MICHAEL, or MIDSHALL (ST.), a borough (formerly
a market-town) partly in the parish of ST-ENODER,
and partly in that of NEWLYN, hundred of PYDER,
county of CORNWALL, 36 miles (S. W. by W.) from
Launceston, and 249 (TV. S. TV.) from London. The population
is returned with the parishes. The ancient
name of this place was Modeshole, under which appellation
John de Aruudell, in 1301, certified his right to a
market and fair here, which had been previously granted
to Walter de Raleigh. The town is very inconsiderable,
consisting only of a few houses, several of which are
uninhabited; the market has been long disused; fairs
are held July 28th and October 15th, the latter chiefly
for sheep, of which from three thousand to four thousand
are generally offered for sale. A portreeve is
presented annually by the jury at the court leet of the
high lord, who must be one of the five chief tenants,
or mesne-lords. The borough first sent members to
parliament in the reign of Edward VI.: the right of
election is in the portreeve and mesne, or deputy,
lords of the manor (who are capable of being portreeves),
and the inhabitants of the borough paying scot and lot:
the number of voters is eight; the portreeve is the
returning officer. The influence of Viscount Falmouth,
and of the representative of Sir Christopher Hawkins,
Bart., is predominant.