and several plans For its preservation were adopted. Governor
Byfield himself did good service in taking care of two young Redwood
plants, which he discovered, until they produced a considerable
quantity of seeds. Furze was abundantly planted to serve as fuel
and lessen the cutting of indigenous trees for that purpose; all goats
and sheep Were destroyed for a period of ten years, so that indigenous
plants shot up spontaneously in great numbers, and, it is said, many
parts of the Island, where no trees had grown for many years, became
covered with wood. I t was not only in this that Governor Byfield
characterized his reign; he distinguished himself as a sound economist,
unalloyed by meanness, and retired from office in 1731, when
Governor Pike’s second rule commenced, during which he -showed
himself more arbitrary and severe than before. At his death Mr.
Goodwin, Senior Member of Council, succeeded to the Governorship,
but, as he only lived one year, an opportunity occurred for an
intriguing knave called Duke Crisp, who was second in the Council
Board, and therefore next to succeed to the office, to rob the Government
to the large extent of 6284/. Knowledge of his proceedings
having reached the Company, Mr. Robert Jenkins, commanding one
of their ships, was sent out to investigate the matter. I t was on the
voyage out that his ship was boarded by Spaniards, who insulted
and tortured him by tearing off one of his ears, which, it is said,
upon his return to England, he exhibited before the House of Commons,
and being asked by a member what he thought and did when
they mangled him, made th at memorable reply, 1 1 committed my
soul to God and my cause to my country.”* Duke Crisp was, however,
soon dismissed with disgrace, not only from the office of acting
Governor, but also from the Company’s, service, Mr. Robert Jenkins
taking his place at the head of affairs until the new Governor, Major
Thomas Lambert, arrived on the 22nd March, 1741. He died a few
months after, and, for a short time, until the arrival of Colonel
Dunbar on the 11th March, 1743, an opportunity occurred for the
Senior Member of Council, Mr. George Powell, who, as a matter of
rule, succeeded to the acting premiership, to, exhibit his unprincipled
character. Governor Dunbar has left a memorial of his reign to the
present day in the avenue of Peepul trees which he planted in Jamestown.
After three years he was succeeded by Mr. Charles Hutchin*
Brooke’s History of St. Helena.
son, who, amongst other improvements, introduced Scotch firs, oak,
and cypress trees, and reformed Jhe mode of conducting trials. After
eighteen years of a useful public career, he retired on an annuity of
300/. a year, which the Court of Directors were pleased to award
him in consideration of his valuable services. I t was during his
government that, in the year 1761, the Island was selected as a spot
for the observance of a transit of Yenus on the 6th June, and Dr.
Maskelyne and Mr. Waddington visited it for that purpose. I t is
said that their observations were unsuccessful. They took up their
position on the high land, at or near to Hailey’s Mount, and during
the occurrence the mountain, as it frequently is how, was enveloped
in clouds. The lower land is at all times much better suited for
astronomical observations, because the atmosphere of the higher
region is constantly more or less charged with moisture. Governor
Skottoe, who followed next in order, turned his attention to the preservation
of the native woods, and, amongst other works, caused the
water from Chubb’s Spring to be conveyed to the town by means of
a leaden pipe instead of open drains; and also the erection of St.
James’s Church and the infantry barracks. After eighteen years he
resigned the government to Mr. Daniel Corneille, who, in consequence
of new regulations being put in force, which deprived the
soldiers of their meeting-houses and free use of spirits, had, in the
year 1783, very soon after his assuming the government, to suppress
a mutiny which occurred in the garrison, and which his leniency
caused to assume larger proportions than it would have done had he
acted more decidedly at the commencement. On Christmas Eve the
spirit of insubordination commenced to show itself; three days afterwards
the men, in a drunken state, became riotous, and, under a
Sergeant Tooley, assembled with their arms in a body of 200, with
the intention of taking possession of Ladder Hill Eort. I t happened,
however, that while they were on their way, the Governor, with the
Lieut.-Governor, Major Graeme, was returning by Ladder Hill road
from the country, and, looking down into the valley below, observed
their movements ; he accordingly directed Major Graeme to procure
arms, while he proceeded to meet and reason with them. This act
on the part of the Governor had for a time its effect on the men,
but they gained their desire, and the punch or drinking-houses were
again opened to them. The evil effects of this success were very
soon after apparent, and the Governor became aware of the mistake