0% ?! IT.* Vc y Several settlers proceed to the island. Lands as- signed them. Nature of the tenures. System of defence. Salaries to the Governor, and other of- XII CONTENTS. fcers and servants. Privilege to Negroes who embraced Christianity. Disturbances. Major Blackmore appointed Governor. Promulgation of various laws and ordinances. Slavery. Duties. Interlopers. Distilleries. Seditious cabals and tu- mults. Mutineers attack the fort, and are defeated. Two of the insurgents executed. Commission from King James to try the mutineers. Five more executed. Their relations petition the House of Commons. Martial law to be exercised as often as necessary. ~ - 61 CHAPTER IV. FROM THE YEAR 1 687 TO THE YEAR 1/08. Furious plans for improving the island suggested. All fail. Price of provisions in the year 170T. Jealousies with which the. Company's prerogatives were guarded. Shoals and banks in the neighbour- hood of the island. Design of forming a settlement at Tristan d'Acunha. Design abandoned. Death of Governor Blackmere. Captain Johnson suc- ceeds as Governor. Is assassinated by part of his garrison, who plunder the treasury, and make their escape. Captain Kcling^s government. An in- surrection of the Rlaclis. Governor Kelinge^s death, and succession of Governor Poirier. Distil- leries suppressed. 7Vo Company's ships cut out of the Roads. Death of Governor Poirier, and succession of Mr. Goodwin. Arrival of Governor Roberts. ----------- 100 CONTENTS. Xlll CHAPTER V. FROM THE YEAR 1708 TO THE YEAR 1714- The building of Munderfs Point battery. The pre- sent Castle in James's Valley commenced. Hopes of discovering a gold and copper mine, fallacious. Lime-quarries discovered. Improvement of the Company* s lands. Sugar, rum, wine, brandy, bricks, and tiles, made on the island. General im- provement in respect to planting and enclosing. Re-publication of the old laws. Application from the inhabitants in consequence. Answer. Govern- ment-House in the country erected. Plan for fer- tilizing Prosperous Bay Plain. Resignation of Governor Roberts, and succession of Governor Bou- cher. His government. Resigns. - - - 136 CHAPTER VI. FROM THE YEAR 1714 TO THE YEAR 1741. Bad seasons. Mischief by a water-spout. Great sickness and mortality. Planters' 1 petition against ships touching at the Cape. The system of nu- merous small farms preferred to few large ones. Mr. Johnson's government. He dies ; and is suc- ceeded by Mr. Byfield. Captain Smith appointed Governor. His oppressive conduct. Is superseded by Mr. Byfie.ld. Attention to the preservation of wood. Goats and sheep destroyed for ten years. Goat ranges. Mr. Byfidd" 1 s good management and XIV CONTENTS. economy. A party formed against him. He re- signs ; and Mr. Pyke is appointed, a second time, to the government. His arbitrary and illegal con- duct. Dies ; and is succeeded by Mr. Goodwin. Mr. Goodwin 1 s death. Mr. Crespe succeeds; and is superseded by Governor Jenkins. Discovery of frauds. Major Lambert appointed Governor. 194 CHAPTER VII. FROM THE YEAR 1741 TO THE YEAR 1788- Death of Governor Lambert, and succession of Mr. Powel. A detection of Mr. PoweVs frauds and misdemeanors. Is superseded by Governor Dun- bar. Experiments in the cultivation of corn. Dissensions among the Council. Mr. Hutchinson appointed Governor. Unsuccessful attempt of a French squadron to capture the Company's ships as they approached St. Helena. Increase of the esta- blishment. Exercise of martial law authorized by Act of Parliament. Introduction of the British laws. Prices of provisions, and necessaries from the Company's stores, reduced. Acquisition of oaks, and other vegetable productions. Mortality among the cattle. Doctor Maskelyne and Mr. Waddington sent out to observe the transit of Venus. Governor Hutchinson succeeded by Mr. Skottoe. Long Wood fenced in. Mr. Corneille appointed Governor. A mutiny in the garrison. - - 231 CONTENTS. XV CHAPTER VIII. FROM THE YEAR 1788 TO THE YEAR 1 806. Arrival of Governor Brooke. New measures. Re- form in the slave laws. Expedition planned against the Cape of Good Hope. Capture of nine Dutch East-Indiamen. Succours sent from St. Helena to the Cape. Governor Brooke proceeds to England; and leaves the government in charge of Lieutenant- Governor Robson. Arrivalof Govern- or Pat ton. Conclusion. - - - - - - 269 Appendix ----------- 317 INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. THE island of St. Helena is situated in 15 55' south latitude, and 5 49' west longitude from Greenwich. It lies within the limit of the south-east trade wind, and is distant 400 leagues from the coast of Africa, the nearest continent. The extreme length of the island is 104: miles, its breadth 6^, its circumference about 28 miles, and its surface, in acres, 30,300. The island, when observed at sea, presents to the eye the appearance of an abrupt and rugged rock, divested of tree, shrub, or herbage. A 7 7 ? O nearer approach brings in view the central emi- nences, distinguished by a softer outline, clothed with verdure, and towering to the clouds. Ad- vancing still nearer, the scene again changes, B 2 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. and the green summits are shut from sight by the intervening craggy and stupendous cliffs, that seem to overhang the sea. Their great elevation excites in the mind of a stranger an idea of being too near the land ; \vhilst the sea- man, acquainted with the coast, proceeds safely to the anchorage which may be within a cable's length of the shore : and in his progress, the exterior aspect of the island, and the disposi- tion of its batteries and military works, impress an opinion of defensive strength. On rounding Mundcn's Point the eye is suddenly relieved by a view of the town, seated in a narrow valley between two lofty mountains; and the inter- spcrsion of trees among the white houses, has an effect picturesque and pleasing in a high degree. This valley, known by the name of James's Valley, is on the N. w. and leeward side of the island, in which situation there is good an- chorage from 8 to 25 fathoms; and fresh water is conveyed in leaden pipes to the wharf, from a spring at two miles distance, which affords a plentiful supply. Malham, in his Naval Gazetteer, states " tin: " greatest rise and fall of water, at the time of ' new and full moon, to be 39 inches, and that " it does not sensibly differ for the space of HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 3 " twenty minutes at the time of high and low " water." But Captain Leigh, of the honor- able Company's ship Georgiana, who has been long on the St. Helena station, and, of course, has had many opportunities of forming an ac- curate judgement, has observed the rise some- times to exceed 5 feet. The variation of the compass, in 1768, was 12 47' west; and, in 1796, was 15 47' 30". The surf, at times, is tremendous, particularly about Christmas, and many lives were lost in approaching and leaving the shore, until a new wharf and landing-place were constructed by Governor Brooke. Upon landing, and passing the draw-bridge, the way leads between aline of heavy guns and a double row of trees, of a lively green, gene- rally in full leaf, being a species of the banian of India, and named in Bengal the peepel tree. The town is entered by an arched gateway, un- der a rampart, or terrace, forming one side of a parade about 100 feet square. This parade, were it not disfigured by some mean buildings O J o on the right, would have a handsome appear- ance. On the left side are the government- o house and main guard-room : the former is in- closed with a wall, having the semblance of embrazures, and is called the Castle. It contains 4 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. the Governor's habitation, and the offices of go- vernment. The chifrch, fronting the gateway, is a neat, and not inelegant edifice. The prin- cipal street commences between it and a palli- sade inclosing the Company's garden. It consists of twenty-eight houses, most of them neat and well constructed, and divides into two other streets ; one on the east, leading to that side of the country ; the other proceeding to the upper part of the valley, Avherc are situated the bar- racks, the new garden, and the hospital. In this street there are a number of shops, well stored with European and Indian commodities ; but the houses in general are far inferior to those in the lower part of the town, where the princi- pal inhabitants reside. The two hills, or ridges, between which the town is situated, are Rupert's on the east, and Ladder Hill on the west. The roads by which access is gained into the interior, are formed on the sides of these hills, and the ascent is so easy and safe, that carts and oxen pass along without danger or diffi- culty. For the first mile or two, the traveller observes little else than nakedness and sterility, but his curiosity is soon gratified by the sudden HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 5 pfrospect of verdure, woody heights, neat dwell- ings, and cultivated plantations. The island is unequally divided by a lofty chain, or ridge of hills, running nearly east and west in a curved direction, and bending to the south at each extremity. From this chain alter- nate ridges and valleys branch off in various directions, but chiefly north and south. . Di- ana's Peak, towards the east end of this chain, is the highest point of the island, and rises nearly 2700 feet above the level of the sea. From the summit of this peak no point intercepts the horizon; the whole island is beneath the scope of vision; the ridges and hollows diverging from the chain are traced to the sea. Houses and plantations diversify the prospect, and the con- trast of verdant and naked mountains forcibly strikes the attention, and renders the scene at once novel, picturesque, and majestic*. The summits and sides of most of the interior * Major Renncll, who ascertained the altitudes of the most remarkable eminences, states them to be as follows: Cuckold's Point -2672 feet. Halley's Mount 24-67 These and Diana's Peak form a part of the same ridge, and are frequently enveloped in clouds. 6 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. heights arc wooded with the cabbage-tree of the O C3 island, the red-wood, string-wood, dog-wood, and other indigenous trees and shrubs ; and in situations less elevated, the gum-wood was for- merly to be found in great abundance; but at present few trees of this kind are left standing, except at Long Wood, where they have been protected by the injunctions of the Company, and cover unequally a surface of nearly 1500 acres. Clear and wholesome springs issue from the sides of almost every hill ; but as they have nei- ther volume nor sufficient length of current, they form only inconsiderable rills. From this circumstance it happens that in a country so calculated to produce picturesque cascades, there are no falls of water of any magnitude. One stream projects its whole quantity from a Flag Staff 2272 The Barn 2015 Overhanging the sea. Alarm House 10 Centrically situated. High Knoll 1<)0.5 To the southward of Ladder Hill. Long Wood House 1762 Official country residence of the Lieutenant-Govcrnor. HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 7 height of about 300 feet perpendicular, but be- comes a shower before it reaches the cavity below : when, indeed, it is swollen by torrents, it descends in a continuous column, but its effect and beauty are in that case tarnished by the mud involved in its mass. It is somewhat remarkable, that whilst many of these springs and rills abate considerably, or are entirely dried up, after any long intermission of rain, a few remain undiminished. There are, in particular, two streams, one in Fisher's Valley, and the other at the Briars, which are thought to be enlarged in size during a continu- ance of dry weather, and at such times seem to glide with increased velocity, transparent and pure. This circumstance, if the volume of the streams really be increased, is irreconcilable to the common hypothesis, that all springs are sup- plied from the clouds. But there is a possibility, that, at a season of severe drought, when the other springs are much diminished, or totally dried up, there may be some deception in the appearance of a current, which, continuing the same, may seem to be increased. The fact should be established by actual measurement, before a new system be founded upon it The other springs on elevated situations are obviously 8 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. supplied by the rains, or the clouds, which are so constantly in contact with the summit of the hills, where moisture is so abundant and the springs arc numerous. In lower situations, some of the springs, which are also dependent upon the fall of rain, are not so immediately affected from this cause; but require a consider- able time to manifest their abundance. This is remarkable of a spring at the Governor's country residence, which supplies the High Knoll aque- duct. The heaviest fall of rain does not affect it till after the lapse of weeks, when it shows the recruit of water that it has received; and it continues to supply a plenteous stream much longer than many other springs. Possibly this may be the case, in a greater degree, with springs which are in a still lower situation. But if the quantity of water that issues from the springs at the Briars, and in Fisher's Valley, be actually increased in the time of severe drought, the extraordinary supply must be accounted for upon different principles*. 1 The author has been favoured with the following re- marks by a friend : It seems unreasonable to deny that Nature may have im- mense subterraneous reservoirs, or to refuse her the power of fabricating; water in the bowels of the earth. Chemistry HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 9 It would be difficult, perhaps, in any country, to meet with a more uncommon and romantic instructs us it can be done on the surface, and it is highly probable much better below. We know that many lakes of magnitude send forth perpetual rivers, but we do not impute the capacity of affording them, or the undiminished quantity of the lake itself, either to rain or snow ; its con- stant plenitude must arise from its communication with waters below its bed, that have no connexion with those which come from above. We know that the absorption from the surface, after the longest rains, does not proceed deeper than sixteen inches; we know, from an experiment of common superficial earth, put to the thickness often feet into an appropriate receptacle, that after an exposure of eight years to the whole rain that fell, no part of it passed through it; and the inhabitants of St. Helena know, that common* earth, made into mortar, is a dry, defensive cover- ing to houses, whilst the coating is not actually broken or injured by the weight or force of the showers. How, then, is the rain to arrive at the first latent source of a great river? Admitting it to pass through the mould at the surface, it must soon come to strata of clay, or impervious stone; these are impassable to water from above; but cut through them, and you find original water below that has never communi- cated with the clouds. Besides, it is computed that the whole depth of fall through England, in one year, does not, * In the eighth chapter, where the roofing of houses in James'* Valley is mentioned, the earth employed for this purpose, taken from the sides of the valley, is certainly not common earth, but mixed with a portion of volcanic ashes, to which this property is imputed. The clay-soil in the interior of the island does not possess the same pro- perty of resisting the rain. 10 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. prospect than Sandy Bay, when seen from parts of the main ridge. Though in general a bird's- eye view lies before the spectator, hills rise above him to an elevation much greater than the spot on which he stands. Those on the left, richly clothed with trees to the very summits, display a wonderful contrast to the wild and grotesque nakedness that triumphs on the right, where in the wettest seasons, exceed forty inches; and this whole aggregate quantity does not appear equal to supply all the rivers of England, in their ordinary fulness and speed of course, for more than three or four months together. We may distinguish, then, as is done by geologists with their mountains, and call those rivers primeval, that have their native issues from the recluse caverns of the earth; those secondary, that are fed by the melting of transient or primordial snows; and those temporary, that depend on he contingencies of Heaven. It may he asked, What is the natural reason of the in- creased bulk of the streams in Fisher's Valley and at the Briars? Is it that the drought, making the ground more porous, and thence rendering it less weighty and compact, the resistance to the escape of its water from the fountain- head is diminished, and its passage outward made more per- \ious and easy? But it is better to assign no reasons for phenomena than to assign weak ones; better to avoid the frailty of hypothesis, and better to remain in contented ignorance, than suffer the mind to rest on shallow, insuffi- cient explanation. HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. n shelving cliffs, surmounted by huge perpendicu~ lar or spiral masses of rock, are multiplied under every shape and aspect. The downward view consists of a variety of ridges, eminences, and ravines, converging towards the sea, into one common valley. Among this scenery are inter- spersed the dwellings of planters, the different forms of gardens and plantations, and the pas- turing of cattle; the prospect closing with the distant sea, rushing in between two black, craggy cliffs, which the surf whitens with its spray. The infinite diversity of tint that overspreads the whole of this extraordinary picture, the majesty of one part, the reposing beauty of another, and the horror of a third, cannot fail to delight and astonish every observer of nature. The Governor's country residence, which lies about three miles from the town, is called the Plantation-House, and is a well-built, handsome edifice, erected in the years 1791 and 1792. Art has been combined with nature to render this, in the opinion of many, the most beautiful spot on the island. Here the landscape-painter has a fine subject for his pencil ; and a consider- able fund of amusement is afforded to the bota- nist. Not only the indigenous productions of the island, but plants and trees from distant and 12 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. opposite climes have been introduced within the inclosure. The mimosa of New South Wales, the pine of the North, and the bamboo of India, seem to outvie each other in the luxuriance of their growth. Thunder, lightning, or storms, rarely disturb the serenity of this mild atmosphere, in which so small a portion of electric fluid is supposed to exist, that it was imagined a machine for col- lecting it would be useless : but experiment has exposed the error of this supposition. In James's Town, the thermometer, in the shade, seldom rises above 80 degrees ; but the reflected heat from the sides of the Valley, when there is little wind, and the sky is clear, resem- bles that of India. In the country the tempera- ture is much more moderate and uniform. Sir Joseph Banks, on being furnished with a pro- fessional report from the Company's botanist at St. Helena, made the following observations upon it tk From this abstract it appears, that the sum- :( mer, in that elevated situation (the Planta- * ; tion-1 louse), is not so hot as in England, '' 72 being the highest point at which the ther- HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 13 " mometer was observed in 1788, while 76 is " marked as the point of our summer heat. " The winter is also much milder than ours, " ranging between the 55th and 56th degrees " of Fahrenheit's scale; a temperature in which " the vegetation of leaves proceeds with more equability, perhaps, than any other. " The rain is divided more after- the manner " of our temperate climates than of the tropical " ones; every month has its share; and the " July, August, and September seem to be the " stormy seasons there, with more rainy days " in February than in either of those months. 11 Cloudy days also exceed in number, almost " two to one, those in which the rays of the sun " fall upon the earth without interruption, and " scorch the vegetation. This is particularly " suited to pasture and trees, but not to the " ripening of European fruits. The timber " which grows on the upper part of Madeira " would answer here." Iron ore is said to be found in some parts of the island, but any idea of its fusion is pre- cluded by the scarcity of fuel. Appearances also of gold and copper ore have been disco- vered. In Turk's-cap Bay there exist veins of 14 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. a stone which takes a beautiful polish, and some of it will bear cutting for seals. Lime is plenti- ful, and some of it of an excellent quality, being a concretion of sand and shells. The Sandy Bay lime seems to partake of the quality of puzzolana, by hardening in water; but the cement used in ordinary buildings is generally mud, which, in many parts of the island, an- swers exceedingly well. The soil inclines to clay, and loam abounds in saline particles, and is of a greater depth, by many feet, than is requisite for the purposes of agriculture. In this medium climate, it is well adapted to both European and Indian produc- tions. The wood of the cabbage-tree is very durable, and answers well for rafters ; the red- wood (a species of ebony), and the gum-wood, are also valuable for the purposes of building but the latter must be kept from the influence of the weather. Of this tree there are three kinds, (all evergreens,) the common, the bastard, and the dwarf gum-wood. The last is generally called the shrub, or scrub-wood : it seldom at- tains a greater height than three feet; but some of the old inhabitants remember to have seen it much higher. This, as well as the first-mentioned species, bears a blossom somewhat resembling HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 13 the daisy in Europe. The common gum-wood, when it arrives at maturity, has a tolerably straight stem, about 20 or 30 feet high, and spreads its branches and leaves like an umbrella. The bastard kind has less of this peculiarity, and its leaves are smoother, and of a deeper tint, and do not possess the gummy texture so perceptible in the other two sorts. Its blossoms are in small bunches. From the trunks of all three an aromatic gum exudes, which renders the wood extremely pleasant when used as fuel. A liquid of a sweet flavor, which the natives call toddy, issues spontaneously from the trunk of the common and bastard gum- wood. It is ob- tained by means of a bottle on the tree, so placed as to catch the natural exudation, which fills in the course of a night. The constant moisture which prevails on Diana's Peak and other woody eminences in its vicinity, seems to favor the theory that trees have an attractive influence on the clouds. That in woody countries there exists a greater degree of humidity than in places divested of that clothing, is a fact which experience has placed beyond all doubt. But it is a circumstance which may be remarked, that in no part of St. Helena are trees so numerous as at Long Wood, 16 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. and yet few situations on the island are so little benefited by rain : whilst a barren emi- nence, not above two miles distant from it, is deluded with torrents. During the fourteen O O years that Lieutenant-Governor Robson had his official residence at Long Wood, it was his con- stant complaint, that, when flattered by hopes of deriving benefit from clouds which he saw rise to windward and approach towards his grounds, his expectations were disappointed by a change in their direction towards the higher grounds, whether wooded or barren. The clouds, floating at a certain height in the atmosphere, yield humidity to the higher parts of the island without discharging any moisture on the low lands; where, after along continuance of drought, the roots of grass, &c. perish. The earth, in consequence, loses its adhesion, and when a heavy fall of rain occurs, it is washed from the declivities, which are thus divested of the means of vegetation, and either deepen into gullies, or stand in the form of prominences, where the texture is sufficiently hard to resist the effects of the rain ; which seems to be the natu- ral history of all the barren ridges that in fan- tastic figures terminate abruptly at the sea, and form the exterior of the island. HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 17 From these causes the luxuriance of vegeta- tion increases in proportion to distance and height from the sea; and upon the very summits of the interior hills oxen are to be seen up to their knees in grass; and the process of digestion being forwarded by the repose which the animal enjoys from the general diffusion of springs in those situations, the upper lands are, on every account, regarded as the prime pastures of the island; whereas the ridges and ravines, \vhich diverge towards the sea from the central emi- nences, have their verdure and their water distinct. The native wire-grass may cover the ridge, while the water from the central springs seeks the bottom of the valleys. The nourish- ment which ought to be combined is thus sepa- rated ; and the animal must toil in descending for the one or re-ascending for the other, to have the process of nature in the generation of nou- rishment fulfilled. In severe droughts, the O ' cattle have died by the side of the water, unable to regain the scanty pittance of grass which the ridge might afford. Fruits, particularly vines, figs, oranges, and lemons, ripen best in the valleys near the sea ; which are also well adapted to the growth of plantains and bonanoes ; all these fruits requir- c 18 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. ing a great degree of heat, and the enriched soil and shelter of the valleys. From a garden more interior, but finely watered and sheltered, of no greater extent than three acres of ground, 24,000 dozen apples, of a large size, were gathered in one season, besides peaches, guavas, grapes, and figs, in abundance. Cherries have been tried, but without success. Gooseberry and currant bushes turn to evergreens, and do not bear fruit. The island, however, is not to be considered as possessing a general fertility. The greater part of it is a barren, reluctant waste. Even in the best cultivated and richest spots, that often make abundant returns, the expectations of the gardener are frequently dis- appointed; and from occasional causes in the earth or the atmosphere, his labour is defeated, and his crops often fail. A species of yam, introduced from Madagas- car, is cultivated principally in the valleys. It requires almost a constant soak of water, for fifteen months, to bring it to perfection. In its raw state, it has an acrid, and almost a caustic quality; but after many hours boiling, it be- comes a wholesome and nourishing food. The attention of the farmers, however, has, for the last eighteen years, been peculiarly directed to HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 19 the cultivation of potatoes, for the obvious rea- son, that three, and sometimes four, crops of that vegetable can be produced for one of yam, in- dependently of their finding a more ready sale to the ships. Cabbages, pease, beans, and other vegetables, are raised in abundance. The fern-tree grows, in the upper lands, to a size larger than in most countries, and is in re- quest by botanists in England ; and the myrtle, to which the climate seems peculiarly adapted, attains a height of near to thirty feet. The sort of grass that prevails in the higher parts is the English vernal grass ; and in the low lands, the wire-grass, or doop, which is extremely sweet and nutritious, and suffers less from dry and hot weather than any other sort. But it has been supplanted, to the injury of many pastures, by a coarse herb, called cow-grass, originally from the Cape of Good Hope, which is now ex- tremely common. Lucerne is found to succeed in some situations; and if it could be more gene- rally cultivated, it would prove exceedingly ad- vantageous. The exterior crust of the island, near the sea, produces, spontaneously, a shrub, to which the natives give the name of samphire; but it is probably the barilla, as its ashes yield a c Q 20 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. large quantity of marine alkali, with which a good soap has been manufactured. The breed of cattle and sheep on the island is originally English. The beef is of an excel- lent quality ; but, in consequence of the great demand from the Company's shipping for fresh provisions, a bullock is seldom allowed to attain the age of four years. Rabbits abound in some situations; pheasants and partridges are become numerous, since the Government has given them protection; and every garden is enlivened by the notes of the canary-bird. Guinea-foul, with which the island was once well stocked, are now seldom to be seen. Of fish it has been computed that seventy-six species frequent the coast. Those most com- monly taken and used, are mackarel, albecore, cavalloes, jacks, congers, soldiers, old-wives, and bull's-eyes; and of shell-fish, long-legs and stumps. The two last resemble the lobster in taste and colour, and have the same kind of tail. Rock-oysters are found in some situations, hardly distinguishable from the rock, forming a solid congeries, which may be separated into distinct fish. The coal-fish, so called from the HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 21 black hue of its skin, is from two to three feet in length, and very thick about the neck ; it is singularly high-flavoured and delicate, and not unlike a salmon in taste ; but so scarce, that sel- dom more than six or eight are caught in a year. The flying-fish about the shores of St. Helena, when pursued by porpoises, sharks, or other rapacious enemies, often meet death in a differ- ent element by dropping on the rocks. Some of them have been picked up in this situation which measured more than two feet in length, a size to which they are supposed seldom to at- tain in other parts of the world. The general mode of fishing practised here is that by hook and line, either from the shore, or from boats moored either by a stone or a grapnel. Whales are frequently seen, and have, in a few instances, been killed by South-Sea whalers in the Roads. Between the months of December and March turtle frequent the island, and are often taken by the fishing-boats. The shores and neighbourhood of the island abound in sea-fowl, which deposit their eggs in the cliffs and detached rocks around the coast. Their haunts, covered with white dung, exhibit a fantastic appearance upon an insulated rock, called Shore Island, being; sometimes mistaken 22 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. for a ship under sail. Their eggs are collected in the months of October and November, and in flavour somewhat resemble those of a plover. One species of these fowl, however, prefer making their nests in the woody, central emi- nences of the island, and are often seen flying across the country with a fish in their beaks. Upon an average of five years, viz. from 1 80 1 to 1805 inclusive, 165 ships touch annually at St. Helena; and in wartime, the long detention for convoy experienced by large fleets (the crews and passengers of which are frequently equal to the whole population of the island), occasions such an extra consumption of stock and refreshments, that the mere productions of the island itself could never be adequate to such exigencies, were it not supplied with ample quantities of salt meat from England, and of rice from Bengal. These articles, as they are cheaper than fresh provisions, constitute the principal food of the inhabitants and garrison. Salt meat is issued to them from the Company's stores, under prime cost, and every other article at only ten per cent, advance, including freight. Beef is now sold at 6~ per pound alive, having been lately raised to that price ; and, as it is principally destined for the King's or the Com- HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 23 pany's shipping, no person can kill even his own ox without permission from the Governor a rule which has existed since the year 1752. The market-prices of other articles of provision vary according to the demand ; in the year 1 805 the rates were as follow: Mutton, from 14 to 18d. perlb. Pork, from 18 to 20d. per ditto. Grown fowls, 9 to 12s. each. Turkeys, 30 to 40s. ditto. Geese, 25 to 30s. ditto. Ducks, 10 to 12s. ditto. Potatoes, 8 to 10s. per 1 bushel. Milk, 4d. to 6d. per quart. Eggs, 5s. per dozen. FISH. Mackarel, 8d. per dozen. Bull's-eyes, 9d. per ditto. Albicore, baracoota, dolphins, and bonito, 2d. per Ib. Turtle and coal-fish, 8d. per ditto. Conger, conger-eels, cavalloes, silver-fish, and old-wives, 3d. per Ib. Stumps and soldiers, 2d. each. Long-legs, 6d. each. 2* HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. Shortly after the first settlement of St. Helena, the Company were anxious that experiments should be made to ascertain its resources and capability. Indigo, cotton, sugar-canes, and vines, were introduced. Rum, sugar, wine, and brandy, were brought to some degree of perfec- tion; and, at a more recent period, crops of barley, and other grain, were raised at Long- Wood, which were subsequently found not to answer. The intrinsic value of St. Helena con- sisting in its local situation, as a place of refresh- ment and rendezvous for the homeward-bound ships from India, the attention of the Court of Directors has been confined to the objects which most conduced to that important pur- pose. On this ground, even the cultivation of corn has been deemed of less consequence than that every acre should be appropriated to rais- ing live-stock, roots, and culinary vegetables. As the island, on this account, cannot be devoted to commercial produce, its profits or revenues must consequently be very small, and its annual expense to the proprietors considerable. The returns which it makes for this expenditure apply to the accommodation and the security of the Company's commerce, against the hazards of the sea and the hostilities of an enemy. Its waters, its vegetables, and its climate, seem HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 25 peculiarly adapted to the recovery of scorbutic patients; and instances frequently occur of those who have been sent to the hospital in the last stages of the sea-scurvy, in the course of two or three weeks being restored to perfect health, vigour, and activity. By the registered returns of the year 1 805, the population of the island is stated at 504 white inhabitants, 1560 blacks, of whom 329 were free; making a total of 2064, exclusive of the garrison and civil establishment of the Company. Five thousand one hundred and eight acres are in the hands of individuals, be- sides goat-ranges, which are the outskirts of the island, affording the chief supply of fresh meat both to the inhabitants and the hospital. Lands, in general, are supposed to yield a nett profit of between 7 and 8 per cent. The price of labour is high ; a carpenter cannot be hired under six or seven shillings a day. A mason's wages vary from four to five shillings ; and those of a labourer from two shillings to half-a-crown, or to a black man, engaged by the year, from ten to twenty pounds. In this case clothing is likewise to be provided, as well as maintenance, and medical attendance in the event of sickness. 26 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. The value of slaves depends very much upon their character. The sum of 1501. has been paid for n good husbandman, but a man of bad charac- ter may be purchased for 301. The price of this species of labour, comparatively with that of a free man, is always high, because the slave is only influenced by the desire of avoiding stripes; and exceptions to this rule constitute estimable characters. To obviate as much as possible this degrading defect, a plan has lately been adopted by Governor Patton, and a sub- scription set on foot, for distributing to the slaves honorary medals and pecuniary rewards, pro- portioned to their merit, from which great ad- vantages have already resulted; and if the system be followed up, the most important effects may be expected, both in a moral and political point of view. The total want of religious in- struction among this class of people has, doubt- less, contributed to their depravity ; for the amendment of which a regular attendance at public worship has been enjoined, under police regulations. Although it must be confessed that, prior to the promulgation of the present slave-laws, in- stances have now and then occurred of barba- rous cruelty towards slaves; yet that vice by no HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 27 means forms a common feature in the character of the white inhabitants; who, on the contrary, in general approve themselves humane and kind masters. The island comprises only one parish; but, for the more regular performance of the county and parish officers' duties, it is divided into three districts, viz. the east, the west, and the south, or Sandy Bay division. There are two churches, one in the town, and another in the country. Strangers, whilst they remain at the island, are accommodated in private houses, at the rate of one guinea per day; for which an excellent table, good wines, and comfortable lodgings, are pro- vided. By repeated charters from the Crown of Great Britain, the possession of St. Helena is assigned in perpetual property to the East India Com- pany as Lords Proprietors, with powers of sove- reignty and legislation. The supreme and exe- cutive authority within the island, is vested in the Governor, and a Council composed of the Lieu- tenant-Governor and senior civil servant*. * To this number is occasionally added a fourth mem- ber, and sometimes a fifth, as the Court of Directors judge proper. At present the Council consists of four. 28 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. They are the immediate representatives of the Lords Proprietors, and the superintending agents of all their concerns at the island. They are also justices of the peace, and commissioners of Oyer and Terminer and gaol delivery, and they exercise the jurisdiction of the Ecclesiastical Court, in granting letters of administration, and proving wills, &c. The Governor is exclusively intrusted with the powers of the Secret Com- mittee of the Court of Directors. When the Council are not assembled, the authority of the whole board concentrates in him ; and, by char- ter from the Crown, when there is occasion, he may exercise the powers of Captain-General. The civil establishment consists of an Ac- countant, Pay-master, Store-keeper, and the Secretary to Government, with their assistants, some of whom are the heads of inferior depart- ments; and promotions take place by seniority. The military force of the island is composed of a corps of artillery, commanded by a Lieute- nant-Colonel ; a regiment of infantry, and five companies of Avliitc and black militia, who are at present upon the footing of volunteers. The Governor is allowed a town and country HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 29 residence, and a liberal table, at the Company's expense, with servants, horses, &c< The Lieu- tenant-Governor has likewise the privilege of a town and country house, some land, servants, and a few horses. The other member or mem- bers of Council are each allowed a town resi- dence; and, by the orders of the Court of Di- rectors, dated 179^, the remaining Company's houses were allotted to the two senior civil serv- ants next to Council, the Engineer, Chaplain, and head Surgeon. There are not, at present, barracks for a third part of the garrison officers ; and house-rent is not only very high, but at times it is impossible to procure a lodg- ing. From these circumstances the Company's servants have experienced much inconve- nience. The primary formation of the island, or the cause of its original existence, forms a curious subject for philosophical conjecture, but does not belong to the recorder of occurrences which succeeded to the event of its discovery. The general supposition is, that if the island did not owe its first existence to fire, it certainly had been subsequently exposed to the influence of that active element; of which the volcanic pro- 30 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. ductions so abundant upon its surface, emulating those of Sicily and Italy, give sufficient con- firmation. This much is all that it is expedient here to mention; more especially as an inquiry into this subject has occupied the talents of a writer much better qualified for such a research, in the philosophical description of the island, published in the year 1 805 ; to which the reader is referred, if he be desirous to examine into the natural history of St. Helena, as well as into the civil and political occurrences which succeeded to its occupation. One observation, however, occurs upon a re- mark of that writer, suggested by the records of the island, which it may be proper to mention. He assigns reasons for adopting the opinion that no apprehension need now be entertained that the island will again be visited by any convul- sions of nature; in which it is devoutly to be wished that his judgement may be confirmed. But in a letter from the Governor and Coun- cil, which is dated on the 16th of June 175G, the following passage occurs : " On the 7th instant, " a little before seven o'clock in the morning, " were sensibly felt, in several parts of the island, " two small shocks of an earthquake, but did HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 31 " no manner of harm." Some of the most re- spectable of the present inhabitants of the island have likewise affirmed, that a sensation was felt by a variety of people of credibility, in different situations upon the island, at the same instant, like a trembling of the earth, accom- panied with a noise resembling distant thunder, in the year 1782, by which the glasses on a side-board were agitated, and struck against each other; and a number of blacks, who were em- ployed in a yam plantation, were so terrified as to abandon their work. After thus having suggested the apprehended possibility of so dreadful a calamity revisiting the island, against the reasoning of an intelligent writer, who represents it as unlikely, it behoves us to re-consider the peculiar comforts and ad- vantages which its inhabitants at present enjoy. St. Helena is gifted with considerable attrac- tions and advantages, both local and natural: the temperature and salubrity of the climate are not exceeded in any part of the world; the varia- tions of heat and cold are moderate, and o-ene- ' O rally fluctuate near the point most congenial to animal existence ; it is fanned by a constant and equable wind, surrounded by plenty and variety 32 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. of fish, and refreshed by numerous springs of excellent water; the seclusion of its inhabitants is relieved by the frequent arrival of visitants; and this intercourse chequers and corrects their uniformity of life, and tends to improve both the manners and the mind. The climate seems to be peculiarly adapted to the constitu- tions of Europeans, of whom many have resided here for a long series of years without suffering any malady. The only endemic disorders to which the natives are subject, are of the catarrhal kind : these, as they belong to the inflammatory class, may in some measure account, notwith- standing their general robust health, for the few instances among the islanders of longevity; ac- cording to the information of a professional friend, who has assisted this account with his opinion and judgement. The anchorage in the Road is safe and shel- tered; and though the vessels riding there some- times drive to sea, this is owing rather to the steep declivity of the bank, than to the force or impression of the wind. The surf is occasion- ally high and dangerous; but the ocean beyond it is never ruffled by those hurricanes which in other climates occasion so much distress. The HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 33 approach from the south-east is smooth and commodious; and on departing for Europe, the ship glides away before a gentle and a steady breeze. I) 34 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA, CHAPTER II. FROM THE DISCOVERY OF THE ISLAND, TO THE YEAR 1675. Discovery of the Island. Its first inhabitants. The Portuguese abandon St. Helena. The Dutch settle on it, and likewise abandon it. Settlement formed by the East-India Company, and confirmed by charter. The Island taken by the Dutch, and retaken the same year. Taken again by the Dutch, and recovered by Sir Richard Munden. AT the period of the discovery of a passage to the Eastern World by doubling the Cape of Good Hope, the traffic between Europe and India was carried on by the Moors. This jea- lous people, regarding the arrival of the Portu- guese in that quarter as an alarming invasion of their commerce, determined, by secret treachery as \vcll as open hostility, to circumvent the projects of such formidable rivals. Their in- trigues, and the perfidy of the Xamorim of Cal- licut, involved the Portuguese in a \var uith HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 35 that prince; and King Emmanuel, to give a decided superiority to the Portuguese arms, equipped a fleet of twenty sail for the eastern seas. This armament was commanded by the celebrated Vasco de Gama, who proceeded a second time on a voyage round the Cape of Good Hope. But before he sailed from Lis- bon, three ships had been dispatched as a rein- forcement to Pedro Alvarez de Cabral, the Por- tuguese admiral in India. This small force, under the command of John de Nova, a gentle- man of noble family, attacked and defeated a fleet belonging to the Zamorim. Nova having been shortly after appointed commodore of the returning ships from India, discovered, on the 2 1st of May 1501 (the anniversary of Helena, mother to the Emperor Constantine), the island which is the subject of the present pages, three years and six months after De Gama had first doubled the southern promontory of Africa. The event was attended by the loss of one of the fleet*, which a tradition (now nearly forgotten) states to have happened otf Deep Valley. St. Helena was then inhabited only by sea-fowl, and occasionally by seals, sea-lions, and turtle. No other animals are said to have been found * Roggewein's Voyage. D 2 36 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. upon it, and it is supposed that this was the first time its shore had ever been visited by human footstep. The interior of the island was one entire forest ; and even some of the precipices overhanging the sea were covered with gum- wood trees. The other indigenous productions, besides the trees and shrubs mentioned in the preceding chapter, were the wire or doop grass of India, wild celery, samphire, and probably purslain, and water-cresses, which, with the ad- vantage of fine water in abundance, a mild cli- mate, productive soil, and commodious anchor- age, situated in the direct track of ships sailing from India to Europe, rendered St. Helena of infinite importance in the estimation of its dis- coverers. But what chiefly contributed to improve its advantages, were the labours of Fernandez Lo- pe/, an unfortunate nobleman, of whom a curi- ous incident is recorded in a Portuguese history of their discoveries, and is corroborated