36 DISCOVERY OF A GOLD CUP IN CORNWALL, 



containing the following articles, as described in the letter accom- 

 panying them, viz., portions of the fictile vessel called by the 

 writer the "urn"; a small bit of "ornamental earthenware"; 

 something like a metallic " rivet " ; and other undescribed articles, 

 as well as small portions of the human bones already mentioned. 

 With these were also enclosed what remained of a spear-head or 

 sword blade, which was about 10 in. long when first seen in the 

 vault, but was afterwards broken by removal. 



The cup was forthwith sent to King William IV by Sir G-eorge 

 Harrison ; but the demise of his Majesty within a week or two 

 afterwards will sufficiently account for the temporary disappear- 

 ance of the treasure. In all probability the contents of the boxes 

 were not sent to the Palace with the cup. Sir George himself 

 did not long survive, and my friend Mr. Freeth's memory is now 

 the sole depository of the secret of those lost relics. He speaks 

 of them with a natural distrust of his recollection after an interval 

 of thirty years, and in relation to objects at that time, in them- 

 selves, of little ostensible interest. He remembers the frag-ments 

 of metal, and of the blade ; and also the fragments of pottery, of 

 a " reddish browTL " color; and he has some recollection of some 

 pieces of ivory, and of a few glass beads. 



Such is all that I can offer to supply the place of the miscel- 

 laneous contents of the cist, other than the cup, which has alone 

 been preserved for our gratification and instruction. 



In order further to identify this cup, you will bear in mind 

 the accession of our Queen, and her subsequent marriage, — events 

 of such engrossing importance as to leave little room for thought 

 or inquiries about the cup. It is easy to understand that the dis- 

 cernment of the Prince Consort distinguished this golden spoil, 

 at a subsequent period, from other royal plate. The record of its 

 finding was brought to light and annexed to the relic ; and it now 

 has its place of deposit, at the wish of his Eoyal Highness the 

 Prince of Wales, in the Swiss Cottage of the Queen at Osborne. 



This highly curious cup, — so far as I am aware, unique, — 

 measures in height 3^ in. ; diameter at the mouth 3f in. ; at the 

 widest part of the bowl 3|- in. The handle measures 1|- in. by ^ 

 in., greatest width. The weight of the cup is 2 oz. 10 dwts. ; its 

 bullion value about £10. The handle, which has been a little 

 crushed, is attached by six little rivets, three at the top and three 



