[Illustration: _Photo: Frith & Co., Reigate._ FALMOUTH HARBOUR.] Though to-day its prosperity is scarcely commensurate with its natural advantages, the harbour still remains almost unrivalled. First port of call for homeward-bound vessels, with a depth of water and safe anchorage that many another harbour might envy, and sheltered from all the winds that blow save those from the south-south-east, it is so capacious that the whole British fleet could ride at anchor in its waters. Falmouth as a town owes its existence to these striking features of its harbour. Beholding them, it struck the shrewd sons of the House of Killigrew, Lords of Arwenack (there is an Arwenack Street to this day), who flourished in the time of James I., that there was no earthly reason why vessels should go seven miles to Truro, or two miles to Penryn, for a port when an infinitely better one might be created at the very mouth of the harbour. Vested interests, as represented by the communities of Truro, Penryn, and Helston, offered stout opposition. But the silver-tongued Lords of Arwenack prevailed in the argument before King James, and it was not long ere Falmouth was the first port in Cornwall. Its great era of prosperity exemplifies the adage that it's an ill wind that blows nobody good, for, during our wars with the French, Falmouth became a mail packet station, and flourished exceedingly on "Government service." It was the boast of proud Falmouthians that a hundred vessels could ride in the creeks of Falmouth Harbour and yet that no two should be in sight of each other. How this might be may be understood in part when it is explained that, besides many smaller arms, there are five principal creeks. Of these branches not the least is that which was probably the earliest used, to Penryn; there is a second to Restronguet and Perranarworthal; a third, also of ancient use, to Truro and Tresillian Bridge; a fourth running up to St. Mawes and Gerrans; and the fifth and greatest, to King Harry's Reach, toward Tregony, which is the main stream of our Fal. /Hugh W. Strong./ [Illustration: _Photo: Frith & Co., Reigate._ FALMOUTH, FROM FLUSHING.] [Illustration: THE ISLE OF ATHELNLY (_p. 68_).] THE PARRET AND THE LOWER AVON. The /Parret/: Its Source--Muchelney Abbey--The Tone and Taunton--Athelney Island and Alfred the Great--Sedgemoor--Bridgewater--Burnham. The /Lower Avon/: Escourt Park--Malmesbury--Chippenham--Melksham--Bradford-on-Avon--Bath--The Frome--Beau Nash--Bridges at Bath--The Abbey Church--Bristol--St. Mary Redcliffe and Chatterton--The Cathedral--"The Chasm"--Clifton Suspension Bridge--The Lower Reaches--Avonmonth.