by a note in the Introduction to Camoens' Lusiad. After a victory gained near Cioa by the cele- brated Alphonso Albuquerque [their Go vernor- (iencral], the Indian commander, Ixo*to Mocus, was compelled by the articles of capitulation to give up some Portuguese noblemen \\lio had HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 37 deserted, and become apostates. They were delivered up, on condition that their lives should be spared; but Albuquerque determined to make a terrible example ; and after mutilating them in the most cruel manner, by cutting off their noses, ears, right hands, and the little finger of their left hand?, sent them on board the ships for Europe. Thus degraded and mangled, the prospect of re-visiting friends and country af- forded no consolation to the mind of Fernandez Lopez, one of the sufferers. Unwilling to en- counter the ignominy which his crimes had occasioned, he preferred a voluntary exile ; and was, in the year 1513, at his own request, landed at St. Helena, with a few negro slaves. Such were the first inhabitants of the island. It often happens, that when the degree of punishment exceeds, or is even no more than proportioned to the crime, indignation against the offender is lost in commiseration of his sufferings : and it is not surprising that many were solicitous to afford Lopez every comfort and convenience which his forlorn condition would admit. Hogs, goats, and poultry, were landed for his suste- nance; partridges, pheasants, guinea-fowl, pea- cocks, and other wild fowl, were let loose ; roots and vegetables of various sorts were also intro- duced, and figs, oranges, lemons, and peach- 38 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. trees planted. A taste for botany and garden- ing proved a seasonable relief to his wretched- ness, and lightened the burden of many an hour. His knowledge in the management of fruit-trees enabled him to select the situations best suited to each kind, and to bring them to great perfection. Supplies of moisture for his plantations and garden-grounds were obtained from several springs, the discovery of which is ascribed to his researches. The live-stock and wild-fowl increased abundantly under his fostering pro- tection, and in a few years overspread the face of the country. In occupations like these, more humble, but assuredly more praiseworthy, than those that had recently engaged his atten- tion, he passed four years; at the end of which period he was removed from the island by or- ders from Portugal*. - The Portuguese were anxious to conceal the situation of the island from the knowledge of other nations, and arc said to have succeeded in keeping the secret until the 8th of June l^SSf, * Uoggcwciu's Voyage. t Tliis is mentioned upon thr authority which are in our HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 43 " country in bigness and numbers in a com- " pany; they differ not very much in colour " from the partridges before spoken of. We " found moreover in this island plenty of guinea- " cocks, which we call turkeys, of colour black " and white, with red heads ; they are much the " same in bigness with ours in England; their " eggs are white, and as big as a turkey's egg. Oo J OO " There are in this island thousands of goats, " which the Spaniards call cabritos, which are " very wild; you shall see one or two hundred " of them together, and sometimes you may see " them go in a flock almost a mile long; some O o 7 " of them (whether it be the nature of the breed " of them, or the country, I know not) are as " big as an ass, with a mane like a horse, and o ' 11 a beard hanging down to the very ground; " they will climb up the cliffs, which are so " steep that a man would think it impossible " that any living creature could go there. We " took and killed many of them, for all their 11 swiftness, for there are thousands of them " upon the mountains. " Here arc, in like manner, great store of '' swine, which are very wild and fat, and of t great bigness; they keep altogether upon the 44 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. " mountains, and will very seldom abide any " man to come near them, except it be by " mere chance, when they are found asleep, \>r " otherwise, according to their kind, are taken " lying in the mire. " We found in the houses, at our coming, O 7 " three slaves, who were Negroes, and one who " was born in the island of Java, who told us " that the East Indian fleet, which were in num- " ber five sail, the least whereof was in burden " eight or nine hundred tons, all laden with " spices and Callicut cloth, with store of trea- 11 sure, and very rich stones and pearls, were " gone from the said island of St. Helena but " twenty days before we came hither. " When the Portuguese touch at the island, " they have all things in plenty for their relief, Vk by reason that they suffer none to inhabit ' there that might eat up all the produce of the ' c island, except some very few sick persons of " their company, whom they suspect \\iil not " live until they come home; these they leave " there to refresh themselves, and take them '' auav the year following, \\ith the other fleet, " if they live so long." Captain Cavendish re- mained at the island twelve ilavs. HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 45 The next British commander that visited St. Helena was Captain Abraham Kendall, of the ship Royal Merchant: which, with the Pene- lope, Captain Raymond, arid the Bonaventure, Captain James Lancaster, were fitted out from London, in the year 1591, on an East-India voyage. On their arrival at the Cape of Good Hope, the Royal Merchant, was obliged to put back to England. The other two ships were afterwards separated in a violent gale of wind, and the Admiral was never heard of more. Captain Lancaster proceeded to India; and, after many disasters, reached St. Helena on the 3rd of April 1593. Here he found a man (John Segar) who had formerly belonged to the Royal Merchant, and had been left behind, from that ship, on her return home. The poor creature was diseased in his mind, apparently from apprehensions that all probability was cut off of re-visiting his native land ; and such was the effect of his joy, at once more beholding the faces of his countrymen, that for eight days he took no natural rest, and died, literally for want of sleep*. Captain Lancaster re- mained nineteen days at St. Helena; from whence he was compelled by distress to steer to * Hack In vt's Vov!is[cs. 46 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. St Domingo, where his ship drove out to sea, with only five men on board, and Captain Lan- caster arrived in England, in a French vessel, the 24th of May 1.594. This was the first voyage undertaken to India by English mer- chants; and a second was equally unfortunate; for out of three ships, which sailed in lo^o* from England, not one returned. No further attempt was made by the English to open a traffic with the East, until the incorporation of the India Company. That event, so memorable in the commercial annals of England, took place in the year 16()0, under the auspices of Queen Elizabeth. They opened their concern with a capital of seventy-two thousand pounds; part of which was immediately laid out in the equip- ment of four ships, viz. the Dragon, Hector, Ascension, and Susan, all tinder the command of Captain Lancaster. In the occurrences of this voyage the importance of St. Helena was most advantageously experienced by the Com- pany. After successful negotiations, by which the Indian trade was opened and established, the Ascension and Susan were sent to England, laden with spices, and were followed by Cap- tain Lancaster, in the Dragon, accompanied by the I let-tor. These two ships encountered a violent tempest, ofV the Cape of Good Hope, HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 47 which occasioned the loss of the Dragon's rud- der; and after extreme difficulties and hardships, they reached St. Helena on the 16th of June. In the shelter of this safe and commodious haven Captain Lancaster repaired his damages, whilst an abundance of wild goats and other refresh- ments, obtained on shore, gave new vigour and ' O o renovation to his exhausted men ; and on the llth of September 1603 they arrived safe in England. At this period St. Helena was likewise known to the Dutch and Spaniards; and their ships' crews not only procured refreshment during their stay, but the salt, deposited by the sea- water in the hollows of rocks, was applied in curing the fresh provisions for sea store. The Dutch, however, are accused of destroying the stock, and laying waste the plantations, to dis- tress the Spaniards; who, in their turn, are charged with retaliation by repeating the mis- chief*. * At an auction of a planter's effects on the island, some years ago, several very old books were sold; among the number was a kind of geographical treatise. In this, after mentioning the discovery of the island on the anniversary of Helena, its fertility, and productions, the following cir- cumstances are stated : " Yet this isle is not inhabited, but 48 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. The ambition of the court of Lisbon to acquire Eastern dominion was well seconded by some of " serves for the English, Portugals, Spaniards, and IIol- " landers to refresh themselves in going, but, for the most " part, in returning from the Indies, it being sufficient to " furnish ships with provisions for their voyage, here being " salt to preserve the meat from stinking; and besides the " air is so healthful that they often leave their sick people . 22 in the St. Helena Consultations : " Old Will, aged " one hundred years ; and hath faithfully served the Com- " pany ever since the English had this island, under the " command of twenty-one Governors, and when he came " to this island he brought three yams, nine head of cattle, " and two turtle-doves, from Madagascar." 54 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. but there is also a report that the master ottered his services to the enemy, and that the slave was put to death, to prevent his giving evidence, at any subsequent period, of that treachery. The latter account is more consistent with a state- ment, mentioned twelve years after this period, on record ; wherein W. Coxe, a planter, is de- clared to have been the person who betrayed the island to the Dutch. If this was the case, the landing-place probably took its name from its having been adopted as a post of observation by Governor Bennett. The enemy, consisting of about five hundred men, marched up Swanlcy Valley : but this access must have since under- gone a great change (apparently from repeated torrents of rain), as very few, among the most active and agile natives of the island, can now travel there, without infinite difficulty and dan- ger. Upon the arrival of the Dutch near High Peak, it is said they were met by a detachment from the garrison, and a skirmish ensued, in which the English were overpowered by num- bers, and routed. The victors then proceeded to Ladder Hill, and marched a party down to attack the fort, where they \\ere repulsed sevc- i;il times; but as they were in possession of the hill, \\hich completely commands the town, the Kiiiilish Governor did not deem the fort tenable, HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 53 and retired, with his people and their most valu- able effects, on board some English and French ships then in the Roads. In the list of Governors contained in Lieute- nant Leech's MS. the name of Dyke appears, as successor to Kedgwin ; but the official records prove, that the latter was immediately succeeded by Field. Dyke must, therefore, have been the Dutch officer's name who was left in command when the island was taken ; and, consequently, the predecessor, not the successor, of Kedgwin. Whatever records might have been extant at this period, must have been either lost, or destroyed, or taken aw T ay by Governor Beale, as it is not known that any were found when the English re- covered their possession : but information re- specting several occurrences which happened immediately after that event, had been preserved in some notes and memoranda, by a very re- spectable and intelligent inhabitant, who died, at an advanced age, in the year 1769*. As this gentleman had frequent opportunities of conversing with those who had a perfect recol- * The \vorthy Mr. Richard Beale, a native of the island, who for many years fulfilled the duties of schoolmaster there, with credit to himself, and infinite advantage to the community. 56 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. lection of the circumstances, and as his testi- mony is corroborated, in some material points, by the official records, we have every reason to believe it correct. The ships in which the Go- vernor and his followers sought refuge proceeded to the coast of Brazil, where a British squadron, consisting of his Majesty's ships Assistance, Le- vant, and Castle tire-ship; and the Company's ship Mary and Martha soon after arrived*. The squadron was commanded by Captain (afterwards Sir Richard) Mundcn, who appears to have been ordered to St. Helena for the pur- pose of giving convoy to the East-India home- ward-bound fleet. That he should have gone so far to the westward as the coast of South America is not surprising, when we consider the very circuitous track pursued in times much more recent, by ships performing the same passage. This deviation from the direct course afforded him intelligence of the capture of the island, and enabled him to make the necessary preparations for its recovery, which he was re- solved to attempt. * A ship, called the William and Thomas, also accom- panied M linden's squadron, or else arrived at St. Helena prior to his departure from it, as thirty-seven of this ship's company \\ere left to form part of the garrison. HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 57 Among those that retreated from St. Helena with Governor Beale, was a negro, called Black Oliver, who had lived some years on the island, and had a thorough knowledge of its interior, as well as exterior, parts. This man, on his arrival at Brazil, was sold to a Portuguese there, from whom Sir Richard redeemed him, and had rea- son to congratulate himself on the happy con- sequences which resulted from this transaction. The squadron arrived off the island about the evening of the 14th of May 1673, unobserved by the Dutch; who, had they kept any kind of look out, might have made an opposition that would have occasioned some bloodshed. On the following morning, about three o'clock, a party of two hundred men, commanded by Captain R. Kedgwin*, an officer of the Assist- ance, were conducted by the faithful Oliver to Prosperous Bay (whence its name). They landed at a place now called Kedgwin's Rock, and proceeded to an accessible part of the pre- * It is generally supposed that Mr. Kedgwin was a Lieu- tenant belonging to the Assistance; but he is called Cap- tain Kedgwin in the list of persons who were left at St. Helena by Sir Richard Munden. This may be accounted for by the supposition that Sir Richard held the rank of Commodore, and that Kedgwin was Captain of the Assistance. 58 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. cipice above the bay, which the most active man of the party ascended, taking with him a ball of twine, to which a rope was afterwards fastened, and hauled up, and thus enabled the others to follow. Whilst he was in the act of climbing this difficult ascent, his comrades below fre- quently called to him by name to hold fast, and " hold fast, Tom," is the appellation by which the spot has been ever since known. Jonathan Higham, a soldier employed on this service, who afterwards settled on the island, was often heard to say, that, had twenty men opposed them from above, their advance would have been effectually prevented. After the whole detachment gained the heights, they marched, through Long Wood, to the ilutts, where they arrived about day- break ; and, after stopping for refreshment at a farm-house there, the ruins of which are still to be seen, they proceeded to the summit of Ru- pcrt's Hill, on the east side of James's Valley. At the same time, Sir Richard Munden appear- ing with his ships before the town, it immedi- ately surrendered, without the loss of a man on cither side. Among other measures adopted by Sir Richard for securing his conquest, two pieces of ordnance were placed on that part of Rupert's Hill which projects towards the sea, now called Muuden's Point. This at once accounts for its HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 59 name, without having recourse to the laboured and improbable tradition, that the party who took the island were landed from off the sprit- sail yard of the Assistance, upon Munden's Point, and that the place derives its name from that circumstance. Even admitting it to be o possible that a ship of war could approach suf- ficiently near to effect a disembarkation in so unusual a style ; it is clear that a party on Mun- den's Point rocks, having no communication with the town, except by the sea, or by climbing a precipice nearly perpendicular, could have been of little service in reducing the garrison. In the mean time, intelligence had reached Holland of the taking of St. Helena from the English; and a ship, called the Europe, was immediately dispatched for the island, with a new Governor on board, who, upon his arrival, found himself, unexpectedly, a prisoner to Sir Richard Munden : and, by the stratagem of dis- playing the Dutch flag, Sir Richard soon after decoyed six India ships of that nation so close in, that their Vice and Rear Admirals were taken, with a great quantity of silver on board. The remaining four escaped, merely through the impatience of the English, who prematurely commenced the attack. 60 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. On Sir Richard Munden's departure from St. Helena, he left the government in charge of Captain Kedgwin, with detachments from the different ships, amounting, in the whole, to one hundred and sixty persons; in which number was included a Captain Gregory Field, from the ship Levant, who was afterwards Governor. HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 6l CHAPTER III. FROM THE YEAR 1673 TO THE YEAR 1687, Sf. Helena re-granted to the Company by another Charter. Captain Field appointed Governor. Several settlers proceed to the island. Lands as- signed them. Nature of the tenures. System of defence. Salaries to the Governor, and other of- ficers and servants. Privilege to Negroes who embraced Christianity. Disturbances. Major Blackmore appointed Governor. Promulgation of various laws and ordinances. Slavery. Duties. Interlopers. Distilleries. Seditious cabals and tu- mults. Mutineers attack the fort, and are defeated. Two of the insurgents executed. Commission from King James to try the mutineers. Five more executed. Their relations petition the House of Commons. Martial law to be exercised as often as necessary. AFTER Sir Richard Munden'g arrival in Eng- land, his Majesty again assigned the possession and government of St. Helena to the East-India Company; and a charter, dated the 16th of 62 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. December 1673, was granted, constituting them Lords Proprietors of the island, with the rights and powers o'f sovereignty *. Not a moment was lost in fitting out two ships, viz. the European and the John and Alex- ander, for the conveyance of recruits for the garrison, and a number of passengers, who had accepted the company's terms of becoming set- tlers, as also to carry out provisions, and all kinds of necessary stores, for the lodgement of which a wooden house was sent in frame. It does not appear to have been the desire of Cap- tain Kedtnvin to remain on the island, as a com- O 7 mission was forwarded, appointing Captain G. Field governor, with a council of four mem- bers f, including Captain A. 13ealc, who was nominated Deputy Governor J. They wore en- joined to show every possible mark of respect and kindness to Captain Kedgwin, and to pro- cure him a passage, as soon as he found it con- venient to return to England; the Company * See Appendix, 15. f Sec Appendix, C. | 1 1<: was, some years after, poisoned by his black ser- vant. HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 6* declaring, that, upon his arrival there, they would take his services into consideration, and reward him as his merits deserved. Nor was the poor negro who had guided Captain Kedg- win's party forgotten; Sir Richard Munden re- presented the assistance derived from his local knowledge, and zeal for the British cause, in so favourable a light, that the Company not only repaid the expense of Oliver's emancipation, but also made him a free planter, and allowed him land and cattle in the same proportion as was granted to European inhabitants. Those plant- ers who had held lands on the island prior to its capture by the Dutch, were restored to their possessions. To every family that arrived in the two ships above mentioned, as also to some others who soon followed, were assigned twenty acres of land and two cows. Those settlers who preferred a residence on the windward side of the island, were permitted to have double the quantity of land assigned to those who inhabited other parts; arid every assistance which the Company could furnish, whether in seeds, plants, breeding stock, labour, or instruction, was freely given to promote the improvements of the industrious. Provisions were issued gratis to the planters for the period of nine months. It was supposed that at the expiration of that 64 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. time their farms would afford them a livelihood, and they were thenceforward required to pay for their provisions, &c. at the invoice prices. In the year 1679 it was ordained, that when a soldier desired to become a free planter, if he married a planter's widow, and became entitled to her deceased husband's land, he should fur- ther be allowed ten acres and one cow from the Company ; and, in the event of his marrying a farmer's daughter, or a young woman sent out from England, who had no land, he was in such case to have twenty acres and two cows. Eve- ry unmarried man, sent out fro.^ England as a settler, was to have ten acres of land and one cow; and ten acres more, and another cow, on his marrying a planter's daughter, or an English woman. If a planter's son married an English woman, during his father's life-time, he became entitled to t\vcnty acres and two cows ; but if the marriage took place after his father's death, the son being possessed of the whole, or a part, of his father's land, he was then to have only ten acres and one cow. A planters son, or any Englishman, resident on the island (not being in the Company's pay, nor having been assigned lands), was allowed, on his marrying a planter's widow, ten acres and one cow, if hi.} HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 65 wife had children living by her former husband; but if she had no child, a further allotment was not granted. One cow, at least, was re- quired to be maintained on every ten acres of land ; and if a farm was not occupied and im- proved within twelve months after possession, or if, being occupied, it became deserted for six months, in either of these cases, it was liable to be seized by the Company, and granted to a more industrious person. Some who were dis- possessed of their lands in this manner, were ordered to be sent off the island, as drones. No lands could be sold, or disposed of, by the pro- prietors, until after they improved and occupied them for a certain period, which at first was fixed at four years, then at seven, and, in 1683, at five years. For every ten acres of land the holder was obliged to maintain an Englishman, on the premises, capable of bearing arms for the defence of the island, who was occasionally to do garrison duty; and for every twenty acres, two men were required to be maintained, one of whom was to take his turn in mounting o guard. This service was commuted, in the year 1683, for a pecuniary consideration of two shil- lings an acre ; but the planters were not in con- sequence exempted from bearing arms, in com- mon with all other persons (except the blacks), F 66 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. when danger was apprehended, or from appear- ing as train-bands, at general musters, on pe- nalty of being fined according to the extent of their offence. Upon these several conditions lands were granted in perpetuity to the holders, their heirs, and successors; and a register was kept of all grants and alienations. The accession of settlers from England formed, in a very short time, a tolerably numerous mi- litia; a kind offeree with which the Company intended the island should be garrisoned, in preference to regular troops. Orders were, in consequence, sent out to reduce the number of soldiers to fifty, and to allow the remainder the option either of becoming planters or returning to England. In the allotment of ground to individuals for building houses in Chapel Valley, attention was paid to the regular formation of a street, the situation of which was directed to be above any fortification that might be constructed for the defence of the landing-place and harbour. Pointed directions were also given for fortifying the island, and placing the principal magazine in a centrical situation. A repetition of these orders, some years after, was accompanied by HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 67 an injunction, to consult all Captains of ships (merchantmen, as well as men of war) on the best system of defence to be adopted. These orders and consultations were followed by the construction, under different Governors and en- gineers, of lines thrown across valleys ; and, in later times, of two or three batteries, at some little elevation above the sea. Though these batteries were sufficiently calculated to act against the approach of shipping, or boats, they could have little effect upon an enemy if he suc- ceeded in carrying the lines above mentioned, which required a strong garrison for their de- fence. But more than a century was suffered to elapse before the obvious advantages that nature presented in the heights were regarded in any other view, than as the means of afford- ing a look-out. This oversight appears the more extraordinary, as experience, in the cap- ture and re-capture of the island, had shown the inefficacy of a fort commanded on either side, and proved that works at the foot of one part of a hill formed no defence for its summit against the approach of an enemy from another quarter. The regular garrison was, at first, embodied into two companies, of which one was com- 68 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. manded by the Governor, and the other by the Deputy-Governor ; but when the standing force was reduced to fifty men, its formation appears to have been one company. The soldiers were quartered on the inhabitants, at the rate of ten shillings a month for each man. The principal persons in office usually filled botli civil and military situations. The Deputy-Governor was Captain of a company, and Store-keeper. The third in council, a subaltern officer, and Survey- or-general. The Clerk of the Council, or Se- cretary, frequently held the rank of Ensign; and, in some instances, voted as a member; and the Store-keeper's Assistant was sometimes a commissioned officer, and sometimes a Ser- jeant. Such of the Council as were not upon the regular military establishment, held brevet commissions under the Governor's signature, and were assigned military commands in all cases of general alarm. Even so late as the year 1743 we find orders from the Company to continue this practice. The immediate charge and superintendence of the Company's lands and plantations were, for some years, intrusted to the Governor. From the produce of these lands was maintained a public table, at which not only the Governor and Council, and princi- pal servants and officers, but even the head urti- HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 69 fleers, and Serjeant of the guard, sat in the order of their respective ranks *. Nor was this strange custom abolished until the year 1718. The emoluments annexed to the different ranks and offices, in Captain Field's government, were as follows : * Extract from general letter to England, dated 3d No- vember, 1718: " Formerly, the Serjeants, and the Marshal, and Smith, " used to dine with the Governor ; but, by being com- " plained of by many of the Commanders, Governor Poi- " rier did alter it, and we have not brought these people in " again ; and this Governor is of opinion, that nobody " ought to sit at table with him that is not cleanly drest, " and that has an infectious distemper on him, or that is " drunk." Extract from the Board Resolution, dated the 8th October, 1717: " Likewise, in the Governor's absence, there shall stand " a salt upon the table, which shall be placed below the " Council and Chaplain. Those who sit above that salt, " shall always drink as they chink proper, either wine or " punch ; but those who sit below that salt, shall have, to " two persons, one common bowl of punch (which contains, " about three pints) ; if but three, the same; if four, two; " if five, no more ; and if six persons, three bowls of punch; " or, in case of wine instead thereof, one bottle for each " bowl of punch." fO HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. Captain Field, as Governor and Captain of a company, fifty pounds ; gratuity, fifty pounds- One hundred pounds per annum. Captain Beale, Deputy-Governor, Captain and Store-keeper, fifty pounds *. Lieutenants, two pounds ten shillings per month. Ensigns, two pounds ditto. Serjeants, one pound ditto. Gunner, besides his diet, two pounds ditto. Gunner's Mates, besides their diet, one pound ten shillings ditto. Private soldiers, eighteen shillings ditto. * Twenty pounds per annum was added to this allow- ance, in the year 1683, when Captain Holden was appointed Deputy-Governor, Lieutenant of the garrison, second in Cquncil, Store-keeper general, and Customer. Mr. G. Field was, at the same time, appointed Ensign of the garri- son, third in Council, and Surveyor-general of the Com- pany's buildings and plantations, at the salary of fifty pounds per annum. HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 7i Mr. Swindle, the Minister, fifty pounds; as Schoolmaster, twenty-five pounds; gratuity, twenty-five pounds One hundred pounds per annum. Mr. More, the Chirurgeon, twenty-five pounds; gratuity, twenty-five pounds Fifty pounds per annum. The Minister and Surgeon, besides their diet at the Governor's table, were each allowed the same proportion of land as other settlers. The Minister was directed to instruct and catechise the children of Negroes, as well as \vhite persons ; and any Negroes resident on the island, who publicly embraced the Christian faith, and received baptism, if the Governor and Council and Minister judged them sufficiently meritorious, were to be entitled, seven years after, to the privilege of free planters. A place of public worship was, in a short time, erected, in Chapel Valley ; and, in a few years after, a contribution was raised for building a church in the country. A free market was, likewise, established, for the accommodation of the ship- ping and inhabitants. 72 H ISTORY OF ST. HELENA. The first regulations for the government and management of the island were scarcely arranged, when discontents were excited by some incendi- aries, who persuaded many that the Company, contrary to agreement, intended to transport them to Bombay, and that the soldiers were cheated of their diet, which it was alleged they ought to receive in addition to their pay. The disturbances thus created proceeded to such lengths as to be denominated mutiny in the official dispatches on that subject. Peace and order, however, seem to have been restored without much difficulty; and the pay of the sol- diers was afterwards increased to twenty-one shillings per month. But the flame had not been smothered above five years, when a spirit of insubordination, heightened by the excessive use of intoxicating liquors, broke out into vio- lence and riot. This insurrection ended in the banishment of the principal ringleaders, and the dismission of two members of Council, who shamefully abandoned their trust, by counte- nancing illegal meetings. Captain Field having applied for permission to resign, and return to England. Major John Blackmore was appointed his successor, and HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 73 arrived at the island on the 19th of July 1678. Captain Field was directed to have a seat in Council until the time of his embarkation. At the commencement of Major Blackmore's go- vernment, a number of additional orders and instructions were transmitted by the Company, for the conduct of their affairs, and the admini- stration of justice. Nor was due attention to the inculcation of virtue and morality neglected. The Minister was urgently enjoined to a strict and conscientious discharge of his duties; and the Council exhorted to encourage religion by their example, as well as authority. A court of judicature was erected, of which the Governor was the sole judge; its sittings were ordered to be held four times a year. A system of laws, drawn, for the most part, from those established at Bombay, was at first framed for the island; but as they were calculated for a settlement in- finitely more populous than St. Helena, which then did not contain above five hundred in- habitants, it was shortly afterwards judged ex- pedient to proceed by jury, only in cases affect- ing life, limb, or land; leaving matters of less import to be settled before the Governor and Council, who were recommended not to have their " heads troubled with nice poynts of the " common law of England; but rather, on con- 74 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. " sidering the reason of things, to adjudge of " all cases in a summary way, according to " equity and a good conscience, without tedious " delays, or countenancing litigious persons in " their vexatious prosecutions*." Subjects dis- cussed at this Board were decided by a majority of voices; but if the members were equally di- vided, lots determined the question. This rule was followed until the year 1747, when it was ordered that the Governor should have a cast- ing vote, in cases where they were unanimous : the dissenting members were directed to enter their sentiments at large on the proceedings, for the information of the Court of Directors. It was in the power of the Governor to suspend any one of the Council, for negligence or mis- conduct; but this authority, in the year 1721, was transferred to the majority of the Council; by whom alone suspensions could be awarded. The vacancy could not be filled without express orders from the Company; nor could any per- son have a vote at the Board, unless the appoint- ment issued from the same authority. Governor JMackmore was reproved for assuming this power * For further particulars in respect to the la\vs in force upon the- island, previous to the introduction of regular military courts, and courts of Oyer and Terminer, &c. the reader is referred to the Appendix, D. HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 75 in favour of two free planters. All Commanders of the Company's ships were, at first, directed to sit in Council, during their stay at the island, and to have precedence next the Governor. It was afterwards decreed, that they should have only a deliberative voice, but no vote; and finally it was determined, that none should either sit or vote at the Board, without a special ap- pointment. Regular meetings were held by the Council, as the guardians of orphans and their estates; but, as intermarriages took place among the settlers, and the degrees of kindred upon the island were, consequently, in the course of forty or fifty years, considerably extended, there was seldom any want of relations upon the spot, to take charge of the children and effects of deceased persons; and the Orphan's Court, as it became unnecessary, gradually fell into disuse. A peculiarity in the laws respecting inherit- ance, entitled a widow to half her deceased hus- band's freehold estate during her natural life; the other half, together with the reversion of the wife's share, was, after her death, disposed of according to the husband's last will and testa- o ment. One-third of an intestate's personal pro- perty went to his widow ; the other two-thirds 76 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. were divided, in equal proportions, among the children resident on the island. But if there were no such relatives, then the whole de- scended to the k widow; and, in case there was neither wife nor child, the whole went to the next of kindred inhabiting the island. If by will, or otherwise, lands devolved to any person in England, who did not, within two years, either repair to the island himself, or cause the lands to be inhabited by two persons, and main- tain on them at least two cows, the estate, in such case, reverted to the Company. But this, and many other laws, established at the same early period, have long become obsolete, or have been superseded by the introduction of the Bri- tish code. In the course of a very few years, about two thousand two hundred acres of land became vested in the hands of individuals, either by free grants, or by leases for sixty years, at the rate of two shillings an acre; and the stock of black cattle rapidly increased. Until the year 1721, beef was supplied to the ships from the Com- pany's stock of cattle, in preference to that of the Planters, Mho bartered their oxen to them in exchange for necessaries from the public stores; a measure that was justly considered as HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 77 an accommodation to both parties. Such was the scarcity of specie, that copper bars passed as current coin, and dollars were valued at six shillings. As the colony was in a very flourish- ing condition, it became no longer necessary for the Company to supply provisions for the in- habitants at invoice prices. It was in conse- quence determined, that nineteen per cent, should be charged on all stores imported from England *, besides interest on the money which * By the manner in which this determination was ex- pressed, it would appear that its operation must have been very inconvenient to the inhabitants. The following is the extract from the letter upon that subject: " And, that our free planters and leasees may always " have a mcanes of supplying themselves with English " servants, and all commodities of England and Europe, as " cheap, or cheaper, than the planters off Barbadoes and " Jamacoe can have them; now they are, God be praised, " in a condition to have purchase them, wee shall send " you yearly one or two ships, or more, as our island shall " encrease; the planters agreeing amonge themselves to <' send us over yearly one or two honest persons, of their " number, that shaU engage, within the compase of the " yeare after such ships arrivall att the island of St. He- " lena, to pay the Company their just disbursements of " whatsoever they shall write, as Thos. Smoult now hath " done, together with nineteen per cent, advance upon the " just cost, freight, and charge here." Letter dated the 1st of August 78 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. should be laid out in the purchase ; and twenty per cent, on Indian commodities. All descriptions of persons were obliged to afford one day's labour in the year, or an equiva- lent in money, for the repair of the highways; two surveyors of which, and two churchwardens (one for each church), were chosen by the Go- vernor, out of four persons, elected every Easter- Monday, by a majority of the free planters. No lessee, shopkeeper, or artificer, had a voice in the election of any island or parish officer. That privilege was confined to the free planters and their heirs, whom the Company, in the fol- lowing words, declared that " they would al- " ways esteem and honour as the first occu- " pants, and gentlemen freeholders of the " island, for such it was hoped their heirs would " prove to be, and to have estates sufficient to " maintain the dignity of that title, and defend " their country on horseback." The introduction of slavery appears to have been coeval with the first settlement of the island, or very soon after. In the year 1 679, restrictions were laid upon the further importa- tion of slaves, from an apprehension of clanger, should their number, which was then about HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 79 eighty, exceed, in any considerable degree, that of the Europeans. But, in four years after, permission to renew this traffic was granted, on condition that for every Negro the purchaser should either maintain a white militia-man, or pay at the rate of ten shillings a head to the Company for each slave; and, in addition to other duties, every Madagascar ship that touched for refreshment, was obliged to leave one Negro, a man or a woman, at the Governor's election, for the service of the Company's plantations. The law which declared that no person should be deprived of life or limb without a trial by jury, did not comprise an exception or specifica- tion in respect to inhabitants of any description whatever; but, as the benefit of this law did not extend to blacks, it would appear that the be- nign sentiments at first expressed in favour of this class of people were forgotten, and that they were riot considered as human creatures. It may, indeed, be inferred, that, for a long pe- riod, some such opinion actually did prevail ; as it might, on any other supposition, seem extraor- dinary that a black striking, even in the act of self-defence, any white person, should be con- signed to a most horrid and detestable mutilation*. * See Appendix, E. 80 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. From the constant dread of insurrections among the blacks, it seems probable that these severi- ties had little effect in maintaining that subordi- nation and regularity of conduct, which the ex- perience of later years has proved to be more easily attained by a milder system. Besides the Negro which every English vessel trading to Madagascar was obliged to leave on the island, each ship paid a duty of two shillings and six pence for every ton of her admeasure- ment; and, in common with all others, the sum of five shillings anchorage! From this charge, however, the Dutch were exempted, as long as a similar exemption was allowed to the English East-Indiamen at the Cape of Good Hope. Ships in the Company's service were further obliged to deliver, on their arrival, a barrel of gunpowder; a practice which has continued to the present time. But heavier duties were levied on interlopers ; a term applied to all Bri- tish subjects who traded to India in defiance of the Company's charter. According to orders, sent out in the year 1683, the ships of inter- lopers were not to be supplied with water or refreshment, until they paid, in money or goods, to the value of twenty shillings per ton. Two years prior to this enaction, the law, with respect HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 81 to interlopers, was still more severe. No re- freshment was allowed them, unless they agreed to resign ship and cargo to the Company's dis- posal. In this case, the private property of the commander and officers was to be secured to them, and an offer made, either to entertain them and the crew in the Company's service, or procure them a passage to England. Until such a surrender was made, all traffic and com- munication between them and the inhabitants were prohibited, under the penalty of twenty pounds, from a member of Council, and ten from any other person in the island, who should disregard these orders. The principle on which these regulations were founded, was afterwards o ' applied to British subjects who traded to India under the protection of foreign flags. Many ships, under Ostend colours, were refused any kind of refreshment, scarcely allowed water suf- ficient to preserve the lives of their crews, and were even fired upon, to prevent their entry into the Roads, or to hasten their departure ! The subject was, at last, brought before Parliament, and, by an Act of George the First, this kind of clandestine and illicit commerce was checked, and the Company established in their chartered rights. Some of the interlopers became such active abettors of mutiny and sedition, that a 82 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. commission was sent out by King James the Second for seizing all ships belonging to persons of that description. In returning the salutes of foreign ships, it was directed, that no more than seven guns should, at any time, be fired, and only three to ships in the Company's service; but interlopers were not, on any account what- ever, to be saluted *. In addition to the taxes already mentioned, a toll of two pence was levied on each ox, or neat beast, that was sold ; and for every ox, or other beast, sold, and sent on board shipf, six pence. * Extract from orders and instructions, dated 1st of August 1683: " Wee finde, by the list of guns fired, sent us by Capt. " Beale, three hundred and odd guns, which is so strange a " waste, that we could not think our Governor would have " bin gyilty of; especially considering that island cost us " forty thousand pounds, without one penny proffit, hither- " too, more than refreshment to our ships, which all strang- " ers have had as well as ourselves. But most impudent it " was to salute interlopers; and a vile for our Minister, " Mr. Church (if our information be true), to be first on " board the interloper Pitts, that came in last voyage, and " to entertain him at his house." f " If any ox, or other beast, sold, and not duly entered " in the Company's toll-book, the bargain is to be null and HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 83 For every hundred weight of sugar landed, six pence. For every hogshead of arrack, ten shillings. For every hogshead of wine, ten shillings. For every piece of calico, six pence. For every piece of silk, one shilling. For every beast pastured on the Company's waste land*, one shilling. " voyd ; and so are all bargains for house or land, if not " registered as aforesaid ; and, in case of such ornition, the " seller and the buyer of any house or land unregistered " shall pay the Company double fees for registering an " alienation of any such house or land, so clandestinely " sold or alienated." - Extract from the Company's early orders. * " And we do hereby strictly forbid all persons upon " the island from suffering any cattle to stray, as our laws " saith, to be levant and couchant upon the Company's " waste land ; except such only as shall be first marked " with the Company's pitch-brand, which we send you " herewith; the cattle suffered te feed with the Company's ' being to be marked May-day, every year, or. some other if certain days, as the Governor shall direct; and the G Q 8* HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. And a poll-tax of six pence a head upon every person above the age of sixteen, for the purpose of paying the Minister, and repairing the church. A constant succession of showers is more ne- cessary for the process of vegetation in a hilly country, like St. Helena, than on flat grounds ; and, from the idea which prevails that trees on the summits of mountains have an attractive in- fluence on the clouds, as well as from considera- tions of the value of timber, the preservation of wood was deemed an object of great importance. To effect this end, regulations were, at various " owners of every beast arc to pay the Company