STRIKING CONTRAST BETWEEN BODMIN GAOL AND THE ANCIENT COUNTY GAOL.

adopted, namely, that the sessions should interchangeably begin at Bodmin, and end at Truro; and that the next should begin at Truro and end at Bodmin. This plan however, was too absurd to remain permanent. After some years Lostwithiel shared in the honour; and to the present time the Michaelmas sessions are held in Bodmin, the Easter sessions in Truro, and the Epiphany and Midsummer sessions exclusively at Lostwithiel.

Launceston formerly contained the only common gaol in the county. This stood within the precincts of the ancient castle, and was the prison of despotic times. Few situations could be more horrible than this dungeon. The description given of this place by Sewel, in his History of the Sufferings of the Quakers, many of whom were confined within its walls in the days of Cromwell and Charles, will scarcely admit of a parallel. For filth, gloom, and unwholesomeness, it was rendered proverbial throughout the county. Its infamy has survived the occasion of it; for even in the present day, when a finished description of the wretchedness of any situation is to be given, the climax frequently terminates in this: "It is almost as bad as Launceston Gaol."

This abode of misery has been cleansed and repaired, and its management has undergone an entire revolution. In addition to this, it is less crouded with felons and suspicious characters than formerly; so that several causes have combined to render its accommodations equally as tolerable as delinquents can deserve, or justice allow. To alleviate the horrors of confinement in this place, an act was humanely passed in the year 1778, through which a new county gaol has been erected at Bodmin, on a plan founded upon the humane principles of the illustrious Howard. It was completed in the year 1780, from which period to the present time, it has stood as a striking contrast to what Launceston Gaol originally was. The situation is healthful, the building large, airy, well watered, and very strong. It is placed under the direction of Mr. Chappel, by whom it is kept in excellent order, and whose firmness and compassion towards those committed to his care, do honour to humanity; as much so as the accommodations which the building affords to the unhappy victims immured within its walls, reflect an honour on the county at large.

Both of these houses of confinement still continue in use, and in each there are distinct apartments for criminals and debtors. The central situation of Bodmin causes its gaol to be more in use than that at Launceston; and prior to the assizes in either place, the culprits are removed from the other, to take their trials.

Besides these public courts of justice, several of our corporations and boroughs are privileged with the administration of justice within their respective precincts, according to the tenor of their charters. But from the statements of Mr. Carew, 4 P

VOL. I.

IRREGULARITY OF THE WEIGHTS AND MEASURES IN CORNWALL.

it appears, that not many of these courts, or those who presided in them, were in high repute for their domestic justice in his days.

When a statute was made in the reign of Henry VII. for regulating weights and measures throughout the kingdom, an exception was made in favour of the stannaries of Cornwall; they were permitted to continue their former usage. But notwithstanding this statute, the privilege granted to the miners appears to have extended its influence throughout the county; so that custom and local attachment sanctioned for some ages the wildest irregularities. In the eastern part of the county, the bushel varies from sixteen to twenty-four gallons; but in the western districts the standard is regularly fixed at twenty-four gallons. The measure was brought to this regular standard by the spirited exertions of the magistrates, about the year 1730; who, according to Mr. Tonkin's notes, had regulated the liquid measure some time before. It is much to be regretted, that in many towns and parishes little or no attention is paid to the weight of bread, or to the measure of beer and cyder; so that the whole is left to the discretion and humanity of the bakers and victuallers. In diminutive weights the standard is equally variable. Salt butter imported from Ireland contains sixteen ounces to the pound; but fresh butter is in some places sixteen, in others eighteen, and in others twenty ounces to the pound. Nothing therefore can be more delusive than to estimate the current price of such articles, from the amount stated in the public prints, unless those who read are acquainted with the local customs of the county.

In the measure of land, custom in Cornwall is more prevalent than statute law. Mr. Norden, who was surveyor to Henry Prince of Wales and Duke of Cornwall, asserts, that one Cornish acre formerly contained 270 statute acres. In the days of Dr. Borlase, the customary perch of land contained eighteen feet, while the statute perch included only sixteen feet and half. The present dimensions of an acre of 160 square perch of 16 feet were settled in the reign of Edward I.; and in the succeeding reign, 800 such acres made a knight's fee. The customary acre still prevails, though robbed of its extravagant dimensions; and in the sale of estates this is uniformly understood, unless the statute measure is particularly expressed. It were much to be wished, that weights and measures were uniform throughout the kingdom; and that local customs were wholly abolished. Such a principle would tend to promote general intercourse, and cause the articles of commerce and domestic traffic to find their common level. Much indeed has been already done; but much still remains; and the arrangements of internal regulations may ere long be found worthy the attention of the legislature, now happily delivered from the distracting cares of a long and an expensive war.

