Ixxx INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 



In order to illustrate this opinion, it will be necessary to ofFet 

 a few general remarks upon the natural strength of the island ; 

 and upon the means it possesses of giving perfect security to 

 ships at the anchorage, as well as of opposing the most vigorous 

 resistance to an enemy's attack. 



The natural strength of St. Helena consists in its compact 

 form and size, and in its inaccessible coasts, formed by an almost 

 uninterrupted chain of rocks, or mountains, rising in nearly a 

 perpendicular direction, to the height of from 500 or 600, to 

 more than 1200 feet. 



It is well known that vessels bound to St. Helena, take care 

 to be considerably to windward ; so that by steering after- 

 wards a westerly course, they can hardly fail of falling in with 

 it. After gaining sight of the land, they steer towards the north- 

 east end, in order to fetch the road, by keeping close to the Barn 

 and Sugar-Loaf Point ; for when they attempt to come round 

 by the south-west point, they generally find themselves so much 

 baffled by flurries of wind, issuing in all directions from the 

 vallies, that they cannot pioceed without standing off to a con- 

 siderable distance, in order to get the trade wind. But, even 

 then, they find it extremely difficult to work into the road ; be- 

 cause the wind to leeward of the island seldom blows for five 

 minutes together in the same direction. In addition to those dif- 

 ficulties, an enemy's fleet would have to work in, in the face of a 

 great number of guns ; which would not fail to rake them ; and 

 after coming on the bank, perhaps within less than a mile of the 

 shore, they might attempt to warp in, which would be wholly 

 impracticable, on account of the constant and excessive fire from 

 the batteries on shore. The nearer the ships approached, the 

 greater would be the risk ; particularly from the fire of the ele- 

 vated batteries, which would penetrate the upper decks, and 

 pass through the hull under water, and even into their magazines ; 



