_Colonies in England_ (Vol. iv., pp. 272. 370.).--In Vol. iv., p. 207.
inquiry is made about the existence of colonies of Moors and others in
different parts of England: I was not aware of there being any such as
those he mentions, but as your correspondent wishes to know of any
others which may still exist, I can inform him that colonies of
Spaniards are known of in Mount's Bay and Torbay. The latter, from
having intermingled with the surrounding population, have not now, I
believe, much more than a traditionary Spanish descent; whilst the
former, on the contrary, have kept aloof, and are easily distinguished
from their marked Spanish features. This colony is planted at Mousehole;
and, according to their account, they have been settled there upwards of
three centuries. Another account declares the original settlers to have
formed part of the Spanish Armada; and that after its defeat, they made
a descent on this part of the Cornish coast, drove out or killed the
former inhabitants and have ever since remained unmolested, and in great
measure distinct from the surrounding inhabitants. The nature of the
country in which they settled has, no doubt, proved favourable to them
in this respect, as the soil is barren and rocky, with thinly scattered
villages inhabited by a hardy race of fishermen.