HOW THE MINE STARTED

Extract from "The Mining Journal". 26th July 1845.

    It is now some little time since  a set, known as Wheal Trelawney, was given up in the parish of Menheniot, which held forth good promise, and which has justified the expectations entertained - a course of lead having been discovered, and the prices of shares having advanced considerably. Attention was naturally directed to the ground immediately adjoining, and, as the engine-shaft was sunk near to the boundary, it became an object of importance to secure the adjacent set, known as Wheal Mary Ann, which was the property of Miss Pollard, a lady of the highest respectability, who we feel assured, would never wittingly lend herself to a deception, but who, as we shall show in the end, was herself grossly deceived.
    Application having been made to this lady for a grant of the set, by the agent of Wheal Trelawney on behalf of the adventurers, it was some time before her assent was obtained; and, in the meantime, they, with the object of inducing the lady to make the grant, and, in some measure, place her in a "fix", secured two sets, which were so intimately connected with her property, as to render it indispensable that she should grant to the Trelawney adventurers if to any party.
    This will be better understood by supposing five distinct pieces of land as A, B, C, D, E. A belongs to the Trelawney adventurers; B and D to Miss Pollard; and C and E to another party, whose interests the Trelawney adventurers acquire, thus becoming possessed of A, C, and E (the ace of the pack), and affording evidence, if such were necessary, of the application for the setts, made by the agent, being on their behalf.
    Matters went on, and, in time, Miss Pollard agreed to make the grant to PETER CLYMO (the purser of Trelawney), JAMES CLYMO (one of the principal adventurers), and EDWARD LYNE (the lawyer to the company), upon  receiving £1000 down, £1000 out of first profits, and twelve free shares, and, accordingly, a lease was executed. The document, we presume, was drawn in the usual manner, and was made out to these parties, and their co-adventurers, and it is only natural to suppose that their co-adventurers were those interested in Wheal Trelawney, on whose behalf the application was made; but a slight difference of opinion appears to have been entertained on this point, and hence the awkward position in which we now find things. But to continue our narrative.
    The grant thus having been secured and held, as the Trelawney adventurers were led to believe, in trust for them, according to their relative proportions or interest in that mine, was, however, claimed by the three " worthies " whose names we have given, but who liberally expressed their readiness to give to the Trelawney adventurers 1-256th share in the Wheal Mary Ann sett to every 1-130th held in Trelawney. Which added to the twelve free shares reserved to Miss Pollard, making together 142, would leave to their own "cheek" no less than 114 shares, which, as they are valued in the market at £35 or £40 a share, would be something like a " pull " of £4000 to £5000--- no small trifle at starting. Now, it is quite clear, that these gentlemen would not be so liberal as to present 130 shares, which, at £40 per share, are worth £5200, without there was some legal and moral claim on the part of the Trelawney adventurers, and it appears to us, that, if they claim to a part, they have bona fide right to the whole, and that a division is nothing more nor less than a shameful attempt to mulct the shareholders of their rights.       
    The levels of Wheal Trelawney are, we understand, driven within six fathoms of the sett in question, and the only stipulation, we are aware of, made by Miss POLLARD, is, that the ore produced from her ground shall be kept and parcelled distinct, although the "three worthies" would wish to convey the impression, that Miss POLLARD would not grant to the Trelawney adventurers - yet we find that the purser, one of the largest shareholders, and the lawyer, who are the grantees, at once propose to present the Trelawney adventurers with a majority of the shares, being 130, and consequently the management; it is farcical, and the attempt would create a smile, were it not that it involves character, and as seriously reflecting upon that of the parties mixed up in the transaction, whose names we have given, is seriously to be regretted.
    Under these circumstances it is not to be wondered at, that some of the adventurers should institute a slight inquiry, and take measures to secure to themselves and co-adventurers the measure of justice to which they deem themselves entitled, and hence a demand on their part for the full right and interest to which they were entitled. 
    This was, we regret to find, met with a blunt refusal, thus leaving it no longer a matter of question, as to the quantum of honesty or principle which influenced the trio.  Here we must leave the matter for the present, and have again, in conclusion, only to express the regret we feel, in thus being called upon to advert to conduct, which is calculated so much to prejudice mining pursuits and legitimate enterprise.