twelve " pence per head, for being suffered to graze one year upon " the Company's waste land. " And tho' we shall esteem (as all Lords of Manners do). " till fine and ransom be made at the Lord's pleasure, all " cattle found upon the Company's waste to be the Com- " pany's own proper goods and chattels, that have not the " Company's wast-mark, or pitch-brand, upon them ; yet " we think it wry requisite that all the Company's cattle " should be marked on each home with a burnt mark, to 41 the end that if any of them (by ill men) should be killed, " or dye, the skyn may be known to be the Company's " when they are sold." Extract from the Company's early orders. HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 85 times, framed. A great quantity was, however, consumed, by distilling spirits from potatoes; a manufacture in which many stills upon the island were employed, which was a source of considerable internal traffic, and doubtless oc- casioned many abuses and disorders. If a total suppression of such licence was not necessary, some control, at least, must surely have been proper. Accordingly an impost was levied of twelve pence for every hundred weight of wood appropriated to distillation, besides four pence for every gallon of liquor. A spirit of opposition was again manifested in the colony, proceeding partly from the ex- action of taxes which the inhabitants deemed oppressive ; but chiefly from a want of energy in the Government. Secret murmurings soon increased to illegal and seditious meetings ; and, O O ' ' as no decisive or vigorous measures seem to have been enforced by the Government for checking these disorders, every unpopular regu- lation, as might be expected, added fuel to the flame, and encouraged the malcontents to con- tinue their tumultuous proceedings *. Affairs, " Thomas Eastings, a distinguished actor in these scenes, was proved to have broken into a house, for the purpose of 86. HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. at length, wore so threatening an aspect, that the Company determined to transmit orders for all Commanders of their returning ships to remain at the island during any period (not exceeding one month) that the Governor should think ne- cessary, in order that their ships' companies might assist in maintaining subordination. Be- fore these injunctions were forwarded, however, tranquillity had been once more restored; but the calm was of short duration. These trou- bles were rather fomented than repressed, by procuring arms : for this, and other offences, he was after- wards sent off in a ship bound for England. Whatever se- verity might, in the opinion of Governor Blackmore, have been attached to this punishment, the Company blamed the mildness of the sentence in the following words: " Your " banishment of Thomas Eastings is likewise such a silly " piece of pageantry, instead of a banishment, that we are " ashamed our aged Governor should be guilty of so great " a lolly. We know runagadoes, young fellows, love to be " rambling, and believe, if the fellow had committed no " fault deserving death or imprisonment, he would have " thanked the Governor forgiving him such an opportunity " to satisfy his humour of changing place. The wise Dutch " never banish white men out of India; for, to send home '* such to any part of Europe, is rather a reward than a " punishment. And therefore we forbid you, now and " for ever hereafter, to mock the justice of your island " with such sham banishment as sending delinquents home " to their own country." HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 87 the turbulent disposition of Doctor Sault, the Chaplain. He scurrilously insulted the Coun- cil, contemned their authority, and, by his dis- respectful and insolent demeanour, to which Government too tamely submitted, fostered a discontent productive of the most serious and alarming mutiny that had hitherto disturbed the settlement. It may here be observed, that, not- withstanding the Company had spared neither expense, ordinances, nor exhortations, to pro- mote virtue and religion, their intentions were, in a great measure, frustrated, by the behaviour of a succession of clergymen, whose principles and conduct counteracted the intention of their sacred profession. One of these gentlemen was censured, in the Company's official correspond- ence, as an " encroaching, avaricious person; 39 and was threatened to be dismissed, and sent to England, for refusing to marry a couple after the Governor had signed the licence*. Another, * " And if it be true, as we have been informed, that " he did refuse to marry Mr. Smoult's daughter upon the " lisence of the Governor, it is a great signe of his weak- " ness, as of his pride. For, if he understands our consti- " tution, he must knowe that noe lawes are of force in that " island till they are lawes made by us. And therefore, if " any Minister shall refuse to marry any couple upon our " Governor's lisence, we would have our Governor and 88 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. having a pique against his neighbour, swore he would have his blood. For this, and his drunk- enness, he was bound over to his good behaviour. A third was fined for performing the marriage ceremony without the Governor's licence, and against the consent of a parent. A fourth proved an incendiary and a drunkard, and persevered in the most aggravating and daring insolence to the Governor, until the reprehension of the Company, and repeated fines, reduced him to better order. A fifth, a man of very low origin, made the pulpit a channel for declamation against Government, whose orders for the regu- lar performance of his duty he disobeyed ; and, by his contumacy, disturbed the peace of the community, and set the \vhole island in a fer- ment. Four persons were convicted by a jury, and punished by fine or pillory, for circulating papers for general signature, in support of the Chaplain, and reflecting on the conduct of the Governor. A sixth, was obliged to relinquish his appointment from habitual drunkenness. A seventh, was represented as a sot and a liar. An eighth, was notorious for his irregularity of " Council immediately to dismiss him from our service, " and send him home 1 ." Extract from orders, dated 1st of Aug. 1683, par h 74. HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 89 conduct. In short, for a period of sixty years, the inhabitants could with difficulty separate in- subordination or profligacy from the character of their ministers. Without attempting to com- ment on an extraordinary expression of an ele- gant author, that, " to a philosophic eye, the " vices of the Clergy are far less dangerous " than their virtues*" it may, nevertheless, be remarked, that even political inconvenience may sometimes result from their vices, however preferable, in the eye of modern philosophy, to their virtues. In the year 1684, Captain Holden filled the appointments of Deputy-Governor, and Store- keeper; and, whilst officiating in the latter ca- pacity, at the stores, was interrupted and im- peded, in a most extraordinary manner, by Allen Dennison, a soldier, whose conduct, on former occasions, had been marked by turbulence and audacity. Captain Holden, instead of confining him for disrespectful behaviour to his officer, continued to bear with his insolence, and even condescended to reason with him. Upon Den- nison's reviling the Company in scurrilous terms, Captain Holden reminded him, that he, and all * Gibbon's Roman Empire, vol. ix. p. 1 Appendix, G. + Extracts from orders ami instructions, dated the 3d of August, l6S? : " Make it your business to undeceive those ignorant iu- '* habitants by convincing them, as the truth is, that we H 0 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA, CHAPTER IV. FROM THE YEAR \6S7 TO THE YEAR 1708. Various plans for improving' the island suggested. All fail. Price of provisions, in the year 1707. Jealousies with which the Company's prerogatives were guarded. Shoals and banks in the neighbour- hood of the island. Design of forming a settlement at Tristan d'Acunha. Design abandoned. Death of Governor Blackmore. Captain Johnson suc- ceeds as Governor. Is assassinated by part of his garrison, who plunder the treasury, and make their escape. Captain Kelinge's government. An in- surrection of the Blacks. Governor Kelinge's death, and succession of Governor Poirier. Distil- leries suppressed. Two Company's ships cut out of the Koads. Death of Governor Poirier, and succession of Mr. Goodwin. Arrival of Govern&r Roberts. WHEN the persecution of the reformed reli- gion, in France, under Lewis the Fourteenth, forced many valuable subjects of that country to seek refuge in distant climes, the little island HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 101 f St. Helena, notwithstanding the late disturb- ances there, was deemed a desirable asylum by Captain Poirier, who, with a large family, ar- rived on the 6th of January, 1689- This gen- tleman was recommended to the attention of the Governor and Council as a good and worthy character, and was appointed to succeed to a seat in Council. Captain Poirier, being ac- companied by several French Protestants, who understood the management of vineyards, lands in the neighbourhood of the district called Horsepasture were appropriated for the culti- vation of the vine, in the view of making wine and brandy. The experiment, however, at that time, does not seem to have succeeded. The state and condition of St. Helena, and the manners of its inhabitants, about this period, are described by Captain Dampier, who visited the island in 1691, in the following words : " The common landing-place is a small bay, " like a half-moon, scarce five hundred paces " wide between the two points. Close by the " sea side are good guns, planted at equal " distance, lying along from one end of the bay u to the other, besides a small fort a little fur- i ther in from the sea, near the midst of the 102 HISTORY OF ST. HELLNA. " bay. All which makes the bay so strong, " that it is impossible to force it. The small " cove, where Captain Munden landed his men " when he took the island from the Dutch, is " scarce fit for a boat to land, and yet that is " now fortified. " There is a small English town within the " great bay, standing in a little valley between " two high steep mountains. There may be " about twenty or thirty small houses, whose " walls are built with rough stones; the inside " furniture very mean. The Governor has a " pretty tolerable handsome low house by the " fort. But the houses in the town before " mentioned stand empty, save only when ships " arrive here; for their owners have all planta- " tions farther in the island, where they con- " stantly employ themselves. But when ships '' arrive, they all flock to the town, where they " live all the time that the ships be here; for " then is their fair, or market, to buy such ne- " ccssaries us they want, and to sell off the " produce of their plantations. " Their plantations atlbrd potatoes, yams, " and some |>lantains and bananocs. Their ' stock consists chiefly of hogs, bullocks, cocks HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 103 ' and hens, ducks, geese, and turkeys, of " which they have great plenty, and sell them ' at a low rate to the sailors, taking in exchange 1 shirts, drawers, or any light clothes, pieces of " calico, silk, or muslin; arrack, sugar, and " lime-juice, is also much esteemed, and coveted " by them. But now they are in hopes to pro- " duce wine and brandy in a short time, for they " do already begin to plant vines for that end, " there being a few Frenchmen that are to " manage that affair. This I was told, but I " saw nothing of it, for it rained so hard when " I was ashore, that I had not the opportunity " of seeing their plantations. " Had we all come directly hither, and not " touched at the Cape, even the poorest people " among them would have gotten something by " entertaining sick men. For commonly the " seamen coming home are troubled, more or O ' " less, with scorbutick distempers, and their " only hopes are to get refreshment and health " at this island, and these hopes seldom or " never fail them, if once they get footing here. " For the island affords abundance of delicate " herbs, wherewith the sick are first bathed, to " supple their joints, and then the fruits, and " herbs, and fresh food, soon after cure them of 104 HISTORY OF ST. I1KLKNA. " tlieir scorbutick humour. So that in a week's " time, men that have been carried ashore in " hammocks, and they who were wholly unable " to go, have soon been able to leap and dance. " Doubtless the serenity and wholesomeness of " the air contributes much to the carrying off " these distempers; for here is constantly a " fresh breeze. While we stayed here, many " of the seamen got sweethearts. One young " man, belonging to the James and Alary, was 11 married, and brought his wife to England " with him; another brought his sweetheart to " England, they being both engaged by bonds " to marry at their arrival in England; and " several other of our men were over head and " ears in love with the Santa Helena maids; " who, though they were born there, yet very " earnestly desired to be released from that " prison, which they have no other way to ' compass but by marrying seamen or passen- " gers that touch here. The young women " born here are but one remove from English, " bcinr the daughters of such. They are well- J " shaj)cd, proper, and comely, were they in " address to set them off." The abundance of fresh provisions and vege- tables which the island produced was much HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 105 more than adequate to supply the demands of the few ships employed, at that period, in the India trade. Several tracts of valuable land remained, at the same time, waste and unoccu-' pied. A knowledge of this circumstance led the Company to entertain hopes of deriving further advantages from St. Helena, than solely as a port of refreshment and rendezvous. A design was formed to establish plantations of sugar-canes, cotton, indigo, and tobacco; and encouragement was held out to the inhabitants for the cultiva- tion of the three last mentioned productions; but the first was intended to be reserved exclu- sively in the Company's hands. It was recom- mended, as a preparatory measure, to fence in the great wood at the eastern side of the island, now called Long Wood; and the Company's governments in India were instructed to send the necessary plants and seeds for promoting the undertaking. Mr. Cox, who had formerly resided in the West Indies, was sent out to superintend the sugar-works and plantations at St. Helena. The saltpetre, with which the earth was supposed to abound in many situations, in- duced the experiment also of collecting it, if possible, in sufficient quantities to render it an article of exportation. Similar hopes were formed in respect to sea salt, produced by the 106 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. effect of the sun, in the hollows of rocks by the sea side. Ample instructions were forwarded for the formation of salt pans, and Rupert's Valley was considered as the place best calcu- lated for the experiment. At the distance of about half a mile, or a little more, from the sea, this valley branches off into several others of less breadth, but increasing in width as they rise towards the interior of the country. One of them terminates in a form somewhat resembling o a bowl, above a mile across, which, probably, might once have been the crater of a volcano. In heavy rains, the streams of water from the different gullies and ravines collect in united force, and, accompanied with mud and stones, rush in a torrent, which suddenly accumulates by supplies from the hills on either side, until its impetuosity so increases, that, unless large sums of money were laid out to protect the salt pans, they must have been overwhelmed and destroyed by the inundation. As the same ob- jection would apply, though perhaps in a less degree, to almost every other valley on the island, the prosecution of the idea was soon laid aside. From the numerous brackish springs to be met with, in many places, at so great an eleva- HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 107 tion as to set aside all conjecture of their con- nexion with the sea, the probability may be in- ferred that a search might produce the discovery of rock-salt; but this question must be left to the consideration of those skilled in natural history, or to the more certain test of experi- ment. The attempt to collect saltpetre, as well as sea salt, was also abandoned as impracticable. The Company had also expended considerable sums in the purchase of sugar-mills, and other apparatus, but their expense and trouble proved abortive, through negligence, mismanagement, or ignorance ; and Mr. Cox was dismissed from their service, in which he had enjoyed the rank and salary of a member of Council. The de- fective state of the records prevents us from ascertaining why the plantations of cotton and indigo failed ; but the spontaneous growth of to- bacco, for many years, and even in the present time, evinces the soil and climate to be conge- nial to that plant. About the same time, a number of other plants, shrubs, and timber and fruit trees, were introduced. Among these were the cocoa-nut, cypress, and chesnut; pears, plums, apples, cherries, peaches, apricots, mulberries, gooseberries, currants, barberries, 108 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. quinces, raspberries, medlars, nectarines, fil- berts, and walnuts. Of these fruits only the apple, peach, mulberry, and quince, have come to perfection. The thriving state of the few cypress trees and cocoa-nuts that still remain, as well as of those that have been recently planted, renders it a matter of surprise, that, considering the anxiety of the Company to effect their propagation, they were not more generally cultivated. A further supply of yams was imported from Madagascar, for the sustenance of the additional number of Negroes that were procured to for- ward the plantations, and other works in con- templation; but, in consequence of the disap- pointments already mentioned, this extraordinary accession of labour was necessarily appropriated to the purposes for which the island was princi- pally maintained. Fresh provision became so abundant, that, to ensure a regular and constant demand, a clause was inserted in the charter- parties of ships in the Company's service, obliging their owners to purchase a certain quantity of beef, the price of which, in the year 16'83, was sixteen shillings per cwt. alive. But, as the demands upon the island increased with the prosperity and trade of the Company, so the HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 109 value of provisions became enhanced in the same ratio ; and the price of beef, in the year 1707, was twenty-five shillings per cwt. The market rates of other articles, in the same year, will appear by the following list: /. s. d. Veal, per Ib. - - - - 6 Pork, ditto .-.-004 Bacon, ditto - - - - 10 Running hogs, ditto - - 2 A sheep ----- i o A goat 080 A fowl 010 A turkey ----- 5 A goose 050 Potatoes, per bushel - - 4 Yams, per cwt. - - - 6 Milk, per gallon - - - 6 Butter, per Ib. - - - 10 New milk cheese - - - 4 Another article of sustenance, or rather of luxury, was derived from the numerous eggs laid by the sea-birds on the detached rocks round the coast. The property in the eggs was con- sidered as one of the Company's royalties; and Certain days in the week were specified on 1 1 HISTORY OF ST. .1 1 KLEN A. which the inhabitants were permitted to collect them. This indulgence having been abused, notice was given, by proclamation, that any [>cr- son taking eggs, except upon the appointed days, should forfeit their privilege for the remainder of the season*; and with so much jealousy were such prerogatives guarded, that in Captain Johnson's government, a man who had taken a sea-cow, and had appropriated to himself all the oil obtained from it, was fined five pounds for * Extract from consultation of the 8th of October, 1707: " Whereas there was usually granted by the Governor, " from time to time, as he thought fit, liberty to gather " eggs upon the Right Honourable Company lords pro- " prietors' egg islands, which, for some years past, have " been appointed, by the late Governor, to be Tuesdays, " Thursdays, and Saturdays, which days are still allowed " by the present Governor. But finding that there has " been (notwithstanding they have thereby granted them " as much as the said Lords Proprietors) eggs gathered " upon those days when they should not. " It is therefore hereby declared, that if any person or l ' persons shall presume any more to gather eggs upon any " other but their granted days, that then such boat, and " people therein offending, shall lose their said privilege " the whole season." HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 1 1 1 not having presented a share of it to the Com- pany*. The abundance and variety of fish caught with facility all round the coast, suggested an * Proclamation, dated the 28th of August, 1682 : " It is ordered, " That, from the first of September next, whatsoever " free planter, or other inhabitants, shall find any of the " sayd fish, called sea-cows, or others of the like nature " and quality, on the shore of any part of the sayd island, " he may boyle the same, and convert it into oyle, and " take it to his owne proper vse and behoofe; provided " always that hee forthwith send, or cause to be sent, the " eighth part, or gallon, of all the sayd oyle so made, vnto " Fort James, and deliver it to the Governor, or such as he " shall appoint, as an acknowledgment of the said Honour^ " able Company's royalty and property, and for their use " and service. " Further it is ordered, " That, from the same time, if any officer or souldier in " the sayd Honourable Company's pay shall find any such " fish above mentioned, he may convert it into oyle, and " send one third part, or share, thereof vnto Fort James, as " aforesayd ; the other two thirds he may dispose of as he " pleaseth, provided, and it must always be remembered, " that all persons concerned in this matter be just and " right in the division and distribution of this commodity " betwixt the Company and themselves." 1 12 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. idea that banks might be discovered in the neighbourhood of the island, sufficiently pro- ductive lor the establishment of an extensive fishery. Orders were, in consequence, trans- mitted, by the Court of Directors, for ascertain- ing this point; but with whatever alacrity these views might have been seconded by Govern- ment, it is pretty certain that the quantity of fish taken, at any time, has in no very great de- gree exceeded the daily consumption of the island. The small open boats in which the St. Helena fishery has hitherto been carried on, are not calculated to venture any considerable di- stance from the shore, or to take the full advan- tage even of such banks as have already been discovered. The most productive of these banks is New Ledge, situated about six miles to the s. s. >v. of the island. It is composed of rocks and sand, and its soundings are from twenty-five to forty-five fathom; but its limits are by no means ascertained. A boat has been known to strike soundings at forty-five fathoms on this ledge, when five leagues distant from the land. It is only in the finest weather that boats can lay there; and they are obliged, on the least appearance of wind, to cut from their moorings, and run in with the utmost expedi- tion. About four miles nearer to the shore is HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 113 Speric Ledge, on which there are four fathoms and a half of water; and here the sea, at times, breaks with such violence, that destruc- tion would inevitably be the fate of any descrip- tion of vessel that should attempt to lie on it in rough weather. Barn Ledge lies two miles off Prosperous Bay. Its soundings run from four to sixteen fathoms, and there is good fishing on it while boats can remain there. Though it is not liable to the disadvantage that attends Spe- ric Ledge, with regard to the violence of the sea, O * O * yet a fresh breeze would render it very hazard- ous to fishermen in a small boat. The princi- pal bank known to leeward is called Goodwin's Ledge, from its having been discovered by Go- vernor Goodwin. It is about three miles distant from the land, with soundings from fifty to eighty fathoms. Less risk is to be apprehended from heavy seas on this ledge than upon those to windward; but dreadful accidents have, not- withstanding, frequently happened by boats be- ing blown out to sea, and the unfortunate fisher- men have perished miserably. It is hard to say what degree of success might result from the employment of fishing vessels of a proper de- scription, capable of remaining out several days with safety and comfort to their crews. Banks, as yet unknown, might be explored, and fished r 214 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. on with great advantage, and an important ad- dition acquired to the natural resources of the island : but, in time of war, there might cer- tainly be objections against adopting this system. The late discoveries and improvements in the science of navigation have demonstrated the practicability of performing, in eight weeks, a passage which formerly required double that period of time. It had been a long-established opinion, that ships bound from Europe to St. Helena must necessarily proceed into nearly as high a latitude as the Cape of Good Hope be- fore they bore up for the island. This, of course, precluded any idea of adopting it as a port for the outward-bound trade ; and the want of so desirable a convenience induced the Com- pany to send out three ships successively, to ascertain whether such an accommodation could be discovered at the islands of Tristan d'Acunha. The commanders employed in this expedition were ordered to communicate the result of their observations to Governor Blackmorc; who, in the event of receiving a favourable report, was instructed to send a Governor and garrison to the proposed settlement, with all necessary tools and implements for erecting a small fort. En- HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 115 couragement was also held out for a certain number of families to remove thither from St. Helena, with whatever breeding-stock they might think proper, passage free. These islands are three in number, the largest of which is pro- perly called Tristan d'Acunha, and lies in the thirty-seventh degree of south latitude, and in the twelfth degree west longitude from Green- wich. On the north side there is anchorage from twenty to thirty fathoms, opposite to a safe landing-place, and an abundant cascade, from whence good water can easily be procured. In addition to these advantages, it is situated not more than fifty leagues out of the track of ships bound from Europe to India and China. But the reason for relinquishing the design is not mentioned in the St. Helena records. By the account given in Sir George Stanton's nar- rative of Earl Macartney's embassy to China, it appears that the islands of Tristan d'Acunha were more than once regarded as an eligible o o situation for a settlement. One set of adven- turers " had the project of rendering it a mart " for the change of the light manufactures of " Hindostan, suited to hot climates, for the " silver of the Spanish settlements in South " America, in the route between which places "it is conveniently situated. The other plan i 2 110 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. " meant, was only as a suitable spot for drying " and preparing the furs of sea-lion and seals, " and for extracting the spermaceti of the white, " or long-nosed whale, and the whalebone and " oil of the black species." On the 1st of October, 1690, Major Black- more closed a troublesome government, and a long life, by a fall from the path-way on Putty- hill. He was succeeded by Captain Joshua Johnson, the Deputy-Governor, who, in three years after, fell a victim to the mutinous spirit by which the early annals of St. Helena are characterized. Four instances of mutiny had already occurred. The last was quelled with infinite trouble and much bloodshed ; but a fifth was unfortunately, attended with too much suc- cess to the conspirators. Henry Jackson, a serjeant in the garrison, formed, with several soldiers, a plot to plunder the Company's treasure, and effect their escape in a ship called the Francis and Mary, then lying in the Roads, bound for Angola. The difficulties which they must necessarily have had to surmount in the execution of their scheme, had little weight with villains determined to carry their point through blood and massacre. HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 117 The period fixed for striking the blow was Fri- day, the 21st of April, 1693, when, in the tour of duty, Jackson became the serjeant of the fort guard. His accomplices, amounting to thirteen in number, were introduced within the gates be- fore he delivered the keys to the Governor, who retired to rest without the slightest suspicion of what was to follow. In tiie middle of the night, the apartments of the Surgeon, and other Com- pany's servants who resided in the fort, were visited by the conspirators, \vho disclosed their intentions separately to each person, and offered proposals to receive them into the confederacy. A rejection of these terms was followed by im- mediate confinement in a close and miserable dungeon. Four persons were intimidated by threats to assist the party. Having secured all within the walls, except the Governor and his family, further operations were suspended until daylight. At reveill beat, the Governor, in total ignorance of his danger, came out, in his dressing-gown and slippers, to deliver the keys to Jackson, by whom he was instantly seized, and a scuffle ensued between them. At this moment some of the villains fired three shots at the Governor, one of which passed through Jackson's arm; but the Governor being wounded in the head, dropped immediately. After this 113 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA, every access into the country was guarded, to prevent the escape of those who might desire to spread the alarm, as well as to secure such as should approach the town; and messages were sent to several persons in the valley, in the Go- vernor's name, requiring their attendance at the fort. As they entered, they were secured by the mutineers, and imprisoned in the dungeon, which was soon crowded with about fifty per- sons, whites and blacks, in a state nearly ap- proaching to suffocation. One of the mutineers proposed blowing up the prison with gunpow- der; but this atrocious design was prevented by Jackson. The horrors of the unfortunate Mrs. Johnson's situation were aggravated by the bru- tal indecorum of the ruffians, who dragged her out of bed, and forced her into a closet, whilst they rifled the house, and secured the treasure. Nor was she suffered to visit her dying husband till nearly two hours had elapsed; when, at the Surgeon's earnest entreaty, he was permitted to attend him, and inspect his wounds, which were found to be mortal. The guns were then spiked, and the two small pieces of ordnance placed by Sir Richard Munden on the eastern eminence over the town, were dismounted, and their car- ria;es tumbled town the precipice. C'aptain Kelingc, the Deputy-Governor, and Captain HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 119 y Pitts, commander of the Francis and Mary, had also been seized. These gentlemen, with Messrs. Lufkin and Goodwin, and R. Gurling, who had been taken from the dungeon, were compelled to accompany the mutineers on board the ship, where they conveyed the treasure, and all the valuable articles they could collect. Be- ing thus in possession of hostages, Jackson was determined not to leave the island without the requisite supplies for the voyage. In this view Mr. Goodwin was allowed to go on shore about eight o'clock that night; and he was desired to inform the people in the town, that if a shot was fired at the ship, the hostages should immedi- ately be put to death. In the mean time, the persons in the dungeon, to their infinite joy, were liberated. On the following morning, the supplies for the ship were procured ; and Cap- tain Poirier, on whom the command had now devolved, came into the town, with a number of the inhabitants from the country. Several pro- posals were made to fire into the ship, as many of the guns had been unspiked; but, fortunately for the hostages, this measure was prevented by Captain Poirier. A boat was dispatched from the ship, with one of the mutineers, for the arti- cles demanded by them ; but he was informed that they should be delivered half way between 120 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. the ship and the shore, if the hostages were sent in a boat to meet them. This was posi- tively refused; and the mutineers declared, that until their wants were supplied, Captain Ke- linge should not leave the ship. Necessity forced a compliance with these terms; and, after the ship was beyond the reach of gun-shot, the hostages were put into a boat, with the four men that had been compelled to join Jackson's party, and were suffered to return on shore. By that time the Governor had died of his wounds. As an act of justice to Captain Pitts, Mr. Keliiige gave him a paper, under his hand, certifying that the Captain was innocent of any wilful part in this horrid transaction. From the conversation on board, it was imagined they would sail for America; but it was afterwards deemed more probable that their destination was Ireland *. * For the information of such readers as may \\ish fora more particular account of this conspiracy, the following copies of some depositions, which were taken a few Hays after, are here nisei ted : " Richard Curling, being sworn, saith, that on the 22d " day of April, lG. ( )3> he went down to the fort, in the " morning very early, with Captain Pitts, Thomas Good- " win, Andrew Hooker, and Hugh Bod ley; so soon as they HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 121 In this manner was the death of the Governor effected, in the heart of his own garrison, by " were all entered in the fort, Serjeant Jackson stepped " before them, with a fuzee in his hand ready, and said, " ' Gentlemen, stand, and yield yourselves prisoners, or " else you are all dead men.' Jackson came to him, whom " he asked what was the matter; who answered, ' Damn " you, I'll kill you as soon as another man, for all you are " my father' (for Jackson had married the said Gurling's te daughter-in-law); so was immediately put into prison till " the evening, and then was called up to go on board with " them ; which at first denying, but considering that if he " was forced to remain in prison all night, thought he " should have died before morning (having been almost " stifled already), being so many together in such a small " room, so was carried on board, with Captain Kelinge, " Captain Pitts, Thomas Goodwin, and John Lufkin. " Further saith, he remembers Jackson asked him his " counsel privately on board, and he answered him he " could not tell him what counsel to give him; and then " the said Jackson said he would go any where where Cap- " tain Pitts would have him. Jackson further told him, " that himself, John Wensley, and Robert Lightfoot, would " hold together, and put Thomas Gartry and his family " on shore at Ascension. Also saith, Captain Pitts wept " bitterly, and desired he might have liberty to go on shore, " but Jackson told him no harm should come to him, for " he would stick by him as long as he had a drop of blood; " and that he heard Captain Pitts say, that they had best " go to the Cape of Virginia, and as they met with ships " coming out, to distribute their company. (Signed) " RICHARD CURLING." 122 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. fourteen men, in open day; the fort plundered, and every necessary supply obtained by the vil- The deposition of Thomas Goodwin, " Saith, on Saturday, the 22d day of April, 1693, very " early in the morning, being in his house in Chapel- Val- " ley Town, Captain Thomas Pitts, commander of ship " Francis and Mary, then in the Roads, came to call me " to go on board with him, as was agreed on the night be- " fore, who went, together with Andrew Rookcr ; so going " towards the fort, met with Hugh Bodley and Richard " Curling, who were together towards the water side, to " call the boat on shore, and thought to have gone through " the fort as usual ; as soon as all were within the fort, " Serjeant Jackson slept out of his room before us, with a " fuzee in his hand, cocked and guarded, said (or swore) " ' Stand, and yield yourselves prisoners, or, before God ! " you are all dead men.' I was going to lay hands on the M Serjeant, thinking he had been a drinking, but before I ' could do so, I saw several other soldiers behind us, who " said to same purpose as did the Serjeant, and further " added, that their design was to do us no harm, but take " the ship, and go away ; so conveyed us all but Captain " Pitts to the dungeon. At the mouth of the dungeon was " much blood ; which made Andrew Rooker to say, ' Lord " have mercy upon us, there is blood spilt already.' Go- " ing into the dungeon, we found several people there, " who told us the Governor was killed, or desperately " wounded. Aftcnvards, as people came to the fort, our " number was increased in the dungeon till we were almost " stifled with heat. About sun-set in the evening, I was " commanded out of the hole, with Mr. Lufkin and Richard HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 123 lains, upon their own terms, even while under the guns of the fortifications. u Gurling, where we found Captain Kelinge and Captain " Pitts ; then we were all five conveyed on board the ship, " where it was said Captain Pitts should be their navigator, " that Captain Kelinge, Mr. Lufkin, Richard Gurling, and " myself, as hostages, that the people might not fire upon " them, and that they might have what necessaries they " yet wanted. As soon as we were on board, we went into " the great cabin, where was a great parcel of fire-arms, " without ammunition, which lay in our way, which I " took hold of to put under the table ; then came Wens- " ley, swearing desperately he would secure you too : this " fellow coming on rashly, stumbled, and fell down, but " before he recovered, we made him understand we were " only putting them out of the way. We that were on " board as hostages, were much afraid of the people's fir- " ing on the ship which were on shore, and then at liberty, " knowing that if they fired we should presently suffer, " therefore entreated that one of us might be permitted to " go on shore, to dissuade the people therefrom, and to tell " the great danger he was now in that should be their Go- " vernor; which was granted, and that I should be the *' man ; and they demanded some dry beans, lemons, &c. " Then I desired Captain Kelinge to give me some small " note, which might empower me to seize those that would " be refractory, and to take those beans, &c. where they " could be found ; which, upon consideration, was granted, " viz. * Mr. Goodwin, \ Whereas I am confined/ &c. &c. 124 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. Nor had a calm of a few months succeeded before the island was nearly consigned to the " Which note the rogues liked very well, and sent me off, " about eight or nine of the clock, with two Negroes to " row the boat, and ordered that their necessaries might " be got ready by the next morning ; which, with the as- * sistance of Captain Price, did get ready. " Before the next morning much people came out of * the country ; and, as there were many men, so they were " many minds; some for firing on the vessel, and sink her, " so in a great hurly-burly ; but we were like men of war " without guns, for I searched the line round, and found " them all spiked up. About the break of day we cleared, " primed, and shotted several of our guns ; tho' not to be " fired so long as Captain Kelinge, &c. were on board, " knowing that the life of one honest man was better than " the death of so many rogues. In the morning there came ft one of their crew, viz. Stephen Lancaster, to the rocks, " with Negroes to row the boat, and demanded some of " their necessaries ; but was answered, that they should " send a boat half way betwixt the ship and the shore, with " their prisoners, and then they should have them, fur they " were ready; who went off immediately, saying, ' I smell " a rat ;' for he saw Andrew Rooker, the armourer, clearing " some of the vents of the great guns. Not long after they " sent another of their rogues, viz. John Wensley, demand- " ing those goods again, saying, that they would not be " brought to compound upon any terms, but would carry " their prisoners out of gun-shot before they would release h them ; and further added, that they had liked to cut the HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 125 miseries of new insurrections. A general spirit of insubordination continued to threaten the public safety. It pervaded almost all ranks and classes. Planters, soldiers, and blacks, were alike infected. The militia were prepar- " throats of their hostages on Stephen Lancaster's words " (who was before on shore), but that they knew him to " be a lying rogue, therefore he came to know the truth; " and further said, that an axe was laid to the cable, to " cut if he fired his fuzee, tho' they sunk presently; and " that the prisoners should not have the honour to sink " with them, for they would presently be killed. I desired " him to put his boat to, and he should have his neccssa- " ries, which he did, and by the time one hogshead of " beans was in the boat, there (by chance) fired in the fort " in firelock, which made this fellow sware desperately he " would fire ; but I, with much persuasion of him, and " telling him I would go on board with him as his prisoner, " caused him to forbear; so I went off with him, which " put our people on board in a less fear. I was com- " manded on shore again to fetch other necessaries, \h. " a frying-pan, c. they had formerly forgot, and was " commanded to come on board with them, which I did; " and when they weighed anchor, set sail, and run two " leagues off, then they put George Lock, Isaac Slaughter, " Joseph Davis, and Richard Evans, into our boat, saying, " that what Lock, Slaughter, Divis, and Evans, did, they " were forced to it by them ; so release Captain Kelinsje. ''' John Lufkin, Richard Curling, and myself, with two " Negroes they had on board. Further saycth not. (Signed) " J. GOODWIN." 