His master pauseth to take some breath,
"Tis getting late, I must stop" he saith,
Then turneth about as pale as death,
At hearing a loud "He He."

When he leaveth the cave it is dark as jet,

The Abbot beginneth to fume and fret,
And mounteth his mule in a towering pet,
For his lamp will quickly fail;
Now Virtuous Lady, support his need,
The Abbot is spurring his faithful steed,
That ambleth on with greatest speed,
While the monk does nought but rail.
Down o'er the slippery banks they dash,
And through the foaming river splash,
The mule not liking the constant lash,
And heavy weight he bore;

Raising his head with sullen air,

Flung off the monk in the roaring weir,
Whither he went was not his care,
So he reached the distant shore.

What next the drowning priest befell,
It is not in my power to tell,
His body was found in the boiling hell,
Weigh'd down by his treasures rare,
A spirit still haunteth the sacred spot,
And knocketh for ore in our Lady's grot,
Where fairy boxes and shoes are wrought,
Close by "The Abbot's Weir".

True enough is it, that " fairy boxes and shoes are wrought" in this wonder-working mine. The learned and curious from all parts have regarded with surprize these grotesque specimens of nature's workmanship. In some odd freak assuredly has she formed this pointed arch, or old lady's shoe, as you may please to designate it. These boxes too,-can any hollow cube formed by the most elaborate effort of art be more perfect? Within are preserved, safe from all injury, crystals, rising like some precious plant with tubercles of copper for their root. Nor are these the only treasurers of this most eccentric

mine.

it

Capped spar or quartz; and the most beautiful specimens of copper are here raised. No one will regret a visit to this favoured nook, however difficult of access may be. Strangers can enter the mine by an inclined plane without much inconvenience. Many adventurous damsels have sought its hidden recesses, and have traversed its gloomy passages lighted by a flickering candle, to view the workmen in their dingy gear boring like the mole through the deep caves of the earth. A hero of Navarino some time since contrived to explore these nether regions of Pluto (or rather of Plutus) treading the ladders which occasionally assist the descent with the usual dexterity of a sailor, while he held his candle aloft with his only remaining arm. With naval politeness "he regretted that he had thus no arm to offer to the ladies." Never having performed this feat myself, I can boast only of having ventured to the entrance of the mine to examine the original excavations made in ages long past. A murky cavern it is, with the ruins of a sooty black-smith's forge still remaining: where the Cyclops once pursued their ponderous labours. A hole in the rock above afforded egress for the smoke. A cottage belonging to the captain of the mine is built upon the edge of the cliff overlooking the Abbot's Weir, and commanding a beautiful prospect of the vale.* A complete picture of the workings of a mine above ground, is seen by looking from this eminence on the platform by the river beneath. There are the pits in which the ore is washed: the various sheds in which it is sorted; and the stamping mills in which it is ground to powder; then the creaking of the machinery

Since writing the above, the late kind and obliging occupant of this cottage, Mr. Martin, nephew of Captain Williams, and superintendent of the mine, has met with an awful and sudden death by the falling in of a shaft, which he was in the act of inspecting. Well may we speak of the horrors of mining when such fearful and melancholy events take place.

is heard as it bends to and fro. The water wheels too are in constant motion. Men, women, and children, are actively employed. And around are profusely scattered some of the most romantic beauties of nature. Such a striking home scene is seldom to be witnessed. The woods and rocks on the right bank of the river are singularly beautiful; they are gained by one of those picturesque clams or long wooden bridges formed of one plank, to which we have already alluded, and which are so frequently thrown across our noisy streams; adding much to the effect of the landscape.

Having crossed the clam we find ourselves on a spot signalized by a curious encounter which once took place between the former masters of the soil. An old document, which I have been kindly permitted to peruse, having put me in possession of the particulars of the scene; I may here be allowed to introduce them as affording an insight into the manners of the monastic brethren, as well as giving additional interest to the place.

It appears that the wood, called Black-moreham Wood, belonged to the Abbot of Tavistock; the Weir beneath, called the Abbot's Weir, to the Abbot of Buckland. Thomas de Gryreband was appointed "Forrester to keep the wood, of the Abbot his master, of Blackmoreham" and on a certain Friday before the feast Decollation in the 8th year of the reigning king, the same Thomas came into the wood at a place called Ivy Oak and found to his dismay and anger Robert the Abbot of Buckland with many of his "comonks" amongst whom is mentioned "Robert Cohum keeper of the Palfries of the said Abbot" felling and destroying the oaks growing there, to the damage of the Abbot of Tavistock his Lord. When Thomas, according to the law and custom of the country, wished to prevent these marauders; the Abbot of Buckland with his companions stood on the defensive, and with hatchets; insulted, beat, and robbed him:

wounding him in the right arm with an arrow made of ash, headed with iron and steel, and robbing him of a certain outer garment called a coat! Whereupon the Abbot of Tavystoke instituted a suit against the Abbot of "Bokeland." The defendants appeared in court, (all the comonks) and pleaded that the Abbot of Buckland had a certain weir in the Water of Tavy, and that he ought to have from the wood of Blakemoreham as much branches as were neccessary to repair the same weir, and that he had sent William de Norwy a certain monk of his, with Brother Nicholas and others to cut down branches for repairing the aforesaid weir. Also that Thomas de Gryreband insulted and attacked them; upon which the men of Buckland defended themselves, and one of them (whose name was luckily unknown) shot the unfortunate Thomas with an arrow in the arm. At this he fled leaving his coat, bow, and hatchet, which William de Norwy and John de la Burgh carried away, and they did it not as a robbery; as the same Thomas left them there in their custody. It seems that the defendants were aquitted on paying a fine of one mark; Thomas the Forester also paid a find of 11⁄2 mark as a pledge (of his keeping the peace?) From this affray we may judge of the state of the country; when weapons of offence and defence," darts, and bows and arrows" were commonly carried to protect the inhabitants against their neighbours.

It is pleasant to return from the Virtuous Lady through the woods, following the windings of the Tavy below Walreddon, and passing through another sequestered vale in which is the neglected machinery of the William and Mary mine.

I

FOURTH WALK.

KILWORTHY, HEATHFIELD, PIXIE'S POOL, INA'S COOMBE,

WILMINSTONE.

"The visions rise

Of centuries long flown."

UR course may be next directed to the ancient mansion of Kilworthy, well known to every reader of Mrs. Bray's admirable novel of Fitzford, as a former seat of the Glanvilles. Passing the Temperance Hotel we gain one of those perpendicular hills, which our wise forefathers chose to ascend in a straight line, to the imminent hazard of all who follow in their steps. A pretty residence has been lately erected, half way up the ascent by Mr. Abraham commanding a sweet view of "the little Teave," as Camden calls it, winding from Dartmoor on the one side, to Morwell Down on the other. I have often noticed, from the ancient bowling green on the summit of the hill, the curious effect produced, when a sea of mist from the river filled up the valley, while the lamps gleamed faintly through the thick haze.

Pursuing our way we arrive at a narrow lane thickly bordered by wild flowers, and overshadowed by a noble row of limes, whose graceful blossoms fill the air with