OF CORNWALL. 49 
ticular River •*, that they might the better eftimate the expence, and 
apply more fuccefsfully for the aftiftance of Parliament. Accord- 
ingly they finifhed one lock, with its leat twelve feet wide, which 
raifed the water eight feet, at the charge of fixty pounds. This was 
looked upon as lo great an encouragement, that a bill was brought 
into Parliament to make all the Rivers in Cornwall, whieh were 
capable of fuch improvement, navigable : the bill paffed the Houfe 
of Commons with great approbation : it was afterwards introduced 
into the Houle of Lords with words to this effect ; That it was a 
noble delign, and might give a pattern for all England to follow * ; 
but it went no farther, it being then but four days to the end of the 
feffion ; and the civil wars of Charles I. foon after enfuing, put an 
end to this beneficial attempt, and deferred the glory of accomplifhing 
it, till the like fpirit is happy enough to affociate with more power. 
It is hinted before, that our Rivers and Creeks were formerly 
navigable much higher up than they are now : the truth is, the beds 
of the Rivers are raifed feveral feet perpendicular by the earth, fand, 
and gravel from the hills : this is natural in all places, in propor- 
tion to the quantity of rain, the declivity of the grounds, and the 
largenefs of Rivers ; but with us in Cornwall much promoted by 
digging and ftreaming for, ftamping and dreffing our metals, all 
performed at the water fide, and the refufe all wafhed into the 
Rivers, thence into our harbours. This is a growing evil, com- 
plained of by Leland, and Carew, (page 27) but ftill unredrefted ; 
and as there are many more mines now than formerly, the beds of 
our Rivers will rife proportionably quicker than in former times, and 
make it ftill more difficult to continue the navigation even upon its 
prefent footing. There was an a£t of Parliament, made in the 23d 
of Henry VIII. “ that none fhould labour in tin- works near the 
Devon and Cornifh havens” (Carew, page 27) ; and though this atft 
is obfolete, it might poftlbly be re-ena<fted upon proper application, 
and be made more effe&ual to anfwer the falutary purpofes intended. 
CHAP. V. 
Of the Lakes and Sea of Cornwall. 
A S one general ridge of hills runs through the middle of sect.i 
this County, and the Sea is fo near on either hand, the 
rivers, which rife in the higher grounds, have but a fhort paftage 
to the ocean ; and meeting with no confiderablc impediments, few 
only a nd fmall Lakes are formed. 
’ Suppofed to be the Lynher. 
* Letter to the author from J. Frehawk, Efq; 
Four 
O 