126 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. ing to insist on being commanded by no other officers than those of their own election. Nor could this conspiracy be counteracted by any expedient but that of reducing the strength of the disaffected by enlisting several of their num- bers into the garrison. There was also a con- tinual apprehension of the blacks rising against the whites; a circumstance which sufficiently proves the laws respecting blacks were far from ensuring that subordination and rigid subjection which the severity of the code was intended to establish. Governor Kelinge very narrowly escaped the fate of his predecessor. A con- spiracy of the blacks was formed to massacre the European inhabitants, to seize a ship, and convey themselves to their native countries. Jackson's success gave encouragement to such an enter- prise. Fortunately this plot was discovered in time to prevent its consequences; and the ring- leaders were secured, and many of them punished by repeated and severe flogging, and then sent off the island. A more dreadful sentence await- ed the three principals. One was " to be hanged " in chains, alive, on Ladder Hill, and starved " to death ; two hanged and cut down alive, w their bowels taken out, and their quarters and " heads to be put in some publique cross way, " for the publique view of all Negros." HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 1<2F In truth, notwithstanding all that has been alleged in vindication of slavery, yet, to the un- prejudiced and disinterested eye, it must, at best, appear as a flaw in the jurisprudence of a civilized nation. But if in any case its existence be deemed requisite, it surely becomes policy, as well as a moral duty, to suppress the tempta- tion to revolt by ameliorating the condition of the slaves, and reconciling them to it by every humane method consistent with prudence; in- stead of having recourse to laws so execrable as to drive to desperation minds previously agitated by injury and misfortune. As this, however, is a subject that has been so fully discussed by much abler pens, it will be sufficient here to re- mark, that since the slaves have been placed on a footing more suitable to men than to brutes, no insurrection, or even serious riot, has either taken place or been apprehended; nor, if we can judge from the experience of the last twenty years, is any such event likely to occur. On the 30th of November, 1697, Mr. Ke- linge died of a dropsy, and was succeeded by Captain Poirier. The late Council having con- sisted only of the Governor and Deputy-Go- vernor, the new Governor, on his accession, was left without a colleague; he therefore called in 128 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. an assistant, Mr. Thomas Goodwin, who had some time been employed in the Store- keeper's department, and was afterwards confirmed third in Council. The futile efforts of weakness to maintain a tottering authority, constitute the characteristic features of this Government. To recount the numerous and gross insults offered to the Go- vernor would be as unpleasant as uninteresting to the reader. Though proclamations for the observance of morality were issued, they could be to very little purpose, when an example was exhibited, even in the Chaplain, of debauchery and faction; and the conduct of the Deputy- Governor was marked by a turbulent and muti- nous disposition*. The tax upon spirituous * The Deputy-Governor, who had, in the most unpro- voked manner, insulted the Governor, Poirier, and chal- lenged him to fight, died on the 25th of May, 1702, and was succeeded by a Captain Toddington ; but little advan- tage resulted from this change. Toddington, from the first day of his landing, showed a disposition to quarrel with the Governor; and, in a short time, his language might justly be termed mutiny. The violence of his conduct, at last, obliged the Council to suspend him ; but submission, and protestations of future good behaviour, induced his restora- tion in a few days. He did not, however, long hold his situation ; for the records exhibit a subsequent instance of HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 129 liquors, mentioned in the preceding chapter, was intended to operate as a prohibition of the distilleries; but it was by no means adequate to prevent intemperance. The number of stills upon the island became, at last, such a nuisance, that they were all suppressed, in the year 1700, by orders from England. Another attempt at insurrection by the blacks was punished by the execution of the principal ringleaders. The dis- order of the times is further evinced by the nu- merous civil and criminal prosecutions, actions of assault and defamation, that encumber the records. The punishment usually inflicted was termed " riding the wooden horse," because the delinquents were placed astride upon a horizon- tal beam, and remained in this situation a cer- tain time, with one or more muskets tied to each leg. The Governor had directed, that all ships should send a boat into Banks's Battery before they attempted to enter the Roads. His want of resolution to enforce this order, and to oblige the Company's ships to lie close in shore, his being brought before Council, as a private individual, to answer a charge for a breach of the peace against his. former friend and associate, the Chaplain, with whom he was now at enmity. K 130 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. occasioned the loss of two of them, namely, the Queen and Dover, both of which were taken on the 1st of June, 1706, by a French force, under the command of Monsieur Desduguieres, on his return from India. At seven o'clock in the morning a signal was made for two sail in sight, and report described them as large ships, under Dutch colours, approaching the island; at ten they were opposite Banks's ; and a gun being fired from thence (according to custom), they lowered their topsails, and saluted with five guns. One of them immediately stood towards the Queen, and running along side, poured in a volley of small-arms from the tops, which the Queen returned by a broadside, but was soon boarded, and taken. The enemy then hauled down their Dutch flag, and displayed French colours; and, both proving two-deckers, the Do- ver was also obliged to strike. As soon as this breach of the law of nations was perceived, or- ders were given, by the Governor, to fire upon the enemy from the batteries; but a sufficiency neither of powder nor match was at hand, and many of the spunges did not fit the guns. This occasioned such confusion and delay, that the French, with very little molestation, cut the cables of their prizes; and, after firing a few broadsides at the batteries, were soon out of the HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 131 reach of gun-shot. Monsieur Desduguieres had, some years before, visited the island, in time of peace, when he had been suffered by Governor Poirier to sound about the coast wherever he pleased, and to send his officers into the coun- try, on pretence of shooting ; "but it is said they were very differently employed, and made what- ever surveys they thought proper ; so that the French commander was well aware of every circumstance that could oppose the execution of his plan. From several large ships passing the island immediately after the capture of the Queen and Dover, it may be inferred, that Monsieur Desduguieres might have brought a larger force to accomplish his design, had he thought the difficulty of the object would have required it. To guard against a second misfor- tune of this nature, the Company positively di- rected that all their ships, whilst they remained at St. Helena, should moor close in under Lad- der Hill; and ordered, that no ship whatever should be suffered to pass Banks's Battery, with- out previously sending in a boat to request the Governor's permission for anchoring. The ut- most endeavours were likewise exerted to carry forward the defensive works at Rupert's Valley, which had been commenced some time before, but had received much damage from floods. K 2 132 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. The establishment of a new East-India Com- pany, in prejudice to that already existing, is an occurrence so far connected with the present History, that it cannot with propriety be passed unnoticed. The jealousies and party spirit which resulted from the clashing of different concerns and rival interests, could not fail to create trouble, and even some degree of ani- mosity, in the settlements abroad, as well as in England; nor was St. Helena totally exempt from these disturbances. The orders for exact- ing a duty of twenty shillings a ton from every East-India trader, not in the Company's service, that required refreshment at the island, were repeated during Captain Poirier's government; and, in consequence of the refusal of supplies to one of the new Company's ships, except in terms of the old Company's orders (who were the sovereigns of the island), the commander endeavoured to obtain by force what he might have procured in a legal manner; and sent a boat, manned and armed, towards one of the leeward valleys for water. The Governor, how- ever, frustrated the attempt by detaching a part of the garrison, with orders to roll down stones on the watering party, but not to proceed to further hostilities, unless the bout's crew com- menced a lire. Shortly after this, the new HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 133 Company sent an agent to reside at St. Helena, for the purpose of communicating instructions to the commanders of their ships. But as this was a measure for which the Governor and Council had received no sanction from their employers, the agent was informed, that whatever letters he was intrusted with should be delivered to the persons to whom they were directed; but that he himself must embark for England by the first opportunity. A termination to these, and simi- lar differences, was shortly after effected by the incorporation of the old and the new Companies into one, under the title of the United Company of Merchants of England, trading to the East- Indies. On this occasion St. Helena was trans- ferred from the old to the united East-India Company, in whose possession, as Lords Pro- prietors, it has ever since remained. On the 8th of September, 1707, Captain Poi- rier died of a lingering disease, and was suc- ceeded by Captain Goodwin, who governed about eleven months. During this period, the Alarm-House*, on the rid^e dividing a branch of j Co * Extract from consultation, the 2ifh of September, 1707: " Whereas it hath been, for some time past, intended 134 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. Rupert's Valley from that of James's, was built, and the works at Lemon Valley repaired. On the 24th of August, in the following year, Cap- tain Roberts arrived from England as Governor, and Captain Goodwin in consequence returned " and thought on to have a house built on the Alarm Ridge, " for the lodging of anus and ammunition, and posting of " two soldiers, in order to guard the ammunition and to fire " the alarm guns there as soon as they descryed any ship or " ships, or upon the hearing of Prosperous Bay guns fire ; " it is an hour before those guns are fired after the Bay " guns; and also for the convcniency of lodging the whole " party posted there in the night time, to prevent their " going home to their several houses, as usually did; " and we thought it very necessary and convenient to go " and take a view of the said Alarm Ridge, to see which " was the most convenient place to build a house on. " Upon the viewing of Lemon Valley, to consider what was " needful to be done there, with the approbation of John " George Newman, Engineer, have laid out a platform of " three guns, to be erected on the east side of the valley, " with a house of thirty feet long and ten broad, with a " chimney; and that a powder-room be built at the back- " side thereof; and that a platform of two guns, with a " small powder-room, to hold only cartridges of powder, " on the west side of the valley ; both of which are upon " two little hills, clear from any floods, and will certainly " make the place impregnable." N.P>. The force at that time allotted tor the defence of Lemon Valley, consisted of an officer and two soldiers. HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 135 to his former situation of Deputy-Governor, and soon after died. As we now approach a juncture when the island was rescued from a state of disorder and degradation by the able and energetic measures of Governor Roberts; and, as his wise admi- i^ nistration forms a most striking contrast to that of his predecessors, it will be proper to reserve the account of his government for a new chapter. 136* HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. CHAPTER V. FROM THE YEAR 1 708, TO THE YEAR 1?14. The building of Munden's Point battery. The pre- sent Castle in James's Valley commenced. Hopes of discovering a gold and copper mine, fallacious. Lime-quarries discovered. Improvement of the Company's lands. Sugar, rum, wine, brandy, bricks, and tiles, made on the island. General im- provement in respect to planting and enclosing. Re-publication of (he old laws. Application from the inhabitants in consequence. Answer. Govern- ment-House in the country erected. Plan for fer- tilizing Prosperous Bay Plain. Resignation of Governor Roberts, and succession of Governor Bou- cher. His government. Resigns. As security to the island was the first object of importance, the Governor's earliest attention was directed to the defences. On the day he landed, the engineer received instructions to give in a plan for a battery, to be erected at HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 137 Munden s Point; and two days after, a resolu- tion was passed in Council to construct the pre- sent square fort in James's Valley, and also a new Government- House. For the better com- pletion of such structures in a permanent and substantial style, it was deemed expedient to obtain a cement superior to the mud-mortar ap- plied in ordinary buildings; and the importation of chalk from England, to be burnt into lime at St. Helena (a measure adopted on a former oc- casion), being attended with great expense and inconvenience, it was judged essential to obtain that necessary article, if possible, on the spot. A reward of one hundred dollars was accord- ingly offered for the discovery of this useful article ; and, in the course of seven weeks, the researches of Aaron Johnson, a soldier, were in part successful; but the quantity he could pro- cure- being inconsiderable, he w r as not deemed entitled to the whole reward. The offer, there- fore, of a remuneration in proportion to the capacity of the quarry, was published, to stimu- late further exertions. But in this research ava- rice soon received another incitement. Appear- ances of gold and copper ore were discovered, in Breakneck Valley, by Captain Mashborne, a member of Council; who, as well as many others, was prosecuting his search for lime. A 138 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. proclamation* was, in consequence, issued, offering a reward of two hundred and fifty pounds for the discovery of a gold-mine, and one hundred and fifty pounds for a copper-mine. But no signs of either could be found. The supposed gold discovered by Captain Mash- borne proving, when assayed in England, to be marcasites, as whatever particles of metal it contained could not be separated, but evaporated * From consultation, 22nd February, 1709. A Declaration by the Governor and Council. 3 " That Captain Edward Mashborne, in digging of lime- " stone, in Breakneck Valley, amongst 'em sent some that " was mixt with other stones and dirt ; which, being tried " in the fire, there was found mixt with it several specks " of gold. And Mr. Daniel Griffith since has sent to the " Governor two sorts of minerals, found the last week, by " Charles Roth wall, a soldier, lodging at his house: the " one is gold, the other we take to be copper ; samples " whereof may be seen at the Governor's house. Where- " fore, for the encouragement of any person that shall be " industrious towards finding a mine thereof, he shall have, " as a reward for his trouble, two hundred and fifty pounds " for the gold, and one hundred and fifty pounds for the " copper-mine: and this rainy season being the most pro- " per time for looking into all the water-falls and streams, " we desire they may apply themselves diligently there- " abouts, being assured there are such mines upon the " island." HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. J39 in fume. Whilst numbers sought to gain one of the highest prizes, the less lucrative object of lime was not forgotten ; and the exertions of the Governor and Captain Mashborne were crown- ed with success, by their actually finding moun- tains of extraordinary lime-stone at Sandy Bay*. A kiln was immediately ordered to be built there; and it was ascertained by experiment that the process of burning could be performed as well by ebony as by coals. The ebony-tree is an indigenous production of the island, and formerly grew abundantly in many parts ; but, its bark being adapted to the purpose of tann- ing hides, which were exported to England and * From consultation, 1 9th July, 1709: " Our necessity is so great for want of coals, that we " thought it would have put a full stop to our work j but " find that ebony wood will burn lime : and being in- " formed that there is huge quantities of that wood which " lies dead on the hill, near Sandy Bay, the Governor and " Captain Mashborne went there to view it, and found " the report true; for that there is abundance indeed ; " and just by that place where the wood lies is mountains " of extraordinary lime-stone; and it will be much cheaper " to our Honourable Masters to bring lime from thence " ready burnt (being light), than to fetch that sort of " wood, which is very heavy, and bring it to the Castle iu " James's Valley." UO HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. the West-Indies, quantities of these trees had been unnecessarily destroyed, by stripping the trunks, and not taking the trouble of barking the branches *; a practice which caused a shameful * From consultation, ipth July, 1709: " Forasmuch as the red-wood and ebony-wood, whosr " barks are fit for tanning leather, are most of 'em de- " stroyed by the tanners, that for laziness never took the " pains to bark the whole trees, but only the bodies, leav- " ing the rest of the bark on the branches, which means " has destroyed all those trees, at least three for one ; and " therefore, to prevent the like for the future, and to pre- " serve and recover so useful and necessary a thing for the " island use; Ordered, that no more hides be sold to the " people; for that we are about to engage one John Or- " chard, a tanner, who has offered himself, to tan and " dress those hides at three shillings and six pence a piece ; " all other skins at the prices following: viz. a calf skin " at one shilling and six pence, a sheep skin at one shil- " ling and six pence, and goat skins at six pence each ; " and have supplied him with one of the Honourable Com- " pany's blacks, to help and assist him, it being too much " work for himself: and the said Orchard hath obliged O " himself to learne and teach the black his trade of a tan- " ner and currier, and that articles of agreement be drawn " accordingly. The advantages proposed to our masters " in this matter are thus : First, the preservation of the " trees. Secondly, as we used to do, to sell those hides to " tanners at three shillings a piece, and that, when tanned, " sold them again from twelve to fourteen shillings a piece, HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 141 destruction of at least three trees, where one would have sufficed. To prevent a total extir- pation of this wood, restrictions and limitations were not only laid on tanning, but the process of burning lime was, in a few weeks, suspended, and the completion of the battery at Munden's Point postponed, till coals could be procured from England. In the mean time, the blacks were employed in breaking lime-stone, in Ru- pert's Valley, where it appears a quarry had been discovered. As the engineer of the island had been dismissed from his situation*, Government ' so that, one with another, we may probably clear seven " shillings a hide. And, if shipping comes, we may be " able to tan two hundred in a year (besides all other " skins), which will clear seventy pounds a year, if sold " out, besides the advantage of the small skins : and if wee " employ shoemakers to work 'em up, wee are apt to be- " lieve that this article will yield our masters one hundred " pounds a year, at least ; the loss of the work of the black " and all other charges deducted." * " The Governor reports fo the Council, that he ob- " serves the Engineer to be useless, running headlong " about business, without his directions; which being fully " considered in Council, give their opinions of him : That " Christian Frederick Vogell is rather Pyoneer than an " Engineer, and no gentleman, by his actions and be- " haviour, and is altogether useless to serve the Honour- ;< able Company in any capacity, as being idle, ignorant, U2 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. was probably less anxious to forward defensive works, until professional assistance could arrive from England. Whilst these measures were in train for forti- fying the island and port, other points of mo- ment were not disregarded. The state of the colony, in respect to planting and pasturage, de- manded attention ; particularly the condition of lands belonging to the Company, whose con- cerns had been much neglected, and even their interests sacrificed to private views, by permit- ting individuals to exchange unfenced grounds for improved Company's farms. The regula- tions noticed in the third chapter, obliging land- holders to render an acknowledgement to the Company of one shilling annually for every beast pastured on the waste land, appears to have been entirely overlooked; till Governor Roberts, by the confiscation of five head of cat- tle, put an end to any further violation of this law. The fences upon all the Company's lands " and lazy, not knowing how to obey orders, or give di- " rections, by which means our Honourable Masters have- " suffered. " Resolved, That the said C. F. Vogell be dismissed the " Honourable Company's service from this day." HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 143 were ordered to be completed with the utmost expedition. Groves of gum-wood and lemon trees were planted, and nursed, and much care was bestowed on the cultivation of the shrub from which the castor-oil is extracted. To carry forward the Company's works and plantations, it was judged requisite to procure two hundred slaves, in addition to the number already employed, which amounted to seventy- six, men, women, and children : and to provide sustenance for such an augmentation of num- bers, became a subject of necessary consideration. A committee of three members of Council was ordered to survey all the Company's plantations, and report upon their capability; and to ascer- tain what contiguous grounds would answer for the cultivation of yams*. By the committee's * Extract from consultation, dated the ISth April, 1710: " The increase of the yam plantations is of so great im- " portance, especially since we have writ for two hundred " blacks more ; and therefore the Governor is of opinion, " that we ought to increase the plantations to three mil- " lions of yams: and since it is the opinion of this Coun- " cill that it will require no less than one hundred and " twenty acres of good ground to plant three millions of " yams; 144 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. report*, it appeared, that, after throwing out the exhausted plantations, no more yams could " It is ordered, " That Captain Mashborne, Mr. Griffith, and Mr. Ba- " zett, go forthwith, and survey this island in those parts " that are nearest to any of the Honourable Company's " plantations, as also the plantations themselves, and to " make their report." * On the 21st of November following, the Committee of Survey presented their report to the Council; the result of which appears by the following extract from the consulta- tion of the same date ; viz. " Having duly considered the report aforesaid, we " finde " Yams planted 477,340 " And all the new ground that is, or " can be, taken in, that is fitt to plant " yams in, will contain 675,956 " Which makes in all 1,153,296 " Total of the old ground to be thrown " out 118,000 " Total of the planted yams, and yams " to be planted 1,035,296 " Which shews that we have not, nor can raise, provisions " for above fifty blacks more; and that the charge ta " fence in the same will amount to five hundred and sc- " verity pounds fifteen shillings and four pence." HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 145 be raised than would suffice for fifty additional persons. But the hill between Friar's and Breakneck Valley, which had always been re- garded as an unproductive waste, attracted the attention of Governor Roberts, and he judged that, with the aid of water, about two hundred acres of it might be turned to very good account. After consulting with several experienced plant- ers, he submitted his ideas to the consideration of the Council, and proposed to convey a stream of water from the springs at the Planta- tion-House to the head of the ground intended to be enclosed, where he designed to excavate one cr more reservoirs, to guard against the effects of drought, or a failure of the springs. It was calculated that fifty acres of the new ground would produce one million five hundred thousand yams; that this quantity, together with the five hundred thousand supplied by the planta- tions already in cultivation, would be sufficient, with Indian corn and beans, to maintain, be- sides the garrison, an additional population of two hundred blacks ; and that, if the whole two hundred acres were enclosed, they would be adequate to the maintenance of one thousand persons. Such a system would not only put a stop to the expense annually and necessarily incurred by the purchase of those articles, but 146 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. would also ensure an abundant supply of vines, and a sufficient stock of canes to make sugar, both for home-consumption and exportation. At this period, sanguine hopes were entertained of success in the manufacture of the last article. The Council unanimously concurred in authoriz- ing the Governor to prosecute his plan at his own discretion ; and in thirty-four days a plen- tiful stream of water flowed to the head of the new ground. About sixty acres were immedi- ately ordered to be enclosed; and, by the ex- pense incurred at the commencement of the work, the Governor was of opinion, that the whole could be completed for a less sum than his first estimate of one thousand two hundred and eighty-nine pounds twelve shillings. The remainder was determined to be taken in as soon as leisure would permit. It is remarkable, that scarcely any further notice is taken of this plantation in any subse- quent record; and it is difficult to say why it was suffered to go to ruin. The soil appears excellent; there could be no deficiency in the article of water, as, even so late as the year 1732, it was in contemplation to continue the water-course from thence to James's Valley, for the supply of the ships, the stream in that val- HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 147 ley having become rather brackish by a mixture with the salt springs in its progress to the sea. The failure of Mr. Cox in his attempts to bring sugar and rum to perfection, and the un- successful experiments of professed vine-dressers and vintners, did not, as has been already ob- served, discourage the hopes of Governor Ro- berts. Sugar-canes were found to flourish in Sandy Bay, and in other situations. In a very short time, the Governor reported his success to the Council, and was enabled to exhibit samples of sugar, rum, wine, and brandy. He also ascer- tained the practicability of making bricks and tiles*. * On the 15th of August, 1710, the Governor exhibited to the Council a sample of St. Helena sugar ; whereupon the following resolution was passed : " That a pound or two be sent to our Honourable Ma- " sters, by the next shipping; and that they may be ac- ' quainted that we have found the following articles since " Governor Roberts came here : viz. " Lime, " Tyles, " Brick, " Cut-stones, for building, " Sugar, " Rum, " Mineralls of severall sorts. L 2 148 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. To the influence of example in the good ma- nagement of the Company's farms, and as an encouragement to the industrious, was added the force of proclamations to promote improve- ment; and persons to whom the appellation of drones became applicable, were sent off the island, and their lands allotted to others. Many of the inhabitants derived a consider- able income from letting out their slaves to the Company, as labourers, at the rate of one shil- ling and six pence per day (in former govern- ments it was two shillings); but the Council now resolved, that no black should be hired by the Company, until his proprietor could certify that his land was fenced, and planted with a due pro- portion of wood. As a relief to those who, by putting their land in a proper state, were thus deprived of an immediate source of revenue, " Upon which no are now resolved to fire nine guns; ' to drink our Honourable Wasters' good health, and suc- " cess to the island : for we are well satisfied this island " will turn to account, and not be a dead charge, as it '' ever has been, if our Honourable Masters will be pleased " to encourage it, and supply these people with necessarys; " and then then- will be no aversion against improvements, " but showers of blessings of these people will come to " them." HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. Up provisions to the amount of three hundred pounds were ordered to be purchased from all planters who had any to dispose of, although no immediate necessity for this measure appears to have existed on the part of the Company. But the Governor wisely judged, that if the general improvement of the island would be promoted by such an expenditure, the sum could scarcely be laid out to more advantage. By these and similar means, a spirit of industry was roused among the planters, and their attention directed to proper and useful objects. Decayed fences, and ruined plantations, gave place to well-ma- naged farms ; sloth and intemperance were suc- ceeded by sober habits; and the face of the country soon wore a new appearance. So little attention had been paid, under for- mer governments, to the orders transmitted, from time to time, by the Company, as standing regulations, that it was doubtful whether a num- O ' ber of them were obsolete, or yet in force ; and many land-holders were ignorant of even the terms upon which they held their possessions. Two members of Council were, therefore, in- trusted with the charge of arranging the various order* sent out, and engrossing them in a book to be entitled Laws and Ordinances. 150 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. In the course of three months, the gentlemen reported their work finished, and a meeting of thirty-six principal inhabitants was convened at the country church, that the code might be read, and copies delivered to the churchwardens for general distribution. Notice was at the same time given (with the sanction of the Company), that any observations, or proposals, offered on the subject, by the inhabitants, should be deli- vered in writing, and Government would take them into consideration. The convention of the thirty-six nominated twelve of their number to act for them; and this committee, on the 14th of June, 1709, pre- sented the following Propositions and Address to the Governor and Council. ARMS. " Istly. They desire the chief families may " have arms in their houses. ASSEMBLIES. " Cndly. In their friendly meetings and " merry-makings, it may not be deemed as " riots; ;md that upon any time, by order of HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 131 " the Governor, they will separate, if ever it " should enter into his thoughts such meeting " is for any evil intention ; which they say God " forbid it should. ALARMS. " Srdly. They desire they may not be cor- " porally punished, in case any neglect their " duty; but to be punished in their purses. BLACKS. " 4thly. They humbly desire, that when " their blacks are run away from them, they " may not be obliged to pay fourfold for what " they steale, but only to make sattisfaction for " the thing stole to the person injured. MARKETT-HOUSE. " 5thly. They desire, if there be a markett- " house built, they mayn't be obliged to bring " their goods out of the country to a publick " markett. BEEFE. " 6thly. They desire to have free liberty to " sell beefe toshipps. 152 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. DOGGS. " 7thly. They desire that themselves may " not be obliged to lead their doggs in a string ; " but are willing their servants shall do it. CATTLE. " 8thly. They desire the toll of cattle may be " taken off that they sell to one another, which " is two shillings per head; for that the trouble " of giving such accounts is more burdensome " to them than the thing itself. DITTO. " 9thly. They desire that the trouble they " are put to, when they kill any cattle, in car- u rving the hide, homes, and ears, to persons " that has bin appointed for that purpose, may " beredrest. FENCING LAND. " lOthly. They desire they may not be *' obliged to fence in their land at all, it being a " new thing they never heard of before. JURYS. " 1 Ithlv. They desire all other matters may " be tried by jurys, besides life, limb, and land, " as the plaintiffe shall think fitt. HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 153 WHOLESALE. " ISthly. They desire that the liquors, &c. " called Wholesale, being three gallons, may " be reduced to one gallon arrack, four pound " sugar, and one or two pounds of tobacco ; and " this be deemed a whole sale. LIQUORS RETAYLED. " ISthly. They desire that we would esta- " blish a certain rate upon liquors retayled by " the punch-houses. CAUSES. " 14thly. They desire to be tryed by the " civill law, and not by martiall law. SHIPPS. " 15thly. They desire the liberty that they " always had to go on board of any ship when " in the Road, asking the Government first. TAXES. " I6thly. They desire to be eased some- " thing in the tax of paying ten shillings every " year for each black they have. GAME. " 17thly. They desire that each chief of 1 54 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. " family that has guns allowed them, may, for " their diversion, have liberty to go a shooting. GREAT WOOD. " ISthly. They desire liberty to make use " of the Great Wood and Common; otherwise " they will be ruined. LESSEES. " IQthly. They desire lessees may vote for " parish officers ; and also serve in their turns. " And all these grievances they humbly begg " may be redrest, as by their ADDRESS, in the " following manner : " ISLAND OF ST. HELENA : " That whereas your Worship and Councill " was pleased, on the 16th day of Aprill last " past, to summons thirty-six of the principal " inhabitants to the church in the country, and " there to hear the laws read over, which was " accordingly done: And forasmuch as we were " a long time kept in the dark, and knew no- " thing of it; the inhabitants so summoned did, " by a consent, choose twelve of us to inspect " into them, and to make our remarks, upon " the promise of your Worship and Councill, HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 155 " that in case of any grievance which appeared " reasonable, that your Worship and Councill " would be pleased to make address to the " Lords Proprietors for redress. "And this day we do with submission pre- " sent the same to your Worship and Councill, " with our remarks thereon, and hope you will " find them reasonable. And, in the mean " time, we shall be obedient to those laws and " orders delivered to the churchwardens on the " 26th of April last past. " And whereas your Worship and Councill 11 having represented to us the necessity we are " in, for the good of ourselves and successors, " to use means for the preservation of wood, " which grows very scarce, and will inevitably " be, at last, the undoing of the island and the " inhabitants of it, if due care is not taken for " the maintaining of wood in planting the same ; u Wee, making serious reflections on this ac- " count, come to this conclusion; viz. " That every planter possessed of twenty " acres of land, shall be obliged to enclose one " acre, and plant it with wood, and so proper- 136 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. " tionably for more or less ; and to take that " care that no cattle or hoggs shall come to " graze on the said land, that the said wood so " growing may not be spoiled. And also, that " every planter shall, from the time of this re- " solution, be obliged to fence the said piece of " land in three years time. This is to be un- " derstood of those planters that have no wood " growing on their land, to take in any more " land for the same purpose. " After having made inspection into all the " laws concerning this island which your Wor- " ship and Councill have bin pleased to com- " municate to us, to the end where we saw any " thing that was not agreeable to peace, and " against the common interest of the island, to " make our remarks thereon, and to give our o " reasons for it, which we have done accord- " ingly : We hope, if your Worship and Coun- " cill find any thing in those remarks and rea- " sons that are not consonant with reason, will " not attribute it to us, as done on purpose to " infringe some of the properties that rightly " belong to the Honourable Company and the " Government of this place; but are willing to " submit ourselves to any thing that reasonably HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 157 " shall be established by your Worship and " Councill ; and that every one of us will " comply with the utmost of our power, for " we all know we must submit ourselves to our " superiors, not only for wrath, but conscience " sake also. And we hope that every one of " us and all together, will do our utmost en- " deavours to do any thing for the preservation " of this island, and the good of the Honourable " Company ; and that we promise that we will " not be remiss in our military dutys; but when " occasion shall present, wee will not be frugal 11 of our blood, but ready to spil every drop of " it for the preservation of the island, our " wives and families, against any enemy that " shall come here to invade us. And finally, " we give your Worship and Councill our hum- " ble thanks for having bin pleased to commu- " nicate to us the aforesaid laws and constitu- " tions for our perusal, that we might the better " be enabled to know our duty (a thing which " was never done before), but have always bin ( kept in ignorance of the same. " We have no more to say to your Worship " and Councill; but wishing you all the health " imaginable in your government, and we a " quiet and peaceable living under it, which we 158 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. " beseech Almighty God to grant to you and " us, we remain " Your Worship and Councill's " most humble " and obedient servants, " HENRY COALS, " JOHN NICHOLS, " THOS. SWALLOW, " ROBT. ADDIS, " MATT. BAZETT, " JAMES GREENTREE, " HENRY FRANCIS, " RICHARD CURLING, " ORLANDO BAGLEY, " CHARLES STEWARD, " JOHN COLES, " RICHARD SWALLOW." To each of the foregoing articles the Governor and Council annexed their answers : and the committee, on the part of the inhabitants, sub- joined a declaration, expressive of their satisfac- tion to most of the Council's resolutions, as follows: first, HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 159 ARMES. " As to armes, the Governor will give them " his warrant in the following manner to such " chiefs of families: " Forasmuch as the principal inhabitants of " this island have solicited to have armes in " their houses, which they think very necessary " to them (which the law prohibits), but the *' Governor and Councill have dispensed with it; (( Wherefore this does give leave and licence " to you, Mr. A. B. for such necessary armes " as you think convenient; which armes you " are to deliver up at any time when required " by order of the Governor for the time being; " And you have further power to seize any " armes from any person that has not my li- " cence ; which armes shall be your's to dispose " of as you think fitt, giving me notice of the " person; and for so doing this shall be your " warrant. " Given under my hand, this 14th day of " May, 1709, at the United Castle, " in James's Valley. " JOHN ROBERTS.'' 160 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. And then ordered that the following declara- tion be issued out : " ST. HELENA. " These are to give notice to all persons in- " habiting the said island, that none do presume " to possess, keep, or carry, any armes, w ithout " leave and licence first obtained from the Go- " vernor, under hand and scale, upon penalty " of twenty shillings to the Honourable Com- " pariy, and having the same seized and taken " from them by any person licenced thereunto, " for their owne use, and to receive such cor- " poral punishment as the Governor and Coun- " cill shall think fitt; and that no licenced per- " son do lend, or permitt any person to make " use of their armes, upon the penalty of hav- " ing their licence and armes forfeited. " Dated the 31st day of May, 1709. At " the United Castle, in James's Valley. " Signed per order of the Governor and " Councill, per me, u JOHN ALEXANDER. " They are sattisfied. HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. ll ASSEMBLYS. " Sndly. God forbid that any merry meet- " ings and innocent diversions should be deemed " riots: it's not the intent of the law. " Satt Isjied. ALARMS. " Srdly. You shall not suffer corporal pu- " nishment for not coming to alarms ; except it " be in time of warr. " Satisfied. BLACKS. " 4thly. We shall dispense with that law of " fourfold, and desire the Lords Proprietors to " repeal it. " Sattisfied. MARKETTS. " othly. As this law is not penall, we can- :e not sec how it can be a grievance ; and altho' " marketts have never bin used, and not bene- ' ficial to the inhabitants, it is no rule it ever ' should, so in your favour we shall write to : our Masters about it. BEEFE. " fithly. You desire free liberty to sell beefe, M 162 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. *' We shall write to our Masters in your favour " about it. DOGGS. " 7thly. You desire not to lead your doggs " yourselves, but your servants. " We shall dispense with it. " Sattisjied. CATTLE TOLLED. " Sthly. You desire the toll of cattle may " be taken off, for that it creates you a great " deal of trouble. " It is necessary that \ve should know how " you sell your cattle to one another, because " of our Common, that it may both prejudice " you and us too by not knowing it. CATTLE. " cjthly. You desire that the trouble you are " put to, when you kill any cattle, in carrying " the hide, homes, and ears, to- persons ap- " pointed, may be redrest. " We designe to make this trouble easier to HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. l6Z " you; but the law is of so great use to this " island in generall: as for example, a man kills " a beast, and sends for his next neighbour, he " being a reputed man, and warranted by the " Governor to have armes in his house; he " shews him the mark of his beast that he has " killed: That shall be a testimony sufficient, " without going any further. Now the usefull- " ness of it: A man loses a beast, and getts a ""warrant to search suspected houses, in which " houses, if they find any beefe, if he cannot " bring his testimony that he killed it at such a " time, by such substantial men as aforesaid, or " where he had the same, such persdh ought to " be convicted. " And we believe if it went as far as hoggs, " goats, and sheep, it would be much to your " benefit, for (if we are rightly informed) that " several suspected persons eat more flesh than " we think in reason and conscience they are u able to do if they come by it honestly. " Sattixjied. " And ordered that a new statute be penned '' accordingly, and sent home by this shipping u to the Honourable Lords Proprietors, for M 2 16'4 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. " their concurrence ; and that it take force from " the publication. LANDS. " lOthly. You desire you may not be " obliged to fence in your lands at all; it being 4< a new thin ou never heard of before. " This law has bin made above twenty-seven " years ago, and no doubt but it hath bin pub- " lished, for it is what you hold your lands by. " .And we must say, by this law, that what land " is not fenced in, is, by course, the Lords Pro- " prietors: We have no other way to know " which is your land and which is theirs, llow- " ever, because you say you have bin so long " kept in the dark, by not knowing any thing " of it, we shall, for this time, neglect our duty *' in making seizures, and will intercede with " the Lords Proprietors that the time appointed " for enclosing may begin anew from the ( 25i\\ " of March lust. In the mean time friendly " advise you to enclose as fast as you can, least " \\e should be checkt for this our neglect of " duty, and receive orders from them to make " seizures. HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. CAUSES BY JURYS. " 1 Itlily. You desire all other matters may " be tryed by jurys besides life, limb, and lands, " as the plaintifte shall think fitt. " No Governor and Councill will trouble " themselves to give sentence upon intricate " matters, and that may be of great importance, " as you urge by giving a definitive sentence, " tho' never so just, seldom pleases both par- " tys, which creates an odium to the Governor w ' and Councill, when the same thing may be w ' judged by yourselves. As the Governor is " Judge of that court, he ought to be a judge " what shall be tryed by jurys, and what he him- " self will try in Councill; otherwise, a litigious " man that hath wealth, and a cause depending " with a poor man, altho' a trifling one, shall " come and demand to be tryed by a jury, " \vhich will create the poor man such a charge " that he will rather sit down in his wron. . " The Governor would willingly })ut you in k ' mind, that he liath refused to try sevcrall " causes in Councill, as some of you know. " And, indeed, to take all this matter right, 16'6" HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 44 we look upon it as a burden our Masters has " laid upon us to ease you. V " Sattisfied that the Governor shall " be judge of what shall be tryed " in Council], and what in Court, " except life, limb, and land. LIQUOR. " lthly. You desire that the liquor called " wholesale, being three gallons, may be re- " duced to one gallon arrack, four pounds su- " gar, and one or two pound of tobacco, be u deemed wholesale. " We cannot see what occasion there is to " .deem any thing wholesale less than what is " expressed in the law, without prejudice and ' wrong to those who pay for licences. And " you all know very well that you may have u what small quantity you please out of the ' stores, even to a pound, or quart, of any " thing. " Sattisjial. DITTO, UETAYLEL). " 1 Stilly. You desire that we would esta- HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 16? i * blish certaine rates upon liquor retayled by " the punch-houses. " ORDERED, mt out: " That the following declaration be issued " These are to give notice to all lycencees, or '" retaylers of strong liquors, that a bowle of u punch, made with one pint of arrack, with " sugar and lemon answerable, be, from the day " of the date hereof, sold at two shillings per " bowle, and no more, while arrack is at six " shillings per gallon : and if any one presumes " to exact more, shall, upon information thereof " given to the Governor and Councill, forfeit " their license, and double the value. Which n the young plantations could be prevented, they must be perpetually liable to penalties. At a general meeting of the inhabitants, it was, after some deliberation, agreed, by a majority of fifty-one to eleven, that a law should be proposed to the Governor and Council, commanding the de- struction of all the goats and sheep, for the period of ten years, to commence from the 1st of February, 1731, allowing them two years for reducing their flocks. This was an idea for- merly suggested by Governor Roberts ; hut he was probably averse from enforcing its execu- tion in opposition to the inclinations of the planters; and the difficulties that would have attended such a measure seem to have been foreseen by Mr. Byfield, who chose rather that the act should originate in the inhabitants them- selves than in the Government. At this cir- cumstance the Court of Directors expressed much satisfaction. The law was in consequence confirmed, and \\as followed by the expected success. The indigenous trees shot up sponta- neously in great numbers. An inhabitant who died in the year 180.5, at the age of eighty-three. HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 215 Informed the author that many parts of the island where no trees had grown for many years before became covered with wood. From the scanty patches of herbage on the heights contiguous to the sea, neither black cattle nor sheep, even had nature fitted them for tra- versing such craggy precipices, could derive much, sustenance. But in those cliffs which in many parts are inaccessible to man, the goat finds excellent browzing, and thrives where other animals would perish. To obtain a good breed of these creatures became an object of very early attention. Orders were sent by the Com- pany, to Bombay and Surat, to forward to St. Helena a proportion of ram and ewe goats on every 'home ward -bound ship, until a sufficient breeding stock was procured. But if by this it was intended to introduce a larger species, the measure would hardly appear necessary after what has been stated by the writer of Caven- dishe's Voyage. The fecundity of the goats in a very few years multiplied their number to such a degree that they were regarded as wild animals, and hunted down by dogs and guns without restraint. This practice was interdicted in the year 1678, by proclamation ; but masters of families and house-keepers were permitted. 