58 



ST. HELENA 



almost wholly upon the public stores : and obtaining most of the 

 necessaries of life in profusion at prices not exceeding one third of 

 the prime cost. The consequences of so unprecedented a system 

 were the neglect of cultivation, the decline of industn,*, and an 

 immense augmentation in the annual charges of the island. I found 

 a garrison as well as many of the inhabitants immersed in the 

 grossest intemperance, from the facility of obtaining, and their 

 excessive use of, spirituous liquors; and I found that abuses ob- 

 tained in some of the departments. . . . While I was carrying for- 

 ward my official duties, upon principles of strict justice between 

 the Company and individuals, I was often assailed with reports of 

 intended mutinies. These were sometimes conveyed in anonymous 

 papers, and circulated, no doubt, with a view of intimidating me 

 from persevering in a system of reform, which had become necessary, 

 and wliich I was firmly resolved to pursue. Although these vile 

 means evinced a general dissatisfaction, yet, conscious of the up- 

 rightness of my conduct, I totally disregarded them ; and these 

 factious and discontented men who took the lead in these despicable 

 and seditious attempts, finding that their mean and unbecoming 

 artifice had not the desired effect, were apparently lulled lor many 

 months past. Very lately, however, when a temporary incon- 

 venience was felt arising from our reduced stock of flour, and the 

 total want of rice in the public stores, this occasion was eagerly 

 laid hold of, and became a plea for the revival of unreasonable 

 demands, accompanied with menaces of mutiny and rebellion. 

 The want of corn-bread was the pretended cause of dissatisfaction, 

 but circumstances have since clearly shown that the sole object of 

 the late violent measures was to compel this Government to give 

 spirits to the garrison ; an object in which every drunkard on the 

 island felt a deep and warm interest. I delivered orders to the 

 Town Major to be issued, and then opened a sealed anonymous 

 paper which during the night was slipped under Mr. Doveton's 

 door. I was at the same time informed by the Town Major that 

 the regiment was prepared to mutiny, for the purpose of seizing 

 my person and sendmg me on board the Camperdown. (The Camper- 

 down was a cutter hired by the Company and attached to the island 

 in 1808. She was occasionally sent to the Cape of Good Hope and 

 to South America on public service.) 



The following is a copy of the anonymous letter addressed 

 to the Governor and Council : — 



Gentle.men of the Council, — 



His it still your intension to pcrcevere in your oppression and 

 tyranny towards the troops in tliis garrison has hitherto you have 

 done ? if so, you can expect nothing but an open rebellion. I am 

 hereby autherized by the troops of this island to inform this Council 

 if they do not immeadatly soply this garrison with liquor and pro- 

 visions in the same manner has Governor Brooks did (whose regula- 

 tions you have voilated) you shall be made answerable for what 



