1900. FREDERICK TAPSCOTT TUCKER. On 22 January, 1901, Queen Victoria died, and His Majesty King Edward VII was proclaimed by this Mayor on 25 January, 1901, at the Guildhall, outside the parish church of St. Mary, in the Rotherfold, on Brutus' Stone, on the Plains, and in Bridgetown. The original Proclamation is framed and hangs in the Guildhall. 1901. THOMAS WHITE WINDEATT. Coronation festivities in the borough. The Mayor attended the coronation of King Edward VII in Westminster Abbey. 1902. GEORGE JOHN GIBSON, M.D. 1903. ALFRED MICHELMORE. 1904. CAPT. HORACE REID ADAMS, R.N. 1905. CAPT. HORACE REID ADAMS, R.N. A member of an old Totnes family, owners of Bowden House. Several of the family were M.P.s and Mayors. During this Mayor's Mayoralty, through his instrumentality, a MS. book was obtained from the executors of the late Francis Benthall, Esq., a member of an old Totnes family, which book contained among other records a list of Mayors with the following heading : "Mayors of Totnes with their Receivers as they are collected by Mr Wm Yeo some time Town Clarck out of divers records by him perused from 33 of Edwd 3d unto 1st of Hen 8 as followeth. "In ye 27 yr of Edw the 1st there is mention made in ye acct of the Guild of Mirchants of a Mayr Commonalty and Burgesses keeping of the Mayrs & the Cort of the Comty making of Freemen there fines, of Rents belonging to ye Mayor & Co Cenery Rent in the Borough Cenery Rents of Mchants Customs of cutting Flesh & Amercents &c. Edwd 3d 34. Ricd Coucheneed 33. John Aiyling Mayr. 1359. There is then a gap of seventeen years to 1377, without any record of a Mayor's name, and in the latter year commences the list which is complete to present time, and gives a record list for period of no less than 530 years, with no name missing, and where a Mayor has died during his mayoralty the name of his successor recorded. This is a list of which any borough might well be proud. THE FOREST BOUNDS NEAR PRINCETOWN. BY ARTHUR B. PROWSE, M.D., F.R.C.S. (Read at Lynton, July, 1906.) THE frequency with which we find references in old Dartmoor records to disputes concerning boundaries, and to actions for trespass and poaching, between the "Duchy" and holders of property and others living near the forest, makes it evident that the method followed in defining the boundary by natural or artificial features, situated at considerable distances from each other along the forty-two miles circuit, was not sufficiently definite for practical purposes. The best natural boundary is undoubtedly a stream, but such a plain and incontestable limit is only possible here and there; and, as the distances between the various boundary-marks fluctuate from three-eighths of a mile up to as much as two miles, it is easy to understand how differences of opinion would arise, even if the boundary line were supposed to pass from one point to another without any deviation to right or left on the way. Doubtless a fairly direct course would be taken, as a rule, in "beating the bounds"; but in a wild and rough country like the moor it is often impracticable to do this. Land, so boggy as to be difficult for men on foot and quite impassable for horses, would certainly be avoided, unless very small in extent and, therefore, easily skirted during a "perambulation." The necessity for more clearly defining the boundary would be felt, especially where the land is firm and good for grazing purposes, etc., and where fairly level and with but slight undulations, and also where the principal boundarymarks are of small size and not easily distinguishable, except from short distances. Then, too, we must remember the not unfrequent mists, when even the largest and most distinctive "bounds" may be invisible, and therefore useless as guides to a perambulating party. Consideration of these points makes it likely that even in quite early times some additional means would be employed in some cases to define the boundary beyond a mere enumeration of well-known objects at considerable intervals from each other. One method would be the (modern) plan of erecting small stone posts at shorter intervals. But such marks can be, and sometimes have been, moved by designing persons. A much better, but more laborious, plan is the turning up of a bank, not necessarily of large size. This, with the associated ditch, would withstand the denuding effect of weather for very long periods-it would be a very good guide in foggy conditions, and as a boundary-mark could not be easily or quickly obliterated, even though it might extend for only a short distance. Bearing in mind these considerations, I have of late years, when opportunities have offered, been on the look out for lesser boundary-marks in the intervals between the principal "bounds" mentioned in the "perambulation" documents; and with some success in certain parts of the "forest" margin. The accompanying map (3 in. to 1 mile) shows what I have noted in the neighbourhood of Princetown, between Great Mistor and South Hessary Tor. Starting from the latter point, the modern boundary-marks in the 11-mile stretch to North Hessary Tor are seven granite posts at intervals along a straight line passing across the west end of Princetown Station. For about 300 yd. before reaching the high road the boundary-wall of a meadow runs parallel and close to this line. Elsewhere the line cuts across other fences, including that of a meadow belonging to the prison, about half-way up the hill towards the tor. When standing on South Hessary Tor, however, a small bank is seen running for about 500 yd. in a direction five or six degrees west of the direction of North. Hessary Tor. This is shown upon the Ordnance Survey 6-in. map, except its last 70 yd. (see A on the map accompanying this paper). Beyond this, for about one-third of a mile, there is now no bank visible on ground which has become rather rough, partly by weathering and partly also by the usual careless way in which the surface sods have been replaced in former "turf-ties." Then, again, we find running in the same direction another similar bank (B) about 80 yd. long. After an interval of 220 yd. another |