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BELLASIS, George Hutchins (1778-1822)
The Roads, St Helena.

Used with the assistance and permission of Professor Barry Weaver, University of Oklahoma.

The Roads, St Helena.

VIEW No. II.

View No. II. was taken on the north-east side of the Island, in the Roads, where the shore is very bold and majestic. Before ships enter, a boat is dispatched to give notice to the Governor, reporting their nation and business. During this time every ship must lie-to until a signal is made to advance, and cannot pass Munden's Battery before leave be granted to proceed. On anchoring, ships salute the fort, and the battery on Ladder Hill returns it, when the reverberation of the echo from the surrounding mountains is truly grand. The distant hill, with a fort on the summit, called High Knoll, is about 1900 feet from the level of the sea. The principal landing is immediately under Munden's Battery, a dark huge rock on the left, under Rupert's Hill. The road leading from the Pier to the Government House is over a draw-bridge, on the right of which is a battery of heavy guns. At the extremity of an avenue of trees is a strong gateway, which leads to the Parade in St. James's Valley. Near the opening between the two mountains, Ladder Hill on the right, and Rupert's Hill on the left, is a small knoll, or conical hill, at the foot of which is a house called the Briars, marked in this View, though not seen from the Roads ; this situation is the more interesting, as it is said to be the place intended for the residence of Buonaparte.

[Extract from Bellasis, George Hutchins. Views of St Helena. London: John Tyler, 1815.]

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