You can find previous transcriptions of the West Briton in the List Archives - which I usually access through the Rootsweb main menu. You can also visit our website, which Rita Bone Kopp has uploaded. WEST BRITON AND CORNWALL ADVERTISER 24 OCTOBER, 1851 BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY - A public meeting connected with the St. Austell branch of this society, was held in the Town-hall, on Monday evening last, when the chair was taken by Mr. T. COODE. Mr. HOLLAND, of Clifton, attended as a deputation from the Parent Society, and in a very able manner stated to the meeting, the extensive and beneficial operations of this society. The meeting was also addressed by the Rev. C. S. WOOLCOCK, of Charlestown, and the Rev. JAMES COPE, (Independent) of St. Austell. At the close of the meeting, a collection was made amounting to GBP 3.14s. The anniversary of the St. Minver branch of the British and Foreign Bible Society was held in the National School-room, at Tredrizzick, on Friday the 17th instant, Mr. THOMAS LIDDELL in the chair. Mr. KENT, the deputation from the parent society, gave a most eloquent address, which was listened to by a respectable audience. The collection was considerably in advance of last year. A person present, who is well acquainted with the parish, stated that he believed there was not a family to be found there which had not a copy of the New Testament, and that very few families were without a bible. PENRYN MECHANICS' INSTITUTE - The introductory lecture of the session was delivered on Monday evening the 13th instant, by Mr. McLEOD, on "Mental culture and its promotion through the instrumentality of Mechanics' institutes." The lecturer treated the subject very ably, and a vote of thanks to him was unanimously carried. The members are happy to state that since the commencement of the session, several have joined the Institute. HELSTON LITERARY INSTITUTION - On Tuesday last, a lecture was delivered by Mr. JOHN BEST, on "Military Heroism." BOROUGH OF EAST LOOE - A correspondent states that twelve constables (the greater part of them respectable tradesmen and teetotalers) have been sworn in for this borough for the ensuing year, who are determined, with the assistance of the mayor, to suppress all vice and disorderly conduct committed by the assembling of young men in the streets at night, thereby insulting and obstructing persons passing by, and in various ways annoying the public, which has been an injury to the town, and has been complained of to the authorities, but no equally determined efforts have before been made to stop such practices. It is hoped, that by their combined exertions such bad conduct will in future be prevented. MICHELL FAIR -- This fair held on Wednesday the 15th instant, was but thinly supplied with cattle of all descriptions, owing, perhaps, to the heavy rain which fell for some hours in the early part of the day. There were about 3,000 sheep penned, which met with a ready sale at rather improved prices; the demand for other descriptions of cattle was also good, the greatest part of those in the fair having changed hands in the course of the day. St. AUSTELL FAIR - This fair, held on Friday last, was very thinly attended, and but a small number of cattle were brought into the town. PILCHARD FISHERY - No pilchards have yet been taken in any of the seans at Newquay up to Tuesday last; still, hopes are entertained that they have not all as yet passed down, as the driving boats on Monday night took about 4,000 per boat a short distance from the shore. THE BARQUE "GOOD INTENT" - A missionary of the Bible Christian denomination, Mr. CHAPPLE, in a letter dated Quebec, October 1st, states that he has arrived at that place on his way to his future missionary station at Grange, in the state of Ohio. He left Fowey on the 18th of August, in the barque "Good Intent", which through light and sometimes contrary winds was somewhat detained on her passage. He speaks highly of the accommodation on board, of the orderly conduct of the crew, of the abilities of Captain WALBURTON, and the great attention paid by him to his passengers, several of whom have signed a testimonial to that effect. APPROACHING SIGN OF WINTER - On Saturday last, Mr. EDWARD WRIGHT, of White Lane, Philleigh, shot a fine woodcock. ROBBERY - Some night last week, the poor-box kept at Godolphin District Church was robbed of its contents. No clue has yet been made to the discovery of the thief. FATAL ACCIDENTS - On the 15th instant, at about half-past five o'clock p.m., Capt. HUGH TREGARTHEN, Mr. NAWLAN and daughter, with JOHN ELLIS and JOHN NICHOLLS, (two men in the Trinity service), left the island of St. Mary's, Scilly to proceed to that of Tresco, the wind being at the time N.N.W. blowing moderate, but very squally. They proceeded to the nearest point of Tresco, called Skirt Island, where Captain Hugh Tregarthen, Mr. Nawlan and daughter, landed, and John Ellis, and John Nicholls, notwithstanding that Captain Tregarthen urged to them to leave the boat there for the night, were left to conduct the boat to its usual mooring place. Captain