216 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. on application to the Governor and Council, to appropriate flocks to their own use, and to maintain them on the parts of the Company's waste lands now called Goat Ranges; the Com- pany reserving to themselves James's Valley and its vicinity for their own goats. Before the destruction of the goats had been assented to and agreed on, it was stipulated, that those persons who had enjoyed the advan- tages of keeping flocks on the Company's waste land, should have the limits of the respective ranges defined, and registered, and, at the ex- piration of the ten years, the former indulgen- cies should be restored. What was, therefore, at first considered as an indulgence, was, upon that occasion, constituted a right. Laws were enacted which admitted and vested in certain persons, the right of keeping goats on certain parts of the Company's waste, land. The land itself still remains in property to the Company. The value of this species of property depends on the safety or danger of the range, its extent, capability, and other local circumstances. The privilege of keeping one hundred goats in one situation will perhaps sell for one hundred pounds, whilst in another it is scarcely worth thirty pounds. The right in each range is gene- HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 2 17 rally possessed by two, three, or more proprie- tors, by whom stated days are fixed for im- pounding the goats ; a task of difficulty and danger to any but those inured to it from child- hood. A spectator, unaccustomed to the scene- ry and rural economy of the island, cannot but be struck with the singularity of a St. Helena goat-pounding. The eye, fearfully wandering over the abyss beneath, here and there catches a glance of the rill that murmurs at the foot of the declivity. On the opposite side a dreary rugged mountain is seen to rise stupendous; here and there a small patch of herbage is dis- cernable, but the general appearance exhibits little more than huge impending rocks, and the apertures of caverns, which afford shelter to the nimble inhabitants of these wilds. The inter- vention of hanging clouds, which sometimes ob- scure the depth of the valley from sight, leaves the uncontrolled imagination to rove in the idea of unfathomable profundity. The blacks by whom the goats are impounded spread them- selves on the outskirts of the range, to collect the stragglers, and impel them in a direction to- wards the pound, by loud shouts, and rolling down stones. The echoes resounding through the valleys and cliffs, in the midst of such rude scenery, has an effect truly romantic. After the 218 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. lapse of an hour, or more, detached flocks of a dozen goats, or upwards, are seen, like so many moving specks, followed by their hunters, who with cautious footsteps tread their dangerous way through ledges where a single slip would precipitate them to destruction. As they ap- proach nearer to their place of destination, the different flocks unite into one; the goats move with a slower step, and the cries of the blacks are heard with quicker repetition and a shorter note, until, arriving; near the entrance of the C? pound, the goats rush in with rapidity, and as many of them are taken as are required for use. Each proprietor has his respective mark cut in the animals' ears; and during the process of following the flocks, the blacks, by observing those kids that keep with their masters' ewes, are enabled to put on them their proper mark when impounded. Mistakes in this instance are rarely known to occur. It often happens that in driving the goats a few will break away, and effect their escape; but they are sometimes re-taken and secured by the celerity of their pursuers, who run among the ledges, and spring from rock to rock, on the brink of precipices that would justify a description such as Shake- speare has given of Dover Cliff^ As many of the planters are as active and expert as the HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 219 blacks in this exercise, they are well calculated for the service of riflemen, a corps in which they are embodied. A range, called the Devil's Hole, on the s. w. side of the island, is so very steep and dangerous, that the proprietors seldom procure a goat from it without the aid of a fowl- ing-piece. The following anecdotes are not in- applicable to the present subject, and will serve still further to point out the nature of the coun- try. About the year 1718, two of the Com- pany's slaves, who preferred a free-booting life to that of labour and subjection to their over- seers, made choice of a cave about half way up a steep acclivity, which terminates in a spiral rock called Lot, in Sandy Bay. From this strong hold their nocturnal sallies and depreda- tions were carried on with success for several weeks; and even after their retreat was disco- vered, they stood a siege of three or four days, and repelled all attacks by rolling down stones on the assailants; until at last it was deemed requisite to send a party of soldiers to fire on them if they refused to surrender in twenty-four hours. The agility, however, of a young man, named Worral, and two or three others, ren- dered this measure unnecessary. They went to the opposite side of the mountain, and clam- bered up until they gained a situation above the 220 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. cave, the mouth of which became thus exposed to the same mode of attack which had so effectu- ally operated for its defence. When the free- booters approached the edge of the precipice to roll down stones, Worral's discharge from above maimed one of them so much that the poor wretch died, and the other was much bruised. The recollection of this incident ought to give confidence to any party, however trifling in num- bers, that may be posted for the defence of the difficult and dangerous passes which, in most parts of the island, form the only access into the interior. In the year 1 734, a sailor, on his return from the country, wandered among the cliffs at Lad- der Hill, which overhang the sea, and found himself at last in a place where he could neither turn, nor sit down, nor discover any method of escape. In this perilous situation he remained until the following morning, when perceiving a party going to swim, he threw his shoes down to attract notice. He succeeded, and was soon relieved by the natives, who ventured within a few fathoms of him, and lowered down a rope, to which he fastened himself, and \\ashauled up. To carry forward the defences, public build- HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 221 ings, plantations, and other works, which had long been in process, required more labour than the Company could supply either from the gar- rison or their own blacks. Recourse was, there- fore, had to the slaves of individuals, the hire of whom afforded the chief maintenance of many families. On the succession of Mr. By field to the government, it was thought that this addi- tional labour might be dispensed with, and the blacks thus employed were therefore discharged by orders from home. The consequence of a measure which thus deprived numbers of a con- siderable income, was a petition from the in- habitants to the Company, praying relief from the penury and distress to which they had been reduced. The Court of Directors, in reply, humanely ordered that half the rents, and the tax of ten shillings for each slave, should be re- mitted for five years. This indulgence was af- terwards continued for five years longer (to al- leviate the calamities occasioned by a dry sea- son), and subsequently prolonged to the year 1745. The expenses of the island were reduced five thousand pounds in the first year of Mr. Byfield's government. But as the discharge of the blacks from the Company's works cannot be supposed to have been the sole cause of so great a reduction, much credit may fairly be ascribed 222 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. to the general good management of the Go- vernor. His care and assiduity were indeed very conspicuous, particularly in the recovery of several bad debts, contracted by a practice that had long been tolerated, of giving credit without restraint for necessaries required by individuals from the Company's stores. When a person in indigent circumstances desired to make a pur- chase from one more wealthy, payment was often made by the poor man's becoming re- sponsible for a part, or the whole, of the rich man's debt to the stores ; so that by these kinds of transfers it was found that the Company be- came the creditors of such only as had scarcely the means of payment. This nefarious traffic was interdicted, in the year 17*21, with an ex- ception in favour of those who were in the Com- pany's employment and pay. During the four years in which Mr. Byfield filled the chair, his savings for the Company were calculated at twenty-five thousand five hundred and sixty-five pounds. Their sense of his merits was manifested by an addition of one hundred pounds to his salary, one hundred pounds worth of plate, and four hundred pounds in cash. The inhabitants also, about five months after their liberation from the galling yoke of HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 223 Captain Smith's tyranny, testified their acknow- ledgements in an address to Mr. Byfield for his equitable administration ; and in the following year again took occasion to express their high sense of his just and indulgent disposition. But when the recollection of former sufferings and O oppression had worn off, present blessings were undervalued, and discontents fomented against the man \vho, by general confession, had every claim to esteem and affection. This animosity appears in part to have originated from the Governor's attempting to support the cause of the poorer class of planters against the views of a few opulent land-holders, who desired to sell their beef to the ships at a rate below the esta- blished price. Many might also have been dis- appointed at his not sacrificing the Company's interest to obtain popularity; but, at all events, his enemies were determined, if possible, to pro- cure his dismission. A powerful party was formed against him, and a deputation of two of its members sent home to lay their pretended grievances before the Court of Directors. Among a variety of complaints brought forward on that occasion, it was alleged, that the farmers were debarred the privilege of selling beef to the ships ; and that they were prevented going on board for disposing and bartering their comrno- 324 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. dities, although this was a right that had been granted to them by the Company. It was also affirmed, that they could not procure necessaries from the stores, but on condition of their pur- chasing articles, the property of some of the Council; that the Government sanctioned most exorbitant charges from the surgeon ; and that the Governor, derived a clandestine profit of one thousand pounds per annum. It only re- quired investigation to affix on these calumni- ators the obloquy they deserved. As an in- stance of the little regard they paid to truth, it appeared that half a crown was the total amount of what the surgeon had received from the in- habitants during his residence on the island. But can such an extraordinary instance of tur- pitude excite surprise, when the deplorable dis- advantages under which the inhabitants laboured are for a moment taken into consideration. Many, if not the greater part, of the original settlers were of inferior rank; their offspring had no other religious or moral instruction than that which could be obtained within the circum- scribed society of the island. Their spiritual teachers, far from inculcating sobriety, submis- sion to the laws, mercy, charity, and other Christian virtues, were foremost in scenes of debauchery and infamy; and when it is con- HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 225 sidered that rebellion, revenge, hatred, and du- plicity, blackened the character of the St. He- lena chaplains for more than sixty years, might it not have been expected that both religion should be put out of countenance, and morality out of practice. Governor Byfield, indignant at the injurious and ungrateful treatment he had received, re- tired from his situation in disgust; but whilst his enemies succeeded in driving him from the island, they were little aware of the punishment they had been preparing for themselves. Cap- tain Pyke was a second time sent out as Govern- or, and arrived in March, 1731; but Mr. Byr field, by the Company's orders, kept the chair until the last moment of His departure, which happened in a few days. During this second administration of Governor Pyke, he fully justi- fied the charge of arbitrary conduct, of which he was accused. The white inhabitants were igno- miniously whipped and imprisoned for trivial offences. The military officers fined and sus- pended without courts martial. Though he severely punished several acts of wanton bar- barity committed by the proprietors of slaves, yet some instances of horrid cruelty were un- noticed ; and he gave full scope to his own ty- Q 226 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. rann y ; a detail of which would be improper and indelicate. One occurrence, however, cannot be passed over in silence. A free black woman had a child by a soldier, for which offence, if such it could be called in an uninstructed, igno- rant creature, hardly sensible that any moral guilt was attached to the act, she and her child were both consigned to slavery, under pretence that such was the law in some of his Majesty's plantations. This doctrine was worthy of the man who applied it; but, as it was somewhat unprecedented to regulate the judicial proceed- ings of one country by the laws of another, and as Governor Pyke might, with equal propriety, use the torture to extort confession, because it was the law in some parts of Europe, he was judged unfit to be any longer trusted with the power he had so grossly abused. A number of similar acts induced the Court of Directors to dismiss him; but prior to the receipt of their orders to this effect, his decease, which hap- pened in July, 1738, had placed Mr. Goodwin, the senior member of Council, and a native of the island, at the head of the Government; and in this station he was confirmed. The person next in rank at the Board was Mr. Duke Crispe, a man not deficient in talents, and possessed of no common share of knavery and cunning. He HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 227 had formerly been in the situation of Governor's Steward, from which he had been raised to a civil appointment, in the year 1726, and was afterwards promoted to a seat in Council. He never hesitated to concur in whatever censure, was thrown on the conduct of his former masters and benefactors; he was concerned in trade with Governor Goodwin, had an entire influence over him, and was, in fact, the grand spring which regulated all the measures of Council. The Company's lands were disposed of for a tenth part of their value, the stores embezzled, the most infamous frauds committed by erasure and false entries, and the treasury robbed of nearly four thousand pounds. In the year 1739 he succeeded as provisional Governor, in con- sequence of Mr. Goodwin's death; but he had incautiously omitted to allow a due share of the plunder to G. Powel, one of his colleagues in Council, a man still more artful than himself, and equally devoid of principle. Powel turned informer, and had the address to conceal his real character. From the nature of the intelli- gence he secretly transmitted, it was judged proper that a person of integrity should be im- mediately sent out, with extraordinary powers, to investigate the charges, and even, if necessary, to supersede the Governor and Council. The Q 2 228 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. man selected for this service was Mr. Robert Jenkins, who had commanded a Scotch mer- chant ship, at the period when so many British subjects had suffered the most cruel indignities from the Spaniards, in consequence of the disputed right of cutting logwood in the bay of Campeachy. His ship was boarded by a Spa- nish guarda costa, on pretence of searching for counterband goods ; Captain Jenkins was in- sulted, tortured, and had one of his ears torn off, which, upon his arrival in England, he ex- hibited at the bar of the House of Commons, and, being asked by a member what he thought and did when they mangled him, made that me- morable reply, " I committed my soul to God, " and my cause to my country.*' The indigna- tion excited at this circumstance seems to have hastened the war that soon after took place with Spain. lie was afterwards commander of a ship in the Company's service, and continued in that situation till lie was appointed Supervisor of all the Company's affairs at St. Helena. Under this title he embarked for the island, where he arrived in May, 1740, and, pursuant to his instructions, landed in the first boat, and immediately proceeded to the Cattle, accompa- nied by Mr. John Godfrey, his assistant. I'pcm Lis announcing that he had charge of dUputches HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 229 a Council was instantly assembled. He then opened his commission, summoned the chief Supercargoes, and Captains of the Company's ships then at the island, and in their presence demanded the keys of the treasury. The cash found, and counted on the spot, amounted to only six pounds sterling. Mr. Duke Crispe, the acting Governor, and the rest of the Coun- cil (with the exception of Mr. Powel), were de- clared to be no longer in the Company's service, and Mr. Jenkins assumed the government, and, in terms of the Company's instructions, formed a Council, consisting of two Supercargoes, in conjunction with Mr. Godfrey and Mr. Powel. A thorough investigation was instituted, and most ample proof adduced in support of the ac- cusations made by Mr. Powel, who was in con- sequence made second in Council; and the estates of the guilty were seized to the extent of the Company's losses, which were calculated at six thousand two hundred and eighty-four pounds. The Governor having executed his commis- sion, Major Lambert arrived, as his successor, on the 22d of March, 1741, in the ship Har- rington, of which Captain Jenkins was directed to assume the command for the remainder of 230 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. the voyage. In his station as a commander, his conduct became still further distinguished by a gallant action against a pirate, in which he pre- served his own ship, and three others under his orders. HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 231 CHAPTER VII. FROM THE YEAR 1/41, TO THE YEAR 1788. Death of Governor Lambert, and succession of Mr. Powel. A detection of Mr. PoweVs frauds and misdemeanors. Is superseded by Governor Dun- bar. Experiments in the cultivation of corn. Dissensions among the Council. Mr. Hutchinson appointed Governor. Unsuccessful attempt of a French squadron to capture the Company's ships as they approached St. Helena. Increase of the esta- blishment. Exercise of martial law authorized by Act of Parliament. Introduction of the British laws. Prices of provisions, and necessaries from the Company's stores, reduced. Acquisition of oaks, and other vegetable productions. Mortality among the cattle. Doctor Maskelyne and Mr. Waddington sent out to observe the transit of Venus. -Governor Hutchinson succeeded by Mr. Skottoe. Long Wood fenced in. Mr. Corneille appointed Governor. A mutiny in the garrison. MAJOR LAMBERT'S government was termi- nated in about four months, by his death; but he had the merit of establishing the first regular 232 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. hospital, which was upon the site of the building now appropriated to that purpose. He was succeeded by George Gabriel Powel, senior member of Council, who, in a government of scarcely two years, completely developed his real character, and evinced that want of oppor- tunity alone had prevented his being concerned n the frauds of which he had given information on a former occasion. His disgrace and dis- mission were the result of a conduct similar to that by which he had accomplished the super- session of Governor Crispe. On the llth of March, 1743, Colonel Dunbar arrived, as Go- vernor, with orders to inquire into his proceed- ings; and the investigation fully established the truth of the charges that had been privately transmitted against bim. It was found that goods had been sold upon his account, which his own steward declared were the pro- perty of the Company. He had also obtained a lease for land, the letting of which to another tenant he had formerly opposed as extremely improper ; and actually took possession of a goat-ranijc belonging to the Company. Their farms had been appropriated to his own use, and their timixT, lime, perbcc-stonc, and other in :it) Tutls, applied in constructing a commodious on his estate in the country. In HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 233 this undertaking their artificers and labourers were also employed, and their pay was charged in the account of fortifications, or other public works. The Company's blacks, after finishing their daily tasks, instead of being suffered to en- J joy their necessary rest, were compelled to carry heavy loads from Sandy Bay and James's Val- ley, to forward the Governor's buildings; and if they did not return to their work before day- light the following morning, they were severely whipped. In consequence of this barbarous treatment, they seldom slept in a house, but lay upon the roads all night. The abilities of Mr. Powel were far from contemptible; but the talents with which nature had endowed him were all perverted by the depravity of his heart. An anecdote is related of him which displays an instance of cunning not unworthy of a member of the Inquisition. Two slaves (brothers) were brought prisoners before him; one for having absconded, the other for having supplied him with provisions during his absence. Against the first there was sufficient proof, but against the second none; as the former endured his punishment, denying that his brother had ren^ dered him assistance, and the latter refused to confess the fact. The Governor, on this occa- sion, said to the Council, " Gentlemen, this 234 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. " villain should be flogged severely. A wretch " who would not give his poor brother a morsel " when starving, deserves to be hanged." This declaration induced the intimidated creature to acknowledge the charge, and the acknowledge- ment was immediately followed by an inhuman chastisement Incidents comparatively trivial, may some- times throw as much light on characters as the most important facts ; and a degree of levity, as well as cruelty, is apparent in Mr. Powel's dis- position, from his treatment of a poor man whom he had employed to make a wig for him, with the materials of which he was displeased, and in consequence ordered the unfortunate wig-maker into his own room, where he was placed on the back of a soldier, and whipped like a school-boy with fifty lashes Mr. Powel refused to make any defence to the various charges exhibited against him, and when required to settle his accounts with the Company, instead of complying, demanded a general receipt, and permission to go to Eng- land. But this was refused until the Company's claims were satisfied, or until he should give security to their full amount. To the latter HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 235 proposition he assented; and was allowed to go to England. From thence he proceeded to America, and was conspicuous as a patriot at Carolina, and, it is said, even became a member of Congress. Governor Dunbar was unwearied in his ex- ertions to watch over the resources and fertility of the island. Experiments in the cultivation of oats, barley, and wheat, at Long Wood, gave rise to such hopes of success, that a barn was erected there; but on a failure of subsequent crops, it was converted into a residence for the Lieutenant-Governor. This disappointment is supposed to have arisen either from drought, or some peculiarity of the climate or soil, and not, as has sometimes been asserted, from the de- predations of rats: though it must be admitted that the ravages of these vermin are often at- tended with the most injurious consequences. In 17-56 they barked the trees at Long Wood for food, and an incident occurred, in the year 1 700, the authenticity of which might be doubted if it rested upon less respectable authority than the records. The rats are stated to have then attacked and devoured their own species; and the island was consequently nearly cleared of these animals. Among other improvements of 5J6 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. Governor Dunbar is to be included the planting of the avenue of Peipal trees in the middle of the valley leading to the hospital, by which it is so much ornamented and shaded. His extreme violence of temper, however, and his arbitrary disposition, involved him in repeated disputes with the Council. He highly resented the least opposition to his measures ; took upon himself to mulct some of the members, sometimes of a month's, and sometimes a quarter's salary, and suspended them at pleasure. During the course of these illegalities, Mr. Hutchinson, the Lieu . O tenant-Governor, in whose person that office was revived, evinced a degree of temper, modera- tion, and propriety of conduct, highly to his credit. He was accordingly judged a more proper person to be intrusted with the govern- ment than Colonel Dunbar, who Mas directed, in a letter dated the 23d of December, 1 746, to resign his charge to Mr. Hutchinson, or, in the event of his death or absence, to the senior military officer and secretary for the time being. These gentlemen were in such case appointed joint Commissioners for executing the functions of government; and, by a postscript to the same letter, they were ordered to compose the Coun- cil, to the exclusion of the other members, who had previously held scats at the Board; but one HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 237 or two of these members were afterwards rein- stated, though not till some time had elapsed. About this period a plan was formed by the French Government for intercepting the East- India ships, by stationing cruisers in their track to the windward of St. Helena. L'Achille, of sixty-four guns, La Syrenne, of thirty-two, and La Zephyre, of thirty, were fitted out from Brest, and arrived at the Cape of Good Hope, in January, 1759- After there taking in a sup- ply of stores and necessary refreshments, they proceeded to their station, which they reached early in March; and, in order to prevent the communication of any intelligence respecting them, obliged the commander of every neutral ship with which they spoke to enter into an en- gagement not to touch at the island: but they had not remained three days to windward before they were distinctly seen from the look-out posts, and during their cruise, which continued nearly three months, frequently approached within eight or nine leagues of the land. Upon their being first descried, a long boat was O O equipped, and placed under the command of Mr. Bendy, a midshipman of one of the Com- pany's ships, who was instructed to get to wind- ward of the French, for the purpose of inform- 238 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. ing the expected Indiamen of their danger. He was successful in gaining his station unperceived by the enemy ; but shortly after observing them to leeward, he mistook them for English ships, bore down, and did not discover his error till it was too late. His capture was, of course, the consequence of this mistake. In the beginning of May, four of the Company's ships fell in with the cruisers, with whom three ships maintained an obstinate running fight for some time, but finding they could not get in without a great risk of being taken, they stood away for South America. A few days after, the French gave chase to two more of our Indiamen, who pur- sued the same course as the other four, and the six ships reached in safety the Bay of All Saints. They were soon followed, and blocked up by the enemy, who had quitted their station for want of water. In this extremity a long boat was decked, and properly fitted out to carry ad- vices home of the situation in which the Com- pany's ships were placed. The boat passed through the French men of war in the night, and was picked up, in great distress, by a New York sloop, one hundred and thirty leagues to the \vest\vard of Cape Clear. In the mean time the cruisers abandoned their blockade, and al- loued our ships to proceed unmolested on their HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 239 voyage. Thus ended an enterprise, the failure of which seems to have discouraged the repeti- tion of any systematic attempt of the same kind; for we cannot regard as such the casual cruise, for a day or two, of a single frigate or privateer, on their voyage towards Europe. The only British vessels known to be captured off the island by such cruisers were the Rebecca schoon- er, in the year 1782, and a whaler, in the year 1805. As the trade and prosperity of the East-India Company increased, so the importance of St. Helena became more manifest, its security be- came an object of greater attention, and the re- spectability of the civil and military establish- ments gradually augmented. The two services were rendered more distinct and separate: in the civil department, a regular rule for promo- tion, and gradations of rank, was fixed*; and, from the year 1759, one or more seats at the Board have invariably been filled by senior civil servants. In fact, all members of Council, as such, are upon the cm/ not the military esta- blishment; and, in support of this assertion, a * General Letter from England, dated 7fh January. 1742-3. 240 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA, i number of instances might be adduced ; but the following extract from the official correspond- ence will suffice: " Captain Thomas Kirk- " patrick, according to our orders, being ad- " mitted into the civil service, as a member of " Council, covenants for him, as such, are " transmitted for his execution*." The same rule applies to the Governor and Lieutenant- Governor, whose offices are civil, and entirely independent of whatever military commissions they may hold. It would be needless to digress- upon a point so well established, if a contrary opinion had not of late been maintained ; and if a custom allowed for eight or nine years, by which the senior military officer in James's Val- ley was regarded as the Governor's representa- tive, in all respects, during his absence from the seat of government, had not gradually usurped the authority of a law. Some circumstances, however, having occurred that brought the sub- ject under discussion, a reference was made to the Court of Directors. The decision of that Court fixed the system as it hud previously stood; and, at present, the senior member of Council in town in the Governor's absence, is * Gi-neral Lrttrr from England, the 17th of Dcct-mljir, J70''J. ai-P h jy. HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 241 considered as his representative, in all respects, except the command of the military. The garrison had formerly more the appear- ance of a militia, than of a regular military esta- blishment. A number of the non-commissioned officers and privates occupied farms, which in a great measure engrossed their attention. Shortly after the re-appointment of Captain Pyke to the government, an increase of numbers appears to have occasioned the formation of a second com- pany of infantry; and, in 1743, the garrison was augmented to four companies, besides the artil- lery. In consequence of the discharge of those who preferred the life of a planter to that of a soldier, military duties were conducted more conformably to the rules of discipline. The companies were commanded by officers of no higher rank than Lieutenants, until sixteen years after, when a Captain was appointed to each; but at St. Helena, as well as in other settlements belonging to the Company, it was impossible to maintain proper discipline without martial law ; the exercise of which, though permitted by a for- mer charter, had not been enforced at St. Helena since the time of Captain Roberts's government. Indeed, from the tenour of the charter, it would appear that military courts were admissible only R 2-k! HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. in case of actual attack, or of open rebellion. The propriety, therefore, of constantly governing the garrison by martial law, particularly in time of peace, was doubted ; and an Act of Parlia- ment was passed, in the twenty-seventh of George the Second, for punishing mutiny, de- sertion, and other military crimes, in a manner similar to that practised in his Majesty's armies. By this act the Court of Directors, through the medium of the Crown, is empowered to autho- rize the Governor and Council to appoint courts martial, and also to extend the same authority to the commanding officer of any detached party. Besides the penalties to which officers on the St. Helena establishment are liable by the de- cision of a military court, they are subject to dismission by the Governor and Council, with- out a court martial*; and, by the Act of Parlia- * Extract from the Court of Directors' 1. tUT, dated the ipth of January, 170'y: " That they (the officers) are not only to obey their su- " perior officers, according to the rules anl discipline of ' war, but are to be entirely subject to the orders of the ' Governor and Council, who art- the Company's legal re- ' prebentatives; as likewise to such orders they ni;iy n>- HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 243 ment of the 13th George the Third, for regulat- ing the affairs of the East-India Company, the sentence of dismission against any servant, civil or military, pronounced by the Governor and Council, can be revoked in no other manner than by a majority of three-fourths of the Di- rectors, and the like majority of a special court of Proprietors. The Directors, in consequence, with that lenity so manifest in all their proceed- ings, have ordered, that .suspension from the ser- vice, until the Court of Directors pleasure be known, shall be the sentence of the Governor and Council, instead of dismission, unless the " ceive from any of the Company's civil servants to whom " the Governor and Council shall think fit to delegate such " authority. " That as they are entirely subject to the authority of " the Company's civil representatives, so the Governor " and Council, upon the misbehavior of any officer, rnay, " whenever they think fit, take away such officers' com- " missions, without bringing him before a court martial, u according to the general practice of the service. " The intent of sending you the foregoing is not merely ' with respect to the officers now appointed, but also to '* remind you of the power you have always had, and it is " necessarv should be kept up, in order to preserve that " authority over the military which is essentially necessary " for the cood of the service." It 2 244- HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. latter may be " really necessary, or unless ca- " shiered by a court martial ;" and the Act of the twenty-seventh of George the Second renders the Governor and Council amenable to the Court of King's Bench for any oppressive abuse of their authority. The partial spirit of the early laws of St. Helena, in which such distinction of colour was observed that a black was consigned to death for the same crime for which a white was only slightly punished, was too disgraceful in a British settlement to admit of its continuance ; and it is surprising that an error so enormous had pre- vailed for so long a period. A power vested in the Governor of trying causes, either by jury or before Council, according to his discretion, was frequently abused, in violation of the Company's orders against depriving any persons of lands without the verdict of a jury. Unwarrantable fines were also, in many cases, imposed; and policy, justice, and humanity, called aloud for a reform, which was hastened by the daring felo- nies, burglaries, and other serious crimes com- mitted by both whites and blacks with impunity, for want of the powers to apply adequate punish- ments. Repeated representations on this sub- ject by Governor II utchinson induced the Court HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 245 of Directors to take it into their serious consi- deration. On consulting the most eminent law authorities, they were " satisfied that they had " a right by themselves, their ministers and of- " ficers, to govern the island of St. Helena, and " to hold courts of justice therein for trying all " kinds of crimes, offences, and misdemeanors, " and also for determining all civil actions." And, as the Governor and Council had hitherto acted as judges and magistrates, it was thought right that they should still continue to do so, without any further authority than what had been customary ; and they were in consequence de- clared Judges of the Courts of Oyer and Termi- ner and Gaol Delivery; which, upon this occa- sion, in the year 1762, were established, and have continued to the present period. The offices of Sheriff and Constable were at the same time instituted; but the Court of Directors disapproved of the proposal that a professional gentleman of the law should be sent out as Clerk of the Peace, enjoining the Governor and Council to discourage litigation as much as lay in their power. This wise admonition has been attended with the happiest effects; for, in gene- ral, no people are more averse to law-suits than the natives of St. Helena. The grand jury is usually composed of gentlemen in the civil and 246 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. military service, and the principal land free- holders. The petit jury generally consists of free and lease holders of an inferior class, and any Englishman at the island is liable to be im- pannelled as a juror. In fact, all judicial pro- ceedings are now conducted very nearly in the same manner as in the English courts. The o convictions, punishments, and determinations, are required to be conformable to the known laws and statutes of the British realm, or as nearly so as the nature and circumstances of the cases will admit. This rule, however, docs not affect local laws, either criminal or civil, that had been, or might be, established, provided they were not repugnant to the spirit of the laws of England. Those crimes for which the British code condemns the offender to transportation, are punished at St. Helena cither by burning the hand, or by whipping: the reason of this pecu- liarity must be obvious. Until the year 1787, the evidence of blacks, although deemed com- petent against persons of their own colour, was not admissible against whites. The conse- quence of so partial a system will appear by the following instances. In the year 17*5, Eli/a- hetli Renton, a white inhabitant, in a tit of pas- sion, stabbed one of her female slaves \\ith a r;n vin^-knifr; the slave died in a few moments. HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 247 The verdict of the coroner's inquest upon this occasion was wilful murder against Elizabeth Renton ; and the grand jury, at the following quarter sessions, presented a bill of indictment to the frame effect. Had her skin been as black as her heart, she would undoubtedly have suf- fered the penalty of the law; but as the only witness that could have sworn to the fact was a person of colour, who was not examined at the trial, because the evidence of blacks against whites was inadmissible, she escaped. In the following year, a planter, named Worrall, and his slave-man (Yon), were detected in the act of sheep-stealing: as the proofs against him rested upon the testimony of blacks, the white man could not be brought to trial, but the slave was convicted, and sentenced to death, notwith- standing he had acted under the coercion of his master. To have followed such a sentence with execution, would have been too flagrant an out- rage against equity; but, as the authority for pardoning criminals is not expressed in the Company's charter, that power is one of the prerogatives of the Crown at St. Helena, as well as in England ; Yon was therefore repriev- ed, and recommended to his Majesty's royal mercy, who was graciously pleased to extend it by sending out a free pardon. 24S HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. The Court of Directors, anxious to prevent a continuance of such barbarous absurdities, sub- mitted the subject to the consideration of the most eminent law authorities; and, in conse- quence of Recorder Adair's opinion on |he case, the evidence of blacks against whites is now ad- missible in the same degree as against those of their own colour *. Whether any degree of Admiralty jurisdic- tion be vested in the Governor and Council, is a point not positively ascertained. During the government of Mr. Skottowe, five Dutch prizes were taken, off the Cape of Good Hope, in the year 1781, by the British squadron under Commodore George Johnson, who brought them into St. Helena, and made application to the Governor for a Court of Admiralty to be appointed for the condemnation of the prizes. To obviate every objection or doubt which might possibly arise against a compliance with the request, he engaged, on behalf of the captors, * " In the same degree" but their evidence cannot be universally admitted, either against whites or those of their own colour. Much of this must rest with the- discretion of the magistracy and the jury; as it may happen that in- dividuals of this class are not sufficiently informed in reli- ious obligation to understand the nature of an oath. HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 249 that, in whatever sentence the Court might pro- nounce, a clause should be inserted, " saving " the rights of all persons upon the nett pro- " duce, who might have any claim or claims " upon the said captures, and should lodge the " same claim or claims within three months " from the registration of the sentence before " the Court of Appeals in prize causes, esta- " Wished in London." The Governor having consulted the Council, and the charter being carefully examined, it was the opinion of the Board that there was no legal impediment to an acquiescence with the Com- modore's application. The Lieutenant-Govern- or and two of the civil servants were, by virtue of a formal instrument from the Board, consti- tuted Judges of the Admiralty Court on this oc- .casion, and the prizes were condemned. To the official report transmitted on this subject no answer was returned ;. but it is understood that the cause underwent a second adjudication in England, where the sentence of condemnation was repealed. How far the powers of the Council may ex- tend in ecclesiastical cases, still remains a ques- tion. In some instances, certainly, they have 250 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. ever been accustomed to exercise part of the functions of that court, such as proving wills, and appointing administrators to the estates of persons dying intestate. But a case being pre- sented for their decision, which had for its ob- ject the separation of a wife from bed and board, there was some degree of hesitation, from apprehensions of want of authority. The mutual consent, indeed, of the parties precluded the necessity of further deliberation on the question. It may be remarked, however, that, prior to the erection of the courts of Oyer and Terminer, the Governor and Council were ex- pressly stated to be fully competent to admini- ster justice within the island " in all causes and " matters whatsoever" betwixt party and party, except life, limb, or land (which required the assistance of a jury), and that the introduction of the forms used in the British courts was ac- companied with a proviso that the local laws and customs of the island were not thereby to be superseded, unless they were contrary to the spirit of the laws of England. It appears, therefore, reasonable to conclude, that had the Council, in the case alluded to, after impartially weighing the evidences on both sides, pro- nounced a decree of separation from bed and board, in order to save a family from ruin, their HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 251 sentence would have been approved by the law authorities in England. o Among the reforms and improvements already noticed in the present chapter, it is proper to mention the increased degree of comfort and re- spectability attached to the Company's servants upon the island by an augmentation to their in- comes. Governor Lambert was sent out with a salary of five hundred pounds per annum, and a proportionate addition was annexed to offices of inferior importance. Although, since Go- vernor Poirier's appointment, persons below the rank of gentlemen had been excluded from the general table, yet the right enjoyed by all civil covenanted servants and military officers of con- stantly dining at the same table with the Go- vernor, could not but be subversive of that re- spect so necessary to be preserved towards the person who presided over the settlement and all its official departments. In the year 1743, the general table was abolished, and, in its stead, an allowance, under the title of diet-money, was granted to those who had enjoyed the privilege of frequenting it. Two years previous to this change, regulations were adopted in the store- department, by which bread and flour were sold to the military at prime cost; clothing, and all 252 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. other stores, at ten per cent.; and to the inhabit- ants at forty per cent. Governor Dunbar, in the year 1745, reduced the price of the salt provisions to two shillings per piece to the soldiers ; this price was con- firmed; and, in the year 1758, a similar reduc- tion was made in favour of the officers and civil servants. Since this regulation, the price of salt provisions has been fixed at four pence per pound to all classes of persons on the island, except to non-commissioned officers and pri- vates, who still receive it at the former rate. The privilege of purchasing all other articles in the stores at no greater advance than ten per cent. \vas extended, in the year 1772, to the planters and other persons not in the Company's service. During the government of Mr. Hutchinson, the island was enriched with several valuable vegetable productions, highly conducive to or- nament and to utility. About the year 1/49, the Scotch and spruce fir were introduced, and some acorns sent out, from which trees have been produced that now measure from eight to eleven feet in circumference, But in the ani- ma), as well as the vegetable kingdom, longevity HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 253 has been found to accompany tediousness of growth ; and the rapidity with which the oaks of St. Helena have shot up, occasioned, in some of them, a very early decay*. But it is only in the most sheltered spots of the island that the oak attains perfection ; in exposed situations, the trade-wind blowing continually in the same direction, produces very baneful effects upon this, as upon most other trees not indigenous to the soil. Those which receive least injury from this cause are the cypress and the pinaster f. A number of attempts to introduce the coffee- plant had failed; but Governor Hutchinson at last succeeded in this object, though he met with several disappointments, occasioned by se- vere drought, a calamity with which the island was observed to be afflicted once in every seven or eight years. Its distressing consequences * This peculiarity in the growth of the oak induced Go- vernor Patton to have several of them felled at the Govern- ment residence in the country; and the timber, on being worked up, has been found of a closer grain, and much harder, than the English oak : a quality rather singular in trees of quick growth. + Of the former few now remain; but the successful en- deavours of two Governors (Brooke and Patton) to propa- gate the latter, are likely to prove of much benefit to llie island. 25k HISTORY OF ST. HELENA; were increased in the years 1760, 1761, and 1762, by dreadful sickness among the cattle. The disorder is thus described in the official cor- respondence : " The cattle were first taken with " a trembling, lost the use of their limbs, and " the bowels contracted in a surprising manner, 41 some of them have a swelling in their breasts, " others, upon opening the intestines, are found " quite decayed; all of them, after they are " seized with this disorder, have a contraction " in the bowels, and appear to be quite mad." Various opinions were entertained as to the cause of the distemper. Some supposed it to arise from the multitude of insects propagated in the dry grass; while others imagined it proceeded from eating an herb called the canary-grass; but the latter opinion was proved to be erroneous. Every remedy that could be suggested on the island, as well as in England, proved unequal to stop the progress of this disorder, which did not abate till it had nearly destroyed all the cattle. Whilst the little island, its politics, und do- mestic concerns, occupied the paternal attention of its proprietors, its situation attracted the no- tice of astronomers, as suited, in a particular instance, to promote science and nautical in- formation. It was calculated, that upon the HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 255 6th of June, 1761, the planet Venus would pass over the sun's disk; and, in consequence of an application from the Royal Society to his Ma- jesty, measures were adopted for observing the transit from the Pacific Ocean by Captain Cook, from Sumatra by Messrs. Mason and Dixon, and from St. Helena by Doctor Maskelyne and Mr. Waddington. The two last of these gen- tlemen having arrived at the island at the close of the preceding year, an observatory was con- structed for their use upon a chosen eminence *, and every suitable accommodation afforded them, by orders from the Company; but upon the long-expected day, a passing cloud obscured the phenomenon from their sight, whilst it was distinctly seen by several persons in James's Valley. During the eighteen years in which Mr. Hutchinson held the government, he fulfilled the trust reposed in him with such fidelity and dis- cretion that the Court of Directors crave him no- O tice of their intention to settle an annuity upon him of three hundred pounds a year, whenever he thought proper to leave the island. At the same lime they desired that such intimation * The ridiie behind the Alarm-House. 