WEST BRITON AND CORNWALL ADVERTISER - transcribed by J. Mosman  3 DECEMBER 1858  CORNUBIANA THE WESTERN PENNINSULA (and Sir Humphry DAVY) The most westerly corporate town in England may justly pride itself on being the birth-place of one whose fame will never die – one whose name is known to every man of science in the civilized world, and whose splendid discoveries are recorded in all the first-class works on chemistry of the nineteenth century. If Sir Issac Newton discovered a law that affects all the great planetary orbs that compose our magnificent solar system, Davy investigated the nature of the finest atoms, and brought to light some of the latent gases, chemical properties, and laws by which they are governed. Some of his experiments were exceedingly hazardous, such as his inspirations of carburetted hydrogen, carbonic acid gas, axote, hydrogen, and nitric acid. One of his most important and valuable discoveries was that of the safety lamp, by which, no doubt, many lives have been saved. . Posterity cannot but honour the man whose labours tend to such results. He who endeavours to preserve the life of his fellow, the noblest work of the Almighty, must certainly be vastly superior to the individual who boasts and glories in its destruction. Sir Humphry must, therefore, be placed high up in the list of the world's truly great men. As a chemist and a discoverer, we may safely place him side by side with Sir Isaac Newton as an astronomer, &c. Much has been said and written about this celebrated Cornishman; all his biographers have spoken highly of his unwearied perseverance, and patient investigation. . In visiting the town in which he passed his youthful days, one feels inclined to ask some of the oldest inhabitants passing the streets, if they knew Sir Humphry Davy when he was a boy, and if he were like other boys, and if it were true that he secured all the old crocks and pans to perform his early experiments. A certain writer on the school-days of eminent men says, “Sir Humphrey Davy, when a boy, excelled in story-telling, partly from books, especially the Arabian Nights,and partly from old people, particularly from his grandmother Davy, who had a rich store of traditions and marvels. These stories were narrated by Davy to his boyish companions under the balcony of the Star Inn, and here with his playfellow ROWE, a printer of Penzance, Davy also exhibited his earliest chemical experiments, and by means of those of an explosive nature, many a trick was played on the innkeeper, and some other testy folks in the neighbourhood. This, and another boyish pursuit, followed him! into manhood, namely fishing, for when a child, with a crooked pin tied to a stick by a bit of thread, he would go through the movements of the angler, and fish in the gutter of the street in which he lived, and when he was able to wield a fishing-rod, or carry a gun, he roamed at large in quest of sport in the adjoining country.  . Under the same favourable circumstances, his taste for Natural History was indulged in a little garden of his own, which he kept in order, and “he was fond of collecting and painting birds and fishes.” DR. HENRY, in comparing Davy with WOOLASTON, says "To these high gifts of nature, which are the characteristics of genius, and which constitute its very essence, both these eminent men united an unwearied industry and zeal in research, and habits of accurate reasoning, without which even the energies of genius are inadequate to the achievements of great scientific designs. With these excellences common to both, they were nevertheless distinguished by marked intellectual peculiarities. Bold, ardent, and enthusiastic, Davy soared to greater heights, he commanded a wider horizon, and his keen vision penetrated to its utmost boundaries. His imagination, in the highest degree fertile and inventive, took a rapid and extensive range in the pursuit of conjectural analogies, which he s! ubmitted to close and patient comparison with known facts, and tried by an appeal to ingenious and conclusive experiments. He was endued with the spirit, and was a master of the practice, of the inductive logic, and he has left us some of the noblest examples of the efficacy of that great instrument of human reason, in the discovery of truth. He applied it, not only to connect classes of facts, of more limited extent and importanve, but to develop great and comprehensive laws, which embrave phenomena that are almost universal to the natural world. In explaining their laws, he cast upon them the illumination of his own vivid and clear conceptions; he felt an immense admiration of the beauty, order, and harmony which are conspicuous in the perfect chemistry of nature, and he expressed those feelings with a force of eloquence, which could issue only from a mind of the highest powers and the finest sensibilities." . Varfell, a small farm in Ludgvan, was for many years the property of the Davy family, and at one time, writes DAVIES GILBERT, actually belonged to Sir Humphry, whose name has reflected so much honour, not on Cornwall alone, but on the whole nation to which he belonged. The place lies a few yards to the right of the road leading from Gulval, and is nearly opposite the Marazion railway station. It may be easily distinguished by the tall fir trees on the west side of the dwelling. Rambling in this neighbourhood one fine day in August last, on arriving at the pathway field leading