FALMOUTH, a sea-port of the county of Cornwall,
in the hundred of Kerriar, 273 miles from London, at the
spot where the river Fale falls into the sea. It has risen
to importance from the excellence of its harbour, which
is capable of containing large fleets of heavy ships in per-
fect security; though difficult to get out of when the wind
is easterly, and consequently fair for the passage across
the Atlantic. The Lisbon packets sail regularly from
this port, and at one period a beneficial trade was exten-
sively carried on by them. Falmouth has now a consider-
able trade in the pilchard fishery. Near to it is Pendennis
Castle, one of the defences of the harbour, built in the
reign of Henry VIII., improved by Elizabeth, and greatly
strengthened by Cromwell. It was occupied as a prison
for Americans captured at the early stages of the war
with the colonies in 1776. There are markets on Tues-
day, Thursday, and Saturday. The population amounted
in 1801 to 4849, in 1811 to 5307, in 1821 to 6374, and in
1831 to 7284.