256 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. might not be construed into a supposition that they wished him to resign : but this worthy man being then in the decline of life, and anxious to visit his native country, accepted with much gratitude the offered terms, and on the 10th of March, 176*4, delivered over the government to Mr. Skottowe, the Lieutenant-Governor*. Although the destruction of the goats for ten years had conduced very much to effect the de- sired object, yet such was the annual decrease of wood upon the island, that it once more became a subject of apprehension and alarm. The trees in Long Wood, in the year 1777, were supposed to be more in number than the rest of the island together contained ; but, with the exception of those within Governor Byfield's enclosures, there was no likelihood of a succession to re- place the trees that were cut down or decayed, as the young plants were continually nipped off by cattle, sheep, and goats. The subject ap- * At this period the Council was composed of the follow- ing gentlemen : John Skottowe, Esq. Governor. Matthew Purling, Esq. Captain Thomas Khkpatrick. And on the 6'lh of May, 176~9, Daniel Corneille, Esq. ar- rived as Lieutenant-Governor. HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 257 pearecl of such importance to Governor Skot- towe and his Council, that they urgently recom- mended a substantial fence to be completed round the whole tract of land now called Long Wood, consisting of fifteen hundred acres, and they expressed hopes that an acquiescence to their proposal would, within a period of twenty years, prove the means of affording sufficient supplies of fuel even for the ships. They like- wise urged the propriety of conveying water to that neighbourhood in leaden pipes, which would considerably enhance the value of a very large extent of pasture land, called Dead Wood. The estimated expense* of the latter proposal appeared to the Court of Directors to exceed its probable advantages; but they strongly approved of fencing in the Long Wood, and transmitted the most positive injunctions that the whole of the enclosure should be planted with trees of the quickest growth. In this view a number of plants of the Lombardy poplar were sent out; but as these failed, and as the gum-wood seemed to thrive best in that situation, all the vacant spots were afterwards filled with seedlings of those trees ; and a large quantity of acorns have subsequently been sown, which came up re- * Five hundred and eighteen pounds. S 258 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. markably well. The gum-wood, however, is the only kind of tree which now grows there, and the supplies of fuel from this quarter are so trifling, that the garrison baker is allowed eighty pounds a year to purchase wood from other parts of the island, although the expense of en- closing Long Wood has cost the Company about eight thousand pounds, independent of other charges on account of that estate. But even had the orders of the Company been carried completely into effect, it may nevertheless be questioned how far the promised advantages would have compensated for the diminution of the number of cattle which must have been the consequence of converting so large a tract of excellent pasturage into a plantation. Other less valuable spots might have been fixed on for planting wood, and trees would have undoubt- edly grown on the same ground which had pro- duced them but a few years before. Governor Skottowe filled the chair eighteen years, to the satisfaction of his employers. During this period, the leaden pipes that now convey the water from Chub's Spring to the M'lmri* were laid down; the church in James * This distance is '^71)0 yards. HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 259 Town, and the officers' barracks, were also erected. On the 25th of July, 1782, he re- signed the government to Mr. Corneille, and shortly after proceeded to England. Towards the close of the year 1783, the tran- quillity of the island was disagreeably inter- rupted by a mutiny of the troops. Nothing was more foreign from the apprehension of the in- habitants than an insurrection of this nature ; it was an event that had not recently been ex- perienced, and they had long been accustomed to peace and security. An idea had been adopted of putting the garrison under a mode of regimen, in regard to the use of spirits, analo- gous to the practice at Gibraltar. In conse- quence of this, the punch-houses (where they had apartments to meet in over their beverage, and could sing their song, and tell their story) were discontinued, and one house of rendezvous substituted for them, under the denomination of a canteen. Here there was no place for them to sit down, and each man was obliged to drink his allotted quantity at certain hours, and depart immediately; and this humiliation they alleged they were compelled to submit to, while the blacks were allowed to regale themselves in the public-houses without restriction. They took $60 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. offence, too, at some supposed partiality in the* distribution of flour, and other articles usually issued as an extra allowance at the time of Christmas. But, whatever sentiments or miscon- ceptions they harboured on the score of griev- ances, it was evident their resentment arose from a sense of indignity or degradation, not from a sense of hardship, from scarcity of neces- saries, or severity of discipline. Though the leaders of the mutiny had probably something further in view than the mere redress of griev- ances, it does not appear they had formed any regular or deep concerted plan to subvert the community. The spirit of discontent, however, having generally diffused itself, at last broke forth in a manner highly alarming and dan- gerous. The ill humour of the men first discovered it- self on the day before Christmas, when they thought proper to refuse the usual allowances. This temper of mind being represented by some of the officers to the Governor, he voluntarily enlarged every man's ratio or proportion. On Friday, the <2()th, a riotous body of them assem- bled under arms, complaining of their grievances. This tumult was, for the time, appeased bv the CiouTnor, \\lio personally engaged to take their HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 2tfl complaints into consideration, and to give them redress and satisfaction. On the 27th in the afternoon, having consumed the quantity of spi- rits that was issued for them, they became tur- bulent in the street, and clamorous for more, and applied to the Captain of the week for that purpose. He, not thinking proper to take this upon himself, prevailed upon them to be quiet until he had signified their demands to the Go- vernor. His answer not proving satisfactory, they armed themselves in the Barrack Square, in the afternoon, and marched out with drums beating and fixed bayonets. They formed a body of upwards of two hundred men, with a Serjeant (Tooley) at their head. Their aim was to gain the post on Ladder Hill, where there were field-pieces, mortars, and various ammu- nition, and where they would have entire command of the town below. The Governor and Lieutenant-Governor (Major Grame), on their way down Ladder Hill from the country, perceived them in motion from the barracks, and had just time to arrive in town before they reached the foot of the hill. The Governor seeing the impending danger, took the imme- diate resolution to follow them. Having con- sulted with, and given orders to, Major Grame, with no other attendant than his groom, he 262 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. threw himself amongst them, and endeavoured by persuasion to bring them back to their duty. The measure was bold and spirited, and it sue- ceeded; he spoke to them with temper and firm- ness, soothed them by promising to remove their grievances, and added a general forgiveness for the step they had taken. Influenced by what he said, they returned the field-pieces which they had drawn out and loaded, and marched down ainiin with the Governor in their front. ~ But their subjugation was by no means apparent: a gentleman who had followed the Governor to the top of Ladder Hill, and was much respected by them, endeavoured, by talking with them in- dividually, to reason them into submission. The spirit of defection was, however, too strongly betrayed, both by their words and the sullen ex- pression of their features ; a circumstance which struck him the more, as he perceived the ma- jority of them were perfectly sober. Observing on their way down that Major Grarnc was bringing cannon up the Parade, they halted, shouldered, and faced to the valley, nor did they resume their march till the Governor sent in- structions to withdraw the cannon, and the word of command was given by Tooley. The Governor, however, notwithstanding HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 263 these symptoms, flattered himself that he had appeased them, and that their confidence in him would ensure a peaceable and submissive con- duct for the future; and relying on these con- victions, he returned the same evening to the country. But the majority of the inhabitants were not so tranquil. They dreaded the vio- lence of such an assembly under arms; and Ma- jor Grame, alarmed not only by the mutinous conduct already mentioned, but by the insolent messages sent him by the garrison that night and the ensuing morning, advised the Governor to take certain military measures of prevention against a recurrence of such tumults. The Governor, however, declined agreeing to this proposition, on the ground that it would excite the jealousy of the men, and make them suspect he did not mean to keep terms with them. On Monday, the 29th, the Council removed the principal grievance that was complained of, viz. the canteen ; and directed the punch-houses to be opened on their former footing, allowing to them what was thought a sufficient quantity of spirits for the daily consumption of the garrison. The soldiers having finished this portion about five in the afternoon, again became riotous, and in a high tone of insolence demanded more 64 HISTORY OF ST. IIELKNA. liquor. Several of the officers who mixed among them endeavoured in vain to quell and compose them. The Governor now discovered that he had depended too far, and had thus prevented the aid of any immediate resource or remedy. The men on the main guard were almost equally to be suspected with those that were rioting in the street, as many of them had been concerned in the disturbance of Saturday. These, how- ever, eny the Swal- low, which ship immediately returned back to her station with a number of additional seamen to reinforce the fleet. A great deal of blow ing weather, however, occasioned a separation of the Manship and Busbridge; and the General Goddard and Swallow were in consequence the only ships left with the Sceptre. From these three ships, on the afternoon of the 14th of June, were descried seven sail on the weather bow, steering down before the wind. The Goddard's signal was made to keep her wind, while the Sceptre and Swallow stood athwart the course f the fleet in sight, through which the Goddard passed about one A.M., and was fired at, with- out returning a shot. At day-break the follow- ing morning, the fleet was still on the starboard bow of the Sceptre and Swallow, and at seven A.M. displayed Dutch colours, whilst their com- modore lired a gun to leeward. This was re- peated by the Sceptre, and Captain Essinnton supposed it would be followed by their heaving to, but in this he was mistaken, nor was it even effected by three shots lired a-head of the van .ship. A signal was therefore made to the God- dard to briti {f the chace down to the Sceptre. HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 287 The Goddard almost instantaneously appeared under a cloud of canvas, and was laid along side the Dutch commodore, who, from her im- posing appearance, and high state of discipline, concluded her to be nothing less than a frigate, and in consequence submitted to Captain Mo- ney's directions to bear down ; but by this time the Dutch Captains had given their crews such intoxicating draughts of spirituous liquors that they became ripe for repelling force by force, and several shots were fired between the masts of the Sceptre, as well as at the boats, which were sent with boarding parties. A few rounds, however, from the Sceptre showed the inefficacy of resistance, and the Asia and Busbridge at the same time heaving in sight, the seven Dutch O O ' ships were taken possession of without the loss of a single life, and came to anchor in St. Hele- na Roads on the night of the 1/th of June. As a means for securing the remainder of the Dutch fleet, Governor Brooke lost no time in dispatch- ing the Echo, a fast sailing ship, for England, with such intelligence as might enable the Admi- ralty to adopt measures for their interception; and he had afterwards the satisfaction of hearing that his information had produced the desired effect. The Sceptre, with her convoy and the prizes, sailed for England on the 1st of July, and on the fol- 288 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. lowing day another Dutch ship was secured in the Roads. Soon after these occurrences his Majesty's ship Sphynx arrived with dispatches from Ad- miral Sir George Elphinstone and General Craig. Affairs at the Cape were not at that time in a promising state. The attempt to ob- tain possession of the colony by negociation was unsuccessful, and our little army there was in- adequate to effect it by force. By these dispatches, therefore, the General represented to Governor Brooke that no augmentation could be " so inconsiderable as not to be acceptable ;" he also stated, that " he had not a single gun, " nor an artillery-man with him," and requested that a couple of six-pounders and a howitzer, with ammunition, might be forwarded. The necessity was likewise urged for a supply of spe- cie. Not a moment was lost in putting on board the Arniston nine pieces of field ordnance, a complete company of artillery, and three of infantry, amounting in the whole to three hun- dred and ninety-three men, all trained to field- piece practice, with ten thousand pounds in cash, and a supply of ammunition and salt pro- visions. HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 289 Governor Brooke on this occasion had the high honour of being noticed by the approbation of his Sovereign, contained in a letter from the Right Honourable Henry Dundas, of which the following is a copy : " Horse-Guards, 30th Oct. 1795. " I have received, and laid before the King, " your letters of the 13 of July and 12 of Sep- " teinber last, vrith their enclosures; and it is " with peculiar satisfaction that I obey his Ma- " jesty's commands in communicating to you, " by opportunity of the Dart packet, his Majes- / " ty's perfect approbation of the zeal and ala- " crity you have manifested on every occurrence " interesting to this country, in the course of " the present war, and particularly of your " judicious and spirited proceedings since you 11 received the intelligence of the invasion of the " United Provinces by the enemy. " The measures taken by you for securing " the Dutch East-Indiamen which touched at " St. Helena, and the intelligence you have " transmitted respecting the remainder of those " ships, merit great commendation; and your " exertions in forwarding to Admiral Sir George Keith Elphinstone and General Craig, at the u 290 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. " Cape, the succours of money, men, ordnance, " and stores, at a time when a speedy supply " of those articles was become so essentially " necessary, will, I trust, be attended with the " most beneficial consequences to the interest " of this kingdom, and of the East-India Com- " pany; and I cannot indulge in this pleasing " expectation, without feeling that it has been " so materially improved by your unremitting " vigilance and care to promote that important " service. " I have, cScc. (Signed) " HENRY DUN DAS." " To Governor BROOKE." The Honourable Court of Directors also, fully aware of the importance of Governor Brooke's services, were pleased to signify their approbation in their General Letter to St. He- lena, dated 5th January, 1796, of which the fol- lowing are extracts: " We feel infinite satisfaction at the perusal " of the proceedings referred to in this para- " graph. The zeal and alacrity with which the " intended expedition to the Cape was planned, HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 29 1 " and in part carried into execution, deserve our " warmest commendation, and your records do " not furnish (to our recollection), since the " island has been in the Company's possession, " an instance where this little settlement has " been so eminently useful." " It would be injustice to withhold from " Governor Brooke the praise so justly due to " him for the promptitude which he manifested " in planning, and carrying into execution, the " intended expedition. In our review of his " conduct throughout this arduous service, we " find it equally deserving our approbation in " the alacrity he first manifested in heading the " detachment in person; the zeal he afterwards " evinced in furnishing supplies to Sir George " Keith Elphinstone and General Craig far ex- " ceeding their expectations. These active, " zealous, and meritorious exertions in our Go- " vernor in forwarding the public service, de- " maud our wannest thanks." As so considerable a part of the St. Helena troops was spared to assist in the reduction of the Cape, a more than ordinary degree of alert- ness was necessarily required from the remain- der of the garrison, particularly as they had to u2 292 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. guard about three hundred prisoners (including Malays), taken out of the Dutch ships, for whom there was no proper place of confinement. The militia, however, cheerfully bore a share in the fatigue ; and between seventy and eighty of the prisoners, who were found to be Danes, Nor- wegians, and Swedes, and were desirous of changing masters, enlisted in the Company's service. The Malays also considered their capture by the English as a release from slavery; and readily agreed to take an oath of fidelity, and enter the British service. They were ac- cordingly incorporated into two companies, and trained to artillery practice. They proved ex- tremely useful; and, during the two years which they remained on the island, were no less con- spicuous for their discipline than for their peaceable conduct. But this may certainly be attributed to the peculiar manner in which they were treated. No European was suffered to strike or chastise them on any pretence what- ever; and they were punished by no other au- thority than the sentence of a court martial, composed of Malay officers. If the author's in- formation be correct, they were afterwards sent from Bcncoolen to Ceylon, and a Malay regi- ment engrafted on the two companies. Those measures, together with a further acquisition of HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 293 recruits, and the return of the detachment from the Cape, augmented the force of the garrison to a number far exceeding its strength at any former period. The many services rendered by Governor Brooke to the Company and the nation, impress- ed upon Marquis Wellesley, the then Governor- General of India, so lively a sense of his merits, that he could not forbear manifesting his senti- ments by a distinguished mark of his approba- tion; and the Honourable Henry Wellesley was commissioned by his noble brother to present a sword to Colonel Brooke; which was accord- ingly done on the 1 1 th of November, 1 799, at the head of the garrison at St. Helena*. * Colonel Brooke received a letter from Lord Morning- ton, dated Fort St. George, the 13th of August, of which the following is an extract: " SIR, " My brother, who carries my dispatches to England, " will have the honour of delivering this letter to you. He " will also, by my direction, present you with a sword " taken in the palace of Seringapatam, which I request you " to accept of as a testimony of my esteem. " I have, &c." ?(H HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. After fifteen years of anxious toil, a severe illness obliged Governor Brooke to return to Europe; and upon the 16th of March, 1800, lie left the island, very sincerely and generally regretted. Upon his departure, the government devolved on Lieutenant-Governor Robson, who filled the chair until the arrival, in March, the following year, of Colonel Patton*. Colonel Patton had been formerly on the The Honourable II. Wcllesley, upon this occasion, de- livered the following address from himself: " COLOXKL BUOOK E, " I am directed by the Governor-General to present this " sword to you, with a request that you will accept it as a " testimony of his esteem, and of his high sense of your " zealous exertions, on all occasions where the public iu- " to rests are concerned. " Lord Mornington is particularly desirous that you " should know how highly he approves and admires the " zeal, cnersjv, and spirit, which prompted you to forward " pecuniary supplies to India at a moment which appeared " to you to demand such aid. I cannot omit this oppor- " tunity of testifxinu the satisfaction which I feel at pre- " senting this memorial to you ot a conquest not le>s ad- " vantageous to the interest of the nation than it is honour- " able to the British character in India." * The author of the Principles of Asiatic .Monarchies. HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 295 Bengal establishment, where he .filled the situa- tion of Military Secretary successively under General Smith, Governor Cartier, and Govern- or Hastings. Among the essential improvements of Go- vernor Patton is to be included the establish- ment of telegraphs, of a very simple and cheap construction, invented by himself: the advan- tages and security obtained by such a system are incalculable. To the ordnance department much of his attention has been directed; the nature of the country at once points out the im- portance of rendering the guns on the heights completely effective, which was accomplished by some material alterations in the construction of their carriages. These alterations now afford the means of firing hot and cold shot, at any re- quired degree of depression, with a facility and accuracy that has astonished every military cha- racter who has lately witnessed the St. Helena artillery practice. Four men are enabled to work a two-and-thirty pounder with almost twice the expedition and precision that could be formerly effected by seven, and a greater dis- posable force is consequently acquired. Witli this means of defence every spot is now sup- plied where a man can possibly effect a landinL 5 ; 25)6 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. and ascend the heights; and the interior de- fensive measures that have been adopted are much approved by the highest professional cha- racters who have had opportunities of inspecting them. It has very lately been discovered that the volcanic production, called Terra Puzzolana, abounds at St. Helena, particularly about James's Valley, and the adjacent parts of the sea coast. This substance, it is understood, derives its name from a place in Italy, where it was found in abundance, from the same cause which has produced it at St. Helena. Its pro- perties are, to form, in conjunction with lime, a cement remarkably retentive of water; in contact with which it acquires the solidity of rock. A discovery so important has enabled Governor Pat ton to construct aqueducts in a permanent manner, and to exhibit certain and economical means of rendering the most im- portant advantages to the island. And should his services in his present situation be extended beyond the period necessary for accomplishing plans of greater moment, it is not impossible but that Governor Roberts's idea of fertilizing o Prosperous Bay Plain may be realized. The reservoirs which he has proposed, and in part HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 297 carried into execution, for the supply of water to dry situations on the island, might be con- structed, at a very small expense; and nothing is more wanted than such advantages for the general improvement and fertilization *. * Extract from Governor Patton's minutes, entered on Consultation, 20th October, 1806 : " Having made repeated trials with the Puzzolana and " lime conjoined with gravel, I am assured and confident " in the effect to be produced, the combination becoming, " in contact with the water, like a consolidated rock, im- " pervious to every thing ; a channel formed with it will, " therefore, prove an invaluable acquisition. It so hap- " pens, most fortunately for the island, that the fabrica- " tion of such a channel is much more easy, and even " cheaper, than those which have been formed of clay. I " am now in the process of making one which will convey " every drop of the water from the Highwell cistern in a " pure undiminished current, to the Ladder Hill post, " giving a supply as it passes to the intended Block-house " above it. About two hundred yards of this channel is " completed, which enables me to form a judgement of the " expense. To one bushel of lime I put about a bushel " and a half of Puzzolana, and about a bushel of gravel. " The lime is previously beat up with water, and then the " other articles are added to it, and the whole completely " mixed together for immediate use, which is always re- " commended. Along the side of the hill, a level track, " like a path, being cut about two feet broad, and the bot- " torn consolidated by ramming, a layer of Puzzolana com- 398 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. The Governor has also endeavoured to pro- mote the propagation of wood. For this pur- pose, instead of having recourse to penalties, which have hitherto been employed with little effect, he has procured from the Court of Di- rectors a regulation entitling each proprietor to a renewal of his lease, on the terms of his exist- ing tenure, provided he has reared to a certain height a specified number of trees. These trees he may raise upon any part of his ground, and the number to be so cultivated is to be in pro- portion to the extent of the land which he occupies. .1 " position with lime and gravel, is spread to the thickness " of an inch and the width of a foot, regulated by a frame " constructed for the purpose. This forms a bed, upon " which two bricks on edge, or the Higlnvell stone, cut to " that form and size, are placed within three inches of each " other, being jointed with Puzzolana and lime, to form a " channel for the water: but after it has been framed in " this manner, the interior of the channel is coated over " with plaister, or mortar, of Puzzolana and lime, as a " finishing; the channel is then covered by slate, bedded " and jointed with this composition, so that the channel is " every where impervious. This aqueduct is supported on " each side, to the breadth of the path, by an inclosure, " formed of earth, mortar, and stone; and the whole being " covered with turf and earth, to the thickness of a foot " over the channel, is rendered sufficiently secure against " external injury of every kind." HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 299 About twenty-five years prior to Colonel Pat- ton's government, the blackberry plant was in- troduced on the island. This production, so useful in other countries when placed in hedge- rows, has, however, produced consequences at St. Helena as unexpected as they are alarming. The climate and soil of this island are so con- genial to the growth of the blackberry, that it has overspread large tracts of the best pasture lands ; its devastations are annually multiply- ing, and the subject has excited so much appre- hension, that the Honourable Court of Directors have strongly recommended its extirpation. The grand jury, at the quarter sessions, in July, 1 806, represented the evil as requiring the im- mediate attention of Government : every exer- tion from individuals had proved inadequate to this purpose, as the necessary labours for their husbandry and farms required the full employ- ment of all their hands. The Governor there- fore proposed, that a part of the garrison should be allotted to this special duty, commencing where the evil was most prevalent, to be regu- larly relieved, and the undertaking prosecuted until it was subdued ; Mr. Porteous, as Superin- tendent of Improvements, being intrusted with the direction, under the instructions of a com- mittee. A specific pay to the men, and a gra- 300 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. tuity to the superintendent, to be paid by the proprietors of the land ; who were afterwards to be bound to keep their possessions clear from this destructive plant. The operation had begun with a part of the Company's land, and some progress was made, when attention became necessary to the defences of the island, which interrupted the undertaking; but it will be resumed as soon as a working party for this purpose can be spared, and it promises ultimate success, under the vigilance and perseverance of so active a superintendent. At present this seems to be the only possible mode of overcoming this evil; especially since the working hands of the island have been so much diminished. What the admission of Chi- namen or Lascars might accomplish, in case the Company adopted that expedient, can only be conjectured. Whilst these objects have been forwarded by the personal exertions and superintendence of the Governor, in a manner which has excited the surprise of both islanders and strangers, other points of importance have not escaped his attention. The establishment of proper checks, in different departments, has been followed with HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 301 due effects, and approved of by the Honourable Court of Directors. Most of the Company's buildings in James's Valley were formerly roofed with a layer of mud spread upon boards*, a species of covering which required a large quan- tity of solid timber for its support, was liable to continual decay, and the layer of mud continu- ally out of repair, and harbouring rats and other vermin. To remedy so defective and expensive a system, the staves of the empty flour and meat casks, which had heretofore been used as fuel, are now converted into shingles ; in a roof com- posed of these materials, very little wood is re- quired for its frame, and its durability is known to exceed the period of a century. Governor Patton's endeavours to improve the morals of the black inhabitants have been no- ticed in the introductory chapter ; but the au- thor cannot forbear again adverting to a subject of so much importance. The experience of about four years now affords acknowledged proof of the efficacy of the laudable exertions ; * That a roof composed of such materials should be im- pervious to water, has been frequently the subject of sur- prise, but the mystery has been unveiled by the discovery that the Terra Puzzolana abounds in the island, and is intermingled with the earth used for this purpose. 302 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. the happy consequences, therefore, which may be expected to result from a steady perseverance in the system, are obvious, and cannot be too seriously pressed upon the attention of succeed- ing Governors. To render this more certain, the Company's subscription has been increased to fifty pounds, and the privilege of recommend- ing slaves requires that the proprietor should contribute to a certain specified amount. It is most devoutly to be hoped that the praise-worthy spirit which induced the inhabitants to assist in maintaining the fund appropriated for annual rewards to meritorious slaves, may not be re- pressed, and the progress of so promising an institution defeated. The nature of the author's situation on the St. Helena establishment, and his unwillingness to press on the feelings of Colonel Patton, in- duce him to withhold a more circumstantial detail on these subjects. It will be sufficient, therefore, to observe, that, during the whole time he has presided on the island, he has evinced a most active solicitude in discharging the various duties of his station. Candour and justice must acknowledge his unceasing mental and personal exertions, rendered valuable and meritorious by their character and importance, HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 303 by his extensive information and liberal endow- ments, and by a happy ardour of mind that takes an interest in every thing which bears re- lation to the service and welfare of the public. Having thus brought this historical sketch to a close, the author cannot refrain from adverting to some points nearly connected with the sub- ject of the preceding pages. It is painful to observe that this island has been always disturbed by factions; and that the best Governors have been the most obnoxious to their attacks. Mr. Roberts, the happy ef- fects of whose exertions are felt to this day, was so cruelly persecuted by insidious misrepre- sentations, circulated at home, that he appears to have resigned his situation in disgust. The spirit of insubordination at the island must, among other causes, be attributed, in no small degree, to a general want of principle ; which, in its turn, seems to have been chiefly owing to the conduct and character of the clergy. Many of the chaplains, as has been already seen, have 30* HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. been notoriously profligate and turbulent ; and it is worthy of remark, that at those periods when the people have been most dissolute, they were under the care of pastors most unworthy of their profession. It is not surprising that such men should be even actively hostile to govern- ment; and the consequences of this disunion may be imagined. On the other hand, the advan- tages which a just Governor may derive from the assistance of a virtuous clergyman may be seen from the effects of the friendship between Governor Roberts and the Reverend Mr. Tom- linson. The circumstances alluded to only en- force the necessity of peculiar care in the selec- tion of chaplains for the island. Loud complaints are made in St. Helena of the deficiency of labouring population, and the high price of labour. It is certainly true, that the deficiency complained of exists, and equally so that it does at present check the progress of cultivation, the improvement of the pasture lands, the propagation of trees, and the comfort and neatness of the farmers' dwellings. Atten- tion, therefore, ought to be paid to this circum- stance; the evil is pressing, and requires imme- diate relief. HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 305 It may possibly be said, that the evils arising from a dearth of hands has a tendency to cor- rect itself; that the high price of wages acts as a bounty on the increase of population; and that labour will not long be wanting where it meets with such encouragement. But this general principle will not apply to St. Helena. The natural increase of population is always slow, and, in the case before us, pecu- liarly so, because the stimulus supplied by high wages not only acts partially, but, even where it acts at all, acts, for the most part, at disadvan- tage. The slaves, who form the majority of the population, are exempt from its influence ; whe- ther they work for their masters, or are hired out to the planters, it is the masters alone who are benefited, in the one case by their labour, in the other by the price of their labour. It is not, therefore, likely that this class of inhabitants will be much roused by a motive which can hardly in any way affect them. The whites and free blacks, however, may be supposed com- pletely open to its power; but in the case of the free blacks it acts indeed most feebly, in conse- quence of the promiscuous intercourse to whicli they are accustomed. The prospect of any adequate supply from this source must be ex- x 306' HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. tremely remote. The introduction of new set- tlers would, then, as it seems, he the only method of supplying labour; and this would undoubt- edly have taken place, without any compulsion, were not St. Helena, in this respect also, singu- larly situated. No strangers are allowed to enter, or settle in the island, without the per- mission of the East-India Company. This regulation is warranted by sound motives of ~ j policy, but, indispensable as it is, has tended to check those efforts which would naturally have been made to fill up the deficiencies of the population. Besides these considerations, another circum- stance should not be overlooked : though the o promotion of the pasturage and cultivation of the island ought to be the first object, yet the general bias of Europeans who have become in- habitants, is, to employ their capital (however small it may be) in mercantile concerns. The reason of this is another peculiarity in the situa- tion of St. Helena. Provisions are furnished from England and the East-Indies ; and the quantity of them imported by the Government is regulated bv the probable demand. Ik-sides this stock, there are other supplies brought by the various vessels that touch there. Money, HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 307 therefore, will always command provisions; and money itself is most readily obtained by mer- cantile pursuits. The profuse habits of those who have acquired fortunes in India are infalli- bly brought into exercise: as this is commonly the first land which they reach after a passage of three months, it is not a little curious to observe with what eagerness they seem to seize the op- portunity to disburthen themselves of their wealth. The price of European articles is, on these occasions, raised to an exorbitant height. Even the most paltry shopkeeper does not fail to derive some profit from his goods; and for- tunes are frequently made, which, in the scale of that island, may be called considerable. It is not, therefore, to be wondered at that a pursuit so tempting in its returns, and recommended as well by the comparative indolence which it allows as by the convivial habits which it encou- rages, should be preferred to the more laborious, but less lucrative, and less sociable, employment of husbandry. From these remarks it follows that some steps should immediately be taken to ensure an in- crease of the number of labourers ; and for this purpose it might, perhaps, be advisable to recur to a principle adopted in the Company's early x 2 308 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. orders of offering encouragement for soldiers who have served their contracted time to be- come husbandmen*. Many of them, if per- mitted to remain, would willingly become farm- ers' servants, at the wages of thirteen shillings per week, including the charge of maintenance, a rate that would not much exceed the expense incurred by the employment of slaves, as will be shown by the following calculation : First cost of a slave, eighty pounds sterling. . s. d. Calculating to have the labour of that slave for twenty-one years, and interest of money at five per cent., we may take twelve years' purchase as the price paid ; which, on a division of eighty by twelve, is per ann 6134 * Governor Brooke adopted this measure without hesi- tation, and Governor Patton is also fully aware of its pro- priety, and has formed u plan for its execution, by which the new settler becomes accountable to the Governor and Council for his conduct in respect to the government. En- rolment as a volunteer also forms a stipulation in the licence, as service in the militia did in Governor Brooke's system. HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 309 <. s. d. Brought over 6 13 4 Insurance of his life, and against casualties which may deprive his master of his active services, at five per cent 400 Value of his maintenance, clothes, and medical attendance, according ' O to the average calculation at St. Helena . 20 Total annual expense of a slave at St. Helena ....... 30 13 4 Labour of a discharged soldier, in- cluding expenses of maintenance, at thirteen shillings per week . . 33 16 Difference 328 From this calculation it appears, that the ex- pense of maintaining a European would exceed the annual charge of a slave by the sum of three pounds two shillings and eight pence. But it should be remembered, that this difference will be more than made up by the superior industry and vigour of the European. The labour of a free man being prompted more by hope than 310 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. fear, is universally acknowledged to be more productive than the labour of a slave, whose principal incentive is the dread of punishment. It must, indeed, be allowed that this observation is not generally applicable to the free blacks of St. Helena. Its failure, however, in this case, is most easily explained, and serves only to aftbrd an additional proof of the lamentable con- sequences which slavery entails on its victims. The greater number of the free blacks have been born and reared in slavery. The habits and dispositions, therefore, of slaves necessarily form a part of their character. Doubtless, there are many exceptions; but it is frequently remarked, that some of them, particularly females, are in- clined to view the gift of freedom in scarcely any other light than as a licence to indulge in idleness and vice. It must be obvious that the proposed plan, like all general plans, must require various modifications and restrictions ; and that its suc- cess must depend on the judgement with which it may be carried into execution. The privi- lege of a residence should be uranted to none o O but men of good character, who, having served their contracted term, would quit the island ; and to them only on condition of employing HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 311 their labour, or their money, not in mercantile speculations, but in husbandry, or in trades, either connected with husbandry, or immedi- ately contributing to the necessary wants of the inhabitants. By this system, the militia of the island, who at present are volunteers, would receive an aug- mentation of disciplined men; and the Company could, in cases of necessity, command the ser- vice of soldiers without the burthen of paying them. The introduction of Chinese labourers has been su Guested by Governor Patton as a reme- / dy for the evil under consideration, and the suggestion surely deserves regard. In case of its adoption, it might be proper to place these labourers at the disposal of Government, and to permit them, when their services may riot be required for public works, to engage them selves, at fixed rates, in the employment of private in- dividuals. Such an accession of labour would, among other advantages, relieve the garrison from much of that drudgery which at present interferes with their military duties ; and by this means the cultivation of the island might be greatly increased. 312 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. As the roads are in general inaccessible to carts, particularly in the interior parts of the island, and in the vicinity of Sandy Bay, the produce of most of the farms in the country is carried on men's heads. The waste of human labour which this practice occasions would be obviated by the use of asses or mules. Of late the value of the former seems to have attracted some attention, and, within the last six years, the price of an ass has risen from five to twenty pounds sterling. It is a great advantage that these animals prefer the vegetable food which others do not eat; so that a further importation of them would not diminish the pasturage re- quired for the more profitable stock of cattle. The author is aware that the solicitude which he has expressed with regard to St. Helena may be represented as misplaced, and that the very possession of that island may be thought a point of inferior consequence by those who maintain that the Cape of Good Hope is exclusively wor- thy of the national attention. It is true, that the superior internal resources of the latter colony, its extent, and, above all, its position, so critically adapted for the annoyance or pro- tection of our Eastern dominions, render it an object of such supreme importance, that it is HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 313 probable no Minister will lightly consent to re- sign it to a foreign power. But in the present fluctuating state of the political world, to calcu- late on the certainty of our retaining that acqui- sition would be the height of absurdity : and, even admitting that we shall hold it for ever, it may still be clearly shown that the possession of the Cape is far from superseding the necessity of retaining St. Helena. It is well known that ships cannot always obtain a safe anchorage at the Cape, and it is needless to detail the melan- choly accidents which have taken place on that coast. The whole history of St. Helena, on the other hand, furnishes but one instance of a wreck, and that on the day of its first discovery. The seas and winds at the Cape do not at all seasons allow ships to leave its harbours, and delays of several weeks have at times been the consequence; but, with the single exception noticed in the sixth chapter, no vessel has been known to have been weather-bound at St. Helena. The probability of such dangers and incon- veniences might sometimes render it hazardous for a valuable homeward-bound fleet to touch at the Cape, and, in such circumstances, a port like St. Helena under their lee would be of in- 314 HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. estimable importance. The water there is as pure, and as wholesome, as at the Cape, and can be procured with equal facility and equal expe- dition *. A fleet was very lately supplied there with more than two thousand tons of water in less than three days. Refreshments of other kinds are not, indeed, so abundant; yet the sup- ply of these is always more than sufficient to recruit the sick, and to lay in a plentiful sea- store of excellent potatoes. These considerations certainly tend to prove that St. Helena, as a rendezvous for East-India convoys, is preferable to the Cape. If, how- ever, they should not be thought of sufficient weight to counterbalance the other acknowledged advantages of the latter place ; if it should be determined that St. Helena shall no longer be a port of refreshment and rendezvous, the ques- tion of its retention and improvement is still a pressing one. To abandon the possession of it, or to retain it without an adequate defence, would be, in fact, to deliver into the hands of * Governor Patton has it in contemplation still further to expedite the watering of ships, by applying the Terra Puzzolana in the construction of an additional aqueduct and cistern. HISTORY OF ST. HELENA. 