to Ludgvan church, the view of Saint Michael's Mont and the Bay was a most delightful one. The tide had flowed over a great part of the causeway leading from Marazion; two or three large waggons laden with coal were moving slowly along, the water reaching nearly to the middle of the wheel. Sometimes the tide rushes in very fast, and quickly covers the road. Being on the Mount a short time since with a friend, and perceiving the tide approaching the causeway, we hastened down to cross over; the water had just met. A waterman hailed us: “Here is my boat; you will get wet.” “No,” was the reply, “we shall run for it.” but ere we got half-way over, the tide was half-way up the leg, and laughing and splashing we got through wet only to the knee. . On the day alluded to the sea was beautifuly calm; scarcely "a ripple on the sandy shore;" Tregoning hill and the surrounding country dotted with numerous whitewashed cottages, their whiteness increased by the clear sunshine; Godolphin hill bringing to the recollection a page in English history when Sidney Godolphin was Lord High Treasurer of England, and Marlborough won his splendid victories. . At this spot the high land of Perranuthnoe hides a great part of the Lizard district. On approaching the church the bells struck out a merry peal, and passing the inn, it was evident that a wedding had taken place that morning. All seemed mirth and jollity within, connecting the fine scenery, the clear bright sunshine, the retired rustic situation, the happy faces of the party, brought involuntarily to the memory a line of Lord Byron's: "And all went merry as a marriage bell." . The church-yard and church-doors were open, and the door-keeper conducted me into the church, and answered most of my inquiries. In the panels of the pulpit there are several old carvings in box-wood let in even with the other parts. It is probable they were intended to represent some of the apostles. Just over the door, near the chancel, there is a plain marble tablet with the following inscription: "Sacred to the memory of Robert Davy, of Varfell, in this parish, who died the 16th day of December, 1796, aged 55 years. Also of Grace his wife who died the third day of September, 1826, aged 73 years. Their remains are interred in the eastern part of this churchyard, at the end of the south aisle. They were the parents of Sir Humphry Davy, late President of the Royal Society, &c., who died at Geneva, and was buried there. He was deprived of his father in his youth, but his mother lived long to rejoice with a meek and thankful spirit in the distinctions which rewarded the merit! s of their oldest child. This tablet, in testimony of grateful remembrance, has been erected by their surviving children." The expression in the tablet is remarkably beautiful, and one cannot but feel a pleasure in being told that Sir Humphry's mother lived to witness the distinctions and honours that were conferred on him. . Gulval Carne was a favourite spot of the great chemist. It faces Mount's Bay; the rocks are clad with ivy, and several kinds of low thick bushes grow about their base. Forty years ago it was not so public as it is at present; it is however a truly beautiful spot, and the view from the highest part is a delightful one. If the admirers and friends of the celebrated Cornishman were disposed to erect a monument that would be conspicuous, and attract the notice of all who visit the Western Penninsula, this carne, associated as it is with his early life and habits of retirement and study, would be a very suitable spot; but then it would be only a monument. Perhaps one of the best methods of preserving his memory would be to erect a tasteful, durable and detached building, containing a library and apperatus for the study of chemistry. Such a plan would not only be a perpetual monument to the memory of so great a man, but would also be a lasting benefit to many who might acquire som! e knowledge of a science that placed one of its most devoted followers on the highest pinnacle of fame. . The inhabitants of Truro have shown a grateful remembrance of their townsman, the enterprising Lander. The county of Cornwall erected a monument to the memory of Lord de Dunstanville; then why such apathy respecting the merits of one so truly deserving? A monument of some kind would be an honour to every man who assisted in erecting it. Strangers visiting the county next year will doubtless make some enquiries respecting him. Such enquirers may be told that several of the family are amongst the most respectable of the town - that Sir Humphry played some of his boyish pranks under the balcony of the Star Hotel – that the house in which he was born no longer exists - that he was very fond of Gulval Carne - that he became a very celebrated man, and died abroad. . A fact or two relative to an ancient legend connected with Ludgvan, will end the present notice. Whilst copying an acrostic on the name of Anne DAVY, at the east end of the church, an elderly man seated himself on one of the nearest tomb-stones. On asking him some questions relative to the virtues attributed to a spring of water running through the church-town, he told me that a great many years ago some wonderful qualities were conferred on the spring by a st. Paul; one was, that whoever was christened with the water from the spring, or well, would never be hanged with hemp, or killed in battle. Ludgvan men, said he, are not