The air is good, and the soil light, sandy, and fruitful; it is, however, subject to hurricanes. It is divided into nine parishes and contains four towns or hamlets. The white inhabitants are computed at four thousand, and the negroes at twenty-six thousand. The produce is chiefly sugar. The general average of this article, for a series of years, is sixteen thousand hogsheads, of sixteen hundred weight each. But it yields also cotton, ginger, indigo, and the tropical fruits. It is situated in 17. 15. north latitude, and 63. 14. west longitude.

The general aspect of St. Christopher's is uncommonly beautiful,

A party of English adventurers landed in St. Christopher's in January, 1623. They raised a crop of tobacco: but a dreadful hurricane almost demolished their plantation.

The inhabitants soliciting assistance from their friends in England, the Earl of Carlisle fitted out a ship, and loaded her with provisions necessary for their relief, and with implements of husbandry for cultivating the land. The ship arrived in safety; and soon after more adventurers arrived from England. About this time a French privateer put in here, under a pretence, that the native Charaibees were about to rise and take vengeance on them; the English and the French fell upon them in the dead of the night, and murdered in cold blood about 120 of their stoutest and bravest warriors. The remaining males precipitately left the island; while the assassins of their countrymen detained the most beautiful of their young women. The Charaibees of the neighbouring islands espoused the quarrel of the injured; and a large body entered St. Christopher's, breathing revenge and slaughter. They fought with great bravery, and for a while victory seemed doubtful.

At last, however, oppression, aided by European arms and discipline, triumphed over the oppressed natives, who sunk into despair, and totally abandoned the island.

After a number of new adventurers had arrived both from England and France, the island was equally divided between the natives of both countries.

But in 1629, the Spaniards, who uniformly laid claim to those islands, and considered other European nations as intruders there, invaded St. Christopher's, with a force which the united efforts of the English and French could not resist. The English fled to the mountains, and the French to Antigua. The English being compelled to unconditional submission, six hundred of their stoutest men were condemned to the mines; and the remainder, consisting chiefly of women and children, were ordered instantly to quit the island. Their houses were then demolished, and their plantations destroyed, and the scene of desolation abandoned.

Thus were the English and French punished, by divine permissión, for their cruelty to the native Charaibees.

Those who had been compelled to leave the island returned, and for a while they lived in peace and union. But the French soon grew envious of the rapid prosperity of the English, and war breaking out between England and France in 1666, the French in St. Christopher's proceeded to open hostilities. For nearly half a century, the island was a prey to discord and confusion, war and bloodshed. Both parties were alternately the strongest and the weakest, and by turns quitted and returned. In 1702 the French

were totally overcome and driven from the island, In 1705 they returned with reinforcements, and

made a vigorous attack. They committed great depredations; but they were compelled to retire. The parliament voted the sum of one hundred and three thousand pounds, to enable the English colonists to renew their ruined buildings and plantations. And at the peace of Utrecht, in 1713, the whole island was ceded in perpetuity to England. The lands, formerly belonging to the French, were confiscated and sold to reimburse the English sufferers. After this, the island enjoyed general tranquillity, till it was assailed and captured by the French in 1782. But by the definitive treaty of peace, made in September, the same year, it was restored to the British

crown.

The climate of St. Christopher's has always been deemed remarkably healthful. To this the light and porous soil, spread over a bed of sand, has greatly contributed, by absorbing the rains, which would otherwise stagnate, and breed pestilential diseases. In springs and mines the whole island is rather deficient.

In its legislative departments, St. Christopher's bears a strong resemblance to the other West India islands. Its house of representatives consists of twenty-four members, and the council of ten. Antigua is the residence of the governorgeneral, and St. Christopher's annually contributes a thousand pounds currency towards his salary,— The quadrupeds and birds of this island have scarcely any thing to distinguish them from those of the others, except a species of monkey. These are very small; but they assemble in large troops, and frequently sally forth, and do great mischief to the sugar-canes.

It was not among the early attempts of the Moravians to establish missions, that they visited St Christopher's. However, such were their re

ception and encouraging prospects, that in 1789 they began to build a chapel, which they finished the year following. The dedication of this place of worship was attended with a pecular blessing. Seventeen negroes were then baptized; three baptized ones were taken into fellowship, and twentyfive were added to the candidates for baptism.The day was closed by the sixty communicants partaking of the Lord's Supper.

In 1790, the congregation of believing negroes, under the care of the Brethren, were nearly three hundred, besides a hundred more who constantly attended divine service. And in the following years, prosperity continued to attend this mission. From that period to the present, their labours have been abundantly blessed.

In January, 1787, Dr. Coke, accompanied by three missionaries, sailed from the island of Dominica for St. Christopher's, designing to establish a mission there. They found an open door. Some of the inhabitants had provided them a lodging, and a house in which to preach. They found, at least, two truly pious persons, who treated them with great kindness.

They preached, and the general appearance of the congregation was such as to indicate that the inhabitants were ripe for the gospel, and that a mission might be established with every probability of success. They were invited to preach in the Court-House of Basseterre, the capital. They complied with the request; had large and attentive congregations; and six or seven of the principal gentlemen invited them to their houses, among whom was the established clergyman of the parish. Many of the inhabitants immediately joined, and rented a house for Mr. Hammett, the missionary, to reside and preach in.

In the space of two years Mr. Hammett was enabled to raise a society of seven hundred members: of whom, there was reason to believe, the greater part were members of the mystical body of Christ. And among these were two local preachers, able and willing to labour in the work of the Lord.

In 1789, and again in 1792, Dr. Coke visited this island, and was much satisfied with the state of religion. Genuine religion flourished like an olive tree in the house of God: and his own mind was greatly enlarged, refreshed, and animated.And ever since that time religion has continued to flourish, under the fostering hand of the pious and laborious missionaries who have been stationed there.

In the year 1794 the number in the Methodist society was, 1410 blacks, and 13 whites.

In 1795, when the French threatened to invade this island, as well as Antigua, Mr. Baxter was called on by the president and council of Antigua to give his opinion, whether the slaves would defend that island. He told them he was firmly persuaded they would; and he and Mr. Warrenner undertook to raise a corps of Methodists, and to attend them as chaplains. The Moravian Brethren also raised a corps of their people. Both societies united raised above a thousand men. There was likewise raised a corps of slaves in addition.

In the five succeeding years religion continued to flourish in St. Christopher's in an abundant manner. The negroes were not the only persons to whom the missionaries preached. The white people also crowded the chapels, and heard with deep attention.

In 1802 the number in society in this island was, 2587.