Six months in the West-Indies, in 1825

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ANGUILLA.

dious one, and the colony is said never to have recovered from the effects of the capture by Lord Rodney in 1781. I am afraid the scandalous manner in which this island was lost a short time afterwards to a handful of French soldiers, was only a just punishment for the unworthy severities before exercised by the captors. Plunder generally burns the fingers of those who are concerned in it. We sailed the whole length of St. Bartholomew's, or St. Bart's, as it is commonly called, and just looked into the harbour of Gustavia, which is difficult of access, but otherwise a very fine one. This belongs to the Swedes, and is, I believe, the only colony they possess. It is a long, uneven island without that central rising which is almost universal in the other islands, and which seems to indicate volcanic action. Barbados indeed is an exception. After St. Bartholomew's, we coasted along St. Martin's, which is divided between the Dutch and the French, and on the afternoon of the 2d of June we came abreast of the low and level shores of Anguilla. Shorten sail, sound starboard and larboard, and be very careful in going into the road of this island. The Dutch chart is imperfect. We anchored a little way from a sand-bank, not five feet under water, where the chart gave five fathoms. You might run upon Sandy Island itself by night without seeing it three minutes before. I must say it seems t o m e


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