550 FRENCH AMERICAN ISLANDS. 



credible. Like Martinico, it was formerly attacked by the English, 

 who gave up the attempt ; but in 1759, it was reduced by the British 

 arms, and was given back at the peace of 1763. It was again reduced 

 by the English in 1794, but evacuated a few months after. They re- 

 possessed themselves of it in 1810, and restored it with the other 

 French colonies in 1813. 



ST. LUCIA, situate in 14 degrees north latitude, and in 61 de- 

 grees west longitude, eighty miles north-west of Barbadoes, is 

 twenty-three miles in length, and twelve in breadth. It received its 

 name from being discovered on the day dedicated to the virgin mar- 

 tyr St. Lucia. The English first settled on this island in 1637. From 

 this time they met with various misfortunes from the natives and 

 French ;' and at length it was agreed on between the latter and the 

 English, that this island, together with Dominica and St. Vincent, 

 should remain neutral. But the French, before the war of 1756 broke 

 out, began to settle these islands ; which, by the treaty of peace, 

 were yielded up to Great Britain, and this island to France. The 

 soil of St. Lucia, in the vallies, is extremely rich. It produces ex- 

 cellent timber, and abounds in pleasant rivers and well situated har- 

 bours: and is now declared a free port under certain restrictions. 

 The English made themselves masters of it in 1778 ; hut it was re- 

 stored again to the French in 1783. It was taken by the English in 

 1794, surrendered again to the French in 1795, and re-captured by 

 Great Britain in 1796; it was restored by the treaty of Amiens, but 

 retaken soon after the recommencement of hostilities in 1803. By 

 the treaty of Paris in 1813, St. Lucia is retained by the British. 



TOBAGO. ...This island is situate in 1 1 degrees north latitude, 

 120 miles south of Barbadoes, and about the same distance from the 

 Spanish main. It is about 32 miles in length, and nine in breadth. 

 The climate here is not so hot as might be expected so near the equa- 

 tor ; and it is said that it lies out of the course of those hurricanes 

 that have sometimes proved so fatal to the other West India islands. 

 It has a fruitful soil, capable of producing sugar, and indeed every 

 thing else that is raised in the West Indies, with the addition (if we 

 may believe the Dutch) of the cinnamon, nutmeg, and gum copal. 

 It is well watered with numerous springs ; and its bays and creeks 

 are so disposed as to be very commodious for all kinds of shipping. 

 The value and importance of this island appear from the expensive 

 and formidable armaments sent thither by European powers in sup- 

 port of their different claims. It seems to have been chiefly possessed 

 by the Dutch, who defended their pretensions against both England 

 and France with the most obstinate perseverance. By the treaty of 

 Aix-la-Chapelle, in 1748, it was declared neutral ; but by the treaty 

 of peace in 1763, it was yielded up to Great Britain. In June 1781, 

 it was taken by the French ; and was ceded to them by the treaty of 

 1782. In 1793, it was again captured by the British arms, but re- 

 stored by the late peace. 



ST. BARTHOLOMEW, DESEADA, and MARIGALANTE, 

 are three small islands lying in the neighbourhood of Antigua and St. 

 Christopher's, and of no great consequence to the French, except in 

 time of war, when they give shelter to an incredible number of pri- 

 vateers, which greatly annoy our West India trade. The former was 

 given to Sweden in 1785. 



The small islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon, situated near New- 

 foundland, have been already mentioned in our account of that island. 