315 a vigilant and enterprising enemy a strong hold, situated in the very track of our wealthiest fleets, and incalculably important as a port either of retreat or annoyance. That the French are awake to its value, and prepared to avail them- selves of any remissness on the part of its pre- sent possessors, is evident from the plans which they have repeatedly formed for its capture. The possession, then, of this island appears in- dispensable ; and, admitting this necessity, it is equally clear that no expense should be thought too great for the maintenance of an adequate garrison. And the author will surely be for- given from his natural feelings towards it, for indulging some degree of honest pride in the be- lief, and in the wish, that this little spot with congenial prosperity may continue to protect; the commerce of the East-India Company, and, by participating in their success, be always re- garded as an important and essential part of the British empire. APPENDIX. APPENDIX. A. Extract from a Charter of King Charles the Second, dated the 3rd April, 1661. AND that it shall and may be lawful to and for the said Governor and Company, and their successors from time to time, and at all times from henceforth, to erect and build such castles, fortifications, forts, garrisons, colonies, or plantations, at St. Helena; as also elsewhere within the limits and bounds of trade granted unto the said Governor and Company as aforesaid, as they in their discretion shall think fit and require, and for the supplying of such as shall be requisite to keep and be in the same, to send out of this kingdom to the said castles, fortifications, forts, garrisons, colonies, or plantations, all kind of clothing, provision of victuals, ammunition, and 320 APPENDIX. implements necessary for such purpose, without paying of any custom, subsidy, or other duty, for the same : as also to transport and carry over such number of men (being willing thereunto) as they shall think fit ; as also to govern them in such legal and reasonable manner as the said Governor and Company shall think fit ; and to inflict punishment for misdemeanors, or impose such fines upon them for breach of their orders, as in these presents are formerly expressed. B. Copy of a Charter granted to the Company by his Majesty King Charles the Second, dated 16th December, 1673. Charles the Second, by the grace of God Preamble. King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, and so forth, to all to whom these presents shall come greeting, whereas at the suite of our well-beloved subjects the Govern- or and Company of Merchants of London trading into the East-Indies, and for the honor and profitt of this our realme, and in the encouragement of trade in those remote parts, We have, by our royall APPENDIX. 321 charter, or letters patent, bearing date at Westmin- ster, the third day of Aprill, in the 13th yeare of our reigne, granted unto the said Governor and Com- pany of Merchants of London trading into the East- Indies, and their successors, that they and their suc- cessors, and their factors, servants, and assigns, in the trade of merchandize for them, and on their be- halfe, and not otherwise, shall for ever have, use, and enjoy the whole and entire and only trade and traffique, and the whole, entire, and only liberty, use, and privilege of trading, and traffiqtiing, and using the feate and trade of merchandize to and from the said East-Indies, and to and from all the islands, ports, havens, citties, towns, and places within their said charter, that is to say, to and from the said East-Indies, in the countries of Asia and Africa, and to and from the islands, ports, havens, creeks, citties, and towns, and places, of Asia, Africa, and America, or any of them beyond the Cape of Bona- Esperance, to the streights of Magellan, where any trade or traffique of merchandize may be used or had ; and that it should and may be lawful to and for the said Governor and Company, and their suc- cessors from time to time, and at all times, Liberty to erect fort* henceforth, to erect and build such castles, f l St - He " lena. fortifications, forts, garrisons, and to erect such Y 322 APPENDIX. collonies, and make such plantations att St. Helena, as also elsewhere within the liniitts and bounds of trade granted unto the said Governor and Company as aforesaid, as they in theire discretion shall think fitt and requesit, and for the supplying of such as should be requesit to keep or be in the same, to send out of this kingdom to the said castles, fortifi- cations, forts, garrisons, collonies, or plantations, all To send pro- kinde of clothing, provision, or victuals, visions thi- ther without ammunition, and supplyments necessary paying any duty- for such purpose, without paying of any custom, subsidy, or other duty, for the same; as also to govern them in such legall and reasonable manner as the Governor and Company shall think fitt; and to inflict punishment for misdemeanors, or impose such fines upon for breach of their orders, as in our said charter are expressed. And whereas also by our said royall charter or letters patent Wee have ordained that there shall be a Government and twenty-foure Committees of the said Company, to be ellected and appointed in such forme as therein is expressed, who shall from time to time have the directions of the voyage of and for the said Com- pany, and the provision of the shipping and mer- chandize thereunto belonging, and also the saile of all merchandize, goods, and other things, returned APPENDIX. 323 in all or any of the voyages or ships of or for the said Company, and the manageing and handleing of all other businesses, affairs, and things, belonging to the said Company ; and likewise that it shall and may be lawfull to and for the said Governour and Company for the time being, or the major part of them present at any publique meeting, commonly called the Generall Court, holden for the said Com- pany, the said Governour for the said Company al- waies being one, from time to time to elect, nomi- nate, and appoint one of the said Company to be the Deputy to the said Governor, who from time to time, in the absence of the said Governour, shall exercise and execute the office of Governour of the said Company, in such sort as the said Governour ought to do, as by our said charter letters patent, reference thereunto being had among divers others, grants, liberties, immunities, privileges, and prehe- minences, may more fully appear; and whereas, in persuance of our said royal charter, the said Go- vernor and Company did, att theire own cost and charge, erect severall forts and fortifications as afore- said, being an island situate in or near Africa, be- yond the line, and on this side the Cape of Bona- Ksperanza, and placed a garrison theire, and where proceeding to plant and people on the same, and for Y 2 324 APPENDIX. that purpose had transported divers of our subjects, who were willing thereunto, to inhabit there; but our said subjects inhabiting the said island were Referred to lately, in time of warr between us and the the capture of St. Hele- states of the United Provinces, by force of na by the Dutch. arms dispossessed thereof by the subjects and forces of the said states, and the said states and theire subjects had and kept the quiett posetion thereof for severall months together ; and whereas, Its re-cap- by the prace of God on our royall ships turc hv Cap- J tain Mnnden. an( j f orces un der the command of Sir Richard Munden, the said island, and all and singu- lar the forts, fortifications, and other the appurte- nances thereunto belonging, were retaken from the said states and their subjects, and a garrison of our subjects placed there, by virtue or reason whereof the said island, and all and singular the forts and fortifications, erections, and buildings thereon, witlj, the appurtenances vested in us, our heirs and suc- cessors in the write of our crowne,all artillery, arms, armour, weapons, ordinance, munition, magazins, stores, goods, chatties, and movables whatsoever, which were there found at the time our said forces y.-sted in the retook the same as aforesaid, do of right ( rown, by nj:lit of con- ue | on i n i i Helena to be within the presmcts thereof, shall have and fi. ce denizens f England. enjoy all liberties, franchises, immunities, capacities, and abilities, of franchises and natural sub- jects within any of our dominions, to all intents and purposes, as if they had been abiding and home within this our realme of England, or in any of our domi- nions; and, lastly, our will and pleasure is, and Wee do by these presents, for us, our heirs and successors, ordain and grant unto the said Governour and Com- pany of Merchants of London trading into the East- ' Indies, that these our letters patents, and all and singular grants and causes therein contayned, shall be and continue firme, strong, and sufficient, and available in the law, and shall be contayned, re- z 338 APPENDIX. puted, and taken, as well to the meaning and intent as to the words of the same, most graciously and honourably for the best advantage and benefitt of the said Governour and Company, and their suc- cessors, although express mention be not made herein of the true yearly value and certainty of the premises, or any part thereof, or of any other gifts or grants made by us, or any of our ancesters, or predecessors, to them the said Governour and Com- pany, or any other person or persons whatsoever, or any omission or defect herein, or any law, statut, act, provision, order, ordinance, published, or- dayned, or provided, or any other cause, matter, or thinge, whatsoever to the contrary thereof, or in any wise notwithstanding. In witness whereof We have caused these our letters patent to be made, witness ourselfe at Westminster, the 16th day of December, in the five-and-twentieth yeare of our reigne. By writt of Privy Seal, (Signed) PIGOTT APPENDIX. 339 C. Extract from the first Commission of Government after the re-capture of the island by Sir Richard M linden. By the Governor and Company of Merchants of London trading to the East-Indies, at a Court of Committee holden the 19th December, in the five- and~twentieth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord Charles the Second, by the grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c. Anno Domini 1613. Whereas, upon notice given us of the reducement of the island St. Helena, by Sir Richard Munden, Knt. Commander of a squadron of ships, sent for by the King's most excellent Majesty, We, attending his Majesty, to know his pleasure, whether the said island should be continued under his Majesty's im- mediate government and charge, or what directions his Majesty would be pleased to give therein ; and his Majesty having thereupon signified his royal pleasure that the island should be under our govern- z 2 340 APPENDIX. merit, and to our use, and to be maintained at our charge, and accordingly by his letters patent under the great seal of England, bearing date the 16th of this instant month of December, have granted and confirmed to us, the Governor and Company of Mer- chants of London trading to the East-Indies, and our successors, the said island St. Helena, and thereof made and constituted as the free and absolute Lords and Proprietors, with power and authority to give such rules and directions for the good government of the said island as to us shall seem meet; a copy whereof shall either accompany these, or soon after be sent you, and we, having taken into consideration how we might best settle the said island for its future safety and preservation, and taking notice of the several persons that were left by the said Sir Richard Munden on the said island, and of the wages and pay which they were entertained at when admitted into his Majesty's service, mentioned in a list herewith transmitted, all which persons we have taken into our pay from the 15th day of May, 1673, being the time of their landing at our island, until they shall be discharged from our service ; and we having, for the ends aforesaid, thought fit to entertain in our service several other persons, to make provisions of ammunition, victuals, stores, and other things, which APPENDIX. 341 are sent by the two ships we have hired for their transportation, viz. the European, Captain James Potter commander, and the John and Alexander, Mr. Samuel Riecard, commander, a list of whose names, and invoice of the goods, and bills of lading, are herewith also sent : Now know all persons, that, in pursuance of the authority to us granted as afore- said, and for the good government of the said island, we have made and ordained, and by these presents make, and ordain, and constitute Captain Richard Field to be Governor of the said island, Captain Anthony Beale to be Deputy-Governor, the Lieute- nants of the two companies of foot on the said island for the time being, Francis Moore, John Colstons, and Richard Swallow, to be of our Council for tlxe said island, and to take place in Council in the order they are here named; which said Governor and Council for the time being, and in the absence of our Governor, his Deputy, and our said Council, or any three of them, whereof the Governor or his Deputy to be always one, are, under us, to have and exercise the chief command and authority in the said island, in all matters whatsoever, and unto whom all the people and persons there residing, of what quality or condition soever, are to give and yield due obedience. And forasmuch as it is alto- 34* APPENDIX. gether necessary that, in case of tlie death or re- move of the said Captain Richard Field, before or lifter these presents shall come unto you, the said island should be provided for the government there- of, sooner than at so great a distance we can be ad- vertized of his death, or remove, and appoint another to succeed in the place of Governor, we have thought fit to ordain and appoint, that, in case of his death or remove, the before-named Captain Beale shall suc- ceed in the place of Governor of the said island ; and in case of the death or remove as well of the said Captain Anthony Beale as well as of the said Captain Field, then we do constitute and appoint our Council of the said island (for the time being), or any three or more of them, to be our chief com- missioners for executing the place and office of Go- vernor of the said island, in as full and ample a man- ner, and with the same powers as are hereby granted unto the said Captain Field or Captain Beale, to continue until the contrary shall be signified under the Company's seal. APPENDIX. 343 D. System of Laws in force upon the island St. Helena previous to the introduction of Military Courts, in the year 1754, and Courts of Oyer and Terminer and Gaol Delivery. We, the Governour and Company of Merchants of England trading to the East- Indies, at our Court of Committees holden for the said Company, have made and ordained, and do by these presents make, ordain, constitute, and appoint our Governour and Council of and for the rowers of said island, for the time being, or the Counci1 - major part of them, under us, to have and exercise the supreme command, power, and authority in the said port or island of St. Helena, in all causes and matters whatsoever ; unto whom the people and per- sons there residing or inhabiting, of what quality or condition soever, are to give and yield due obedi- ence ; and, for the prevention of all oppression, dis- order, and irregular proceedings, that there may be. some known rules for government and people to 344 APPENDIX. walk by, we have ordained, and do by these presents make, ordain, constitute, and appoint, the several Jaws, rules, orders, directions, and forms of proceed- ing, hereafter mentioned and expressed, to be care- fully and punctually observed in the said island of St. Helena, and the territories and places thereunto belonging. We do direct, order, and appoint, that the Lord's Religious and j) a y De religiously observed by absti- stnct observa- j" d ? g f p a e r nence from all bodily and secular em- the Governor i i r 11 i end Council to payments, as also from all gaming, and trive the ex- , ,, , ample. other unlawful pastimes; and that our Governor and Council take care not only to appoint one, or more, public place or places, for the wor- ship of God, whither all persons may resort to attend and join in the public exercise of religious duties, as prayer, reading the word, hearing of sermons, and, on occasions and at fit times, the administration of both the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Sup- per ; but also by their presence to encourage the Minister or Ministers in the discharge of his or their duties, and the people in their attendance on the ordinances ; and that all be done with due reverence, and with decency and order; and if that there shall happen to be no Minister upon the said island, yet APPENDIX. 345 they shall in solemn manner assemble together on the Lord's Day ; and in such case the Governor and his Council shall cause some part or portion of the Holy Scripture, and some godly sermons to be read, with prayer, and such other duties, to be performed as they in their Christian prudence shall think fit. That in the public the Minister, or such Topra forour as discharge the duty of prayer in ab- ki ^^s f and [, i r i t ^ ie Honour- sence or a Minister, to be mindiul to a bi e Compa- ny's welfare. pray for our Sovereign Lord the King's Majesty, the peace, happiness, and prosperity of his kingdoms, as also for the good and welfare of the English East-India Company ; and also that in the public assembly, every Lord's Day, at such times as may be most convenient, the creed commonly called the Apostles' Creed, or sometimes, in place, the creed commonly called Athanasius' Creed, as also the ten Commandments of the moral law, out of the 20th chapter of Exodus, together with the summary thereof, as it is contained in the 22d chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel, 37, 38, 39, and 40th verses, to be read unto the people. That when there is a Minister resident T^ 6 Minister to catechise on the island, the Minister, once in every ^ h e e ek j ildren 346 APPENDIX. week, either some time on the Lord's Day, or on some other day, shall catechise the youths and younger people in public, at the public place of wor- ship, and then to open and expound the doctrine of the true religion, that so the people may be well grounded in the principle and doctrine of faith, and be able to give a reason of their hope, and on good grounds to maintain their religion against all oppos- ers and gainsayers. The time for the said catechising Governor and shall be appointed by our said Governor Council to be present. and Council, who are to be present there- at, if not hindered by necessary affairs. We do direct and appoint that all and every per- son or persons that shall profane the Lord's Day, by travelling, working, gaming, or any other Profanation of J theLord ' sDa y- unlawful pastime, shall, for the first of- fence, be only reproved and admonished ; but every such offence afterwards shall be fined, not exceed- ing the value of five shillings for one offence. O O That all swearing, and taking the name of God in Sweurinp. vain, be carefully avoided : if any person, after he be once admonished for that fault, shall offend by swearing, he shall be fined, not exceeding one shilling for one offence. APPENDIX. 347 That all intemperance and drinking be abstained from. If any shall drink to drunkenness, Drunkenness, for the first offence he shall be admonished, and if after admonition he or she shall offend again, then they shall be fined, not exceeding five shillings for one offence ; it being intended that if any person of quality (who should be examples to others) be guilty, that they may pay a greater fine than persons of a meaner rank. That all fornication, uncleanness, and Lewdness. adultery, be forborne ; and if any should offend, and be convicted of the crime, that in such case (until it be otherwise provided) our Governor and Council do take care to discountenance and punish the same in such a way as shall be by them found most effica- cious, and not contrary to the laws and statutes of the kingdom of England. That none do steal, or take from an- Stealing. other, that which do not belong unto him; and if in case of theft, by taking away by force or threats from any person, whereby they might be put to fear, or by breaking open any house, or room, or cupboard, or trunk, that was locked, the party con- victed thereof shall not only restore what he or they 348 APPENDIX. took away to the party from whom he or they stole the same, but also three times the value thereof, and the rest of his estate whatever (after his dehts paid) shall be forfeited to the Company ; who shall stand in pillory, in a public place, and be whipped from thence to the prison, and that he be there left to the discretion of the Governor and Council either to discharge, or make work at the fortifications of the island ; and if it be any other kind of thievery, and the party convicted, he or she shall return what he or she stole, and three times the value more, to the person from whom he or she stole the same ; and in case of inability, he or she shall be forced to work for that person till the same be by work made up*. False witnesses. If any person called, or tendering him- self, to be a witness, in any case shall witness falsely, through malice, orcovetousness, or on any other ac- count (unless it shall appear to be meerly through mis- take, and in some circumstances not much material to * 'Hiis law was abrogated in the year 1717> upon which occasion the Company transmitted the following order : " In all cases wherein we have not given particular directions touching 11 punishments of Ixxly or purse, keep yourselves as near as may be to the " laws of England, for whatsoever exceeds will be accounted arbitrary." APPENDIX. 349 the thing in question) , and shall be thereof convicted, the same damage, pain, or prejudice, that his testi- mony (had it been true and received) would have procured, or did procure (excepting death), to any other party, he shall be adjudged to sustain, and for ever his witness and testimony shall be deemed and adjudged invalid, to all intents and purposes ; and if it appears that such witness was suborned, then both the witness and the person that suborned him to be equally liable to make satisfaction, and shall both stand in the pillory. If any person shall counterfeit any deed, Forgery, deeds, writing, or other papers, or by any device cheat another of any lands, goods, or money, and thereof be convicted, he shall make satisfaction to the party injured, and shall also be fined the like sum to the Company, and to stand in the pillory three public days; and, in case of nonability to make satisfaction, or pay the fine, he shall be obliged to work for the party injured, in the first place, and then for the Company, gratis, such time as shall be adjudged sufficient to satisfy the said sums. In case any person shall quarrel with Quarrelling. another, not being his servant, or under his com- 350 APPENDIX. mand, or strike or wound him, the party offending shall make satisfaction to the party injured, and, over and besides, shall also be fined, to the use of the Company, for the breach of the peace, and the said fine shall not exceed twenty shillings for any one offence. Striking an I' 1 case an }" shall strike an Officer, be- ing about the execution of his office, he shall be fined at discretion, not exceeding five pounds, or to be publicly vvhipt, or imprisoned, un- less the Governor, with the consent of the major part of the Council, shall think good to pardon ; and shall, moreover, pay treble charges to the Officer injured. Directions for And for the better preserving the prf-.cn in;; the public peace, peace of the island, and keeping all per- sons in due subordination, and securing the island against enemies, we do ordain, direct, and appoint, Striking the that no person whatsoever shall imprison, (Jovonior or his Ministers, or lay violent hands on, or strike, the Governor, or any of his superior Officers, or Mi- nisters, or attempt, or conspire so to do, and in case any shall offend therein, and be thereof convicted, he shall suffer such corporal punishment (not ex- APPENDIX. 351 tending to the taking away life) as the Governor, with the advice and consent of the major part of his military Officers, shall adjudge, according to the nature of the offence ; and, in case of striking the Governor, he also shall forfeit to the Company all his lands, and tenements, goods, and chatties. That if any Captain, Officer, or soldier, Officers' or sol- diers' neglect in the Company's service, in the said of duty. island, shall neglect his duty, and be thereof con- victed, by the testimony of two witnesses upon oath, he or they shall be fined by the Governor, to the use of the Company, not exceeding one month's pay; and shall also suffer such corporal punishment as the Governor, with the advice and consent of the major part of his military Officers, shall adjudge the matter to deserve. If any shall embezzle, or steal, any J Embezzling powder, shot, ammunition, or other ammunition - stores, and sell the same, both the persons so em- bezzling and stealing, as also the abettors, buyers, and receivers thereof, shall be liable, over and above the penalties hereinbefore appointed in cases of theft, to be imprisoned, not exceeding six months, or to suffer such other corporal punishment as the 352 APPENDIX. Governor, with the advice and consent of the major part of his Council, shall adjudge the matter to deserve. We strictly enjoin, that no person inhabiting the island, not being officers or soldiers, be permitted to wear any swords, it being, by the cus- Inhabitants to * &> J wearnoswords. tQm of all nationS) an una ll owa ble thing in frontier garrisons; and we think it may not be very proper for your private soldiers to wear swords, in such a drinking place as St. Helena is, except when they are upon duty ; and if any of the inhabitants neglect this order, you may fine them one shilling for the first offence, two shillings for the second, and so on unto five shillings, toties quoties; but your Who must, or Officers are not to be any where without mav, wear swords. their swords : they ought to forfeit five shillings to the Company for each offence in that kind: whether to extend this order so far as Ser- jeants and Corporals we leave to your discretion ; but considering you have sober Officers, vre think it may not be amiss to permit Serjeants and Corporals to the privilege of wearing swords, hoping you will choose the soberest men into those offices ; and Passengers that whosoever of the inhabitants, officers, or draw swords in fine"'" soldiers, or any belonging to, or pass- APPENDIX. 353 engers on board of, any ship, shall presume to draw a sword, shall forfeit and pay twenty shillings, the one moiety to the Company, and the other to the necessary fortifications. In case of wilful murder, the party con- Murder. victed by a jury shall suffer death; the manner of his death shall be at the discretion of the Governor and Council, agreeable to the laws of England, That if any Captain, Officer, soldier, or Mutiny anil mariner, that have entertained themselves sed ion af c capital of- in the Company's service, in or at the fences - said island, or any inhabitant thereof, or any person or persons that shall come to the said island, shall raise sedition, and make or abett any mutiny, or shall contrive or endeavour either himself, or to en- tice or corrupt any other Officer, soldier, or mariner, or inhabitant, or any other person whatsoever, to fire or destroy, or to yield and deliver up any fort, ship, or vessel, or magazine, in or at the said island, to any enemy whatsoever, such Captain, Officer, soldier, mariner, inhabitant, or other person, being thereof duly convicted by a jury, shall be sentenced to suffer death, and to forfeit and lose all his estate to the use of the Company ; which sentence shall be 2 A 354 APPENDIX. executed accordingly, unless the Governor, with the advice and consent of the major part of his Military Officers, shall pardon, or remit, any part of the same. Insurrection In case any person or persons shalt and rebellion. . make any insurrection, or gather together in an hostile manner, without the especial command of the Governor, or of such who have authority front him, or shall not, upon command from the Govern- or, lay down their arm*, and submit to the ordinary justice ; as also if any person or persons shall con- trive to betray, or deliver up, the island, or any fort, castle, port, or place therein, or any ships or vessels belonging to the English, into the hands of any other people or nation, or, in order thereunto, shall hold intelligence or correspondency with any that are declared enemies to the English, and shall be legally convicted, by a jury of twelve men, of any of the said crimes, he or they shall be sentenced to suffer death, and forfeit all their estates; which sen- tence shall be executed accordingly, unless the Go- vernor, with the advice and consent of the major part of the Council, shall, on good considerations, think fit to pardon, or remit, any part thereof*. * The laws annexing capital punishments to mutiny, sedition, insurrec- tion, and rebellion, were abrogated, in the year 1703, by an wider that n< j.'-r->on should suffer death, except only for wilful murder. APPENDIX. 355 The following order was transmitted in the third paragraph of the Court of Directors' letter to St. Helena, dated 1683. " But in case of the taking away of life, limb, or " lands, we would have you proceed according to " that method by juries." N. B. Some additional ordinances were promulg- ed, or re-published, in the year 1709 ; for particulars respecting which see Appendix, H. E. Laws and orders, constituted for the Negro slaves, by the inhabitants of the island, with the appro- bation of the Governor and Council*. That no Black or Blacks, upon any Against wan- dering on Sun- pretence whatsoever, shall wander from days. his master's plantation, upon Sundays, without a lawful occasion, granted by their said masters or mistresses, either by writing, or some other token that shall be known by the neighbourhood, upon * The author cannot ascertain the exact period when the laws were framed and published ; but it must have been either in Governor Field's time, or in the early part of Mr. Blackmore's government. 2 A 2 356 APPENDIX, the penalty of ten lashes on his naked body for the first offence, fifteen for the second, twenty for the third, and so for every offence thereafter committed: but if the master of the said slave or slaves should refuse to comply with this said order, and the per- son who shall have taken the said slave or slaves act- ing contrary to this said order, shall be obliged to complain to the Governor and Council, whom we desire to fine him or them that shall so offend at discretion. For pilfVrms That Negro, or Negroes, that shall be and stealing. known to steal the value of eighteen pence, shall have twenty lashes on their naked body, inflicted by the master or masters of such slave or .slaves, in the presence of the person so offended ; but if the theft should amount to three shillings, the lashes aforesaid are to be increased to thirty ; and if six shillings to sixty; and the party so prejudiced shall receive the value of the thing so stolen in spe- cie, or in money, from the owner of said slave or slaves ; and if the theft amounts to above six shill- ings, and under thirty shillings, the offender shall IK- sc'i'/c-d, and brought to the fort, where he shall immediately receive fifty lashes on his naked body, and secured ; two days after, he shall receive thirty APPENDIX. 357 lashes, and two days after that, twenty more : and the master of the Black shall pay the value stolen, as before. Those that shall absent their masters' Absentees an j service three days and three nights, shall be punished according to the last foregoing article, and the master make satisfaction for what they have stolen as aforesaid. For the first offence of this kind, the For breakino . master or masters shall make satisfac- opeu K tion for what is stolen, and repair all damages done by the slave or slaves; so soon as taken, shall be brought to the fort, and immediately receive, on his naked body, one hundred lashes, then secured ; four days after that, thirty ; six days after that, twenty more, and branded in the forehead with the letter R: for the second offence in this kind, he shall be punished as abovesaid, and wear, for one year, a chain and clogg of thirty pounds weight; and for the third offence, satisfaction shall be made as above- said to the loser or losers, and the slave or slaves shall suffer death, at the discretion of the Governor and Council. 358 APPENDIX. In relation to * n case anv ma ^ e slave, from the age of strike any, or assaulting any wliite person. strike any, or . assaulting any sixteen years and upwards, shall presume and attempt to strike or assault any white person whatsoever, correcting him or otherwise, for any cause whatsoever, shall, for the said offence or offences (though without weapon or dangerous in- strument), undergo and suffer the punishment of castration, that is to say, shall have his testicles cut out ; and in case any such slave or slaves shall chance to die under the punishment aforesaid, or before he be well, then the country and public shall bear the loss, and make good the value of said Black, with the charge of castration to the master or owner of said slave or slaves, according to an appraisement made by the Governor and Council for the time be- ing: further, but in case the said slave or slaves should die through neglect of the master or owner, then, upon proof thereof, the said master or owner to bear their own loss of the said slave or slaves, and the whole charge of every thing relating there- to ; and if the said slave live, the master to be at all charges. In relation to That if any Negro slave, male or fe- thost: tli.it shall PVP saucy lan- ma ] e shall presume to resist anv white pu.ifjp, resist, sui'kTan'- P erson whatsoever, in the taking or pur- whitp ixrjon. r i i r i suit of them upon any Jawtul occasion, APPENDIX. 359 jthe slave or slaves so offending and resisting as aforesaid, for the first offence shall be immediately conveyed to the great fort, and secured till they have undergone double punishment, according to the constitution of runaway Negroes, and branded in the forehead with the letter R ; and for a second offence in this nature, the said slave or slaves so offending shall suffer the same punishment as is ad- judged and ordered in the case of striking or assault- ing any white person, to wit, to be castrated, if a male, but if a female, to be severely whipped, as aforesaid, and both ears to be cut off, and branded in the forehead and both cheeks. And in case any slave or slaves, male or female, shall presume to strike any white person whatsoever, with any weapon, the said slave or slaves so offend- ing shall suffer death ; except those white persons who demean and debase themselves in conversing, corresponding, and gaming, with the blacks, as if they were equals, which we judge shall have no more benefit of those laws than Blacks them- selves. And in case any Negro slave, male or female, shall presume to give any saucy or impertinent lan- guage or answer to any white person (except those 360 APPENDIX. white persons aforesaid), shall, upon complaint thereof to the master or owners of the said slave, be severely whipt, in the presence of the party offend- ed, to his satisfaction ; and if the said master or owner of the said slave shall refuse, or neglect, to punish the said slave so offending, then the party offended may complain to the Governor, and so cause the said slave to be apprehended, and con- veyed to the fort, and punished according to the nature of the offence. A~aint one That no Negro slave or slaves shall truck, Black barter- , , . . . in K with an- barter, or exchange any thing, without the foreknowledge and consent of the own- ers of the said Negroes, both the sellers and buyers, deliverers and receivers, of any commodity whatso- ever, to the value of one shilling, upon the penalty of twenty lashes, or more if it should exceed that value, according to the judgement of the Governor and Council, severely to be inflicted on them at the flagstaff, upon the complaint of any one aggriev- ed by such a clandestine way of one Negro dealing with another. Apamst any That no white person whatsoever shall tnukingor truck, barter, or exchange any commo- I .ill-trim-; with dity whatsoever, with any Negro or Ne- APPENDIX. 361 groes, to sell to them, nor buy of them, any sort of commodity, without the foreknowledge and consent of the owners of the said Negro or Negroes, upon the penalty of being adjudged accessory to felony, and so consequently liable to a fourfold restitution to the owners of the said Negro or Negroes, besides a fine to the Lords Proprietors ; nor no Negro shall alienate any commodity or thing whatsoever, to any white person whatsoever, without the leave and consent of the said Negroes' master or mistress be- fore had, upon the penalty of severe correction, according to the judgement of the Governor and Council. That no Negro whatsoever shall pre- ^ Bi ack to ., ... . .. prescribe phv- scnbe or administer any physic or medi- sk each to " cine whatsoever, to any Negro or Negroes, without the consent of his or their master or mis- tress of that Negro unto whom he shall prescribe or administer any physic or medicine, upon the penalty of severe correction, according to the judgement of the Governor and Council ; neither shall any Negro whatsoever take or receive any physic or medicine, pr follow the rules or prescription of any pretended black Doctor whatsoever, without acquainting their master or mistress therewith, upon the penalty of 362 APPENDIX. the like pain and punishment as the black Doctor who pretends to physic is liable to. F. A copy of a clause, in another charter from King Charles the Second, dated 9 August, 1685, in the 35th of his reign. And also, that the said Governor, and Deputy- Governor, and Court of the said Company, for the time being, or the major part of them, duly assem- bled, shall have full power, licence, and authority, to name and appoint Governors and Officers, from time to time, in the said forts, and factories, and plantations; which said Governor and Officers shall have, and by these presents We do, for our heirs and successors, give them full power and authority to raise, arm, train, and muster, such military forces as to them shall seem requisite and necessary, and to execute and use, within the said plantations, forts, and places, the law, called the Martial Law, for the defense of the said forts, places, and plantations, against any foreign invasion, or domestic insurrec- tion or rebellion, or to follow such orders, direc- tions, and instructions, as from time to time shall be APPENDIX. 363 given them by the Governor, and Deputy-Governor, and Court of the said Company, or the major part of them, the sovereign right, power, and dominion, over all the said forts, places, and plantations, to be at any tune settled in the parts aforesaid. G. Petition of Coulston's four daughters to the House of Commons. The most deplorable case of the poor distressed planters in the island St. Helena, under the cruel oppressions of the East-India Company, humbly pre- sented to the charitable consideration of the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, in Parliament assembled, by Elizabeth, Martha, Grace, and Sarah, the mourn- ful daughters of John Coulston, who was one of those that was murdered by a pretended court- martial at that place. For the invitation of people to go over and inhabit St. Helena, the East-India Company promised to give each family twenty acres of land, and two cows, and that they should be free from all charges, duties, and impositions whatsoever, excepting six pence for 364 APPENDIX. every ten acres of land, to be paid for repairing the church, and obliging them to take their turns of watching for the safety of the island. Upon these encouragements sundry persons did transplant themselves thither, with their families, and lived comfortably till the year 1683, when Sir Josiah Child had worked himself into the sole dis- pose and management of all the Company's affairs; and then there was sent over one Robert Holden, to be Deputy-Governor, who was a man of a very evil reputation among all that knew him, and he brought orders for laying several impositions upon the plant- ers, which, in the whole, amounted to more than the real value of their lands. <. *. d. For every working slave, per ann. - - 10 6 Ditto head of cattle - - 1 Ditto head in each family, per ann. - - 6 Ditto ten acres of land, to highways - - 9 Ditto ten ditto, for duties - - - - 10 Ditto beast sold on ship board - - - G Ditto all calicoes bought for use, per piece 006 Ditto all strong liquors, per gallon - 002 Ditto all silks and stuffs for use, per piece 006 Ditto all sugars, per cwt. -----002 APPENDIX. 365 The imposing copper bars on them for money, and then refusing taking them again ; the settling a price upon their beef, compelling them to sell at those rates ; making them pay 2OO per cent, ad- vance for all necessaries they had occasion to buy from the Company's stores. The most unjust and intolerable impositions being peremptorily demanded of the planters, by the aforesaid Holden, they answered, Their contract with the Company was, to be free from all charges and duties whatsoever, and that they thought such hard things could not be put upon the King's sub- jects : to which the said Holden reply'd, That they were not now the King of England's, but the Com- pany's, subjects, for that they had transported them- selves to that place where the King of England had nothing to do with them. These words were spoken in the presence of several of the planters, and also of one Dermison, a soldier, who therefore accused Holden, to Major Blackmore, the Governor, of treason against the King ; but the Governor, instead of calling Holden to an account, committed Denni- son to prison, and put him in irons. I. pon these strange and arbitrary proceedings, 366 APPENDIX. several of the planters, and some of the soldiers, in all about sixty persons, one of whom carried a flag they made, in imitation of the union flag, to signify they thought themselves still the King's subjects, but none having any weapons, save their walking- staves, except three or four soldiers with their mus- quets, came down to the fort, to desire the Governor to discharge Dennison, and secure Holden ; but he gave them no other answer than his command to begone; and they still resisting, to desire justice, the Governor ordered both the great and small shot to be fired upon them, which killed three, and wounded fourteen, upon which the rest dispersed, and returned to their respective homes. The next night, the Governor sent a file of rausqueteers to the house of William Bowyers, who, when they came, was in bed with his wife ; and several of his friends sleeping in the next room, at whom the soldiers fired through the windows, killed one, and wounded another, and presently entered the house, seizing the said Bovvyer, and one Clark, with four others, whom they carried prisoners to the fort, and at their first appearance before the Governor, he asked Bowyers whether he was for a King or no King ; to which Bovvyer replied, " For the King, as long as I " live, Sir;" then, says the Governor, put the APPENDIX. 367 biggest irons on him. Some time after, the ship Royal James arrived here, when the Governor and Holden took upon themselves the authority of erecting a court for the trial of the said prisoners, making a jury of half of the Company's soldiers and half of the ship's company, who found Bowyer and the rest guilty of a riot, but no judgement was pro- nounced against them till some time after the ship had sailed for Europe, when, without any farther trial, the said Bowyer and Clark were hanged by the neck until they were dead. The Governor and Holden had sent, by the said ship Royal James, a large account of all that had passed of these matters to the East-India Company in London ; who, finding by the aforesaid verdict that their design of having the lives of the poor peo- ple at their disposal could not be done by a jury, some of them prevailed with the late King (Charles Hd.) to grant them a commission for a court martial, which was sent out about seven months after. Sir John Wybourn, who, with the Governor, the aforesaid Holden, and three or four others, were ap- pointed Judges, and they accordingly tried (as they pretended), and condemned to death, fourteen per- 368 APPENDIX. sons more, without the pretence of any other crime than the before-mentioned coming to demand justice against Holden for his treasonable words against the King, which they was pleased to call rebellion ; and when the wives and relations of those unhappy men made their petition to Sir John Weyboune to spare their lives, he answered, 'Twas not in his power ; for they were judged and condemned before he came out of England. The names of the condemned were as follows : Thomas Bolton, John Coulston, Job Jewster, Wil- liam Butler, Edward Gardiner, Gabriel Powell, George Shelton, John Luskin, Matthew Powney, Robert Thompson, William Fox, John Stitch, Hugh Bodley, Leicester Sexton. N. B. The execution of these poor men was in October, 1685. Whereof the first five were, in a few days after- wards, hanged by the neck till they were dead ; George Shelton was barbarously stifled to death in the prison ; Gabriel Powell did happily make his escape to Europe, in the ship Rochester, lately ar- rived ; and all the rest remain then? under con- demnation. APPENDIX. 369 After they had thus taken away the lives of these poor men, it was moved by some of them that sat for their Judges, that all their lands and goods should be confiscated to the Company's use ; but Major Blackmore, the Governor, who had been acquainted with their proceedings in martial law, declared against it ; and upon the disclose of the debate it was resolved, that an exact account should be taken of all the effects, and seized as forfeited to them, for the aforesaid pretended rebellion, as was accord- ingly done. And after these poor men were deprived of their lives, their distressed widows and fatherless children were reduced to the greatest distress and misery; besides those that were condemned to death, there was thirty more sentenced to have halters about their necks, and kneel down, and say, God save the King, and bless the Honourable Company, and we humbly thankthe Court Martial for saving our lives ; as was accordingly performed by them. These are the bloody and cruel oppressions which the miserable inhabitants of St. Helena have suffered who implore relief from this Honourable House, and humbly pray, 2B 370 APPENDIX. That those here, in England, who were concerned in procuring the aforesaid commission for a Court Martial from the late King (Charles the Hd.) may be brought to condign punishment, that Blackmore and Holden may be called home to answer the crimes they have committed ; That the Company may be obliged to make resti- tution to the widows and relations of those who have been so illegally executed, to the full amount of all the lands and goods that have been so wrongfully taken from them ; that a proper care be taken of the aforesaid poor men, who lie under condemnation ; and that all the planters at St. Helena may be re- stored to their rights, and free from the aforesaid heavy impositions lately laid on them. Total killed and wounded. Three killed upon the spot, fourteen wounded by a gun from the Castle wall loaded with small bullets. One shot in a house by a musquet, and one wounded in the same house, at Great Bottom. Two hanged soon after (Bowyer and Clark) from the Castle wall. Five hanged about twelve months after, Boulton, Coulson, Jewster, But- ler, and Gardiner. One stifled in prison, George Shelton. APPENDIX. 