Nova Scotia and the West Indies. There are a considerable number of islands in the group, but the greater part are mere rocks. There are only four of considerable importance. The largest island is named Bermudas, but the capital of all the islands is situated in the island of St. George. The town of St. George (the capital,) contains about 500 houses. The other islands are St. David's and Somerset. The whole of the islands contain about 12 or 13,000 acres of very poor land, of which a small part only is in cultivation. The chief produce is maize, culinary vegetables, and cotton. The inhabitants amount to about 10,000, of whom nearly one-half.are negroes. The principal employment is ship building, navigation, and fishing. The climate is very fine, and as they enjoy a perpetual spring, nothing can exceed the beauty of the scenery in these sequestered islands. The inhabitants are said to be kind and affable to strangers, and a residence among them is very pleasant. GENERAL ABSTRACT OF THE BRITISH COLONIES IN Halifax and Bermudas being free ports, the principal trade between the United States and the British American colonies and West Indies is carried on through them. Bermudas is reckoned as one of the North American colonies, and the trade to it appears under that head accordingly. In 1824, the American trade to the British North American colonies was as follows: United States Imports, Exports, 705,431 1,773,107 WEST INDIES. The group of islands called the West Indies extends from the south point of Florida to the north-east part of South America, being between 10° and 28° north latitude, and 17° 50′ east and 80 west longitude. The islands are very numerous, but a great number of them are small; the area of the land in the whole group being estimated at only 103,423 square miles. The largest islands are, Cuba, Hayti, Jamaica, and Porto Rico, which are called the Greater Antilles, and these contain above nine-tenths of the whole territory. The islands are generally very lofty and picturesque, and contain rich valleys among the mountains; and the soil is fertile, producing sugar, coffee, cotton, indigo, cocoa, spices, and fruits, in great abundance. They lie nearly all within the torrid zone, and hence the climate is warm, and in many places very hot; but the whole being subject to the influence of the trade winds, the heat is thereby meliorated, and in many situations the climate is most agreeable. From the nature of these islands they will always be of great importance to the United States. Two great articles of consumption in the United States, are sugar and coffee, which are principally imported from the West Indies; and on the other hand, the West Indies require a supply of a great many articles the produce of the United States, principally lumber, flour, and other provisions. The exchange of commodities causes an extensive trade, the two powers having mutually agreed to admit the vessels of each other. The whole of the West India Islands belong to different European powers, except Hayti, which is independent, and Margarita, and other islands along the north coast of South America, which belong to the republic of Colombia. The different islands, with their extent, population, &c. are exhibited in the following TOPOGRAPHICAL TABLE. POPULATION. Chief Com belonging. Area. White. Col'd. Total. mercial Towns. To whom Islands. Cuba. do. 5,500 4,000 11,500 15,500 Nassau. Jamaica. Britain. 6,400 30,000 Hayti. Independent. 40,000 35,000 St. Thomas. Denmark. 40 100 2,200 200 St. Bartholomew. Sweden. 60 4,000 St. Eustatius. Netherlands. 22 5,000 St. Christopher. Britain. 20 1,000 10,000 11,000 Charlestown 2,100 33,600 35,700 St. Johns. 110,735 430,710 1,759,800 2,190,845 10,750 Plymouth. 115,000 Basse Terre. 900 1 12,300 Basse Terre. 25,000 26,600 Charlotte town. 96,400 St. Pierre. 16,650 Carenage. 24,000 Kingston. 81,950 Bridgetown. 31,360 St. George. 16,500 Scarborough. 27,260 Port of Spain. 12,000 8,500 Amsterdam. The BAHAMA ISLANDS, consisting of all the isl- II. The GREATER ANTILLES, consisting of Cuba, III. The CARIBEE ISLANDS, Consisting of all the islands are subdivided into, 1. The Leeward Islands, consisting of all the islands between Porto Rico and Dominica, including Dominica. 2. The Windward Islands, consisting of Martinico and all the islands south of it, to Tobago, inclusive. The five most western of the Leeward Islands, are called the Virgin Islands. IV. The LESSER ANTILLES, consisting of Trinidad and all the islands lying west of it on the coast of South America. Having given a general view of the West India Islands, we shall now class them as they belong to the respective powers, and notice the trade between the United States and each class. BAHAMA ISLANDS. These islands are very numerous, and extend from the Great Bahama Island to Turk's Island; but a great many of them are mere keys, or rocks, without any settlements. The principal islands are New Providence, Bahama, St. Salvador, and Turk's Island. Nassau, in New Providence, is the principal port, and has considerable trade. Guanahani, or St. Salvador, is remarkable as being the landing place of the immortal Columbus, on the 11th of October, 1492. Turk's Islands are celebrated for producing immense quantities of salt, in which there is a considerable trade to the United States. JAMAICA, the most valuable island possessed by the British, is situated between 170 and 19° north latitude, and has a very large trade, principally in colonial produce and British manufactures. The island is divided by a range of mountains, running nearly east and west throughout its whole length, in which several rivers take their rise, flowing thence in gentle streams to the sea. The whole island is distinguished by |