St. Mary's Ifland is defended by a strong Garrison, fituated upon the weft Part of it, overlooking the Town and Isthmus, and commanding the Country that Way and to the Sea, about the Batteries, of which there are feveral strong ones, mounted with 64 Pieces of Cannon, fome of 18 Pounders. It alfo contains a Company of Soldiers, a Mafter-gunner, and fix other Gunners, a Store-house, with Arms for arming 300 Iflanders, who are obliged to affift the Military Forces at the Approach of an Enemy; a Guard-houfe, Barracks, Bridge, and ftrong Gates: and, upon the Summit of the Hill, above a regular Afcent, going from Hughtown stands his Majesty's Star-caftle, with Ramparts and a Ditch about it. This Caftle commands a Prospect of all the Islands and Seas about them; from whence, in a fair Day, are alfo beheld Ships paffing to and fro, and England, as though rifing out of the Sea, at a Distance. Here the King's Colours are hoifted, and appear confpicuous aloft, for Ships to obferve and obey coming in. The Right Hon. the Earl of Godolphin, who is alfo Proprietor, commands as Governor of all the Ilands; and a Lieutenant-Governor is here commiffioned to act under his Lordship by his Majefty, but not upon Establishment. The Captain of the Company commands in his Lordfhip's and the Lieutenant-Governor's Abfence, who never refide there. About a Mile S. W. of the South- part of St. Mary's Garrifon, lies St. Agnes Island, otherwife called the Light-houfe Iland, upon which stands a very high and ftrong Light-houfe, feen in the Night at a great Diftance, by which Ships going out of, or coming into the two Channels, avoid falling in with the Rocks, lying thicker about this than any other of the Scilly; Iflands. It is alfo of Ufe to all coafting Veffels croffing the Channels. There is nothing particular in the Soil of this Ifland, different from the reft of the Ilands, (being, in that refpect, very much alike), nor S.5 off of the Dwellings, or Defcription of Places, except the Light-keeper's Habitation and Employment, a Church in Ufe for Devotion, and fuch like. About three Miles and a Half northerly of the moft Northern Part of St. Agnes's Island, or two Miles northerly from St. Mary's Key, lies the Ifland of Trefca, the capital Town of which is called the Dolphin, (probably from Godolphin), confifting of a Church, and about Half a Score Stone-built Houses, after the manner of those built in St. Mary's Jfland. And near the Landing place of Trefco, in Sight of New Grimsby Harbour, ftands a Dwelling called Trefco-Palace. This formerly used to be a Houfe of Refort for Masters of Ships, and Strangers coming to this Ifland; but the Cuftom has fome time been altered to a House of better Accommodation, inhabited by Mr. Samuel Blythe, farther up the Inland. Hereabouts are several scattered Stone-built Houfes inhabited by labouring People. About two Miles from the Northermoft Part of St. Mary's, or one from the Eaftermoft Part of Trefco, lies the fland of St. Martin; upon the Extremity of which, at the outermoft Part, ftands a Day-mark, next the coming in of Crow-found, appearing at a Distance, as confpicuous by Day, as the Light-house upon St. Agnes, but is not altogether fo high and large. It is built with Rock-ftone, equally round next the Bottom, and tapering upwards. This ferves to direct Veffels croffing the Channels, or coming into Scilly. Almoft Half a Mile from the Weft-fide of Trefco Ifland, to the Weftward of the Landing-place, lies the Ifland of Bryer, which is inhabited by feveral Families, fome of a generous Difpofition, and Perfons of able Circumftances. Samphir, and many Kinds of medicinal Herbs grow here, as in feveral of the other Islands. The Number of People upon the Island of St. Mary are about 700, including Men, Women, and Chil dren, dren, and about as many in the Iflands of Trefco, St. Martin, Bryer, St. Agnes, and Sampson; in the laft and smallest of which inhabited Iflands, lives but one Family, which goes to the Places of Worship in the other Islands; here being no Opportunity of publick Devotion, nor of Communication, but by means of a Boat. The Men are loyal Subjects, endowed with much natural Strength of Body and Mind, giving Proofs of their Fortitude in bearing Fatigues and Hardships; are very good Seamen and Pilots; and want only an Opportunity of Education, to render themselves more ufeful Subjects. The Women are very dextrous in the Ufe of the Needle, and also in Talents of good Housewifery; nor do they want Beauty, and other engaging Qualities to recommend them.. I have already faid, that Sir Cloudeßey Shovel was loft near these Islands, in his Return from Toulon :: It was upon the Gilfton Rock, October 22, 1707, and not upon the Bishop and Clerks, as by fome have been represented. It was thick foggy Weather, when the whole Fleet in Company, coming (as they. thought) near the Land, agreed to lie to in the Afternoon; but Sir Cloudfley, in the Affociation, ordering Sail to be made, firft ftruck in the Night, and funk immediately. Several Perfons of Diftinction being on board at that time were loft; particularly the Lady Shovel's two Sons by her former Hufband, Sir John Narborough, with about 800 Men. The Eagle, Capt. Hancock, Commander, underwent the fame Fate.. The Romney and Firebrand also ftruck and were loft; but the two Captains and 25 of their Men were faved.. The other Men of War in Company efcaped, by hav ing timely Notice. S: 60 |