371 II. Ordinances promulged in 1109. In addition to the laws noted in chapter the 5th, and not anteriorly mentioned, the following is a copy of the principal ordinances and regulations pro- mulged or re-published, in the year 1109 by the Governor and Council, with the concurrence of the inhabitants ; as far as can be collected from the defaced and mutilated state of the book in which they were engrossed. We do order and strictly enjoin, that no Goats. person or persons whatsoever do hence- forward presume to go a hunting or shooting of wild or stray goats, upon any pretence whatever, without leave and lycence first obtained, under the Govern- or's hand and scale, which whoever shall obtain must keep to and observe such rules, orders, and di- rections, as therein shall be expressed; and as to tame goats, we do further declare, that no person or persons whatsoever, having any interest, share, or partnership, in any pound or flock of goates, do or shall presume to pound, or cause to be pounded 372 APPENDIX. any goats therein, or milk, mark, or kill, any goats, or kids, without the privity, consent, or knowledge, of all parties concerned, or the major part ; and that none do drive, or cause to be drove, any strange flock to their own pound, upon any pretence of having some among them ; but if it do happen that some strange goats get among their flocks, notice shall be given to the owners whose respective marks they beare ; upon which notice the said owners are to fetch them, or cause them to be sent for away, next pounding after. Otherwise it shall be lawfull for the partners of the pounds whereto they frequent to kill, and send them to their proper owners : and if any person or persons shall be found to offend, and act contrary hereunto, he, they, and every of them, shall be accounted and adjudged as felons, and shall be prosecuted accordingly. Whereas the game of the island hath Game. been of late very much destroyed, by many idle persons, who afterwards betake themselves to an ill habit of life, neglecting their lawful em- ployments. For remedy whereof, and the more e(Ycctual preservation of the game, we do strictly prohibit and forbid all and every person or persons whatsoever to go a shooting of, or by any other ways APPENDIX. 373 or means, as dogs, nets, snares, engines, or other instruments, to kill any partridges, Guinee-hens, pidgeons, turtle-doves, or any other game, or take and destroy their young, or eggs (except such as shall be found within their own plantations), without leave and lycence under the Governor's hand, under pain of ten shillings for the first offence, to the Honourable Company ; and for the second offence, to be severely fined and punished, at the Governour and CouncilPs pleasure. (The Councill always to go a shooting for their diversion.) To prevent clandestine and unlawful Infants. marriages, we do order, that no person under the age of twenty-one years, shall contract marriage, without consent of their parents or guardians, and Governour for the time being, if their parents be deceased ; and that this order may be made publick, that none may plead ignorance. Forasmuch as many crafty and circumventing per- sons have and do clandestinely trade and traffick with the youth of the island for cattle, goods, and other merchandize, without the privity or consent of their parents, guardians, or the Governour, and tak- ing advantage of their indiscretion, and want of 374 APPENDIX. judgment, buy for little or no consideration, thereby inveigling and seducing them to wast and imbezzle their substance and effects, giving them encourage- ment to run into all manner of excess and riot, who afterwards continue their vitious habits, to their utter ruin and destruction ; for remedy whereof, we do order, that no person whatsoever do deale, barter, traffick, or correspond, with any infant under the age of twenty-one years, without the consent of parents, guardians, or the Governour for the time being, upon the penalty of forty shillings to the Honourable Company. For the preventing and punishing of tearing and defacing of orders, or procla- mations, we do forbid all persons whatsoever from tearing, defacing, or taking down any orders, pa- pers, or proclamations, set up at any public place, by order or leave of the Governour and Council], upon the penalty of four dollars, and such corporal! punishment as the Governour and Council shall think fit. We do order, that our Governour and Orphans. Council shall hold a court yearely, or as often as occasion requires, for the settling of or- APPENDIX. 375 phan's estates, or any thing to them belonging, or in any wise appertaining ; and as to their estates, what- ever money is paid on that account into our cash, we will, for the encouragement of the inhabitants, allow interest for such money from the time it ap- pears here by our books that the same has been brought into our cash in credit of the concerned. o Whereas severall idle, gossiping wo- men, make it their business to go from house to house, about the island, inventing and spreading false and scandalous reports of the good people thereof, and thereby sow discord and debate among neighbours, and often between men and their wives, to the great grief and trouble of all good and quiet people, and to the utter extinguishing of all friendship, amity, and good neighbourhood : for the punishment and suppression whereof, and to the in- tent that all strife may be ended, charity revived, and friendship continued, we do order, that if any woman from henceforwards shall be convicted of tale-bearing, mischief-making, scolding, drunken- ness, or any other notorious vices, they shall be punished by ducking, or whipping, or such other punishments as their crimes or transgressions shall deserve, as the Governour and Councill shall think fit. 376 APPENDIX. We do absolutely enjoyn all and every person or persons inhabiting the said island, that, from henceforth, when they kill for their own use or others, or kill, exchange, or part with any kinde of beast, or cattle, as oxen, runts, steers, kine, heiffers, calfes, sheep, lambs, goates, kids, hoggs, or piggs, they shall be obliged to re- pair to, or send for, and give notice thereof, to some person or persons warranted by the Governour to keep arms, who are hereby appointed and impower- ed to view, inspect, search, and examine, the ears, hide, and horns, of every beast so killed, or to be sold, whereby to be informed and satisfied that it hath the true and proper mark of the owner or pos- sessor, and whose marke, and that the disposer or seller hath a property therein; and, if any person or persons shall presume or endeavour fraudulently to hide or conceale any such sale or slaughter, and kill, or dispose of, any beast, without notice given, and search made as aforesaid, otherwise than accord- ing to this law, and be thereof lawfully convicted, he, they, and every of them, shall be, and are here- by declared, and shall be deemed and adjudged as felons ; and the beast so concealed, not viewed, and unlawfully killed, or made away, shall be forfeited, the one half to the Honourable Company, and the APPENDIX. 377 other to the informer or prosecutor. And we do further declare, that any person or persons warranted by the Governour to keep arms shall have power to enter into and search (as for stolen goods) the houses of all and every unlicenced persons whom they shall suspect, by circumstance or otherwise, fraudulently and clandestinely to kill any meat ; and where any flesh or skins of a beast shall be found, of which they can give no reasonable account how they came by the same, or produce the party of whom they bought the same, or shew credible witness of the sale thereof, he or they shall be subject to the for- feiture and penaltyes of clandestinely and feloni- ously killing a beast, as if thereof convicted. And we do hereby further declare, that when any person not licensed to keep any arms, shall kill, or any ways dispose of, any such beast, he, or they, shall be obliged to get two licenced to view and examine the marks ; but when any person having the Governour's warrant for arms, do kill, sell, or dispose of any, the testimony of one single person shall be sufficient. And we do further declare and enjoyn, that all and every inhabitant do, at the marking of their cattle, procure one or more sufficient witness to be then and there present; but always the unlicenced persons to have two present, as witness of their actions, upon 378 APPENDIX, the penalty's aforesaid. And we do further de- clare, that the informer, or prosecutor, shall have, over and above the half of the beast forfeited, and clandestinely made away with, as abovesaid, half the fourfold, being part of the penalty inflicted on felons. I. Laws, Orders, Ordinances, and Constitutions, made by the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East-Indies, as Lords and Proprietors of the island of St. Helena, for the better govern- ment of slaves in the said island, and for their pro- tection and relief, and to prevent the increase of slavery in the said island. Whereas, by letters patent under the great seal of Great Britain, bearing date the sixteenth day of De- cember, in the twenty-fifth year of the reign of his Majesty King Charles the Second, his said Majesty granted to the Governor and Company of Merchants of London trading into the East-Indies, and their suc- cessors, all that the island of St. Helena ; and thereof APPENDIX. 379 made and constituted them, the said Governor and Company, the true and absolute Lords and Proprie- tors, with power and authority, at any General Court, or Courts of Committees, holden for the said Com- pany, to ordain, make, and establish, and under their common seal to publish, any laws, orders, ordinances, and constitutions, for the good government and other use of the said island and premises, and the in- habitants thereof; and the same, or any of them, again, from time to time, to revoke, abrogate, and change, as they in their discretion should think fit and convenient ; and to impose, limit, and provide, such pains, punishments, and penalties, by fines, amerciaments, imprisonments of body, and, where the quality of the offence should require, by taking away life or member, as the said Governor and Com- pany should see necessary for the observation of the same laws, constitutions, orders, and ordinances, and for the punishment of offenders against the same ; and by the Governor or Governors, Officers, and Ministers, by the said Company to be appointed, to correct, punish, govern, and rule, the inhabitants of the said island, according to the said laws and ordi- nances ; and to do all things which to the compleat establishment of justice should belong, as by the said letters patent may more at large appear. And 380 APPENDIX. whereas the said island of St. Helena, and all and every the powers and authorities contained in the said recited letters patent, have been transferred unto, and are now vested in, the said United Com- pany, in as full and ample manner and form as the same were granted to the said Governor and Com- pany of Merchants of London trading to the East- Indies : and whereas, by an instrument in writing, under the common seal of the said United Com- pany, bearing date the twenty-sixth day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety-one, agreed to, and approved of, at and by a Court of Directors of the said Company, sun- dry laws, orders, ordinances, and constitutions, were made and established by the said Company, con- cerning the slaves in the said island of St. Helena : And whereas, upon re-considering the said laws, orders, ordinances, and constitutions, so made as aforesaid, concerning the said slaves, it is found ne- cessary and proper to amend and vary the same, which will best be done by revoking thereof, and by establishing new laws : Now know all men by these presents, that, in pursuance of the said recited letters patent, and the powers and authorities thereby granted to the said Governor and Company of Mer- chants of London, and now transferred unto, and APPENDIX. 3S1 vested in, the said United Company as aforesaid, they, the said United Company, by this present writing under their common seal, agreed to, and ap- proved of, at and by a Court of Directors of the said Company, held at their house in Leadenhall-street, London, the twenty-fourth day of February, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-two, in the pre- sence of the Chairman and Deputy Chairman there- of, have revoked and abrogated, and do hereby re- voke and abrogate, all and every the laws, orders, ordinances, and constitutions, made and established in and by the said instrument, bearing date the twenty-sixth day of January, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-one, such revocation and abro- gation to take place from and immediately after the receipt and publication of these presents at the said island of St. Helena, by the Governor and Council of the said island of St. Helena; but so, neverthe- less, as not to discharge,' prejudice, or effect any proceedings then depending respecting any offence against the same laws before that time ; but such proceedings shall be carried on and prosecuted, and the offenders punished, by virtue thereof, in the same manner as if the said laws, orders, ordinances, and constitutions, had remained in full force. And further, the said United Company have ordained, 382 APPENDIX. made, and established, and by these presents do or- dain, make, and establish, the laws, orders, ordi- nances, and constitutions, hereinafter mentioned and set forth (which have been agreed to, and approved of, by and at the said Court of Directors, held as aforesaid) for the better government of slaves in the said island of St. Helena, and for their protection, and to prevent the increase of slavery in the said island ; which said laws, orders, ordinances, and constitutions, shall take place, and be observed and obeyed, in the said island of St. Helena, and the territories and places thereunto belonging, from and immediately after the receipt and publication of these presents by the Governor and Council of the said island, that is to say, ARTICLE I. Be it ordained and established, by the said United Company, by and under the powers and authorities contained in the said recited letters patent, trans- ferred unto, and now vested in, the said United Com- pany as aforesaid: And it is hereby ordained and esta- blished, by and with the assent and agreement of the said Court of Directors, so held as aforesaid, that Slaves to hpdi- slaves, in the said island of St. Helena, ligont, obedi- ent, and re- shall work diligently in the business and APPENDIX. 383 labour in which they shall be employed, spec tful,andto and shall be obedient to the lawful com- se \ ves as f a i t h- mands of, and behave themselves with respect to, their masters and mistresses, and their families; and shall not waste, damage, or injure, the property of their masters and mistresses, but shall in all respects demean themselves as good and faithful servants. ARTICLE II. And be it further ordained and esta- To be treated blished, by the authority aforesaid, that wi * kindness, J and properly masters and mistresses of slaves in the mamtamed - said island shall treat their slaves with kindness, and shall give them protection from injury, and supply them with sufficient good and wholesome provision, and with proper cloathing and lodging; and, in sickness, with necessary medicines, care, and at- tention. ARTICLE III. And be it further ordained and esta- Masters allow- blished, by the authority aforesaid, that ed to correct slaves mode- if any slave or slaves shall run away, or ra ! ely for . J J ' crimes and absent themselves from the sendee of his, ceelun^Tweivr i ! , lashes," her, or their, masters and mistresses, or 384 APPENDIX. shall refuse to do, or wilfully neglect, the business upon which he, she, or they, shall be employed, or shall not be diligent therein, or shall be turbulent, or refractory, get drunk, use abusive or insolent language, waste, damage, or injure, the property of his, her, or their masters and mistresses, or other- wise be disorderly, or misbehave his, her, or them- selves, it shall be lawful for the masters or mistresses of such slave or slaves to give, or cause, moderate correction to be given them, for their crimes and faults, not exceeding twelve lashes, with a cat of nine tails, and that so as not to wound, or do the said slaves bodily injury, and so that the said slaves be not corrected, as aforesaid, more than once for one offence. ARTICLE IV. For crimes and And be it further ordained and esta- faults deserving greater punish- blished, by the authority aforesaid, that inent, to be carried before in. all cases where the master or mistress Justices of the Peace, and to o f anv s l ave s h a ll conceive the crime or he punished l,v theironlers. fau j t comm j tte( ] by such slave to be of such enormity as to require more exemplary punish- ment than is hereinbefore allowed to be inflicted by such master or mistress, it shall and may be lawful for such master or mistress to cause such offending APPENDIX. 385 slave to be carried before the Governor, and any other Justice of the Peace of the said island of St. Helena, who are hereby authorized to hear and examine into every such complaint, and, by warrant under their hands, to direct such corporal punish- ment, not extending to life or limb, as the crime or offence shall, in their discretion, merit; after which punishment, inflicted by the order of the Justices as aforesaid, no farther or other punishment whatso- ever shall be inflicted on such slave for the same offence, by any person or persons whomsoever, on pain of being proceeded against in the same manner as if such person had punished the said slave with- out authority, or had exceeded the punishment hereinbefore limited to be given by any master and mistress. ARTICLE V. And be it further ordained and esta- Excess of blished, by the authority aforesaid, that punishment by proprietors of if any proprietor of any slave, or any per- JStorf'a. son employed or authorized by such pro- S s S^ d prietor, do or shall, on any pretence whatsoever, take upon himself or herself to inflict, or cause to be inflicted, on such slave or slaves as aforesaid, any heavier, greater, or other kind of, 2 C 386 APPENDIX. punishment, than what is hereinbefore limited and prescribed, or shall punish any slave without rea- sonable cause ; every such proprietor, or other per- son, shall be considered as guilty of an assault and misdemeanor, in like manner as if the same offence had been committed against a free person. ARTICLE VI. Skvestobere- ^ n( ^ ^ e ** further ordained and esta- tices ifnot" 8 " blished, by the authority aforesaid, that properly main- r , . r -, i wined with " the proprietor ot any slave or slaves provisions, &c. or if these re- snail not supply such slave or slaves with gulations shall be violated. proper food, cloathing, lodging, medi- cine, and care, in sickness, or shall be guilty of any other violation of the regulations of these presents, it shall and may be lawful to and for such slave and slaves to complain to two Justices of the Peace of the said island, whereof the Governor for the time being shall be one, who are hereby authorized to hear and examine into every such complaint, and by warrant under their hands to order and direct such relief and redress to be given to the complainant as shall, in their discretion, appear to be just; and every per- son refusing or neglecting to comply with and per- form such order, shall forfeit and pay the sum of forty shillings of lawful money of Great Britain, to APPENDIX. 387 be recovered as a debt, in the name of the Clerk of the Peace ; and, besides such relief and redress, if the offence committed by such proprietor shall be of such enormity as to require it, he shall also be fined by the said Justices, or shall, at their discretion, be prosecuted for the same at the quarter sessions. ARTICLE VII. And be it further ordained and esta- Slaves, except household serv- bhshed, by the authority aforesaid, that ants, not to be employed on all slaves, except those employed as Sundays. household servants, shall be allowed Sunday to themselves, and shall not be required to work thereon for their masters. ARTICLE VIII. And be it further ordained and esta- HouseholJ blished, by the authority aforesaid, that slaves to be , spared as much household slaves shall be spared from la- M reasona biy may be on Sun- bor on Sundays, as much as reasonably J^.^ 1 a ] er _ e may be consistent with the necessary Sunday in two r i /* i , . .to themselves. business or the tamily they live In ; and, unless in case of sickness in the family, or other ne- cessity, shall be allowed one Sunday out of two to themselves, free from their ordinary week-day 2c 2 388 APPENDIX. work ; such allowance being made to them alter- nately, so that one half of the household slaves of a family may be always at home. ARTICLE IX. And be it further ordained and esta- Not to carry wood on Sun- blished, by the authority aforesaid, that days, either for J J Or slave shall be allowed to collect or carry wood on a Sunday, either for their masters or mistresses, or themselves, on pain of be- ing punished by the order of two Justices of the Peace. ARTICLE X. And be it further ordained and esta- To go to church, and be blished, by the authority aforesaid, that instructed on J fhe*^ * certain portion of time (to be fixed by houreT/the tn e Governor and Council), not less than purpose, be- j i 1 1 i sides the ordi- two hours, on every Sunday, shall be set nary divine ser- . Tice. apart and appropriated for the slaves as- sembling in the churches in the said island; at which time the Chaplain of the island, or other clergyman officiating at such church for him, shall attend and instruct the said slaves in the Christian religion, and in the principles of morality ; and the said Chaplain, and also the Justices of the Peace, and proprietors APPENDIX. 389 of slaves, shall use tneir best endeavours to induce slaves to attend the churches, to be so instructed; and also to attend divine service on Sunday : and the said Chaplain shall also, without fee or reward, baptize and marry slaves when thereto required ; and shall record such baptisms and marriages in a register to be kept for that purpose ; and in case the Chaplain shall refuse to perform, or be remiss in the several matters aforesaid, he shall be admonished by the Governor and Council ; and if, after admonition, he shall continue to neglect the same, his conduct shall be reported to the Court of Directors of the said United Company. ARTICLE XI. And be it further ordained and esta- Rape, or at- blished, by the authority aforesaid, that tem P t to com - mit a rape, on if any person shall commit a rape upon a a f ^ ma!e slave, J l to be punished woman slave, or make an assault upon theLvs S of , . , . England. any woman slave, with an intent to com- mit a rape, such person, and all person and persons aiding and assisting therein, shall be prosecuted for the same, and liable to such pains, penalties, and punishments, as may be imposed or inflicted for the like offence according to the laws of England. 390 APPENDIX. ARTICLE XII. Lending or And be it further ordained and esta- feraa?ekve, Wished, by the authority aforesaid, that or seducing her . - to prostitution, ay person or persons shall hire out, or punishable. lend any female slave for the purpose of prostitution, or shall assist in the seduction of any female slave, such offence shall be considered as a misdemeanor, and shall be punished by indictment at the quarter sessions ; and, besides a fine, or other punishment, if the Court in their discretion shall see fit, it shall and may be lawful for the Court to banish such person or persons from the island. ARTICLE XIII. And be it further ordained and esta- Men and wo- men slaves to bli s hed, by the authority aforesaid, that be married, * > allowed to c<> oe ^ ore men and women slaves shall be habit together n i i till marriage, allowed to cohabit together as man and wife, they shall have the consent, in writing, of their respective proprietors to their mar- riages, which consent shall be entered in a register, to be kept for that purpose in the office of the Se- cretary to the Governor and Council; and if the said proprietors shall refuse their consent without reasonable cause, it shall be lawful to the Governor and Council to consider the same ; and, if they shall APPENDIX. 391 see fit, to license such marriage, which said consent or licence shall be certified by the said Secretary to the Chaplain, who shall thereupon be authorized to marry the said slaves, and not otherwise, ARTICLE XIV. And be it further ordained and esta- Children bom Wished, by the authority aforesaid, that of slaves to be- long to the all children born of slaves shall be the JK^ n of property of the person or persons to s< whom the woman slave shall belong at the time of O the births of such children. APtTICLE XV. And be it further ordained and esta- Male slave de blished, by the authority aforesaid, that bauching a J J female married if any male slave shall debauch and have ** carnal knowledge of any female married 3 slave, during her marriage, not being his wife, and the parties shall be convicted thereof before two Justices of the Peace, both or either of the said par- ties so offending shall receive such corporal punish- ment, not extending to life or limb, as such Justices in their discretion shall see proper, and shall order by warrant under their hands. 3)2 APPENDIX. ARTICLE XVI. And be it further ordained and esta- Propnetor of female married bUshed, by the authority aforesaid, that slaves, and J J ^ tne proprietor or master of any female non-commis- UUII-VUHIIIIIS- 1 1 11111 1 11 sioned Officers, married slave shall debauch and have debauching fe- m le married carnal knowledge of such slave during slaves, to pay certain . her marriage, such proprietor or master shall forfeit and pay the sum of ten pounds; and if any other freeman, in an higher sta- tion of life than a labourer, or a non-commissioned Officer, or common soldier, shall debauch and have carnal knowledge of any female married slave, such freeman shall forfeit and pay the sum of five pounds; which said respective sums of ten pounds and five pounds shall be recovered as debts, in the name of the Clerk of the Peace for the time being. ARTICLE XVII. And be it further ordained and esta- What damage Se b iEfof blished b y thc authority aforesaid, that Lourerfnon- if an J labourer, non-commissioned Of- commissioned . ... Officer, and hccr, or private soldier, shall debauch soldier. and have carnal knowledge of any female married slave, such labourer, non-commissioned Officer, or private soldier, shall respectively forfeit and pay for every such offence a sum equal to one- APPENDIX. 393 fifth part of one year's earnings or pay; also to be recovered as a debt in the name of the Clerk of the Peace, and to be paid by monthly payments. ARTICLE XVIII. And be it further ordained and esta- Other persons Wished, by the authority aforesaid, that be . sides P r - pnetors all persons (except proprietors of slaves, C^/ 01 and persons authorized by them in re- siaves? Un spect of such moderate correction as aforesaid) who shall beat or ill treat slaves, shall be guilty of an assault and misdemeanor, and shall be punishable for the same by two or more Justices of the Peace, or by indictment at the quarter ses- sions. ARTICLE XIX. And be it further ordained and esta- S laves damag- blished, by the authority aforesaid, that in s P rivate , property, pub- if any slave or slaves shall wilfully da- jj^^* ' mage or injure the property of the said United Company, or of any person or persons not being his master or mistress, or shall injure the public roads, or commit any other offence detri- mental to society or the good government of the said island, he or they so offending shall be punish- ed for the same by the order of Justices of the Peace, 394 APPENDIX. according to the nature of the injury, unless it shall appear that such damage or injury was done under the authority or by the connivance of the master or mistress of such slave or slaves ; in which Masters or mistresses su- case tne s ] ave s hall be slightly punished thormng or conniving f or ^ e unlawful act, and the said master thereat, also punishable. Qr m j stress shall ma ke good and pay the damage done, and moreover shall be punishable for the same by two or more Justices of the Peace, or by indictment at the quarter sessions. ARTICLE XX. And be it further ordained and esta- Slaves allowed togiveevi- ' blished, by the authority aforesaid, that dence, if j j Sand be"" slaves sha11 be allowed to give evidence tlo'ii 1 i n a U judicial proceedings, both civil and of an oath. . . . criminal, as well against free persons as against one another, provided they shall be found to understand the obligation of an oath, and to believe in a Supreme Being; and all such witnesses shall be sworn in such manner and form as shall be most binding upon their consciences ; and if they shall forswear themselves, shall be liable to all the penal- ties and punishments of perjury. ARTICLE XXI. And be it further ordained and established, by the APPENDIX. 395 authority aforesaid, that slaves shall not Slaves not al- be allowed to have dogs to follow them. I f red to hav ' dogs. without licence from their masters or mistresses, on pain of punishment for the same by such moderate correction as the master or mistresses are allowed to give, as hereinbefore is mentioned, or of such greater punishment as the Justices shall see proper, according to the circumstances of the of- fence. ARTICLE XXII. And be it further ordained and esta- Sheep or cattle blished, by the authority aforesaid, that not to be im - pounded, un- no sheep or cattle shall be impounded by less a w , hlte J person be pr- slaves upon the commons, unless a white sent< person shall be present. ARTICLE XXIII. And be it further ordained and esta- N ot to row or , , . , -it sa 'l round bashed, by the authority aforesaid, that Banks's Bat- tery in the slaves employed to fish in the sea shall night. not row or sail their boats by Banks's Battery in the night, on pain of being severely punished, unless such sailing or rowing shall be licensed by the Go- vernor, or unless, upon investigating the circum- stances, the Governor and Council shall see fit to 3 APPENDIX. dispense with and excuse the same, which it shall be lawful for them to do as they shall see fit. ARTICLE XXIV. And be it further ordained and esta- Punishable for aK n tL fire bashed) b }' tne authority aforesaid, that town without slayes ghall t fire about the being properly town, unless the same shall be properly covered or secured, on pain of being punished by their masters and mistresses, as hereinbefore is mentioned; or of greater punishment by the Justices as hereinbefore is also mentioned. ARTICLE XXV. And be it further ordained and esta- Proprietors to be paid for blished, by the authority aforesaid, that slaves convict- J J Id for < -rimirlai slaves committed to gaol, and confined fortheir'lonsof for criminal offences, shall be considered time in prison, unless suspect- as taken from their masters and mistress- ed of encourag- ing or conniv- es for the public good ; and, in such ing at their offences. case, the master or mistress of such slave shall have a reasonable satisfaction for the earnings of such slave during confinement, after deducting the expense of maintenance ; such satisfaction to be settled by the Governor and Council : and in case such slav.e should be condemned, and suffer death APPENDIX. 397 for the crime of which he or she shall be convicted, the value of such slave to be estimated by a jury, to be summoned before the Governor for that pur- pose, shall be paid to the master or mistress of such slave : which said several payments shall be made by the parish officers, and shall be raised and assessed upon the inhabitants, as other parish rates shall be raised and assessed : Provided that if the Justices before whom the trial of such slave shall be had shall certify, by writing under their hands, that, from the evidence given on such trial, there shall be reason to suspect that the master or mistress of such slave en- couraged or connived at the offence committed by such slave, then and in such case such payments as aforesaid, or any of them, shall not be made to such master or mistress as aforesaid. ARTICLE XXVI. And be it further ordained and esta- _ Persons har- blished, by the authority aforesaid, that bourin s or concealing if any person or persons shall harbour or thanVorty- conceal any slave who shall absent him e ^ e a ce rtain . payment to the or herselt from his or her master or mis- proprietor, tress's service, for more than the space of forty-eight hours, without the licence in writing of such master or mistress for such absence, every free 398 APPENDIX. person so harbouring or concealing such slave shall pay to the master or mistress of such slave any sum to be awarded by two Justices of the Peace (of whom the Governor for the. time being shall be one) not exceeding twenty shillings per day, to be recovered, in default of payment, by distress and sale of the goods and chattels of such person or persons, by warrant from any Justice, together with the cost of such distress and sale ; and every slave And one slave harbouring so harbouring or concealing another another, to be punished. s lave, shall be punished at the discretion of any two or more Justice or Justices ; provided that if it shall appear that there was lawful or rea- sonable cause for such harbouring or concealment, it shall be lawful for any two Justices to excuse the same, and remit the payment and punishment afore- said. ARTICLE XXVII. And be it further ordained and esta- Slaves to have the enjoyment blished, by the authority aforesaid , that of, and be pro- J J pro- w>ec " cf to" luch m casean y slaves, by and with the con- aw. sent or permission of the person or per- fully acquire. sons to whom they shall belong, shall ac- quire any property, by labouring for themselves, or by rearing stock, or by gifts, or other lawful ways APPENDIX. 399 or means, the property so acquired shall belong to such slaves, to be applied as they shall think fit ; and such slaves shall be fully protected by the law in respect of such property. ARTICLE XXVIII. And, in order to prevent theft and frauds by slaves, be it further ordained P"* 86 fr m or sell to slaves, No person to P"* 86 or sell to sl and established, by the authority afore- u , nless f"* J J slaves shall be said, that it shall not be lawful for any ^^ in person whatsoever to make any purchase from or sale to any slave, unless such slave shall have a licence in writing from his master or mistress for buying or selling ; and any free person so buying from or selling to a slave, not being possessed of such licence, shall be fined by the Justices before whom the fact shall be proved. ARTICLE XXIX. And be it further ordained and esta- Correcting blished, by the authority aforesaid, that ^ves for com- J J plaining to in case any proprietor of a slave shall ^^' an correct or ill treat, or cause such slave to be corrected or ill treated, for or on account of such slave having made any complaint to the Justices, such correction or ill treatment shall be considered 400 APPENDIX. as an assault and misdemeanor, and shall be pro- ceeded against before the Justices, or by indictment at the quarter sessions. ARTICLE XXX. And be it further ordained and esta- blaves making frivolous and blished, by the authority aforesaid, that unfounded J > ^pSed! if an y slave r slaves sha11 make an y fri - volous and unfounded complaint, and thereby occasion slander, trouble, expense, or loss of time, to his, her, or their master or mistress, it shall and may be lawful to and for the Justices be- fore whom such frivolous and unfounded complaint shall be made, to order such slave or slaves to be punished for the same, as they in their discretions shall think fit. ARTICLE XXXI. And be it further ordained and esta- OiTences against these blished, by the authority aforesaid, that regulations cogniKibit i by a ji j every the offences, matters, and Justices of the J may"J'unish things, mentioned and arising from these slaves, and fine . ,. masters and laws, orders, ordinances, and constitu- inistressfs, not . . exceeding forty tions, and all disputes and differences be- stiillings, or order prosecu- tween slaves in the said island, shall be tions at quarter $esions. cognizable by two or more Justices of APPENDIX. 401 the Peace of the said island, of whom the Governor for the time being shall be one ; and it shall and may be lawful to and for such Justices to punish slaves for their offences and misbehaviour, as herein di- rected, not extending to life or limb; and also either to fine any master or mistress, or other free person, for any offence against or any ill treatment of slaves, or to order such offences to be prosecuted at the quarter sessions, provided that the said Justices shall not assess any fine exceeding forty shillings ; and provided also, that no person shall be proceeded against both by fine and by prosecution at the quarter sessions, ARTICLE XXXII. And be it further ordained and esta- _ Fines and for- blished, by the authority aforesaid, that feitures ?> be J recovered by all and every the fines and forfeitures 2^ ess and hereby created or authorized, in case of non-payment, shall be recovered by distress and sale of the stock, goods, and chattels of the offend- ing parties, together with the costs of such distress and sale, giving five days 1 notice before any such sale shall be made. <2n 402 APPENDIX. ARTICLE XXXIII. And be it further ordained and esta- Fines, NC. not Cto blish ed, by the authority aforesaid, that Governor and n i \ f c r Council, and al1 ant " every the fines, forfeitures, penaj- kept as a sepa- . rate fund for ties > anc payments, hereby created and future appro- priation to pub- authorized, and not otherwise appropn- lic use. ated, shall be paid to the Governor and Council of the said island of St Helena, to be kept as a separate fund, subject to such future appropria- tion as shall be made thereof, for some public use, by the Court of Directors of the said United Com- pany ; the state of which fund shall from time to time be transmitted to the said Court of Directors. ARTICLE XXXIV. And be it further ordained and esta- Proreedings concerning blishcd, by the authority aforesaid, that slaves to be re- > corded, and th j usticcs of t h e Peace shall cause a sent borne to correct record and state of all complaints, examinations of witnesses, orders, and other pro- ceedings before them, and also before the Court of Quarter Sessions, any way relating to slaves, to be made and kept by the Clerk of the Peace, or some other officer, whereto all the Justices shall from time to time resort at their free wills and pleasures; and the same shall be regularly transmitted to the Court APPENDIX. 403 of Directors of the said United Company for their information. ARTICLE XXXV. And be it further ordained and esta- _ rower for Wished, by the authority aforesaid, that Co rtofQuar- * * tcr Sessions to in case of proprietors of slaves being ^ ^ es found guilty at the quarter sessions of ill priors to ^T , . , . ,, sold. treating slaves, or any gross violation of these regulations, or any of them, it shall and may be lawful to and for the said Court in their discretion to order such ill treated slave to be sold, for the pur- pose of removing such slave from the government of the person guilty of such ill treatment or gross violation; but nevertheless, the price at which such slave shall be sold, after deducting the charges of sale, shall be paid to the said proprietor. ARTICLE XXXVI. And be it further ordained and esta- blished, that in all cases of gross or bad Gross 'j! " eat - inent or slaves treatment of slaves by free people, or J p ir( re c ^ ed any other gross violation or opposition to dXenciTto be . . ,, , ,, shown to of- the provisions or these presents tor the fenders without Couit's orders. reiiet and redress or slaves, the Governor and Council shall point out and particularly repre- 2D 2 404 APPENDIX. sent the same to the Court of Directors of the said United Company for their consideration, first giv- ing notice of their intention in that respect to the party against whom such representation shall be made, in order that they may have an opportunity of answering the same ; and in all cases of such re- presentations, the said Governor and Council shall be restrained from renewing or granting any lease, or shewing any other indulgence to such party, until the pleasure of the said Court of Directors shall be declared thereon. ARTICLE XXXVII. And be it further ordained and esta- Thr mode in which slaves blished, by the authority aforesaid, that may be made it shall and may be lawful for any person or persons to manumise and set free any slave or slaves, to him, her, or them belonging, by deed or will, so that such deed or will be entered or regis- tered in the Secretary's office in the said island, and so that the party so manumising or setting free such slave, or the executors or administrators of a de- ceased person, or some other responsible person on their behalf, to be approved by the parish officers for the time being, do and shall give bond to the parish officers, in the penalty of one hundred and APPENDIX. 405 sixty pounds, to maintain such slave or slaves, in case he, she, or they shall become burthensome to the parish ; and until such security shall be given, the deed or instrument declaring such setting free shall have no effect. ARTICLE XXXVIII. And be it further ordained and esta- _ To provide for blished, by the authority aforesaid, that ^ves disabled ' J J by sickness, no proprietor of any slave or slaves shall, ^ , - and not suffer under pretence of manumission, or other- t h em towant, or be trouble- Wise, discard or turn away any slave or some to others. slaves on account or by reason of such slave or slaves being rendered incapable of labour or service, by means of sickness, lameness, age, or in- firmity ; but every such proprietor shall keep, maintain, and provide them with wholesome food, and decent, comfortable cloathing and lodging; and not suffer them to wander about, and become bur- thensome to others ; but in all such cases it shall and may be lawful for two or more Justices to order such relief and redress as shall be necessary, and also to punish the offender by fine, or by prosecu- tion at the quarter sessions. 406 APPENDIX. ARTICLE XXXIX. No new slaves And > in ordcT to Prevent the increase lTpet : of slaver > r at the said island, be it further or eiitertabiiig ordained and established, by the authori- a new slave, to ., pay fifty ty atoresaid, that from and after the pub- pounds, and also the ex- lication of these presents as aforesaid, no penses of send- ing him to the new s j ave s j, a ii b e imported at the said plare to which he belongs. is j and of Sti Helena, for the purpose of being left there, or shall be suffered to remain there on any account or pretence whatsoever, without the express licence and permission, in writing, of the Court of Directors of the said United Company, whether such slave shall be obtained by any person upon the said island by purchase, or gift, or other- wise howsoever; and every person receiving, har- bouring, or entertaining, any such slave or slaves without such licence or permission as aforesaid, shall forfeit and pay the sum of fifty pounds for every slave so received, harboured, or entertained, to be recovered as a debt in the name of the Clerk of the Peace ; and moreover such slave shall, by order of the Governor and Council, be sent from the island of St. Helena to the place to which he belongs, by and at the expense of the person so receiving, harbour- ing, or entertaining, such slave or slaves. APPENDIX. 407 ARTICLE XL. Provided always nevertheless, and be J These regula- it further ordained and established, by JfJ^JjJ; the authority aforesaid, that nothing |*^ herein contained shall extend, or be con- strued to extend, to remit, vary, or alter, any cri- minal offence of which any person shall be guilty against the laws of England; but all such offences shall be tried and punished in like manner as if these laws, rules, and ordinances had not been made. Provided that no person shall receive punishment by the laws of England and also by these laws, rules, and ordinances, for one and the same offence. ARTICLE XLI. And be it further ordained and esta- Governor and blished, by the authority aforesaid, that Co . und ! * a P' point visitors the Governor and Council of the said island shall yearly, on the first day of . . . year, to exa- January in every year, or within ten days m i ne and re- port on coin- then next following, appoint two persons, plaints. who shall be called Visitors of Slaves for that year, and who shall four times in every year, and oftener if occasion shall require, visit and examine into the state of slaves, and the manner of their being fed, 408 APPENDIX. cloathed, and treated ; and shall examine the com- plaints both of slaves and their proprietors ; and shall from time to time make due report to the Go* vernor and Council of what they shall find amiss, that proper proceedings may be taken for the cor- rection thereof. ARTICLE XLII. And be it further ordained and esta- Notice to be given toGo- blished, by the authority aforesaid, that vernor ot death * J 3K23" 1 when any slave shall die, the master or surhdeathmay . ~ , , ,, ,, , . , be inquired mistress ot such slave shall forthwith, and not exceeding the space of twelve hours at the most, and before the burial of such slave, cause notice to be given of such death to the Governor of the said island, who shall forthwith in- form the said visitors, or one of them, thereof; and by such visitors, or one of them, or some other per- son, shall cause inquiry to be made into the cause of such death, and all circumstances relating thereto } which shall be reported to the said Governor and Council, in order that proper proceedings may forth- with be taken, if it shall appear that such death arose from violence or ill treatment. Given muler the common seal of the said APPENDIX. 409 United Company, the twenty-fourth day of February, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-two. Signed, by order of the Court of Directors, THO S . MORTON. Sec. THE END. 1808. A LIST OF BOOKS ON ORIENTAL LITERATURE, & c . THAT WILL BE FOUND USEFUL TO Writers, Cadets, and Gentlemen going to tJie East-Indies, SOLD BY BLACK, PARRY, AND KINGSBURY, To the Honourable East-India Company, STATIONERS, MAP AND CHART SELLERS, No. 7, LEADENHALL-STREET. Oriental Language, Sfc. The foHo-xing valuable Works are by J. EORTHWICK GJLCHRIST Esq. LL.D. late Professor of Hindoos t a nee at the College, Fort Wil- liam, Calcutta. . s. d. BAGHO BUHAR, or the Entertaining Story of the Four Friars, in Hindoostance Prose, boards - - - 1 British Indian Monitor, or the Antijargonist Strangers' Guide, and Oriental Linguist, Vol. I. boards - -200 Vol. II. is in the Press. Dialogues, English and Hindoostanee, on Domestic, Mili- tary, and Medical Subjects, &c. - - - - 10 Gooli Buchawulee, a celebrated Eastern Romance - - O 16 Hidayut ool Islam, in Hindoostanee and Arabic, or the Moosulman's Common Prayer Book, 2 vols. vol. 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