Jena, ted condition, were put on board the ships returning to 
— Europe. eB he, pre one of the sufferers, pre- 
_ ferring a voluntary exile to a life of ignominy in his 
native » was, at his own request, landed on 
the island of St Helena in the year 1513, with a few 
negro slaves. Many of his countrymen, commiserating 
his sufferings, exerted themselves to contribute every 
comfort me convenience which his forlorn situation 
would admit. Hogs, goats, and poultry, were landed 
for his sustenance. Partridges, pheasants, guinea-fowls, 
peacocks, and other wild fowl, were let loose in the 
woods. Figs, oranges, lemons, peach trees, and va- 
rious les, ‘were planted in the infant soil. 
“his skill in botany and ing, the fruit trees were 
brought to t ection ; and the live stock and 
feathered tri Scat os chamihtiy-enien th favs 
tection, that, in a short time, they entirely overspread 
the face of the country. After a residence of four years, 
Fernandez was removed from the island by orders from 
the court of ; but the which he had cul- 
tivated continued to supply the ships of his country 
_ with seasonable and abundant ents in their In- 
dian voyages. 
The Portuguese succeeded in_ concealing the situa- 
tion of St Helena from other European nations, till 
the year 1588, when it was descried and visited by 
in Cavendish on his return from a voyage round 
the world. It soon became well known also to the Dutch 
and Spaniards ; and the crews of the different nations 
tions, and destroyed the live stock, as if grudging to 
succeeding visitors any participation of the benefits 
which themselves had enjoyed. After the Portuguese 
had acquired so many ports on the eastern shores of 
Africa, they removed entirely from St Helena, which 
remained Gor a long time in a desolate condition ; but, 
according to other accounts, they were expelled from 
it by the Dutch, by whom it was again abandoned up- 
on the establishment of notte A at the - e of 
Good H in 1651. Upon their departure, the Eng- 
lish East India Chana 1 immediately formed a settle- 
ment upon St Helena ; and about ten years afterwards, 
obtained a charter for its ion from Charles II. 
Many settlers were induced, by the offer of lands, to 
emigrate thither from England; and slaves’ were im- 
from M. to work in the plantations. In 
1665, the Dutch succeeded in an attack upon the island, 
but in a few months were obliged to give place to the 
English ; and after the destructive fire in London in 
1666, numbers of the ruined families, who sought re- 
lief in distant countries, removed to the new settle- 
ment on St Helena. It was once more retaken by the 
Dutch in 1672, through the treachery of one of the 
lanters, but was almost immediately recovered by an 
glish squadron under Captain Munden, and again 
restored to the East India Company. The first fortifi- 
i cation was erected by the English in 1665, and a few 
5 lines formed across the valleys, and batteries, slightly 
4 elevated above the level of the sea, were at different 
} times constructed ; but more than a century was suffer. 
ed to 
ed as posts of defence. 5 
; Till the beginning of the, 18th century, the his- 
tory of the settlement contains little else than a suc- 
cession of petty contentions, insurrections, and muti- 
nies. A general spirit of insubordination appears to 
have infected all ranks on the island, planters, soldiers, 
and slaves; and though every attention was paid by 
VOL. X, PART Il, 
elapse before its impregnable heights were em- 
HELENA, 
are accused of having wantonly laid waste the planta-— 
697 
be — phe support the nee od ood order, mo- St Helena. 
and religion, yet two causes chiefly seem to have 
defeated all the effects of their regulations, viz. the } 
injudicious uct of the governors in failing to check 
the first symptoms of disaffection, and the profligate cha- 
racter of the persons who presided over the religious in- 
struction of the inhabitants, An abundant distillation 
of oe potatoes was no inconsiderable auxiliary 
to the spirit of disorder ; and this source of depravity 
became at length so great a nuisance, that, in the year 
1700, all the stills were suppressed by an order from 
England. But, by the wise and vigorous measures o® 
Governor Roberts, from 1708 to 1714, and by the pious 
exertions of Mr Tomlinson the chaplain, a degree of 
tranquillity hitherto unknown was established in the 
c t, and a new era commenced in the hi of 
the island. The Company’s lands were brought into 
a promising state of improvement ; planting and inclo- 
sing encouraged among the settlers; the culture of 
vines and sugar canes introduced ; lime quarries disco- 
covered and wrought ; a manufactory of bricks and tiles 
set on foot ; a code of the existing statutes arranged and 
published for the information of the inhabitants ; and 
the exercise of martial law in a great measure abolished, 
— in — of alarm or attack. 
rom the year 1727 to 1731, encouragement 
was given under Governor Byfield to the planting of 
furze fences, both with a view to afford protection to 
the lands, and to secure a supply of fuel. The increase 
of trees also. was greatly favoured by a resolution to 
withhold the liberty of keeping sheep and goats, which 
were so injurious to the young plantations ; and in place 
of the general privilege, grants were given to indivi- 
duals of keeping goats on certain parts of the Company's 
waste lands, called goat-ranges. About the year 1749, 
the Scotch and spruce firs were introduced by Governor 
Hutchinson ; and acorns were at the same time planted, 
from which oaks have grown to the size of 8 or 11 feet 
in circumference. The same gentleman succeeded, after 
repeated attempts, in introducing the coffee plant, which 
is now ogularty chiltivated: The im ce of St He- 
lena became daily more manifest, as the trade and pros- 
perity of the East India Company increased; and, in 
the year 1759, many im t regulations were introe- 
duced into both the civil and military establishments. 
Towards the close of the year 1783, the tranquillity of 
the island was seriously interrupted by an extensive 
mutiny among the soldiers, occasioned by a few trifling 
regulations respecting their punch horses, which ap- 
peared to thém of an insulting and degrading tendency. 
After.a slight skirmish, the ts were reduced; 
and the ringleaders executed. The mutinous disposi- 
tion of the garrison was afterwards entirely suppressed, 
and the whole character of the troops.highly improved, 
under the judicious management of Governor Brooke. 
The place became even a nursery of excellent recruits 
for the East Indies ; and, during his government from 
1788 to 1800; more than 12,000 soldiers were sent to 
India, The same gentleman made great additions to 
the defences on the heights, established a code of sig- 
nals, built a new and safer wharf for the shipping, im- 
proved the regulations relative to the treatment of the 
slaves, gave encouragement to many useful suggestions 
for the. improvement of agricultural operations ; and 
by his active enterprises, at the commencement of hos- 
tilities with the Dutch in 1795, rendered the little 
island of St Helena peculiarly serviceable to Great Bri- 
tain. His successor Patton evinced a similar. 
AT. 
