TINTAGEL CASTLE. 235 



of contention between the rival armies. Indeed after the general 

 use of fire-arms the place ceased to be of any value, except as a 

 subject of interest to antiquaries and lovers of the picturesque. 



Old people remember when the walls were more extensive 

 than at present, and the chasm much narrower than it has become 

 by the falling in of the cliff on both sides. 



Under the tasteful care of the Constable, the Reverend Pre- 

 bendary Kinsman, it is safe from the hands of idle depredators ; 

 and had he substantial help from those interested in its preserva- 

 tion, he would be enabled to arrest the progress of decay, without 

 in any way altering a feature of the original building. 



