*BODMIN, (Cornwall) 195 cm. and 263 mm. from London, stands bet. two hills, almost in the centre of the Co. about 12 m. from each of the two channels. It had formerly an abbey, a hos. for lazars, a chantry, and was a Bp's. see, but transferred through St. Germans and Crediton to Exeter, and the remains of a palace, priory and friary are still to be seen here. Its Ch. whose spire was destroyed by a thunder-storm in 1699, is the largest in Cornwal. Here is a good corn and flesh Mt. on S. and Fairs on St. Paul's-day, Wed. before Whitsuntide, and on the 6th of Dec. It is near a m. long, with about 300 houses; and in the R. of Hen. VIII. was reckoned the largest T. in the Co. The corp. consists of a mayor, 12 ald. 24 C.C. and a town-clerk. It was once the only staple of the Co. for the yarn mf. which is since much decayed. Here is kept the sheriff's prison for debtors. There is a well near this place, whose water is remarkable for being much heavier than other water, and for preserving its scent and taste the best part of a year; but though it is called Scarlet- Well, represents many colours like the rainbow. The E. of Radnor, to whom it gives title of Visc. is Ld. of the manor. It began to send members to Pt. in the 23d of Edw. I. It was formerly one of the Ts. for the stamping of tin, but lost that privilege to Leftwithiel. Not far from this place are those monumental stones, called the Hurlers, which Dr. Stukely makes no doubt are the remains of an ancient Druid-Temple. They stand on a down in three circles, and had the name from the peasants superstitious notion that they were once men, but transformed into stones for diverting themselves on a Sunday at Hurling; a recreation for which the Cornish men are particularly eminent, as well as for Wrestling. There is a fr. s. in the T. maintained partly by the D. of Cornwal, and partly by the corp. The late Ld. Mohun had the largest manor in it. The toll and lands bel. to. the corp. are computed at above 200 l. a year.