12 ST. HELENA 



English, and the Portuguese, busy with fresh conquests, 

 deserted the island. It was, however, quite a favourite 

 post office with the captains and crews of passing vessels. 

 The letters were usually placed under a boulder, and the 

 boulder made conspicuous, so that people coming on shore 

 could not help seeing it. In this way the crews of homeward 

 bound vessels took news to England of the outward bound. 



The Dutch traders were the next to take an interest in 

 and to make use of this solitary spot, and until the year 

 1651, they found it very useful; but, after establishing a 

 colony in the Cape of Good Hope, they deserted St. Helena, 

 and the East India Company of Merchants in England, being 

 by this time fully aware of its great value, at once annexed 

 it with a capital of 72,000, part of which was laid out in the 

 equipment of four ships, viz. the Dragon, Hector, Ascension, 

 and Susan, all under the command of Captain Lancaster, 

 and a fort was erected by Governor Button. The incorpora- 

 tion of the East India Company that event so memorable 

 in the commercial annals of England took place in the year 

 1600, under the auspices of Queen Elizabeth. For ten years 

 they held the island, and ultimately obtained from King 

 Charles II a charter, which secured it to their use and 

 benefit. This charter is still kept at the Castle in James- 

 town. 



EXTRACT FROM THE CHARTER OF KING CHARLES II, 



Dated $rd 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, fortifica- 

 tions, 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 dis- 

 cretion 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 kinds of clothing, provision of victuals, 

 ammunition, and implements necessary for such purposes, with- 

 out 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 misdemeanours, or 

 impose such fines upon them for breach of their orders, as in these 

 presents are formerly expressed. 



