[43]. So determined in Gorham’s History of St. Neot’s, p. 231. Mr. Whitaker (Life of Neot, pp. 191–203) thinks the date is intended for 1530; and that the body of the Church was built in 1199,—a wild conjecture, in defiance of architectural evidence!
[44]. See Gorham’s History of St. Neot’s, pp. 233–245.
[45]. Archives of Linc. Cath., in a vol. entitled, “Memoranda Oliveri Sutton,” ff. 122 b., 123, a curious testimonial by Anselm, Abbot of Bec., of his examination of the relics of St. Neot, in 1078.
[46]. Whitaker’s Life of Neot, pp. 203–211.
[47]. Bodmin has been described by many writers, as a very unhealthy place; the contrary, however, is the fact: for during the last ten years, the number of funerals have only been 409, and baptisms 854.—The town suffered much in the years 1576 and 1581, from a pestilence. It is now remarkable for the health and longevity of the inhabitants.
[48]. Owing unfortunately to the bursting of the boilers of some of the engines at this mine, very lately, two men lost their lives; but most fortunately many others had previously quitted their work, or otherwise they would have experienced the same melancholy fate.
[49]. One of the vague terms sometimes given to the crust or coating of the ore, sometimes to an argillaceous substance, and sometimes to a quartz ore one. The miners have pretty generally determined, however, that caple must be black; and at Polgooth they mean a heavy kind of quartz, which is perfectly opake, and contains a large portion of argill.
[50]. Vide Beauties of England and Wales for Cornwall, page 438.
[51]. The author of the Guide to Mount’s Bay, recently published.
[52]. “As some men were lately sinking an air hole to the bottom level of the Consolidated Mines, when at the depth of 160 fathoms from the surface, they struck into a cavern; the rush of foul air from which, compelled them to call out to their companion stationed above, to raise them by the tackle kept in readiness for that purpose. This vast subterranean vault is situated in one of the principal lodes of the mine; it is about nine feet high, and six feet wide; the western end from the place of entry, has been explored, and is found to be about 40 fathoms in length; the foul air in the eastern end, has hitherto prevented the miners from fully exploring it; the appearance of the sides and roof is very craggy, and shews that the cavity has been occasioned by a convulsion of nature.”