MISCELLANEA. 



PiSKY Grinding- STONES. Certain curious relics, aptly described by the 

 peasantry as " pisky grinding-stones," are occasionally turned up by the 

 plough and pick- axe in Cornwall. I have seen three specimens : two in the 

 possession of the Eev. C. M. Edward Collins, of Trewardale, obtained from 

 the parish of Blisland, in which his residence is situated ; and another be- 

 longing to John Jope Kogers, Esq. A fourth is figured in Blight's " Churches 

 of "West Cornwall." They resemble each other in all but size and material. 

 The Blisland specimens are, one of sandstone and the other of a sort of 

 dunstone ; they measure, respectively, 1^ and If inch in diameter, and are 

 each about a of an inch in thickness. They are round, with a central hole 

 of I of an inch in diameter. They were both found in the neighbom-hood of 

 a tin-stream. — I am not aware of the circumstances under which Mr. Rogers's 

 was obtained. — The specimen figured by Mr. Blight was discovered din-ing 

 the exploration of the Chapel Uny Cave in Sancreed. — It is very certain that 

 these curiosities are of extreme age ; and, as to their use, the Antiquary 

 may be harmlessly allowed to indulge in his speculations. The fact that the 

 Blisland specimens were found near a stream- work seemed to indicate that 

 they might have something to do with the tinner's occupation ; but, on en- 

 quiry, I found that such relics are unknown in the Blackmoor tin-district. 

 The stone in the possession of Mr. Rogers, and that found at Chapel Uny, 

 are against such a supposition. They have been conjectured by some persons 

 to be amulets ; and by others to be rude counters, or tallies. The fact that 

 they are never found in numbers is, to me, conclusive against the latter sup- 

 position. On my showing the Blisland ones to Professor Simpson, on the 

 occasion of the Cambrian Meeting at Truro, he immediately pronounced 

 each to be part of a rustic spindle, and said that such might still be seen in 

 use in some parts of Scotland. This conjecture appears the most plausible 

 of any. More specimens, and further particulars respecting the places and 

 conditions under which such relics are found, are desired. — T. Q. C. 



Our Journal will perform a useful and agreeable function if it can be 

 made a medium of communication, in the way of inquiry and reply, on sub- 

 jects of antiquarian interest. We submit to om- readers an enquiry which 

 we have just received, for information concerning " a Bavarian refugee, 

 called Jean Joachim Becker, who visited the Cornish mines about the year 

 1682," and who is said to have wi'itten and published a work entitled " Alpha- 

 beticum Minerale." 



