The Parochial History of Cornwall, Volume 3 (of 4) — John Shaqi
The Parochial History of Cornwall, Volume 3 (of 4)
History
The Parochial History of Cornwall, Volume 3 (of 4)
Cornwall (England : County) -- History; Geology -- England -- Cornwall (County)
The numerous monuments of remote antiquity scattered over the hills
and promontories of Cornwall, made also deep impressions on his mind,
and he availed himself of every resource placed within his reach, by
previous learning and erudition, to acquire a knowledge of the
Druidical learning, and of the manners and customs of the ancient
Britons previously to their becoming Christians. In 1750 he was
elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, and in 1753 published in a
folio volume, at Oxford, “The Antiquities of Cornwall.” A second
edition in the same form came out at London in the year 1769, with
considerable additions, under the following title: “Antiquities,
Historical and Monumental, of the County of Cornwall, consisting of
several Essays on the ancient Inhabitants, Druid Superstition,
Customs, and Remains of the most remote Antiquity in Britain and the
British Isles; exemplified and proved by Monuments now extant in
Cornwall and the Scilly Islands: with a Vocabulary of the
Cornu-British language. Revised, with several additions, by the
Author.”
His next publication had for its title, “Observations on the ancient
and present state of the Islands of Scilly, and their importance to
the Trade of Great Britain,” Oxford, 1756, 4to. This work was an
extension of a paper, read before the Royal Society in 1753.
In 1758 came out his “Natural History of Cornwall, with Engravings of
all the specimens, both animate and mineral, deemed to be of curiosity
or of importance,” printed also at Oxford, in one volume folio, the
original specimens and many antiquities being deposited in the
Ashmolean Museum.
All these works, executed with great ability, patient diligence, and
skill, raised the reputation of the author so high throughout the
learned world, that in March 1766, the University of Oxford conferred
on him their highest honour, the degree of Doctor by diploma, which he
lived to enjoy somewhat more than six years, having departed this life
on the 31st of August, 1772.
Besides his literary correspondence with various learned men, he
carried on one of peculiar frequency with the great poet of his age,
Mr. Alexander Pope, and a large collection of Mr. Pope’s letters to
him is still extant, with a variety of other papers, obviously
intended for publication.
Dr. Borlase furnished Mr. Pope with many Cornish fossils to decorate
his celebrated grotto at Twickenham, where the donor’s name was scored
in capitals of the most splendid materials; and in a letter written on
the occasion, Mr. Pope says, “I am much obliged to you for your
valuable collection of Cornish diamonds. I have placed them where they
may best represent yourself, in a shade, but shining.”
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