I 
OF CORNWALL. 189 
near Truro, which, as a clergyman prelent at the weighing informed 
me, weighed lix hundred and lixty-four pounds, and it brought 
eleven and half for twenty, in the hone without ftamping and 
drefting. I have lince been informed, that one ftone, brought to 
the melting-houfe from the fame work, weighed 1200 pounds. It is 
judged that the late Mr. Donithorn, who had the whole adventure, 
and worked it at his foie expence, in a few years laft pall got at 
leaf!: forty thoufand pounds clear by this mine, and much more 
tin he might have raifed yearly if he plealed. It is a mine at prelent 
deep and wrought at a great expence by a water-wheel, bobs, 
and whims ; but the lode is wide, rich in quality, and turns out 
great profit. 
The mine which has turned out the moft gain, and the 
greateft quantity of tin as yet known, is “ Polgooth, in the parilh 
of St. Mewan, where it appears by the old books, that the adven- 
turers have got twenty thoufand pounds annually for a great num- 
ber of years following 
How far the Phenicians and Grecians interefted themfelves insECT.xxr. 
the management of our mines, and whether, as is more probable, Summary of 
they were any other than the merchants to purchafe and export our and preS 
tin when raifed, cannot be decided ; but as it appears at prefent, 
from the teftimony of Polybius, Strabo, Diod. Siculus, and Pliny, naries. 
and others, that the Romans traded hither for tin, and improved 
the inhabitants in mining ; fo by their coins, fepulchres, and facri- 
fical inftruments found in and near the ancient tin-works, (whither 
nothing perceivable could tempt them, but the riches of thofe 
mines y ) it is as apparent that the Romans worked thofe mines, or at 
leaft with their foldiers fuperintended the workmen. At this time 
the Britans had likely little or no property ; they were the working 
miners under their conquerors, but what regulations they were fub- 
jed to is uncertain. 
The Saxons are faid to have neglected the Cornilh tin-mines ; 
but indeed they had no authority in Cornwall till it was entirely 
conquered by Athelftan, after which they had no leifure, their 
attention was wholly taken up by the Danilh wars; thefe wars at 
laft prevailed, and the Danes foon after gave way to the Normans, 
and thefe laft promoted the working of our mines to their great 
emolument. However, in the time of King John, I find the pro- 
dud: of tin in this county very inconfiderable, the right of working 
for tin being as yet wholly in the King, (King John being at this 
time alfo Earl of Cornwall) the property of the tinners precarious and 
' Letter from Mr. W. Rofwarn of Truro, Feb. n, 1756. r See Antiq. of Cornwall, page 279. 
C c c unfettled, 
