32 
ST. HELENA. 
peaceful little “ Vale of the Tomb,” and, amidst military funeral 
honours, placed on board of the frigate, which sailed three days 
afterwards for France. 
An establishment was formed at Longwood, under the direction 
of General Sir Edward Sabine, during this same year, for the purpose 
of meteorological observations, and a magnetic observatory erected 
there. The observations were conducted for a period of five years, 
by officers and non-commissioned officers of the Royal Artillery, 
selected for the purpose, and were then published. 
In the year 1842, Governor Middlemore was succeeded by Colonel 
Hamelin Trelawney, and in the same year the Island was garrisoned 
by an European regiment of five companies, raised expressly 
for the purpose and styled the St. Helena Regiment, instead of, 
as hitherto, by a regiment of the line. The garrison at this time 
consisted of a battery of Artillery in addition to the St. Helena 
Regiment. 
During the following year, St. James’ Church was extensively 
repaired and a new steeple and spire erected. 
On the death of Colonel Trelawney on the 3rd May, 1846, 
Colonel George Brodie Fraser, R. A., the senior officer commanding the 
troops, succeeded by virtue of his official position to the Govern- 
ment; but on the arrival of Colonel John Ross to assume 
command of the St. Helena Regiment a few months afterwards, he, 
being senior in the army to Colonel Fraser, took the post of Acting 
Governor until Major-General Sir Patrick Ross, the newly-appointed 
Governor, arrived at the Island in November, 1846. 
The erection of a fine Hospital, with every requisite for medical 
and surgical treatment, took place in the year 1847. It being 
intended, by the imposition of a small fee upon all ships anchoring 
in the roadstead, that their masters and crews should receive the 
benefits of the institution free of any further charge. Many a sea- 
faring man, and many ships’ crews, stricken down by scurvy or other 
diseases, have reason to be grateful to this valuable institution 
which, open to all nations, lay directly on the high road of their 
voyage home. 
Sir Patrick Ross took a general interest in the welfare of the 
place, especially in the promotion of the agricultural and horticul- 
tural exhibitions, and it was during his government that the new 
church of St. Paul was erected in place of “ the old country church,” 
