two members, and has continued to do fo ever

fince.

CORPORATION.-In 30 Edward I. Henry de Pomeroy, then lord of the town, certified his right to a market, fair, and other privileges; which were allowed. In 19 James I. it was, by charter, incorporated. It is now governed by a mayor, feven capital burgeffes, and a recorder.

RIGHT OF ELECTION-is in all the householders who boil the pot, or, in other words, provide for themfelves, whether they live under the fame roof or not. (March, 1695.)

The NUMBER OF VOTERS were fluctuating when Lord Falmouth and Sir Francis were in oppofition; for then every poor wretch who belonged to the parish was fought, and caufed to boil a pot in the borough, in order to qualify them as voters. By this means 150 were brought to poll at the general election in 1784; but fince Mr. Barwell has poffeffed the fole influence, and oppofition is at an end, the number diminished to 100, which are now decreasing by degrees.

RETURNING

RETURNING OFFICERS-are the mayor and

portreve.

PATRON-Richard Barwell, efq.

TRURO.

POLITICAL CHARACTER.-The influence in this borough was, for fome years, warmly contested between Lord Falmouth and Sir Francis Baffet: the latter gained the victory by one vote, in 1780; and the former, by the fame majority, in 1784: but, in confequence of their agreement refpecting Tregony, Sir Francis difcontinued his oppofition in this borough; and it is now understood to be entirely at the devotion of his lordship.

ANCIENT CONSEQUENCE AND REPRESENTATION.-Truro is one of the most confiderable towns in Cornwall. The quarter-feffions for the western division of the county being held here, bring a great refort of company. Its great antiquity appears from its being called Truergeu, in doomsday

I

doomsday-book, and having had a fair and market fo long fince as 30 Edward I. and, from that period, it has regularly fent members to parliament.

The

CORPORATION.Truro was first incorporated in the reign of John, and afterwards by Elizabeth. It is now governed by a mayor, four aldermen, twenty capital burgeffes, and a recorder. mayor has great privileges: he claims being alfo mayor of Falmouth, the port-dues of which belong to this corporation. On the election of a mayor, the town-mace muft, by cuftom, be delivered to the lord of the manor, until fixpence is paid for every houfe in the town, confifting of 400, as an acknowledgement.

RIGHT OF ELECTION.-In 1660*, this question was stated:-" Whether the mayor, and four and twenty, or all the freemen of this borough, have "the right to elect." The houfe decided in fayour of the felect number. The difpute being revived in the year following, received the fame determination. In 1689 the fame dispute arose, and was ftated in the journals :-the queftion was, "Whether the right of election was in the ec populace

8 Journal, 69.

+ Ibid, 30.

+ 10 Vol. p. 141.

populace or felect number." The houfe decided that the word populace meant the greater body of the freemen, in contradiftinction to the select num ber. Their decifion was, like the others, in favour of the felect number.

NUMBER OF VOTERS-25.

RETURNING OFFICER-the mayor.

PATRON OF THE BOROUGH-Lord Falmouth.

PENRYN.

POLITICAL CHARACTER.-This is a scot and lot borough. The number of housekeepers paying to church and poor are about 140. The property is divided between the Earl of Mount Edgecumbe and Sir Francis Baffet; but the latter has, at prefent, the greatest part; and the majority of the electors are in his intereft.

ANCIENT STATE AND REPRESENTATION.Penryn is an ancient manor, belonging to the fee of Exeter; of which it is now held by the corpo

ration,

ration, at a small annual rent. It was a free borough, and had a market before 30 Edward I. and has fent representatives to parliament ever fince the firft of Queen Mary. It was made a free borough about the year 1270, by Walter Bronestcomb, then bishop of Exeter.

CORPORATION.-It was not incorporated until 18 James I. who appointed it to be governed by one mayor, eight aldermen, twelve common-councilmen, a recorder, a steward, and other inferior officers. It is now, however, governed by a mayor, four aldermen, and a town-clerk.

RIGHT OF ELECTION-is in the mayor, portreve, aldermen, and inhabitants at large, who pay scot and lot.

NUMBER OF VOTERS-are about 140.

RETURNING OFFICER-the mayor.

PATRON-Sir Francis Baffet.

FOWEY.