governor, complains "that Robert Glover at the command of Roger Champernowne took away a certain quantity of ore, and made profit of the same without anything allowed to the King, to the King's damage of £100"-Queen Elizabeth, with that spirit of enterprize which alone can ensure success in any great undertaking, invited over Germans, who in that time, as at present, seemed to enjoy superior instruction in the useful sciences, and employed them in searching for the mineral treasures of the kingdom. Mr. Taylor thinks it probable, that Houghsetter and Thurland two of these Germans, worked mines in Devon for copper as well as for lead and silver. "Evident traces of ancient works have been discovered on a copper lode at Crowndale, near Tavistock; and it is very remarkable that the name of this place, so very unlike most others in the neighbourhood, is similar to the names to be found in many of the mines in Germany." Risdon, who lived in the latter part of the reign of Queen Elizabeth, gives a melancholy account of the "Spadiards or daily labourers in tin works, with whom there is no labourer in hardness of life to be compared; for his apparel is coarse, his diet slender, his lodging hard, his drink water, and for lack of a cup, he commonly drinketh out of his spade or shovel, or some such other thing." In the early part of the eighteenth century the lead mines of Mary-Tavy about four miles from Tavistock, were worked for more than thirty years. Active exertions, in pursuit of mining have been made in this district chiefly under the superintendence of that well known benefactor to the neighbourhood, John Taylor, Esq.

The profits to the adventurers from many of the mines have been enormous. Great Wheal Friendship in the parish of Mary-Tavy has afforded an almost continual flow of prosperity. The application of the steam

engine in drawing water from this and other mines has proved of the utmost service in forwarding their works. About the year 1803 a canal was cut through Morwelldown which intersected some valuable lodes of copperore. Later still, a shaft has been sunk near the canal almost within the precints of the town. Indeed, various parts of our immediate vicinity abound with tempting riches for the scientific and speculating.

A number of strangers, chiefly from the county of Cornwall have been brought to Tavistock for the purpose of working the mines. They possess the acuteness of perception together with the chaunting dialect, peculiar to their native district. Our agricultural laborers are far behind them in quickness and intelligence; "notwithstanding they be both of strong body, able to endure all labours and pains; who upon the holidays and times of leasure, give themselves to such exercise and pastimes as do rather enable their bodies to strength than otherwise, as Shooting, Wrestling, and hurling with a ball; whereunto they are so inured, that for their activity in that manly exercise, these western men excel all others of the realm: and albeit these laborers be of the most inferior degree, yet they are liberi homines, of free condition no villains nor bond slaves.” *

* Risdon. These last words of praise for exemption from feudal vassalage could not, it appears, be extended to every parish around, as worthy Master Tristram confesses that in Whitchurch near Tavistock there were formerly bondmen, "anciently called Villains, and the women Neifs." He records a deed of the manu-mission of one of them, and thinks "there are some no doubt, never manumitted, though concealed. But seeing we are all children of one father, servants of one God, and subjects of one king, it were very uncharitable to retain our brethren in bondage.' In reference to the miners, it may be said that notwithstanding Risdon's assertion they are a shortlived race, much addicted to consult their medical attendant whom

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'Artificers, and Mechanicks are here likewise, as in other places, trained up in trades, who (or some of whom) are excellent in making cloths, called Denshire kerseys." Tavistock appears to have enjoyed great celebrity for the manufacture of serges, or "perpetuanoes a particular sort of which are called Tavestocks or western dozens. "Westcote, writing in the early part of the seventeenth centuery, says, that before the reign of Edward IVth, only frezes and plain coarse cloths were made in Devonshire; and that one Anthony Bonvise an Italian, in that reign, is said to have taught the art of making carsies (kerseys), and the women to spin with the distaff." In 1463 (during Edward IVth's reign) the inhabitants of Tavistock petitioned parliament to be exempted from the operation of an act which prohibited using flocks in the manufacture of woollen cloths, stating that the cloth by them could not be otherwise manufactured on account of the "stoberness of the wool.* The woollen trade in this as well as in other districts has of late years much declined.

The principal manufactory is now at Horrabridge, four miles from Tavistock. An extensive iron foundry has been conducted for some years in our town where are manufactured anchors, agricultural instruments, and a variety of edge tools. It was originally established by the late John Gill, Esq., one of the most enterprising and liberal benefactors of this vicinity.

Tavistock now has the advantage of frequent communication with the neighbouring towns in consequence of the improved state of its roads, owing to the unceasing exertions of our truly liberal and energetic representative

(generally) they remunerate by a monthly payment, left in the hands of their Captain or Superintendent.

*Lysons Magna Britannia.

in parliament John Rundle, Esq. in conjunction with our late munificent patron John, Duke of Bedford.

Travelling which even within our own memory was performed with difficulty and inconvenience, is now rendered easy and delightful by means of new lines of road, winding through some of the most picturesque and romantic scenery of the district. Specimens of what the roads once were may yet be seen in various parts; goods could be conveyed along them on pack-horses only; the grandees of the land were obliged to forego the luxury of their cumbrous coaches; dames were contented to jog on pillions behind their squires; and even the sheriff could only display his grandeur and rank by the superior and costly caparisons of his steed. At Sydenham near Tavistock are still preserved, fresh and untarnished, the gorgeous trappings which adorned the horses of a former sheriff and his lady when they went forth to meet the judges in solemn state. The roads continued impassable for carriages even in the reign of Queen Anne. farmers had any thing in the shape of a cart; merchandize and various sorts of goods being carried on the backs of horses in crooks, such as we see used by the turf cutters on the moor in the present day. Risdon in his time complains that" the ways are cumbersome and uneven, amongst rocks and stones, painful for man and horse; as they can best witness who have made trial thereof. For be they never so well mounted upon horses out of other countries, when they have travelled one journey in these parts, they will in respect of ease of travel, forbear a second."

Few

No coachmaker was known in Plymouth till the reign of George 3d. The first coach was of course a subject of wonder and curiosity, although "it was a large

* From a Lecture on Travelling in Devonshire, delivered at the Plymouth Athenæum by H. Woollcombe, Esq.

clumsy concern, drawn by four wagon horses which never ventured beyond a sober walk.” Stage Coaches were established in this neighbourhood at a very late period. At the present time a mail runs to Plymouth every morning, returning early in the afternoon, and a stage coach proceeds from Plymouth through Tavistock to Barnstaple every alternate day: besides which numerous Omnibusses pass through the town in every direction; and a line of road has long been surveyed for a railway. In consequence of the intercourse which now subsists between Tavistock and other places, the manners and customs of the inhabitants, which at one time were very primitive, owing to the isolated situation of the town, are much changed. From the present facilities of access to its scenes of interest, a great influx of strangers takes place in the summer season, which gives a new impulse to trade. A taste for building has likewise been diffused, and respectable dwelling-houses are now arising in every quarter. We may particularly notice those on the Plymouth road. A new Grammar School in the same direction, built and chiefly supported by the liberality of His Grace the Duke of Bedford, well deserves attention. Its substantial granite walls: its picturesque gable ends, possessing interest at every point of view; the depths of light and shade presented by its irregular projections; then its gothic windows, and tall graceful chimneys, render it worthy to ornament a town of far greater pretension than our own.

The neighbouring Hotel with embattled walls, built of free-stone raised on the place, is a noble structure corresponding in all respects with the Abbey remains grouped around. A ball-room occupies the whole length of one side of the Hotel, whose windows overlook the venerable relics of antiquity, yet preserved through the good taste of the Vicar, the Rev. E. A. Bray, within the garden which surrounds the Vicarage house. Betsy