312 



ST. HELENA 



musical instrument except a pitch pipe. The number of the popu- 

 lation gradually decreased to about ninety, as the people (young 

 men chiefly) got a chance of going to the Cape, for a man of war 

 has for a long time been in the habit of calling there on its way 

 to the Cape about once a year. Soon after my arrival the men 

 offered to build a proper church, and also a home for me to live in. 

 They asked which I should like to be built first. Of course I said 

 the church, and I drew some simple plans for one. Accordingly, 

 they began to build a church, but after a few months I calculated 

 that at the pace at which they were proceeding they would be 

 about eighty years in building it. In fact, it was abandoned al- 

 together after six months, and I had the stones removed to form 

 a wall around the graveyard. Each man, I beUeve, promised to 

 give two or three days' work a week to the church, but one by one 

 the promises became as pie-crust on some paltry excuse or other, 

 for, hkc other people I know, they were very keen at first, but soon 

 got tired of exerting themselves ! I need hardly say that my 

 house was never even begun. 



The village is called Somerset Town, in honour of Lord 

 Charles Somerset, and consists of several dwelling houses 

 of one story, with numerous outhouses for cattle. 



A visitor there in 1835 says the principal inhabitant is 

 William Glass, who is always styled the " Governor." 

 He is a native of Kelso, N.B., and resided there with his 

 wife and children, of whom he had twelve, for nineteen 

 years. The present governor, however, is Peter VV. Green. 

 Her late Majesty Queen Victoria fon^arded to this veteran 

 sailor, and headman in the lonely island, a framed portrait 

 of herself in recognition of his self-denying efforts in saving 

 life from shipwreck during the last si.xty years. The aged 

 recipient of her Majesty's gift wrote as follows to his friend, 

 Mr. G. Newman, of 47, Finsbury Road, Woodgreen, Middle- 

 sex, whose relative he saved from drowning long ago : — 



Tristan d'Acunha. 



Dear old Friend Newman, — This letter comes in a different 

 style from all the rest of my letters. I do not suppose you know 

 about the handsome present I received from Her Majesty Queen 

 Victoria ! Such a picture never came to Tristan before. The 

 height of the frame is nearly four feet, the breadth is nearly three 

 feet, and the crown is on the top, all beautifully caned and gilded. 

 The address on the outside was : — 

 Peter Green, Esq., 

 Tristan d'Acunha, 



Care of Commander, H.M.S. Magpie, 



St. Helena. 



