HISTORICAL. 17 
time that the trial of acclimatizing European troops for India, by a 
s lort period of previous service at St. Helena, was found to be so 
successful. The Island garrison was augmented to a battalion of 
anti y and a strong corps of Artillery, while many other changes 
improvements were also etfected during the governorship of 
US ener getic man, including the establishment of telegraphs, the 
a° m p anCe wadcr from Plantation House to Ladder Hill Port, 
j l S ° rom near Diana’s Peak to Longwood, and the construction of the 
o wer wharf and crane at Jamestown. He also laid the foundation 
rec , le P ,esen t Government House. It was in the year 1795, on 
th a ^ 1Vm ? ’ n ^ eb igence of the Dutch joining in the war with England, 
Com a'' V1 ^ 1 ^ ass ^ s ^ ance °f H.M.S. Sceptre and several of the 
D , , ,ai p s dl 'P s > he captured and made prizes of eight richly -laden 
1 as ^ ludiamen, while calling at St. Plelena on their way 
a port’ ° ^ lU '°P e ' Dor this act, as well as his energetic despatch of 
n .j F 10n the St. Plelena garrison, consisting of near 400 men, 
. ^ leces °t ordnance with ammunition, ten thousand pounds in 
ea , C ! e> and a quantity of provisions, to assist the then small 
In T? ^ 10 ^' a t >e Cood Hope, he was deservedly commended. 
Lieut ."o lth he retired from the Government in the year 1800, 
arr -U . l ° ° De ^ Dobson acting in his stead for a few months until the 
j Governor Colonel Patton in March, 1802, to whom is 
uue the mprif -p • 
with - L °* lrn P rovm o the watercourses by puddling them 
also 1 tl miXtUle Dnre, gravel, and clay, which he called puzzolana; 
western . COUstruction of batteries, one of which, situated on the 
y ea . i'oa- 06 dames town, to this day bears his name. In the 
arn tbe garrison of St. Helena afforded a reinforcement, 
BueirVt" men , to General Beresford’s expedition against 
this f * " US 1U America. Much annoyance seems, just at 
“ !. nie ’ to liavc occurred to all in the Island through the rapid 
said^.b”^ blackberr y pluut, which had been introduced, it is 
the bcsf U fi ' e ' and4wen ty years previously. It quickly overspread 
cons’ P.' - ,b a ^ ure binds, and, though never entirely extirpated, a 
serious *' a ^ G C ^° r ^ ' Vas rnade a ^ that time to do so. A much more 
^ ause b°r alarm than brambles, however, occurred a few 
and T ens ards> when, in the year 1807, measles was introduced, 
thre a ° S ^’ ^ le w bole population being at once attacked therewith, 
clisea? 6 b^ ace b° r a time into the greatest state of disorder. This 
a * e again appeared in the year 1843, and in a similar manner 
c 
