28 ST. HELENA 



not by this payment exempted from bearing arms in com- 

 mon with all other persons, when danger was apprehended, 

 or from appearance at general musters, on penalty of a fine 

 according to the offence. On these conditions grants of 

 land were made to the holders, their heirs and successors, 

 and a register was kept of all grants and alienations. 

 Settlers from England added to the numbers and formed a 

 militia, which the East India Company preferred to regu- 

 lars. They reduced the regulars to fifty men, allowing those 

 not chosen the option of remaining as planters or of re- 

 turning to England. Before this reduction the regular 

 garrison was in two companies, one commanded by the 

 Governor, and the other by the Deputy-Governor ; but now 

 the fifty men formed one company, quartered on the in- 

 habitants at the rate of ten shillings per month for each 

 man. Officials generally filled both military and civil 

 appointments. For example, the Deputy Governor was 

 captain of a company, and also a storekeeper ; the third in 

 Council, who was a subaltern officer, was Surveyor-General. 

 The clerk of the company, or secretary, was an ensign, 

 and voted as a Member of Council, while the storekeeper's 

 assistant was sometimes a commissioned officer, and some- 

 times a sergeant. Those of the Council who were not upon 

 the regular military establishment held brevet commissions 

 under the Government signature, and were assigned military 

 commands in all cases of general alarm. Since the batteries 

 were built and guns mounted, no disturbance of British 

 power has taken place. 



Field was succeeded by Governor Blackmore in 1690. It 

 will be seen by illustration of first record book that three of 

 the Members of Council being unable to sign their names, 

 affixed their mark. Governor Blackmore slipped on a path 

 near Chubb's spring and was killed. An account of this is 

 given under the heading " Putty Hill." He did much good in 

 the island and established a Court of Justice to be assembled 

 four times in the year ; trial by jury was used only for 

 offences where life, limb, or land was at stake; all other 

 cases were decided by the Governor and Council. In 

 1691 Captain Dampier visited the island of which he gave a 

 highly favourable description. A great number of plants, 

 shrubs, and fruit frees were imported, including the peach, 



