The Autobiography of a Cornish Smuggler Part 2

We pa.s.sed the afternoon with him, and in the evning went to Keneggy to see brother Charles, wh_ere we_ meet with many tears of joy, _and afterwards_ returned again to Rinsey in _the evening_, where we had all our conversation _about_ Hevenly things, _which_ was a treat indeed, _after being_ so long _silent_ on the subject.

WILLIAM BYLES AND SONS, PRINTERS, 129 FLEET STREET, LONDON, AND BRADFORD.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] It is said that this name is derived from the fact that John Carter, a brother of Harry Carter, and the most famous of the smugglers, lived there. He was nicknamed the "King of Prussia," and the house in which he lived is still known as the "King of Prussia's House." The origin of this nickname is explained by a story that when they were all boys together, they used to play at soldiers, and John would always claim to be the King of Prussia. Clearly an echo of the fame of Frederick the Great had reached these boys about the time of the Seven Years' War.

[2] 17 Geo. III. c. 7.

[3] See Lecky. _History of Eighteenth Century_, vol. iv. ch. xiv.

[4] Carlyle. _French Revolution_, bk. iii. ch. iv.

[5] Spelt "yest" in the ma.n.u.script throughout.

[6] "Called." The spelling is the dialect p.r.o.nunciation.

[7] A small village about half a mile from Prussia Cove.

[8] Spelt "fever" in the ma.n.u.script. The Cornish people do not distinguish "v" and "w."

[9] "Bal" is a mine, tin or copper.

[10] This name is now lost.

[11] ? Folkestone, see p. 80.

[12] The sizes of all his vessels are given in old measurement. Before 1835 s.h.i.+ps were measured by the following elaborate rule. Subtract three-fifths of the greatest breadth from the length of the keel, multiply this by the breadth, and the result by half of the breadth; divide the result so obtained by 94, and the answer is the size of the s.h.i.+p in tons (see 13 Geo. III. c. 26, -- 74). They are now measured by the cubical contents. It is difficult to render these figures in modern measurement, but this sloop was probably about the size which would be now called 10 tons.

[13] About 18 tons in modern measurement.

[14] About 30 tons in modern measurement.

[15] Spelt "oughten" in the ma.n.u.script. Daughter is still p.r.o.nounced "dafter" in West Cornwall.

[16] Conscience.

[17] "Felt," dialect p.r.o.nunciation.

[18] "Carried," dialect p.r.o.nunciation.

[19] About 60 tons in modern measurement.

[20] The treaty between France and the Americans was made on February 6, 1778.

[21] "Kept," dialect p.r.o.nunciation.

[22] The "King of Prussia."

[23] Cf. note 12.

[24] About 50 tons in modern measurement.

[25] Newlyn, near Penzance.

[26] The collector of the Customs, presumably at Penzance.

[27] Spelt "feve" in the ma.n.u.script. Cf. note 8.

[28] About 45 tons in modern measurement.

[29] ? Cawsand near Plymouth.

[30] Burtons, a small tackle of two pulleys to be fastened anywhere at pleasure (Phillips' _Dictionary_, 1706). Now obsolete.

[31] Near Cuddan Point. It was built about 1775 by Mr. John Stackhouse, of Pendarves.

[32] It is said that the doctor who attended him at this time was always met on the road about a mile away by two men, who blindfolded him; and in this way he was brought to the Castle, and so led back to the road again. A precaution to prevent him from giving information as to Harry Carter's hiding place.

[33] Spelt "oughten" in the ma.n.u.script. See note 15.

[34] Glazier.

[35] Thomas c.o.ke, LL.D.; he was ordained Bishop or Superintendent of the American Methodist Societies by John Wesley in 1784.

[36] This expression, which occurs several times in the following pages, is common in West Cornwall in the sense of "although."

[37] This is one of Dr. Watts' hymns. It was not included by John Wesley in the Hymn-book which he published in 1790.

[38] Francis Asbury. He was sent to America by John Wesley in 1771, and was elected Joint Superintendent with Dr. c.o.ke at the Conference held at Baltimore in 1784. He was the only English preacher who remained in America during the War of Independence.

[39] This is one of the "Olney" hymns by Cowper and Newton.

[40] Spelt "worps" in the ma.n.u.script, which is dialect p.r.o.nunciation.

Cf. "sharps" for "shafts" (of a cart), and "vycicle" for "bycicle,"

which are both common.

[41] Spelt "feve" in the ma.n.u.script. Cf. note 8.

[42] Spelt "youmping" in the ma.n.u.script. Cf. "yest" for "just," note 5.

[43] ? "Bustle."

[44] Ordinances.