232 PROFESSOR SMITH'S JOURNAL. 



where they were detained a year and a half. They were 

 now ordered out to Batavia in a rotten frigate, which is 

 here repairing. 



From Truro we proceeded to the mines in its neighbour- 

 hood, by the way of Slierwater. I descended one of the 

 copper-mines to the depth of about 56 fathoms. The 

 shafts, as also the adits are very narrow. Only a few 

 men were at work in each of them, making constantly 

 use of the pick-axe. The steam engines are in high per- 

 fection, and indispensable on account of the vast quan- 

 tity of water in the mine. These engines have therefore 

 been constructed in several places. The appearance of 

 the country is that of a vast heath. The formation seems 

 to be principally mica and clay-slate, with large veins of 

 quartz, in which the ores of tin and copper occur between 

 and at the side of each other. Long ranges of stones 

 heaped upon one another are to be seen. The friends of 

 Tudor in Truro detained us till late in the evening. 



On the 8th, in the evening, we made an excursion 

 to St. Maws, situated in the neighbourhood. It is an in- 

 considerable fishing-town ; but it is probable, that, before 

 the growing importance of Falmouth, it was a considerable 

 borough, because it has the right of sending two members 

 to Parliament, who hoAvever at present may be said to be 

 chosen by the Marquis of Buckingham, The manners of 

 the inhabitants seemed to indicate that the spot is not 

 much frequented. 



March 9th. The wind veering towards N.W, we weighed 

 anchor with hopes that the S.W. wind has now left us. 



