Ebook St. Lucia

And yet there are few of the sister islands that have higher claims to attention. As a military station it is of considerable importance, not only from its proximity to the French Settlement of Martinique, but from its central position amongst the islands, and its natural facilities of defence both by land and by sea. Inferior to Trinidad in territorial extent, and to Barbados and Antigua in density of population, it is second to none in the number and capaciousness of its harbours, and the richness and resources of its soil. We may form some idea of the value attached to it by the French from the vast sacrifices, both in troops and treasure, which they never scrupled to make for its capture or in its defence. Had France not been deceived, it was her Intention to have made it the capital of the Antilles, the general market Of the Windward Islands, and the Gibraltar of the Gulf of Mexico.