LISKEARD, a borough and market-town and parish, having separate jurisdiction, though locally in West hundred, county of CORNWALL, 18 miles (S.S.W.) from Launceston, and 225 (W. S.W.) from London, containing 3519 inhabitants, of which number, 2423 are in the borough. The ancient name of this place was Lis Kerrett, derived probably from two Cornish words signifying " a fortiiied place." It was formerly amongst the possessions of the Earls of Cornwall, and was, by act of parliament, annexed to the duchy, in the reign of Edward III.: the castle was occasionally the residence of Richard, Earl of Cornwall, King of the Romans. In 1643, during the civil war, a battle was fought near this place, between the royalists, under Sir Ralph Hopton, and the parliamentary forces, in which the latter were defeated, and the royalist army marched into Liskeard the same night. The king, on his entrance into Cornwall in 1644, halted here on the 2nd of August, and remained in the town until the 7th. Liskeard is one of the most ancient and considerable towns in the county: part of the town, which is irregularly built, is situated on rocky eminences, and the rest in a plain below; the streets are well paved, but not lighted; the inhabitants are supplied with excellent water; and the air is considered very salubrious. The river Looe runs through the parish. The tanning of leather is carried on to a limited extent: considerable facility for water carriage has been afforded by the canal from Liskeard to Looe, a distance of six miles, which has been recently completed, and terminates about one mile west of the town, where there is a paper-mill. This is one of the four coinage or stannary towns; but no coinage had taken place for some time, till within the last two years, when it was revived. A handsome markethouse for poultry, fish, and vegetables, was erected, in 1822, at the expense of the corporation; the butchers shambles are beneath the town-hall. The market, on Saturday, is abundantly supplied with provisions of all kinds, a great part of which is purchased for the market at Devonport: there are likewise great annual markets, on Shrove-Tuesday, the day after Palm-Sunday, and the Monday after St. Nicholas' day. Large cattle fairs are held on Holy Thursday, Aug. 15th, Sep. 21st, and Oct. 2nd. Liskeard was made a free borough, in 1240, by Richard, Earl of Cornwall, who conferred on the burgesses similar privileges to those enjoyed by the burgesses of Launceston and Helston; the date of the original charter of incorporation is unknown. By the existing confirmatory charter of Elizabeth, granted in 1580, the corporation consists of a mayor, recorder, eight capital burgesses, and an indefinite number of freemen, with four constables, two Serjeants at mace, and other officers; the mayor is annually chosen from among the capital burgesses, by the freemen, and the freemen and burgesses fill up vacancies in their respective bodies. The mayor and recorder are justices of the peace within the borough, the county magistrates having occasionally concurrent jurisdiction. Sessions are held within a month of Easter, and on the first Tuesday after the 18th of Oct.; also a court of pleas, every three weeks, for the recovery of debts to any amount, at which the mayor and capital burgesses, assisted by the recorder, preside. Petty sessions for the east division of the hundred of West are also held, on the first Tuesday in every month. This borough first sent representatives to parliament in the 23d of Edward I.: the right of election is vested in the mayor, capital burgesses, and an indefinite number of freemen chosen by them, at present amounting to forty-four; the mayor is the returning officer; the influence of the Earl of St. Germans is predominant. The town-hall, which is supported by granite columns, was erected, about 1707, at the expense of - Dolben, Esq., one of the representatives of the borough. The living is a vicarage, in the archdeaconry of Cornwall, and diocese of Exeter, rated in the king's books at £ 1 S. 13.111. The Rev. Dr. Gwynne was patron in 1821. The church, which is dedicated to St. Martin, stands on an eminence at the eastern entrance into the town; it is spacious and handsome, being built of fine large slate stone, and has a low embattled tower, which was erected in 1627; a tenement, called Lanseaton, now let at £50 per annum, is vested in the churchwardens for the repairs of the church. There are places of worship for the Society of Friends, Independents, and Wesleyan Methodists. A grammar school is supported by the Earl of St. Germans, who allows a salary of £100 per annum to the master. A free school for poor children, in which ten girls are now taught, was founded by the trustees of a donation by the Rev. St. John Eliot, who died in 1760, and endowed by them with £ 5 per annum; a school for one hundred boys was opened about fifteen years ago, on Dr. Bell's plan; and another for fifty girls, both supported by subscription. In 1714, John Buller gave £18 per annum, for teaching and clothing poor boys; and there are other small benefactions for teaching children. There are some vestiges of the ancient castle; and a great part of the conventual buildings belonging to the nunnery of Poor Clares, founded here, and endowed by Richard, Earl of Cornwall, yet remain: it is called "The Great Place," and has been converted into dwelling-houses; the chapel is now a bakehouse. About the year 1400, here was an hospital for lepers, dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene.