The universal geography : earth and its inhabitants

CORNWALL. 86
ia England, and is much frequented by visitors, who delight in its equable climate
and luxuriant vegetation, and to whom bold cliflfs of granite or serpentine,
quarries and mines, and magnificent cromlechs, stone circles, logans, &c. (see
page 30), present objects of attraction. Penzance is the centre of an important
mining, fishing, and agricultural district. Within a radius of 7 or 8 miles of
it are situated some of the most celebrated " setts " in the county of Cornwall,
including Botallack and its neighbour Wheal Owles, which hardly yields to it in
reputation. The harbour is formed by a breakwater, and defended by batteries.
The toii^Ti has smelting-houses, and works where serpentine is fashioned into cups
and vases. It exports early vegetables and fish. Penzance was the birthplace of
Sir Humphry Davy, to whom a monument has been erected, and is justly proud
of the scientific collections accumulated by its geological, natural history, and
antiquarian societies. Porthcurno, near Penzance, and other creeks in its vicinity,
are the points of departure of three submarine cables, which connect England with
the Spanish ports of Santander and Vigo, and the Portuguese village of Carcavellos,
near Lisbon, whence the cable is carried on to Gibraltar and the Mediterranean.
In addition to these a submarine cable connects Penzance with a lightship 50 miles
to the south-west, which hails all passing ships and places them in communica-
tion with their owners in London. Madron and Ltulgran are ancient market
towns, within a couple of miles of Penzance, but are exceeded in interest by the
pretty village of Marazion, opposite the pyramidal 8t. Michael's Mount, with which
it is connected by an ancient causeway, flooded eight hours out of every twelve.
The Mount rises to a height of 95 feet, and is crowned by an ancient castle, partly
in ruins, commanding a magnificent prospect.
Selston, on the Looe, which enters the sea 9 miles to the north-east of Lizard
Point, depends upon mines and agriculture for such prosperity as it enjoys.
Rounding the promontory just named, and its quarries of serpentine, we reach the
estuary of the Fal, and with it the important town of Falmouth, beautifully seated
on the shore of a magnificent harbour, bounded in the south by the conical
promontory surmounted by Pendennis Castle, and protected by a breakwater.
Tha harbouv of Falmouth is one of the finest in England, capable of sheltering an
entire fleet. The to^^^l itself is mean, but its environs abound in picturesque
scenery. Penryn, on an inlet of Falmouth Harbour, is known for its granite
quarries. St. Mnices, opposite Falmouth, boasts an ancient castle erected in the
time of Henry VIII. Proceeding up the beautiful haven at the entrance of which
lie Falmouth and St. Mawes, and which is known as Carrick Roads, we reach
Truro, the finest town in Cornwall, and recently created an episcopal see. Truro
has smelting-houses and paper-mills, and exports the ores obtained from the
neighbouring mines. Like Penzance, it can boast of its museum and scientific
institutions. It was the birthplace of Richard and John Lander, the African
travellers. A cathedral of noble proportions is being raised.
Rounding Dodman Head, we reach Mecagmey, one of the principal seats of the
pilchard fishery, and farther north the small town of Charlesfown, which is the port
of St. Austell, known for its china-clay diggings and potteries. Par, on the