HISTORICAL. 
11 
keep it in check, not only amongst the European garrison but the 
slaves also. He saw the arrival of an era for decisive action, 
and, like the saving of our West Indian possessions and the lives of 
ie v nte lesidents there, through Governor Eyre’s prompt measures, 
e a so no sooner became aware of a conspiracy on the part of the blacks 
0 massacie the Europeans, and follow Jackson’s steps, than, without 
waiting to ask his honourable masters in England what he should do, 
ie stamped it out by securing the ringleaders, one of whom was 
langed alive in chains on Ladder Hill and starved to death,” 
w n e the other two were also “ hanged but cut down alive, and 
leu quarters and heads put in some publique crossway for the 
remenj 6 ' '°' V ne g r os.” Horrible as this was, we must 
m 61 ^ happened nearly two centuries ago, when punish- 
1 , S " eie ^ en times as severe as they are now. Such is the change 
^ .. U ° ^ about by civilization, that a man who worries and tears his 
W1 i a bull dog, is in England at the present time sentenced 
y an ^ nglish magistrate to a few months’ imprisonment only; 
v n e in those days a poor creature who attempted to injure his 
mas er by putting ground glass on the joint of meat served for his 
supper, was condemned to be burnt in the presence of all the adult 
i IL ' in ^ le P^ ace > each one of them being compelled to bring in a 
toad of wood to help in burning him. 
Governor Keelinge died, after a long illness, in 1697, and was 
succeeded by Captain Stephen Poirier, whose government was 
vec ^ b y an y particular events. Hews of the war between 
lance and England reached them in due time, and defensive steps 
were taken ; nevertheless two of the Company’s ships were boarded 
and cut out of the roadstead by two French two-deckers, which went 
m under Dutch colours in broad daylight. As soon as they were 
discovered, the Governor gave orders to fire upon them. But alas ! 
the powder was not at hand, neither would the sponges fit the guns ; 
and, as he had no Whitworth or Armstrong cannon, the French 
ships with their prizes were soon beyond reach. To guard against 
another occurrence of this kind, the Company directed that all ships 
approaching the harbour should communicate first by boat with 
ankses, and this was notified to them much in the same manner as 
■at ° W V e News, one penny, to the British public at the 
ropo itan i ail way stations; a huge board with large letters, 
c mg them to send a boat,” was placed on Buttermilk Point, 
