Years.

been shown under History) was, at one period, particularly as regards whites, very numerous; but war and distress have reduced their strength. In 1804, the island contained 8000 whites and 20,000 blacks.

The following shows the name, area in square miles, and population, as late as can be obtained by me, viz. 1826, of each parish in the island :

:

Males. Fem. Total.

1817 9685 10,483 20,168

1822 9505 10,312 19,817 1132

1831 9141 9,944 19,085

1825 9324 10,192 19,516 901 1828 9198 10,112 19,310 858 827

Manu

mission.

By the act so often before alluded to, the number of slaves was 20,660; average value of each, 361. 6s.; total relative value, 750,8407.; proportion of 20,000,000l., 331,6307.

COMMERCE, REVENUE, &c.-Great attention is being paid to agriculture, an association for the promotion of which was established in June, and for the discussion of all subjects relating thereto. The meetings are held quarterly, when ploughing matches take place, and prizes are distributed for show of cattle, &c. &c. Sugar is now the principal product of St. Kitt's, and the amount of the crop varies, of course, with the seasons. There was, of sugar, produced in 1830, 8700 hogsheads; rum, 2429 puncheons; molasses, 1236 puncheons.

Principal exports from St. Christopher's:

In 1832, the principal exports were,-sugar, lbs., 9,917,572, value, 82,1527.; molasses, gallons, 334,396, value, 10,3377.; rum, gallons, 114,876, value, 62147.; with sundry other articles: the total value of the exports being 101,1487.; and of the imports, 71,9817.

MONIES.-GOVERNMENT.

333

The revenue of the island is derived from custom duties, licences, &c., as in our other possessions.

The gross revenue and expenditure, in pounds sterling, for 1823 :

MONIES.-The coins of the island are principally English, with some Spanish; and there is also a colonial coin, sent from England, consisting of the following pieces :

The copper coin used (besides the English penny,) is the dog, which passes for three-farthings sterling, seventy-two making the Spanish dollar; the bitt is a nominal coin, value 41d. sterling. This description of the coin of St. Kitt's will serve generally for the Virgin Isles, and indeed for the whole of the West India Isles, as regards the same denomination, unless where otherwise specified.

GOVERNMENT.-There is a lieutenant-governor,

council, and house of assembly at St. Kitt's, with a deputy from Anguilla. Education and religion are generously encouraged, and the colonists have ever manifested a great deal of public spirit. The number of public or free schools is six, with 2002 scholars. There are five Wesleyan missionaries at St. Kitt's; the numbers in society, 2495. There is also an institution for the support and education of poor and destitute children, which was established by private subscription in 1803, and is now provided for out of the public treasury of the island. present state of the school is,

The

Excellent private subscription rooms were formed in 1817, and received a charter of incorporation in 1827. The principal object of the society, is the gradual formation of a permanent library, as a useful addition to the existing public establishments of this island. Regular and early supplies of the best modern productions, reviews, and periodical works, are received in quick succession. The number of subscribers is limited to sixty. The number of places of worship is fifteen, capable of containing 2980 persons; the annual expense of the establishment is 22861.

CHAPTER II.

NEVIS.

THIS beautiful little island (one of the leeward Caribbees) is separated from St. Kitt's by a strait, almost two miles broad, and full of shoals, in latitude 17° 14′ north, longitude 63° 3' west. It was first colonized by a few Englishmen, in 1628, under Sir Thomas Warner; it is termed by Smith, in his amusing Natural History of Nevis, "the mother of the English Caribbee Isles."

PHYSICAL ASPECT.-Nevis is a single mountain, about four miles in length, three in breadth, eight leagues in circumference, with an area of twenty square miles; springing by an easy ascent, as it were, out of the sea, and evidently of volcanic origin. The summit has the appearance of a crater. At a short distance from Clarke's Hill there are several hot springs, containing neutral salts in solution. Their heat varies from 100° to 108° Fahrenheit. the base of the mountain is a border of level land, extremely fertile and well planted. The appearance of Nevis is perhaps the most captivating of any island in the West Indies. From the south and west it seems to be nothing but a single cone, rising with

At