A pair of strong, well-secured gates guard the entrance to the dockyard; which being thrown open, we drove in, and alighted at the office of the superintendant of the establishment, preparatory to inspecting the accommodations of the place.
The dockyard consists of two separate departments. The first, since entitled St. Helena, was commenced in 1726, during the administration of John Hart, Esq., and at the suggestion of Capt. Francis Cooper, commander of H. M. S. “Lynn,” and Capt. Arthur Del Garno, commander of H. M. S. “South Sea Castle.” These experienced and clever naval officers saw the advantage of having proper wharfs, &c. for careening ships in Antigua, instead of being obliged to despatch the vessels appointed to this station, to the northern colonies, when any repairs were necessary, as they had before been in the practice of doing. The land chosen, as being most applicable to the purpose, consisted of two portions, of ten acres each, which in 1718 had been granted to Joseph Green, and William Greatrix, privates in H.M. troops, disbanded in consequence of the cessation of war. These lands were, however, forfeited to the crown by the non-settlement of them, by the grantees; and they were consequently appropriated to the purpose of establishing a dockyard, which is now not to be equalled in this part of the globe.
This establishment having proved of such advantage to Antigua, and the rest of the Leeward Islands, his majesty, George II., ordered that another wharf, with magazines, stores, and other appendages, should be constructed. Accordingly, in 1743, a tract of land was purchased from Thomas Bodkin; five acres of which was to be appropriated for the site of the new naval buildings; and the remainder to be allotted to poor white settlers, at the discretion of the commander-in-chief, the council, and assembly of Antigua. Such was the origin of the village of English Harbour, which, on account of being principally crown property, is disfranchised.
The dockyard presents a fine and noble appearance; and under the able superintendence of Joseph Hart, Esq., everything seems to be conducted in the best possible manner; while the yard itself is kept so beautifully clean, that a walk through it affords real pleasure. The exertions of Mr. Hart may perhaps be better appreciated when it is considered that only six labourers are allowed him to perform all necessary duties; and that these men are also liable to be called upon by the pilot, at a moment’s notice, whenever that officer is employed in piloting vessels of war in or out of the harbour.
The storehouses upon St. Helena are principally used for storing coals, and in consequence, her majesty’s steam-vessels frequent more that side of the dock. The largest ships of war (that visit these seas) can go alongside this wharf when necessary.
On the south of St. Helena lies “Freeman’s Bay,” where such of H. M. vessels as are intended to remain but a short time generally anchor; the offing being more readily gained from thence than when further in.
The last-erected part of this naval establishment, or “the dockyard,” as it is more generally called, is separated from St. Helena by the blue waters of the dock, and contains various buildings, of which I shall first mention the commissioner’s room, and pay offices, (under one roof,) as that was the first place I visited. The commissioner’s room is a very pleasant apartment, with windows to the east and west, and folding-doors to the south opening upon a small stone terrace, with a flight of steps leading to the wharf beneath. From this terrace a delightful view may be obtained. St. Helena lies exactly opposite, its warehouses reflected in the clear, blue sea, which flows at your feet; on your left, Clarence House, and the adjacent country; while, on your right, the mouth of the harbour, guarded with its forts, and the blue ocean, with its snowy crested waves, blends with the sky in the distance. In the apartment itself are considerable quantities of Psalters and New Testaments, designed, I suppose, for the use of the naval seamen; but those annoying pests, the cock-roaches, have made sad work with the bindings. Leaving this room, we walked into the pay offices, divided by blue railings, into the commissioner’s office, master shipwright’s office, master attendant’s office, and storekeeper’s office; as the several white-lettered inscriptions informed me. These paying offices are all contained in one apartment, measuring about 8 feet by 4 feet. They must not be corpulent persons who occupy them, or they will be less at their ease than poor “Hudibras” was in the “Wooden Bastile.”
Descending another flight of stone steps, we crossed part of the yard, and arrived at the naval officers’ quarters, a very pleasant and handsome building, along which runs a pretty verandah, commanding a similar view to that obtained from the terrace of the commissioner’s room. Underneath these quarters, is the principal tank, divided into twelve compartments, and capable of containing 1000 tuns of water. From this tank pipes pass under-ground, to the edge of the wharf, (a distance of a hundred feet,) which being furnished with a cock, the water can be turned into the casks at pleasure; or, when in great haste, another pipe is fixed from thence into the hold of the ship, which in this manner receives its proper allowance of water, at a distance of 100 feet from shore.
A few paces from the officers’ quarters, stands a large building, 100 feet by 90 feet, used as a copper, steamer’s, and lumber store; attached to which are four semi-circular tanks, capable of holding ten tuns of water each. Passing from this, we came to the cordage, sail, canvass, and clothing store, of a similar size; and opposite to which, at the distance of about ten feet, is the working mast-house, (100 feet square,) and joiners’ loft above. In this building a party of men were busily employed in making a new mast for H. M. schooner, “Fair Rosamond,” which, having met with an accident, a few days before, had put into Antigua to repair. Parallel with this building is another working mast-house, and joiners’ loft above, of similar dimensions to the former, used also for the accommodation of the yard engines.
Peeping into a snug little box, called the porter’s lodge, and passing the guard house, store for condemned articles, and paint store, we entered the boat-house. By this time the sun had gained its meridian height, and poured a blaze of light over the whole yard, which, reflected from the white, sandy ground, dazzled my eyes with its powerful radiance, and oppressed me with its excessive heat. As I entered then this building, how delightful did its cooling air strike upon me!—how sweet was the breeze which passed over my brow, and allayed its throbbing! while the gentle plash of the water sounded most musically to the ear. One part of the boat-house is floored; the other has a channel cut in it to the depth of 18 feet, for the admission of the water. The roof is supported by 16 round stone pillars, of 12 feet in circumference; and above is a loft, where ships’-sails are kept. Leaving the boat-house, we entered the tar and block stores, where we found a part of the crew of the “Fair Rosamond” employed in making spun-yarn, used for the purpose of lashing, &c.