202 CELIA FIENNE8 IN COKNWALL. 



Eiding on to Truro, where she was very civily entertained, 

 she determined, for fear of the rains, to abandon her intention 

 of visiting the Land's End, and returned back to St. Oolumb ; 

 but the next day, fair weather setting in, she rode to Eedruth 

 through heath and downs, very bleak, and full of copper mines. 



From here she went to Hayle and found "The people very 

 ill guides and knew but little from home, only to some Market 

 town they frequent, but will be very solicitous to know where 

 you goe and how farre, and from whence you came and where is 

 y' abode." 



The stone Cresset, now known as St. Michael's Chair, on 

 the tower of the Mount, was still used for its original purpose, 

 as she describes it as "a chair or throne on the top, from whence 

 they can discover a Great way at sea, and here they put up 

 Lights to direct shipps." 



At Penzance she found the town ill-supplied with fuel, 

 there being no coal, and little or no wood ; her supper being 

 boiled over a furze fire, — the only fuel to dress a joint of meat 

 and broth, except a little wood for roasting, which was both 

 scarce and dear ; it appears, that coal could not be brought to the 

 town, around the Land's End, on account of pirates, and the 

 road traffic was carried on by crooks of wood slung over the 

 horses' backs, (a custom which remained in use, down to a few 

 years ago in the Chagford district). After visiting the Land's 

 End she returned to Truro, the description of which is worth 

 quoting in full : — 



" From Eedruth I went to Truro, 8 mile, w"^ is a pretty 

 Little Town and seaport, and formerly was esteemed the best 

 town in Cornwall, now is the second next Lanstone. 



Its just by y* copper and tinn Mines, and Lies down in a 

 bottom, pretty steep ascent, as most of the towns in these 

 Countrys, that you would be afraid of tumbling w*** nose and 

 head foremost. 



Y^ town is built of stone — a good pretty church built all 

 stone and carved on y° outside, it stands in y® middle of y* town, 

 and just by there is a Market house on stone pillars, and hall on 

 y* top ; there is alsoe a pretty good key. 



