or the
purpose of crippling the forces of the Parliamentary party. These
cruisers had, in truth, very much the character of pirates, and were not
particular what vessels they robbed. Having plundered some Dutchmen,
they were very nearly being severely punished by old Van Tromp, who
appeared with a squadron. When summoned to surrender, Sir John refused,
and Van Tromp sailed away. At length, so urgent became the
representations of the merchants whose vessels had been captured, that
Parliament sent an expedition, under Admiral Blake and Sir George Askew,
when Sir John was compelled to surrender; and he, with the eight hundred
men forming his garrison, received honourable terms.

Though at one time the inhabitants of the Scilly Islands were noted for
their barbarous customs, they have now become as peaceably disposed and
civilised as any of Her Majesty's subjects.

Saint Mary's is divided into two parts by a narrow neck of land, on
which Hugh Town stands. It is very possible that some day it will be
washed away. We passed over a well-laid-out piece of ground covered
with soft turf, on which sheep and deer were feeding, called the Park;
and from it we could see the tall lighthouse and the few cottages on
Saint Agnes Island.

We then proceeded to Buzza Hill, whence we could look down on the
harbour, which had the appearance of a large lake. Sometimes, we were
told, several hundred vessels take shelter within it. Opposite to Hugh
Town was Tresco, the residence of Mr Smith, the lord proprietor,
surrounded by gardens containing avenues of geraniums and plantations of
the rarest exotics.

Some of the heights we reached were grand and picturesque in the
extreme--one of them, Penninis, especially so. Rocks seemed piled on
rocks; beneath, vaults and caverns, abounding with lichens and ferns,
with crystal pools in the hollows of granite. Climbing to the summit,
our eyes ranged over the ocean, rolling in sublime magnificence, its
voice never silent.

On Tolmen Point is a Druidical monument--a perforated stone, which we
examined. Papa said that no one knew for what purpose this monument,
and others like it, were intended. He told us of one especially, which
he had seen at Constantine Penryn, of which he had a photograph. It had
lately, he said, been thrown down for the sake of getting at the granite
underneath. I think such destruction of old monuments ought to be
forbidden by law!

Then we went to Porthhellick Co