there is a small course of real spar, (very unusual "in our Cornish lodes,) about three-fourths of "an inch thick, No. 10. This spar lies not in a "solid lode, but in a shattery tesslated state, like "so many dies, loose and side by side; it ferments "immediately with aqua fortis; is subtransparent, "and breaks into quadrangular prisms, the base a "Rhombus."

One mile more to the north introduced us to another natural curiosity of the Lizard, Kynance Cove, a most tremendous assemblage of dark serpentine rocks, disposed by the hand of Nature into groups, if I may be allowed the expression, horribly picturesque. The descent into this recess is by a gloomy narrow path, awful, if not dangerous; banishing by its dread solemnity all associations connected with the works of man, and the bustle of society. An interminable ocean was spread before us; huge rocks elevated their august masses high above our heads on each side; and behind us a dark cavern penetrated deeply into the cliff. We only wanted the terrors of a storm to afford us a picture of the true sublime. Unhappily for the mariner, this awful accompaniment to Kynance Cove is but too frequent upon the shores of the Lizard. More than seven months out of the twelve it is deluged with rain, and the terrible south

westerly winds prevail in the same proportion. Shipwreck is consequently not an unusual event here; though the most prudent precautions have been taken to prevent it, by the construction of two light-houses on the Lizard Point, (about a mile from Kynance Cove,) which front the south, and stand nearly abreast of each other. These point out the most southerly promontory of England, and of course notify the dangerous adjoining coast; but unhappily they are at times found to be insufficient securities against the horrible darkness of the midnight storm, and the uncontroulable fury of convulsed elements. The Lizard Point has much of the character of the Land's End, but wants its sublimity those travellers therefore who would intro: duce a just gradation of pleasure into their Cornish excursion, should visit the Lizard before they go to the western extremity of the county.

Our course from Ruan to Menachan over Goonhelly downs would have been intolerably dreary, had not the surface on which we rode regaled both the eye and olfactory nerve with a vast profusion of that beautiful and rare English Heath, called the Erica Vagans. This natural carpet of blooming vegetation accompanied us for some miles, and then deserted us as suddenly as it had unexpectedly presented itself to our notice. Not a plant of it was

to be seen as we proceeded; a circumstance which bore as strong a testimony to a sudden difference of the soils as if portions of them had been analyzed on the spot by the most subtle chemist.

At Menachan we saw the rivulet which produces the semi-metal called Menachanite, found here in the form of grains, and procured by washing the gravel and sand of the bed of the stream. Not being as yet applied to any purpose of utility, Menachanite is only interesting to the mineralogist.

sonesus.

The village of Gweek, which stands at the head of the river Hel, terminated the tour of the Lizard CherIt afforded also comfortable refreshment for ourselves, and good food for our horses, articles we should in vain have enquired for in the other villages through which we passed after quitting Mullion.

Our road to Redruth afforded us more specimens of Druidical remains, on the summits of two lofty hills to the right, about six miles from Helston. They consisted of cairnes and coits, a term applied to groups of stones, when some of them are erect, forming three sides of an enclosure, and others placed over them in a horizontal direction. We had before remarked, that these monuments of early superstition were seldom found isolated, but usually in a series contiguous to each other. Here was another instance of this associ

ation, a circumstance naturally enough accounted for by Borlase in the following manner: "It will, per

haps," says he," seem surprising to some readers, "that many places of devotion, and altars of the "same kind, should be found so near to one another. "Karns for instance, on adjoining hills, and some"times rocks in different parts of the same karns, "or ledges of rocks, marked with the same traces "of the use they were designed for; but it must "be remembered, that the ancients were of opinion

that all places were not at all times equally auspi❝cious, and that the gods might permit, encourage, ❝or grant in one place or circle, or on one rock or “altar, what they denied in another; an opinion "first suggested for the furtherance and promoting "of error, and continued for the private gain of "these superstitious jugglers; for if appearances of "the victim were not favourable in one place, if "their divinations and enchantments were mistaken "and their predictions failed, the fault was not laid "to the want of art in the priest, or of truth in the "science, or of power in the idol, but to the inno"cent place; and the places were changed till

appearances became more supple and applicable "to the purposes intended;"* an opinion which he

Borlase's Antiquities, p. 122.

illustrates and confirms by the conduct of Balak, who, when he employed the prophet Balaam to curse the Israelites, finding the incantation fail in one place, and hoping that another might prove more favourable, requests Balaam to accompany him to an adjoining elevation, and there repeat his arts; "Come, I pray thee, says he, I will bring thee into another place, peradventure it will please GOD "that thou mayest curse me them from thence."

It had not escaped our observation, also, that the Druidical remains of Cornwall were destitute of barrows in their neighbourhood, accompaniments which surround in multitudes the stupendous temples of Wiltshire,-Abury and Stonehenge. I apprehend, however, that their absence may be accounted for upon a very obvious and rational principle. It is universally allowed that barrows are places of sepulture; mounds raised over the bodies of those who were celebrated for achievements, or dignified by office. Now it seems but reasonable to suppose that the intention of these tumuli was to commemorate the names of those who were interred beneath them.

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If I must fall in the field," says a northern chieftian in Ossian," raise high my grave, Vinvela. Grey stones, and heaped up earth, shall mark me to "future times. When the hunter shall sit by "the mound, and produce his food at noon, a war