ST. HELENA 93 



the knife, to which the small piece belonged, was on the 

 person of the thief, and this completed the evidence. He 

 was brought back to the island and there sentenced. 



Trade was very depressed in this year, and the revenue 

 of the colony was at a low ebb. Governor W. Grey Wilson, 

 in remarking on it, writes : 



In point of climate St. Helena will compare favourably with 

 any other British Colony, and the soil is remarkably productive. 

 The potato harvest in this year (1888) was the largest known for 

 many years past, and the price came down to 6/- per 100 Ib. Nearly 

 all English vegetables grow to perfection. The revenue of the 

 Colony is at a very low ebb, and the depression is due to four causes : 



1 . the opening of the Suez Canal, which diverted so large a pro- 

 portion of trade to the East. 



2. The substitution of steam for sailing vessels. 



3. The very great economy aimed at by shipowners in the face 

 of low freights. This natural economy has developed the tinned 

 provision trade to an enormous extent, and rendered ships more or 

 less independent of the ports of call. 



4. The elimination of defective ships due to recent imperial 

 legislation, by which excellent measures this colony has been deprived 

 of much of the harvest cleared from vessels in distress. 



In 1889 engravings of Her Majesty Queen Victoria and 

 of the Prince Consort were sent out to be placed in the 

 Government House. 



In July 1889 the officers and eleven of the crew of the 

 Lindores Abbey were charged by the master with piracy 

 and mutiny on the high seas. Verdict was given that the 

 crew were justified in securing the captain in irons on the 

 night of July 8, and there was no evidence of undue vio- 

 lence. Verdict passed, " Not guilty." 



After this came a counter trial. 



The master of the bark Lindores Abbey was charged with 

 shooting at Charles Godfrey, seaman, with intent to kill. 

 Verdict, " The master was justified in self-defence." 



In this year Mr. Reginald Antrobus came from England 

 toj administer the Government during the absence on 

 leave of Governor Grey Wilson. 



The year 1890 was marked by a terrible fall of rocks, 

 which caused loss of life. The town is on three sides sur- 

 rounded by high rocky precipices which completely shut it 

 in, the only open space being northward towards the sea. 



