VOYAGE TO ENGLAND. 
[1814; 
fatiguing, that on arriving I could hai^dly dismount; 
and Mr. B. must have felt much the same weariness, as 
in consequence of the ride he was unable to sup with 
us at Mr. Jones's. The most distant part of the island 
from James-town is only nine miles, consequently a 
longer journey cannot be taken ; of course their ideas 
of traveUing must be very limited. 
A gendeman on the island had a son married in 
England. On his death, his widow and children came 
out to his father at St. Helena, who complained at the 
Governor's table of her extravagance, in consequence^ 
as he thought, of having travelled all over England ; 
for, said he, she had been fifteen miles from London ! 
A lady of the island also remarked, on some occasion, 
what a bustle London must be in when the India ships 
arrive. Little did she imagine that few individuals, 
except those immediately concerned^ know any thing 
of the matter. 
There are about three thousand inhabitants on St. 
Helena, about sixteen hundred of whom are military. 
The military, and the ships that arrive, are the chief 
sources of support to the island. The late order for 
the India ships to rendezvous at the Cape instead of St. 
Helena, will certainly injure the island, except as a mili^ 
tary station. The inhabitants who cannot rear fowls must 
be content to live chiefly on salt provisions. I visited 
an excellent public school for the instruction of children 
belonging to the poorer classes of society under the 
tuition of a worthy man. There are visible proofs all 
