WEST INDIES. 517 



Rupert's Bay, being one of the most capacious in the West In- 

 dies, it has been judged expedient to form Dominica into a gov- 

 ernment of itself, and to declare it a free port. It was taken by 

 the French in 1778; but restored again to Great Britain by the 

 peace of 783. 



ST. VINCENT Situate in 13 degrees north latitude, and 61 



degrees west longitude, 50 miles north west of Barbadoes, 30 miles 

 south of St. Lucia, is about 17 miles in length, and 10 in breadth. It is 

 extremely fruitful; being a black mould upon a strong loam, the most 

 proper for the raising of sugar. Indigo thrive, here remarkably well, 

 but this article is less cultivated than formerly throughout the West 

 Indies. Many of the inhabitants are Caribbeans, and many here are 

 also fugitives from Barbadoes and the other islands. The Caribbeans 

 were treated with so much injustice and severity, after this island 

 came into possession of the English, to Avhom it was ceded by the 

 peace of 1763, that they greatly contributed towards enabling the 

 French to get possession of it again in 1779 ; but it was restored to 

 Great Britain by the treaty of 1783. 



GRANADA AND THE GRENADINES . .Granada is situate 

 in 12 degrees north latitude, and 62 degrees west longitude, about 

 30 leagues south-west of Barbadoes, and almost the same distance 

 north of New Andalusia on the Spanish Main. This island is 28 

 miles in length, and 13 in breadth. Experience has proved that the 

 soil is extremely proper for producing sugar, coffee, tobacco, and 

 indigo ; and upon the whole it is as flourishing a colony as any in 

 the West Indies of its dimensions. A lake on the top of a hill, in 

 the middle of the island, supplies it with numerous streams, which 

 adorn and fertilise it. Several bays and harbours lie round the isl- 

 and, which render it very convenient for shipping ; and it is not sub- 

 ject to hurricanes. St. George's bay has a sandy bottom, and is ex- 

 tremely capacious, but open. In its harbour or careening place, one 

 hundred large vessels may be moored with perfect safety. This 

 island was taken by the French in 1762; confirmed to the English 

 in 1763 ; taken by the French in 1779 ; and restored to the English 

 in 1783. In 1795, the French landed some troops, and raised an in- 

 surrection here, which was not finally quelled till June, 1796 



TRINIDAD ...Situate between 59 and 62 degrees west longitude, 

 and in 10 degrees north latitude, lies between the island of Tobago 

 and the Spanish Main, from which it is separated by the straits of 

 Paria. It is about 90 miles long, and 60 broad ; and is an unhealth- 

 ful but fruitful soil, producing sugar, fine tobacco, indigo, ginger, 

 variety of fruit, and some cotton trees, and Indian corn. It was 

 taken by sir Walter Raleigh in 1595, and by the French in 1676, 

 who plundered the island and extorted money from the inhabitants. 

 It was captured by the British arms in February, 1797; and finally 

 ceded to England by the treaty of Amiens. 



VIRGIN ISLANDS.... A number of small islands between Porto 

 Rico and the Leeward Caribbee islands, in about 18 degrees of north 

 latitude. The Spaniards gave them the name of the Virgin Islands, 

 in honour of the 1 1,000 virgins of the legend. They belong princi- 

 pally to the English and the Danes, though the Spaniards claim some 

 small ones near Porto Rico. Tortpla, the principal of those which 

 belong to the English, is about 18 miles long and seven broad; it 



Vol. II. 3 U 



