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year; as the valley, which is the general name for the town, is, from 

 its situation, very warm, and the prospects confined: there the 

 thermometer rises to 78 or 80 degrees, but seldom exceeds 67 or 08 

 on the hills. The whole island, considering its situation so near 

 the equator, is remarkably cool, the air mild and salubrious; few 

 disorders are known, and the small-pox is particularly guarded 

 against. The ladies have fine complexions, for natives of a 

 warm climate; which is generally unfavourable to the roses of 

 my fair countrywomen in India, where the blushing flower of 

 love soon decays, and the jonquil subdues the snowy tint of the 

 lily. At St. Helena health and pleasure sparkle in the countenances 

 of the young islanders; who are in general lively, smart, and agree- 

 able, although superficially endowed with those accomplish- 

 ments and refinements which are only to be acquired by edu- 

 cation. 



The English took this island from the Dutch in 1673; it had 

 been first discovered by the Portugueze in 1508, on St. Helen's 

 day: they thought it too barren for a settlement, but left poultry 

 and goats to run wild, and afford refreshment to such vessels as 

 might occasionally touch there for water. The number of inha- 

 bitants in 1776 did not exceed two thousand; more than half of 

 those were slaves and black servants from Asia and Africa, the 

 rest were Europeans and their descendants, including four hun- 

 dred soldiers, and officers; the other inhabitants capable of bear- 

 ing arms, both black and white, are formed into a militia, regu- 

 larly disciplined. The government was vested in a governor, 

 lieutenant governor, and two members of council, under whom 

 were a few junior servants; no foreign trade was 'permitted. The 