better than other folks, and some years ago, one of them committed a crime, and was condemned to be hanged. It was known to some that he had been baptised in infancy with Ludgvan water, and they had strong faith in its efficacy until the eve of the day fixed for the execution, when their confidence began to waver. It turned out a glorious triumph, said ! the old man, for Ludgvan water, for early the next morning the condemned one was found dead without any marks of violence. . In the French war, too, several from this parish were in some of the great battles, but not one that was sprinkled at his baptism with this water had been killed. Hundreds of bottles, said he, were formerly carried away to other parishes for the purpose of baptising, that the children might have the benefit of escaping death by the hempen cord, or the bullet. . On enquiring if the practice was continued, he replied that he did not believe that much was taken away now; "however," he observed by way of finish, "there is a family living up about St. Austell, that always bring their children down to Ludgvan to be christened." The stream is at present a small one, near the south gate, and does not appear to have that attention paid it that is reputed virtues would seem to demand. (to be continued_ ) . . ST. COLUMB CHURCH-YARD . To the EDITOR of the WEST BRITON . SIR - This subject has, in the last few weeks, occupied so much attention that I reluctantly ask you to insert my communication [..] as it appears that the observations of a Mr. DAVIS contained in the Cornwall Gazette on the 26th inst., are calculated or intended to convey to the public impressions which cannot be substantiated. . [I deem it but fair that I should offer some remarks on the matter, especially since one of the persons giving unfavourable testimony to the abettors of the church-yard alterations has been unjustly treated.] I refer to JAMES BENNEY, a young man more than 23 years of age, whom I have known from his birth; and, perhaps, no one has had so complete an opportunity of knowing his character as I have had, from the fact of his having been in my service several years when a youth. I, therefore, do not hesitate to say, that I know him as a young man of the strictist integrity, and as one whose statements I receive with confidence. . [However, I do not rely solely on his evidence, because that evidence can be supported by many who have stated the consequences of the grave-yard diggings, which have been carried out to an unwarrantable, if not unprecedented, extent.] . I am sorry that I entertain upon this question, opinions and feelings which are opposed to those of our Rev. Curate, because I must here do him the justice to remark, that I believe his motives to have been of a most praiseworthy character. . But I fear these proceedings have been injudiciously conducted. The depth to which the diggings have been carried, exceeds in some places three feet, and it so happens that I am peculiarly interested in the operations, so far as they have extended, because the grave of one whose memory is dear to me as having been the faithful and valued servant of my late father and myself, through a period of fifty years, has been so approached, as to leave the coffin separated from the atmosphere by little more than a foot of earth, thus giving the inevitable and the painful inference, that but for the interrupted work, the grave would have been wholly destroyed. . . So far then, I feel our Rev. Curate has been wrong in one point, a point in fact which can only be seriously entertained by those who, unlike the Rev. Gentleman, associate the best of human feelings with the memory of those whose remains rest in our church-yard. . But there is another consideration which affects alike the living, whether they do or do not revere the memory of the dead in that burial ground.  That consideration refers to the sanitary part of the proceedings, and after observing that I have been in this town more than 27 years as a medical practioner, I offer an unprejudiced and deliberate opinion, that had the diggings and excavations been continued, such procedure would have exposed the town to the strongest chances of disease as a consequence.  . I lament that this subject has provoked so much controversy and dispute, and I cannot refrain from adding, that while I believe these unwelcome innovations have been undertaken by strangers in misguided zeal and enthusiasm, I at the same time feel, that of those who really have that interest in our church-yard, which can only be possessed by the people of Saint Columb, a large majority will naturally and persistently express their disapprobation of such proceedings. . I here subjoin the facts as stated by two persons of unquestionable veracity. 1. A cart-load of church-yard earth on its way to the quarry with a portion of a human skull – seen by Miss RETALLICK, to whom one of the workmen admitted that many human bones had been so removed. 2. A coffin of considerable size lying exposed in the church-yard with the end broken in – the putrid and decomposing body exposed to view – seen by Mr. Martin A. WEST. I am, Sir, Your obedient servant, WILLIAM MOORMAN Dated St. Columb, 27th November, 1858 Julia M.   West Briton Transcriptions, 1836-1856 at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~wbritonad St. Austell Area History and Genealogy at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~staustell