INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. Ixxv 



as possible, and to make Jor St. Helena, a safer port, where they 

 can have every article they stand in need of; although, of late 

 years, at rather a greater expense, 



I have already noticed that fresh meat, flour, and wine, are the 

 only articles which are procurable at the Cape in greater plenty, 

 and at a cheaper rate, than at St. Helena. The first, T have en- 

 deavoured to shew, is not very essential to the refreshment of 

 seamen, where vegetables are in abundance. The second is never 

 required by the India ships, because they are so well provided 

 for the voyage, that tl ey frequently dispose of the surplus to the 

 inhabitants, and sometimes to the Government of the island. 

 In respect to Cape wine, by the late arrangements, there has 

 always been (since the withdrawing of spirits from the island) a 

 provision for the garrison in the public stores : consequently, 

 some could at any time be spared for the ships if it should be 

 wanted. 



Hence it must be obvious there can be no want of refresh- 

 ments : and as all those scenes of riot and intemperance, which 

 had for many years disgraced this settlement, are happily at an 

 end, by a prohibition on the import of spirits, and by the intro- 

 duction of breweries and beer-houses, I will venture to say, 

 there is no sea-port, or garrison, in the world, where sailors and 

 soldiers can be permitted to land with so little risk of committing 

 excesses. This, indeed, was clearly ascertained, in August, 1813. 

 Captain Halliday, commanding His Majesty's ship Tigre, per- 

 mitted 300 of his men to go on shore in one day. They went 

 into the town and country, conducting themselves in the most 

 orderly manner, and retired quietly on board in the evening, 

 without a single instance of intoxication. 



When this fact is contrasted with the following account of the 

 exhibitions in garrison, a few years before, some idea may be 



