the Crucifixion. In this parish are several decayed seats, now mostly occupied by farmers, which formerly belonged to several eminent persons in the county.
The celebrated Logan or Rocking Stone at Treryn Castle, in the parish of St. Levan, is highly deserving of notice, and indeed is considered as great a curiosity as any thing in Cornwall. This extraordinary stone, or immense block of granite, supposed even to weigh 90 tons, is so balanced on the summit of an immense pile of rocks, that one individual, by placing his back to it, can move it to and fro easily.
“Behold yon huge