Henry Alfred Alford Nicholls diary
Page 29
Image from the Biodiversity Heritage Library. Contributed by Harvard University Botany Libraries. | www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Transcription
Grenada 19 May 1841. Soon after leaving Mr Shanchi's we came to St Paterson's home. St P is the District Offr of St Davis. He was formerly at 'Mincaul' and was then thought much of. He was a hard student, and so, hon surgeon of his hospital for a time. His house is rather uncomfortable and it appears to me to be the health centre of hospitalation. Rather far away from two districts. Here we went to St Wells' estate when we went to lunch. Old St Wells, is architect Grenada well off; and he lives on a small (Headboat) estate, which is pretty, cultivated and nicely cultivated situated tree's, cacao, nutmegs, clou, &c. Many of the nutmegs are very large trees and he must make a good crop of spices. He has a Bay Balsam of Peru tree growing on his estate, and near the house is a splendid clump of Raphia flabelliformis. The plants are the finest and biggest I have seen. St Wells is a fine old fellow and he appeared glad to see us. He was a staunch opponent of Crown Colony Govt; and at the time the constitution was altered, he made a vigorous fight to keep up the old order of things. He was presented with an address and a splendid silver cup by his friends and political advisors. The frame is framed and being against the wall in the sitting room, and the delta is the centre ornaments of the table. Old St Wells gave me some interesting information about the introduction of nutmegs into Grenada. He stated that about the year 1829 Messrs Thompson, Hankey & Co, London merchants,