found almost exclusively on the Cornish coast.

Cornwall abounds in interesting antiquities, and many of these are claimed to be almost as old as the granite rocks and cliffs of which they are composed. They are relics of the early Britons,—remains of villages, various sorts of sepulchral and memorial stones, and also some that were associated with ancient religious rites. Some of these, such as the "holed stones," have given rise to many superstitions among the common folk, who have been in the habit of dragging invalids through the orifices in the hope of curing them. There are also "cliff castles," especially at Land's End and at other points on the coast,—retreats of the native tribes from enemies,—and also earth-work forts on elevated sites throughout the country. The early Christian antiquities include churches and priories and the oratories or small chapels, frequently associated with a Baptistery or holy well. Some of these are as early as the fifth century. There is also an unusual number of crosses. As to their uses an ancient manuscript says: "For this reason ben crosses by ye way, that when folk passynge see ye croysses they shoulde thynke on Hym that deyed on ye croysse, and worshyppe Hym above althyng." They were also sometimes erected to guide and guard the way to the church, and sometimes for the beautiful custom of leaving alms on the crosses for poor wayfarers. The crosses were formerly far more numerous than now, but recently some of them have been rescued from doing duty as gate-posts and the like, to be reerected in the churchyards. There are also inscribed stones, such as the Camborne altar-slab, and others.

Of the towns of Cornwall, almost all have some interest, ancient or modern. Truro has recently become the episcopal town of the county; a fine cathedral has been built, and the Bishop has his residence there. Falmouth, at the mouth of the Fal, is a comparatively modern town, beautifully situated. Its magnificent and famous harbor has given it considerable commercial importance in former times. One of its chief attractions is Pendennis Castle. It stands on a bold promontory two hundred feet high, on the western side of the harbor. It was one of the works of defense undertaken by Henry VIII, but the enclosure is of the time of Elizabeth. It is an interesting example of the military architecture of the period. During the Civil War, Pendennis Castle played a prominent and interesting part, and was the last but one of the old castles that held out for the King's cause.

A picturesque spot of much interest on the coast is the jutting headland of the Lizard. The serpentine rock of which it is composed is very beautiful when polished. The best time to visit this spot is at low tide on a summer day, after a storm. Its soft yellow sandy beach, its emerald waves, deep rock-pools and gorgeous serpentine cliffs, of green, purple, crimson, and black, are then of astonishing beauty. Passing eastward along the coast, we come to the little town of Marazion, in front of which rises from the strand the far-famed St. Michael's Mount—an isolated, rugged pyramid of granite, about a mile in circumference and two hundred and thirty feet high at the chapel platform. Several Sir John St. Aubyns have successively inherited it since 1860, the date on which they acquired it from a Bassett of Tehidy. The chapel and the hall are the portions most worthy of examination. A few steps below the chapel is a recess called the dungeon; near it, a narrow winding stair leads to the tower. Near the platform are the remains of a stone cresset called St. Michael's Chair, which is supposed to bring good fortune to those that sit in it.

The town of Penzance, "the Holy Headland," is the place of approach to the Land's End—a bold promontory standing out into the sea at the southwestern extremity of England. Its granite cliff-scenery is the finest in Cornwall. The tempest-scarred cliffs, the furious onset of the waves in stormy weather, and the gorgeous sunsets, so frequent at that point, invest Land's End with a deep and almost melancholy grandeur. It is said that Wesley stood upon this point when he wrote the hymn,

"Lo! on a narrow neck of land
'Twixt two unbounded seas I stand."

But the chief interest of Cornwall for our present purpose lies in the town of Camborne on the Cam, or "crooked river." It is one of the great mining centres, and has numerous rich mines, of which the principal is Dolcoath, one of the deepest and most ancient in Cornwall. It is a busy town, built mostly of stone, with nothing of note in the way of architecture. The plain parish church, with its three sharp gables, contains nothing of special interest. It stands in the midst of the churchyard, in which are found many monuments and inscriptions to attract the attention of those who love to recall the past. About three miles to the north is Tehidy, the seat of the Bassetts, with its fine park and gallery containing pictures by Gainsborough, Sir Joshua Reynolds, and Vandyke. In driving to the high bluffs on the north shore it is easy to visit Carn Brea, a rocky headland seven hundred feet above the sea, with picturesque granite blocks piled upon its summit. Here, it is said, was the chief scene of Druid worship; here was the sacrificial rock, in the hollows of which the victim was laid; and here were the granite basins hollowed out to receive his blood. The castle, of Norman origin, was built by Ralph De Pomeroy, and was occupied by a Bassett in the time of Edward IV. There are also here the remains of ancient British earthworks, and "hut circles," and a tall monument to Lord De Dunstanville of Tehidy, erected in 1836.

A point of great interest to us is that Mr. Samuel Davey, the inventor of the safety fuse for blasting and mining, was a native of Camborne, and had his residence there, as did also his partner in business, George Smith, LL.D. Mr. Smith was a man of high character, and great ability as a scholar and writer, and the author of many works of theology and biblical history. Among these are "The Hebrew People" and "The Gentile Nations," which have been accepted as text-books in some theological courses. The other member of the firm was Major John S. Bickford, a man of wealth and influence, and the title of the firm became "Bickford, Smith and Davey." The manufactory was located at Tuckingmill, a village a little distance from Camborne. The business, at first small, has grown and become very successful, and has branches in many parts of Europe and America. The original firm, as represented by its successors, still carries on the business in Tuckingmill.

One of the noteworthy features of the town life is the Saturday market-day. On this day are gathered the people from all the outlying country, with varied products of farm, garden and dairy, as well as wares of all kinds, which are offered for sale in the great market-house of the town.

"Camborne Feast" is a harvest festival answering to our Thanksgiving. It occurs on November 13.

BIRTHPLACE OF JOSEPH TOY

In the little hamlet of Roskear, an outlying village of Camborne, my father, Joseph Toy, was born. The long, low stone cottage, with small windows and overhanging roof, still stands. A narrow drive runs in from the village street, and a low stone wall separates it from the plain yard in front adorned with here and there a shrub or climbing vine. The house is little changed since the large family of