St. Lucia, the last of the five islands belonging to the windward government, is on many accounts, not the least important of them, or least interesting, especially as regards its position, its size, and capabilities, and its instructive and melancholy history.

Its importance, in relation to situation, is owing to the circumstance, that whilst it is so near to St. Vincent and Martinique, standing between them, it is to the windward of the latter, and of all the other French islands also; so that in time of war, it may be of the greatest service, both for defensive and offensive operations; and the more so, from its possessing excellent harbours. Till accurately surveyed, its size was exaggerated. From accurate admeasurement, it has been found to be not 42 miles in length as previously estimated, only 27; and in greatest width, not 42 miles, only 13; and to include in its area not 158,620 acres, only 114,400 acres, or 178¾ square miles. A map formed from this survey is published in the Blue Book reports of 1848.

Of volcanic origin, like St. Vincent and Grenada, it is of the same mountainous and picturesque character, and is little inferior to either of these islands in the wild and luxuriant beauty of its scenery. Like them too, it is well watered and wooded, even to excess, every valley having its stream, and every mountain its forest, indeed, with the exception of the cultivated portions of the island, its whole surface may be said to be covered with forest or rank vegetation.