24 September 1857 STATE OF LISKEARD To the EDITOR of the WEST BRITON Sir - Some friend of Liskeard has been good enough to forward to me a copy of your paper, containing a letter from Mr. SANDERS and a copy of Mr. GLUBB’s flippant epistle to the Times. . The latter does not, in the face of so many facts, and so many statements, condemnatory of the state of Liskeard from Liskeard people, require any answer from me. The former is written in so excellent a spirit that I am satisfied it means well. I conceive the work to be a good work, and it lay strictly in what I consider the line of my duty to take note of sanitary evils bearing upon so large a portion of my fellow-countrymen, and capable of remedy. Any purely local man might as well have thrust his hand into the fire or have stirred up a hornet’s nest, as have moved in this matter; it therefore fell to me, and I am content to take the odium, so that the people who deserve better things at the hands of the authorities get the benefit. . The last letter of mine that appeared in the Times, Sept. 7th, winds up the matter so far as I am concerned; I beg you to insert that letter if you have not already done so; and to assure you, sir, as I do my fellow Cornishmen, that in my humble way, I, in every sense wish them well; and that no offence is meant except to neglectful authorities. A candid truth-searching inquiry into the state of Liskeard as to water supply, cesspools, drains, house accommodation, and other matters bearing upon health and a better social condition will well repay the trouble; and I suggest an extension of the inquiry to Callington, Looe, Lerrin, and perhaps Polperro. . I am, Sir, with much respect, Your obedient servant, WILLIAM RENDLE Medical Officer of Health London, Sept. 20, 1858 ............................................................................. TO the EDITOR OF THE TIMES SIR - My letter to you of August 26, does not need the correction suggested by your last correspondent. I carefully used the words "as to the district," which, of course, include every sub-district and parish, and prevented the necessity for specifying any in particular; that section of my letter includes the paragraph alluded to. There is no reference to Liskeard town until the words "the later quarter." . If, Sir, these are all the objections that can be urged against my very serious charges, they amount to nothing, or to this only - "We cannot disprove the facts you bring forward as to the state of Liskeard town, but, as other places are as bad or worse, why throw the blame on us alone?" The whole district being officially called by the name of the town may give colour to this. I have, however, sufficiently and I believe carefully distinguished them; but, as they are all bad, let them all mend. . The following is a good rule, and I specially recommend it to the authorities of this and other neglected places in Cornwall; it will if fairly acted upon, save many lives and prevent much mischief. Whenever fever, or any malignant or unusually fatal epidemic visits and revisits a place, it should be assumed that some great local evil is there, requiring amendment. . I have notes of other Cornish places quite as bad as Liskeard, in which life appears to be thrown away as a valueless commodity. I have not, however, time to pursue the subject further; one of the worst districts of London claims my especial and unceasing care. The authorities of Liskeard district must now fairly investigate the evils of their respective localities, and apportion the work accordingly. I care not to decide, even if I could, which locality is worse; they are all bad enough. If the authorities prove as industrious and clean as the people appear to be, these fever nests will be speedily cleared. . One extract from a letter just received from a gentleman of Liskeard, and I have done: - "The drains throughout the town of Liskeard depend entirely upon rainfall for the smallest process of cleansing. Nearly all the water used among the many hundreds, or rather thousands of people, is required to be carried in buckets from the two or three public wells to the higher parts of the place." This explains all. Water is knocking at their doors, and health also, but in these respects the minds of Liskeard people remain as stagnant as their pools. . I am, Sir, your most obedient servant, W. RENDLE, Medical Officer of Health St. George's, Southward, Sept. 6 ................................................................................................. THE GOLD MINES AT FRAZER’S RIVER - We have received the following from a Cornishman, dated “Oregon City, 23rd July, 1858 - Sir - Being an old subscriber to your paper, and a well wisher of the same, I took the liberty of forwarding you some Oregon papers by the last mail, containing the latest and most reliable information respecting the new gold mines at Frazer's River, situate on the boundary of this territory, in the British possessions, N.W. of Lake Superior, west of Canada, in 50 degs. and 51 degs. North latitude. . The richness and extent of these mines is now fully established beyond doubt, and they are causing a deal of excitement in this country and California. Thousands have already started for the diggings, and have every prospect of being well repaid. My business will not permit me to become one amongst them, however much I might desire it. . It is a very healthy country, and inhabited by various tribes of friendly Indians, who have obtained the principal part of their living for several years past by trading in skins, furs, &c., with the Hudson’s Bay company, who are the only white people inhabiting the possessions. As it always is with new mines, provisions and supplies have risen to very high prices, but this will soon be regulated by the well stocked markets of Oregon and California as soon as the first rush and excitement is over. My opinion is that Cornish miners would do well to come out, and to the speculating capitalist, I would say, that such as could send out small companies (or large either), will find it very profitable. . The gold now found is all "surface diggings," but the principal gold beds are supposed to lie pretty deep, and consequently will require practical miners to work them to advantage. Thousands that are gone from this part of the country, know little or nothing of mining. Specimens of the gold have been received by several parties in this city; it is very fine in quality, but middling coarse in form. . The most desirable route would be to round the Horn, but the most expeditious would be to Southampton, via Chagres, and across Panama. By the latter route the trip would be made in about six weeks; but the former would occupy from four to five months. Vancouver's Island is a very thriving place, and is one of the most desirable spots on the Pacific both for grazing and agriculture. Victoria is now a large town, and growing up rapidly; it is situate about fifty miles from the mouth of Frazer's River. . I am a native of Brea, in the parish of Illogen, and a well wisher of my country and countrymen. . Yours truly, ABEL EUDEY 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

Looking for information on - Elizabeth UDY baptised 11 Jan 1673 in St Wenn daughter of Peter UDY and Joan BALL who married on 03 Jun 1672 in St. Wenn. Elizabeth SWEET baptised 03 Aug 1673 in Withiel daughter of Thomas SWEET and Mary WILLIAMS who married on 03 Aug 1665 in Withiel. Does anyone have either of these families in their trees? Thanks, Jen.