32 ST. H E L E N A .
peaceful little “ Yale 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 Eoyal 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 Government;
but on the arrival of Colonel John Ross to assume
command of the St. Hffiena 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 plaee in the year 1847. I t 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 seafaring
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 horticultural
exhibitions, and it was during his government that the new
church of St. Paul was erected in place of * the old country church,’