Tregarthen, finding on his arrival at his home at old Fremaley, that the men had not arrived, became afraid that some accident had happened to them, and taking another boat he went in search and found the boat sunk, her mast only being above water, at a place called Hedge Rock, within a quarter of a mile of the men's home, but he could not get any intelligence of the men. The next morning at low water the bodies were found near the boat, and were interred at Tresco on Friday. It is supposed that the boat was capsized in a heavy squall. ELIZABETH ROSKILLY, widow, late housekeeper at Fowey Consols Account-house, took passage in the "Good Intent", of Fowey, WARBURTON, master, for Quebec, where she arrived all well. She had gone to her children who are doing very well in Canada; and had landed, but went on board again to look after her things, when unfortunately she fell into the hold and was killed. CORONER'S INQUESTS - On Tuesday last, an inquest was held at Gwennap, before Mr. John CARLYON, county coroner, on the body of JOHN OATES, aged thirty-three years. The deceased was a miner and worked at the United Mines, Gwennap. On Monday morning he was descending to his work by the man engine at the 194 fathoms level under the adit, and had reached the depth, but instead of stepping from the engine into the level, he by some means or other fell away. His comrade and another miner named ABRAHAM NORTHEY immediately descended by the ladders to render assistance, but when they came to him, he was lying on the pentice at the 208 fathoms level, a corpse. Verdict, accidental death. HUNTING APPOINTMENTS - The F.B. hounds will meet on Monday the 27th at Truck Hill; and on Friday the 31st, at Praze, in Crowan; each day half-past ten o'clock. Mr. Morgan's fox hounds will meet on Monday next, at the Toll-bar, Brentor; and on Thursday, at Callington New Bridge; each day at half-past ten o'clock. Mr. Archer's harriers will meet on Monday October 27th at Tresmarrow Farm; and on Thursday at the Jamaica Inn; each day at half-past ten o'clock. Mr. Trelawny's hounds will meet on Tuesday next, at the Lyncham Inn; and on Friday, at Harford Bridge; each day at half-past ten. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> STATISTICS OF CORNWALL (No. 38) To the Editor of the West Briton SIR - I now come to the hundred of Pydar and begin with the parish of St. AGNES - Branneck Hill, usually called St. Agnes Beacon, is a well known hill, conspicuously elevated high an eminent military station, together with all the ground extending from Trevaunance Coom to Porth- chapel Coom, extending over an area of about 1,200 acres, with a coast line of three miles of high- cliffs, and on the land side was protected by a high bank and deep entrenchment, which extended nearly two miles from the steep side of one room to the steep side of the other, and the bank appears to have been full 20 feet high above the bottom of the ditch. A great part of the bank and ditch has been leveled down, and at the village of Polbreen, houses and gardens have been constructed on its site. Borlase mentions this as "a vast entrenchment" and further says (A.D. 1757) "the ditch has been widened in some places and leveled in others, to make gardens - and the vallum has been leveled and carried off to make room for houses. It is much defaced by tin-works, but is still a great work." The top of the hill extends about N.N.W. and S. S. E., and near the latter extremity, (a little north of the ruins of a pleasure house) are two large heaps of stones, which appear to have been collected for the purpose of throwing at any enemy that might attempt to scale the hill, the stones being all of a size that may be used for such purpose. What probably gave so much importance to this station, was the very rich tin-grounds of Polberrou and the other mines near Trevaunance. At the N.N.W. end of the top of the hill is a barrow, diameter 55 feet. Borlase says "To the west of the beacon on the top of the enclosed hill, is still to be seen the remains of a small square fortification, adjacent to which are three sepulchral barrows." These things I have not observed, although I have examined the ground pretty closely. About a quarter of a mile N.W. of the houses at Trevissick, is a circular entrenchment, single bank and ditch, about a half an acre. Through the ground of Menaguisey and Cooswortha farms, are the remains of circular and other entrenchments, extending nearly half a mile in length. The houses at Menaguisey are on the site of the western part of the works, where the traces of two circular entrenchments are visible; and a little southward of the houses at Cooswartha are the traces of a circular entrenchment forming the easternmost part of the works, a little west of which are traces of part of an elliptical work; and the traces of other works which apparently connected the whole into one vast line of defence, extend from the eastern to the western circles. From the position of these works, we may conclude that they were intended to protect the northern country from an enemy who was on the south. On the N.W. part