One of the “brooks” at Truro mentioned by Leland was the River Kenwyn, which joined the River Allen to form the Truro River; but before doing so the Kenwyn, or some portion of its overflow, had been so diverted that the water ran down the gutters of the principal streets.  It was a novelty to us to see the water so fresh and clean running down each side of the street—­not slowly, but as if at a gallop.

In the time of the Civil War Truro was garrisoned for the King, but in 1646, after a fierce engagement between the Royalists under Sir Ralph Hopton and Cromwell’s forces under Sir Thomas Fairfax, a treaty was signed at Tresillian River Bridge (a pretty place which we had passed last night, about three miles outside the town on the St. Austell road), by which Truro was surrendered quietly to the Parliament.

The Grammar School, where many eminent men had been educated, was founded in 1549.  Among its old pupils was included Sir Humphry Davy, born in 1778, the eminent chemist who was the first to employ the electric current in chemical decomposition and to discover nitric oxide or “laughing gas.”  He was also the inventor of the famous safety-lamp which bears his name, and which has been the means of saving the lives of thousands of miners.

Truro was the birthplace of several men of note:  Samuel Foote, Richard Lander, and Henry Martyn, two of them having been born in public-houses in the town.

Samuel Foote, a famous dramatist and comedian, was born at the “Old King’s Head Inn” in 1720, and was buried in Westminster Abbey in 1777.  He was a clever actor and mimic, “and kept London in a good humour”; he wrote the Mayor of Garrett and many other comedies.

Richard Lander, born at the “Fighting Cocks Inn” in 1804, became famous as an African explorer.  He took part in the expedition to Africa which was the first to discover and trace the Niger.  He was injured by savages and died at Fernando Po in 1834.

Henry Martyn, born in 1781, the son of a miner, was a noble and devoted missionary.  He left home when twenty-four years of age to labour amongst the Hindus and Mahometans at Cawnpore in India, and travelled in Persia and Armenia.  He translated portions of the Bible and Prayer Book into the Persian and Hindustani languages, and at last, weary and worn out in his Master’s service, died of fever at Tokat in 1812.

[Illustration:  THE FRONTAGE, OLD ST. MARY’S CHURCH.]

St. Mary’s Church was built in 1518, and was remarkable for its two east windows and some fine carving on the walls outside.  It was surrounded by narrow streets and ancient buildings.  We had no time to explore the interior, so contented ourselves with a visit to an old stone preserved by the Corporation and inscribed: 

      DANIEL JENKIN, MAIOR,

WHO SEEKS TO FIND ETERNAL TREASVRE
MVST VSE NO GVILE IN WEIGHT AND MEASVRE.

          
                                                              1618.