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of plain, honest, homely scolding, that the luckless Orlando took to his heels, and missing his footing on the narrow bridge, tumbled, head-foremost, into the Holy Brook, and emerged dripping like a river god, to the infinite amusement of the two impostors and of William Marshall, the contriver of the jest, who lay perdu in the mill, and told the story, as a great secret, to so many persons, that before the next day it was known half over the place, and was the eventual cause of depriving the good town of Belford of one of the most inoffensive and most sentimental of its inhabitants. The fair Selina decamped in a week.

MARY.

HER Soul is in her eyes,
Undimm'd by grief or care,
Softer than summer skies,
When the lambent moon is there.
Her small ethereal face
Is of so fair a hue,

That you may almost trace

The spotless spirit through.

Her liquid voice I hear,
With rapture how profound,
As it floats upon the ear—
'Tis the poetry of sound.
How eloquent her tear!
What music in her sigh!
The very atmosphere
Breathes balm when she is nigh.

Pure as the mountain spring
That knows no earthly leaven,
She seems too charmed a thing
For any place but heaven.
Such-such is not for me.
Alas! that e'er we met!
For who shall ever see,
And, seeing, e'er forget.

GROVE HILL, FALMOUTH, CORNWALL.

THE SEAT OF G. C. FOX, ESQ.

THE beautiful grounds and pleasing mansion, the property of Mr. Fox, are situated in the immediate vicinity of the town of Falmouth. The house stands upon a rising ground, and commands a fine view of the harbour and ocean: the interior is handsomely fitted up, and the gardens are laid out with superior taste.

It may not be uninteresting to our readers, if we present them with a brief history of the town and harbour of Falmouth, which latter is certainly the most important in the United Kingdom, from the combined causes of its being the most westerly port in the British Channel, and one of the most commodious and safest for the largest ships of war in the British navy, as well as for the smallest merchant vessels.

The town of Falmouth is not mentioned by Camden, even in his edition of 1607, though he notices the harbour very particularly, and actually mentions Penryn, St. Maw's Castle, Pendennis Castle, and even Arwinnick, now at the end of the town.

It appears, however, that before the year 1600, "a certain person building a little house, a female servant of one Mr. Pendarvis" (Mr. Pendarvis, of Pendarvis, about ten or eleven miles from Falmouth) "came and

dwelt in it; upon which that gentleman bade her brew a little ale, and on such a day he promised to come with some gentlemen, and help her to some money by drinking it up." The old lady observed her master's orders. But in the meantime a Dutch vessel came into the harbour; the crew calling at the house drank out the ale. Mr. Pendarvis came with his friends on the day appointed; and calling for some drink, his servant told him she had none. Her master expostulating with her, she told him what had passed, adopting a prudent argument quite irresistible. "Truly, master," said she, "the penny come so quick I could not deny them." The country people round about used to call Falmouth Penny Come Quick, and this story is still told popularly at Falmouth, and still considered a veritable narrative of the town's origin. Even the house itself, the scene of this transaction, was until within these few years shown under that name, but it is now destroyed. A spacious hotel now stands on its site, which demonstrates that the penny has continued to come quick*.

Whatever credit the sceptical reader may be disposed to award to this story, it is certain that in 1613, John Killigrew formed a plan of building a whole town at once here. The town of Truro, having possession of all the sovereignty of that fine expanse of waters which is now called Falmouth harbour; the town of Penryn, which had arisen since Truro, and had latterly come to share its harbour with it; and even Helston, a town at a considerable distance, actually cut off by nature from any immediate

In 1679, when Lord Robartes was created Earl of Falmouth, which title he retained only six days in consequence, as Turbin says, of a jest: Lady Mohun having complimented his lady on her acquisition of the title of Countess of Penny-come-quick.

use of the harbour; all united to oppose the execution, and petitioned King James the First against it.

On a full hearing of all parties at the Council Board, King James decided in favour of the defendant. Thus encouraged, Mr. Killigrew went on with his erections; and Falmouth started up a complete town at once.

From many favourable circumstances that attended the rising town, its buildings rapidly increased. There were about 200 houses in Falmouth in 1664; before the close of that century, they had increased to 350; about 1750, to between 500 and 600; and at the present moment, there may be about 1000 houses and 10,000 inhabitants.

Such were the origin and growth of this town. Its improvement and progress have in a considerable degree been connected with the establishment of the Post-office Packets to Lisbon, the West Indies, &c. There are now forty ships in constant employ to convey letters to distant shores.

The mouth or entrance of the harbour from the British Channel, between Pendennis and St. Anthony's points, is a mile wide, and is defended by Pendennis and St. Mawes' Castles. Near the middle is a rock, called the Black Rock, on which a pole has been usually fixed as a warning of danger, it being covered at high tide.

It has been asserted that a hundred sail may lie at anchor in this harbour, and not one of them see the other's main top-mast. This arises from its numerous creeks, long winding channels, and the high lands which environ the whole. It will contain five hundred in safety; two hundred and fifty sail, including several of the line, many frigates, &c., have been known to ride out severe storms in it, in security.

U

CHORUS FROM THE "ALCESTIS" OF

ALFIERI.

TRANSLATED BY MRS. HEMANS.

The Attendants of ALCESTI sing in low voices during her dying moments

PEACE, mourners, peace!

Be hush'd be silent, in this hour of dread!

Our cries would but increase

The sufferer's pangs; let tears unheard be shed-
Cease, voice of weeping, cease!

Sustain, O friend!

Upon thy gentle breast,

The head that sinks, with mortal pain oppress'd.

And thou, assistance lend

To close the languid eye,

Still beautiful, in life's last agony!

Alas! how long a strife!

What anguish struggles in the parting breath,

Ere yet immortal life

Be won by death!

-Death, death! thy work complete,

Let thy sad hour be fleet;

Speed, in thy mercy, the releasing sigh!

No more keen pangs impart

To her, the high in heart,

Th' ador'd Alcestis, worthy ne'er to die!

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