OF CORNWALL. 205 
latter no further than is neceffary to illudrate the former. The 
richnefs of our copper-works is not a late difcovery, but indeed 
the application of the Cornifh to work them effectually, is not fo 
old as the prelent generation ; the reafon mod; obvious is, that thole 
who bed knew the value of thefe mines, made it a part of their 
trade to conceal it. Mr. Carew (in the reign of Elizabeth) hints 
at the little profits made in Cornwall from copper, and affigns them 
to the learcher’s being kept in ignorance by the merchant. “ Copper 
is found, fays he, (page 7, fird edition) in fundrie places; but to 
what gain to the fearchers, I have not been curious to enquire, nor 
they hady to reveal : for of one mine, of which I took view, the 
ore was fhipped to be refined in Wales, either to fave cod in the 
fewel, or to conceal the profit.” Mr. Norden, 150 years fince, feems 
to have had full information that the Cornifh copper-mines were 
rich, and therefore in his letter to King James I \ like a faithful 
fervant, (furveyor as he was to the then Prince of Wales) intimates 
the expediency of a better infpeCtion into the date of thole mines, 
and furmifes the arts by which the value of them was concealed. 
“ So rich are the works (fays he, ibid.), efpecially fome lately found, 
as by the opinion of the Ikilful in the midery the like have not 
been elfewhere found, though the worth hath been formerly exte- 
nuated by private pryers into the fecret, and covertly followed for 
their own gain.” Notwithdanding thefe hints, I do not find any 
thing material going on here in Cornwall, as to the improvement 
of the copper-mines, till, about fixty years fince, fome gentlemen 
of Bridol made it their bufinefs to infpedt our mines more narrowly, and 
bought the copper raifedfor two pounds ten fhillings per ton', and fcarce 
ever more than for four pounds per ton. It mud be obferved, that 
the yellow ore, which now fells for a price between ten and twenty 
pounds per ton, was at this time called poder , (that is, dud) and 
thrown away as mundic. The gains were anfwerable to their laga- 
city and diligence, and fo great, that they could not long be kept 
fecret ; this encouraged other gentlemen of Bridol , about forty 
years fince, not only to buy copper at a low rate”, but to engage 
as adventurers in fome old mines ; and at this time Mr. John Codar, 
a gentleman well {killed in metals, judicious, and particularly know- 
ing in mechanics and hydraulics, undertook, by means of a water- 
engine, (either of his own invention, or at lead improvement) to 
drain fome confiderable mines with fuccefs : he taught the people 
of Cornwall alfo a better way of affaying and dreffing the ore. 
k See Norden’s Survey of Cornwall, page yenanted to fell all the copper which fhould rife 
1 04. out of a mine well flocked, for twenty years, at 
1 At N’uun-vian in Piranutbno, and at Mr. five pounds per ton, and the ore at Reliftian in 
Uftick’s works in St. Juft. Gwinear was covenanted for at two pounds ten 
m Mr. Beauchamp of Gwenap at this time co- (hillings per ton. 
G g g 
Here 
