PENZANCE, Cornwall, a mnrket and sea-port town, a municipal borough, and the seat of a Poor-Law Union, in the parish of Madron, is situated on the north-western shore of Mount's Bny, is 50° 7' N. let., 31' W. long., distant 53 miles S.W. from Bodtnin, and 281 miles WI:kW. from London. The population of the borough in 1851 was 9214. It is governed by 6 aldermen and 18 councillors, of whom one is mayor. The living of Penzance Its a perpetual curacy in the arch deaconry of Cornwall and diocese of Exeter. Penzance Poor.Law 1'nion contains 19 parishes and townships, with an area of 65,022 acres, and a poi ulatiOn in 145I of 53,370.
Peneance is the most westerly town in England. It received a charter for a market and a fair in 1892, and was incorporated by James I. in 1615. The town is situated on the north-western shore of Mount's Bay, and has much increased of late yearn ; it is lighted with gas. There are in l'enzance a parochial chapel, rebuilt in 1836 ; a proprietary chapel, erected in 1848, in the early English style; pieces of worship for Wesleyan and Association Methodists, Independents, Baptists, Roman Catholics, and Jews ; a Grammar school, which had IS scholars in 1831: National schools, and a savings bank. Quarter
and petty worrione and a aunty court are held. The town hall, recently built, is surmounted with aliandnome oupola ; its eastern front consists of a pediment supported by-four noble columns. Penzance possesses a good public library, a Society of Natural History and Antiquities, and a Horticultural Society. This town is also the seat of the Royal Geological Society of Cornwall, whose museum contains an admirable collection of minerals. The climate of Penzance is very mild but somewhat moist, and is in some repute for invalids. A large pro portion of the tin produced in Cornwall is shipped et Penzance. The markets are held on Thursday and Saturday ; and fairs on May 28th, Thursday after Trinity Sunday, and Thursday before Advent. Some woollen-yarn and coarm woollen-cloth are manufactured. The fishery at Penzance employs about 2000 persons and about 300 sail of large fishing-boats. The number of vessels belonging to the port on Decem ber 81st 1353 wan-90 of 8190 tons aggregate burden. During 1853 there entered the port 777 smiling-vessels of 51,659 tons, and 29 steam vessels of 11,462 tons; and there cleared 297 sailing-vessels of 20,797 tons aggregate burden.