their existence and wealth to our indolence and inattention. The evil hitherto has feemed irremediable to the fpiritlefs inhabitants of our county, from the vaft opulence of the different companies, whofe intereft it must be to fupport the present fyftem, the channel of their wealth. They know, that it would require a greater purfe than any one or two private gentlemen are able to furnish. It was however attempted, about feventy years fince, by Mr. Scobell, at Polruddan in St. Auftle, with whom Sir Talbot Clark and Mr. Vincent joined, where the first piece of Copper ever made fo in this county, was fmelted, refined, and brought to perfection. After this John Pollard, Efq; of Redruth, and Mr. Thomas Worth, of St. Ives, made a fecond trial; but both thefe attempts failed of fuccefs, more through ill management, roguery of the workmen, and the improper fituation of their works, than any extraordinary charge of the fuel. After thefe, one Gideon Cofier, of Piran Žabuloe, erected an houfe for the like purpose at Pen-pol in the parish of Phillack, but being foon taken off by a Fever, when he had made a fair progrefs in it, the fame was carried on by Sir William Pendarves and Robert Corker, Efq; who have both affured the writer (Thomas Tonkin, Efq;) that they could fmelt their Ore as cheap (all hazards confidered) as the companies could pretend to do at their works in Wales. They did fo accordingly for fome years; but being fince dead, and their affairs falling into fuch hands as had other interefts to mind, this project too funk with them. A fmall beginning was alfo made to the fame purpofe at Lenobrcy in St. Agnes, where they fmelted fome Copper with good fuccefs; but were obliged to give it over for want of a fufficient ftock to go on with it.

From all thefe infant effays and fome obfervations made and gathered from workmen abroad, but chiefly from the late Mr. Cofter, largely concerned in the White Rock Works at Swanfey, who owned to Mr. T. that most of our Ores might be smelted nearly as cheap here as abroad; I am convinced (if we allow for the great falaries the faid companies are obliged to give to their agents here and elsewhere; the hazard of Ore on fhipboard in time of war, and double freight to pass and repafs our own inhospitable coaft, with the risk of being caft on their native fhore) nay, I believe it would amount to a demonftration, that it might be done much cheaper and more advantagcoufly in fome convenient places in this county than in Wales. Notwithftanding this, it has been the refinement of Cornish policy to fuffer

the

the exportation of their raw ftaple, in order to give other countries the benefit of its manufacture !

fudden

To remedy this intolerable grievance, a propofal was made to fome of the principal gentlemen of the county, to join in a petition to her Majefty Queen ANNE (and had not death prevented it, it might have been effected) that her Majefty would be pleased to lay it before her parliament, to have our Copper Mines fubject to the ftannary laws in all things (except being under bounds) and have the Copper coined at the neighbouring coinage towns, as the Tin is, under a duty of one shilling & hundred of fine Copper to be paid to the Duke of Cornwall; which, as it would be an addition to the ducal revenue, and managed without any furcharge by the fame coinage officers, so would it effectually fecure the smelting and refining all the Copper Ores within the county, by degrees let us into the true value of our commodity, and the management of it, as eafy as that of Tin; and furthermore confine the labour and profits in the manufactory thereof among ourselves. This fmall memorial of the above defign, Mr. T. fays, he has left behind him to be digefted in better order by wifer heads, whenever they fee convenient season to put it in execution. (Anonym. Addrefs, Tonkins MSS.)

Thus far had been attempted the fmelting of Copper Ore in Cornwall, which it must be owned had been fruftrated through the confederacy of oppofite interested companies, and the want of fufficient infight into the art of fufion more than from the attributed extraordinary expence of fuel; till about the year 1754, when one Sampfon Swaine, in conjunction with fome gentlemen of Camborne, erected furnaces at Entral in that parish; but their fituation being too remote from coal, they removed their works to Hayle. The author very well remembers the combinations which were formed to overthrow this laudable effort. The companies left no method unfought to traduce the credit, and ftab the vitals of this undertaking. Threats and remonftrances were equally used to oblige or cajole the owners of the Mines to abandon or fupprefs the new company at Hayle. The opponents of this affociation ufing every expedient to mortify the spirit of this arduous undertaking, alternately raised the price of Copper Ores, and lowered the value of fine Copper, to the great lofs of the contending parties; which will ever be the cafe where monopolies are disturbed, and the almighty power of opulence can prevail. But happening to

have men of fortune and capacity at their head, they were founded in prudence, and withflood the fhocks of power and artifice.

That it will answer to fmeli Copper Ores on this fide the channel, is undeniably demonftrable by the thriving fituation of this Cornish Copper Company, who would not fo vastly increase the number of their furnaces without having experienced the benefit of their undertaking.

Similar to that, another company erected works at NorthDowns in Redruth a few years back. Perhaps their fmall beginning did not excite the notice of the other companics: however, their induftry and economy have been fuccessful; and after having enlarged their works in that unfit place, at a great expence, they have now removed the fame to Tregew, on a branch of Falmouth harbour, for the more profitable conducting the concern. I have further to add, from the best authority, that they are thriving under this removal and many other difadvantages. It is much to be wifhed, that fome spirited gentlemen would imitate their example; and as fuch a step would be of great advantage to themfelves and the community, I will fuppofe they will, e'er long, fee with their own eyes and judge for

themfelves.

In this little hiftory of fmelting Copper, no notice hath been taken of those who attempted the practice of boiling and roafting at the fame fire. In fact, nothing could profper in fuch hands. Neither can we commend the temerity and improvidency of those who built their furnaces like churches, upon the fame plan; not well confidering, that a heat for the fufion of ftubborn Ores, can fcarcely be too focal or concentrated.

CHAP.

To Sir Frederick Semen Rogers, of BLACHFORD in Derenshure, Baronet. this Plate engraved at his expence, is most gratefully Insented, by

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W!"Pryce.

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