DREARY ASPECT OF THE COUNTRY AT THE ENTRANCE OF CORNWALL.

SECTION VIII.

General Survey and Description of the Turnpike Roads in Cornwall.

Although there are many roads in Cornwall that might be justly entitled to some description, the only ones to which our attention can be particularly directed must be the turnpike roads. These, independent of their subordinate branches, are two; one of which enters Cornwall at Poulston Bridge, and the other begins at Torpoint. These roads both meet in Truro, from whence they again separate, pursuing their distinct courses to meet no more.

The road which enters at Poulston Bridge, and is called the great northern road, is more frequented than the other. This passes through the most uncultivated district in Cornwall; on which account travellers are induced to entertain such unfavourable opinions of the fertility of the county. From Poulston Bridge to Launceston, to which this road directly leads, the distance is nearly two miles. From this town, proceeding in nearly a westwardly course, it passes through two or three small villages, over the dreary wastes of Alternon, and from thence over the race ground to Bodmin, through a distance, between the two towns, of about twenty-one miles. From Bodmin the road proceeds over the Goss Moors, which are several miles in length, and through several villages to Truro, a distance of twenty-two miles. Formerly, the great northern road passed through Camelford, Wadebridge, and St. Columb; but these towns are now much deserted by travellers since the more eligible road to Bodmin has been made. From Bodmin towards Lostwithiel there is likewise a branch about six miles in length, which connects the two great northern and southern roads together.

The great southern road that stretches from the east of Cornwall to Truro, begins at Torpoint, opposite Plymouth Dock. At this place is a well-frequented ferry to Morrice Town on the Devon side of the harbour. This road proceeds westward about fifteen miles, to Liskeard; from which it passes through a small village and a part of Braddock Downs to Lostwithiel, about twelve miles farther; after which in about eight miles it reaches St. Austell; and proceeding from thence about fourteen miles, it reaches Truro, the metropolis of Cornwall, where it meets the northern road. There are many branches from this southern road, and among others, between St. Austell and Truro, are several which lead to Tregony, from which place the road stretches to St. Mawes.

From Truro there is a turnpike road that leads to Redruth, Camborne, and Penzance, and another northwardly to St. Agnes. Another turnpike road passes in a south-west direction to Penryn and Falmouth through Perran-arworthal; at

GENERAL SURVEY OF THE TURNPIKE ROADS OF CORNWALL.

which place another branch stretches westwardly to Helston, which is eighteen miles from Truro. This branch enters the turnpike road from Penryn to Helston, which passes through Marazion over a beautiful level green about three miles long to Penzance, where the turnpike road finally terminates in Cornwall.

From Penzance the Land's End is about eleven miles distant, and the public road thither is not inferior to many of the turnpike roads. The fertility of the country seems to abate as we approach this extremity of the island. In several other parts of the county many public roads are worthy of notice, from the manner in which they are frequented, and the order in which they are kept. But this would lead to minute details, which would furnish materials for a volume without becoming proportionably interesting.

CHAP. XIV.

Animalculæ, Insects, Reptiles, Birds, and Quadrupeds.

SECTION I.

Animalculæ, Insects, and Reptiles.

TO trace the insect tribes through all their species and modes of existence as they appear in Cornwall, would be an Herculean task. Mr. Ray supposes that there are not less than 20,000 distinct species, many of which are invisible to the naked eye; and doubtless there are myriads which no glass can reach. These have their instincts, their aliment, and powers, and they are conspicuous to man rather by the effects which they produce, than by their individual magnitude and local energies.

Cornwall enjoying a happy temperature of air, the insects and animalcula which are congenial to the climate, make their appearance much sooner, and continue much later in the year, than in other parts of the kingdom. As their food is usually the leaves of plants, herbs, or flowers, it is but natural to conceive that they will abound in Cornwall, where the climate and temperature are so favourable to their increase. It is to these swarms of insects that many of those disasters among fruit-trees may be attributed, which are frequently ascribed to some noxious or corrosive quality in the air. The uncertainty of fruit in this county may in some degree be traced up to this cause; so that the same principle of nature that is congenial to vegetation, frequently brings those destructive myriads which defeat the planter's care, and blast his hopes.

It has been frequently remarked, that the honey of Cornwall is rather superior in quality to that of any other part of England; which proves that its climate and vegetable productions are perfectly congenial to the nature of bees. The superior excellence of this valuable article is also to be attributed to the proximity of the shores, which the bees have an opportunity of constantly frequenting. The air also being strongly impregnated with saline particles, scatters the sacred deposit over the heaths and flowers which they visit, so that they reap the advantages of the ocean without always making their selections on the maritime rocks. But it