Premier Jennifer Smith has announced Government will carry out a study into the state of historic forts surrounding St. George's.

But at the launch of the St. George's Foundation's capital campaign on Saturday night, she did not pledge - as the Foundation had hoped - that Government will give money to the project.

Foundation chairman David Rowntree said last week that Government had been approached for funding for restoration projects and he hoped the Premier would announce soon she was giving cash.

Mr. Rowntree said yesterday that the Foundation - which has raised almost $6 million towards the $20 million it needs for its projects - that the Foundation has not received a response yet from the cash request, but Government hasn't ruled it out.

The Premier said on Saturday that she was concerned about neglect at Fort Cunningham and Castle Harbour and that Government was funding a study to develop a strategy for their upkeep. Government alone has responsibility for the upkeep of the Island's forts.

Mr. Rowntree said yesterday: "I didn't expect her to come out and say it (about funding), but in a sense she did talk about the forts, and they are just as important.

"And, if Government does organise a study to find out precisely what state the forts are in, they will have to react on whatever is reported back and if it is the case that they have to do restoration work, it will be for them to do.

"Government is going to do the study so that is good news. She didn't say she wasn't going to give us money, but her remarks were extremely supportive and positive.

"I think if we put to her a strong enough case, she would give consideration to it. We have put in a request for funding but it was general and we based it on a matching funding situation with us coming up with half and Government coming up with half.

"We are still awaiting a response, and it hasn't been ruled out. For us to achieve the funding, we would have to go in with a specific request."

At the ceremony at Penno's Wharf on Saturday night to launch the capital campaign, Mr. Rowntree handed a symbolic bale of cotton to St. George's mayor Henry Hayward as payment for the former Queen's warehouse, which the Foundation will take over as the new World Heritage Site visitor centre.

The other projects funded by the capital campaign will be restoration of streets and houses, and the refurbishment of the waterfront.

Guest speaker H Benson Dendy, an American philanthropist, highlighted connections between St. George's and Jamestown, the first British settlement in the United States.

English settlers arrived at Jamestown in 1607. Two years later a fleet of nine ships sailed for Virginia, but one, the Sea Venture, was wrecked in Bermuda leading to the Island's founding.

"St. George's left you a great legacy. You must pass the legacy forward," he told guests, including Governor Sir John Vereker, at the launch.

"The greatest reward we can receive from all our labours to preserve history is the face of a smiling child who has just been engaged in history and experienced the excitement of history coming alive.

"The capital campaign for the St. George's Foundation will realise your promise to renew and enhance your legacy for all time an especially for young people."