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CELIA FIENNES IN CORNWALL. 



By H. MICHBLL WHITLEY, F.G.S., Hon. Member R.I.C. 



The Diary of Celia Fiennes, written in the latter part of 

 the seventeenth century, during the Eeign of William and Mary, 

 and recently published,* contains much valuable information 

 relating not only to the customs and manners of the times, but 

 also to the country towns and houses she visited. 



Celia Fiennes was the daughter of Colonel Nathaniel 

 Fiennes, a Parliamentarian Officer, and sister of the third 

 Viscount Saye and Sele. 



Her health not being good, in order to regain it, she under- 

 took several journeys through England and noted down in her 

 diary a description of the various districts she passed through, — 

 specially giving a detailed account of the various houses of the 

 country gentry, which notes are the more valuable, as many of 

 the houses have since been pulled down. 



For instance, she visited and described the old house at 

 Tregothnan, which was demolished about 1815 when the present 

 mansion was erected ; whilst other entries throw light on the 

 social condition of the county at the period in question. 



Celia Fiennes took the great South road into Cornwall, 

 crossing from Plymouth to Millbrook by Cribly ferry, and rode 

 through Looe and Fowey, and so by Par to "St. Austins" (St. 

 Austle) ; at this latter town she remained the night, and here 

 found herself not pleased "with the custome of the country 

 w°^ is a universal smoaking, both men, women, and children 

 have all their pipes of tobacco in their mouths and soe sit around 

 the fire smoaking, w"'' was not delightful to me when I went 

 down to talk w*^ my Landlady for information of any matter 

 and customs amongst them. I must say they are as comely sort 

 of women as I have seen anywhere, tho' in ordinary dress,- good 

 black eyes and crafty enough, and very neat." After visiting a 

 blowing house and tin mine, of which a long account is given, 

 she rode to Tregothnan on a visit to her kinsman, Mr. Boscawen. 



* Through England on a Side-Saddle in the time of William and Mary. 

 Field and Tuer, London, 