of Goonearle downs, about half a mile E.N.E. of Stencoose, is a barrow, diameter 50 feet. About three furlongs S.E. of the last-mentioned, are two barrows also on Goonearle downs, diameter of each 50 feet. About half a mile west of the Chiverton Arms Inn, are the barrows, well known by the name of "Two Barrows", diameter of each 90 feet, they are about 60 fathoms asunder; between them is a small barrow, diameter 25 feet, a little south of which are two more, diameter of each 30 feet. On the downs, by the N.E. corner of Trenethick enclosures, and a little west of the road from Truro to St. Agnes, are two barrows, called "Mingoose Barrows", each 65 feet diameter; about a quarter of a mile north of which is "Middle Barrow: diameter 65 feet; and further north about a furlong are two barrows, diameters 40 and 20 feet. Outside of the enclosures, about a furlong N.E. of the last-mentioned, are the remains of a barrow called "Hurling" or "Chywillywatty" barrow. On Goonlaze downs, nearly a quarter of a mile W.S.W. of Valianoweth, is a barrow, diameter 40 feet; and extending south-eastward from it are seven barrows, within a furlong's length, diameters 55, 35, 40, 55, 35, 35 and 60 feet. On Mithian downs, about a mile south of Mithian-village, is "Mithian Barrow," diameter 65 feet. On Trevellas downs, nearly half a mile north of Trevellas village, is a barrow, diameter 45 feet. About half a mile E.N.E. of the last-mentioned is a barrow, diameter 50 feet; a little N.W. of which is a small low barrow, diameter 35 feet; and about a furlong further N.E. is a barrow, diameter 45 feet. Near the S.E. corner of the parish, at about half a mile eastward of "Two Barrows," is a very large barrow, diameter 105 feet, a little west of which are two smaller barrows, diameter of each 50 feet, with a trench surrounding each of them. I am, Sir, Your obedient servant, RICHARD THOMAS Falmouth, October 17, 1851 ............................................................................................................. DEVON (with some Cornish content) SALE OF PROPERTY BY THE TRUSTEES OF LORD GRAVES An auction was held at MORSHEAD's Hotel, Devonport, on Thursday, by the direction of the trustees under the settlement of the Right Hon. Lord GRAVES, for selling various estates, comprising, in the whole, about 1,100 acres, on each side of the Hamoaze, adjoining the harbour of Devonport. Lot 1 consisted of the limestone quarries at Catdown, and sundry quays, docks, public-houses, residences, &c., under least to Messrs. SPARROW and others - producing a rental of GBP 815.9s.4d. For the property Mr. E. H. SCOTT bid GBP 5,000; but this offer not having been accepted, it was put up by the auctioneer at GBP 10,000, and no bidding being in advance of that, the lot was brought in. Lot 2. Great and Little Ernesettle and Agaton Farms, and other property in the parish of St. Budeaux, containing altogether 365 acres, and producing an annual rental of GBP 659.11s.1d. This lot was put up by Mr. SMITH, of Devonport, at GBP 8,000, and the bidding increased to GBP 15,000,- where they were stopped by the competitors. Upon this lot there was a reserved bid of GBP 17,000, at which it was brought in. Lot 3 consisted of land adjacent to Torpoint, suitable for building, and comprising nearly eight acres now producing GBP 34 per year. This was purchased by Mr. SMITH, at GBP 1600. Lot 4 consisted of Withnoe Barton, and part of Bridgeman estate, in the parish of St. John's, containing upwards of 222 acres, and producing an annual rental of GBP 245. This was put up at GBP 3000, and the biddings by the competitors closed at GBP 6,000, when a reserve bid was put in of GBP 6,500, at which it was brought in. Lot 5 consisted of several small occupations in St. John's parish; containing altogether about 47 acres of ground, and producing an aggregate rental of GBP 82.14s.3d. This was sold to Mr. BOGER, it was supposed for the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe, for GBP 3,000. Lot 6, Manor of Treganawke and Seagers, let at the rent of GBP 144 per annum, and comprising upwards of 150 acres, was also sold to Mr. BOGER for the Earl, for GBP 3,600. Lot 7 - Raines's or Piper's estate, in the parish of Antony, producing the annual rent of GBP 40, and containing about 48 acres, was sold to Mr. SMITH for GBP 1,400. Lot 8 - Higher and Lower Blarick estates, in the parishes of Antony and Sheviock, producing the rent of GBP 125 per annum, and comprising more than 163 acres, was likewise sold to Mr. SMITH for GBP 4,200. Lot 9 - Higher Insworth, in the parish of Maker, containing 31 acres, and leased at the rent of GBP 35 per annum, was bought in for GBP 1,200. Mr. ROBERT COAD, of Liskeard, auctioneer, conducted the sale, and was attended by MR. PHELPS, solicitor, of the firm of Messrs. JENKYNS and PHELPS, of London. Julia Mosman, OPC for St.Austell,Charlestown, and Treverbyn Website at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~staustell W. Briton newspaper transcripts at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~wbritonad Please visit the OPC website at http://cornwall-opc.org