GUADALOUPE, the largest and one of the most va luable of the Caribbee islands, lies between Antigua and Martinique. Its length is between 60 and 70 British miles, and its greatest breadth about 25. The middle of the island is situated in about 16° 20' North Latitude, and 62° \Vest Longitude. Guadaloupe has somewhat of the form of a crescent, and may be considered rather as consisting of two islands than of one ; for it is divided into two parts by a narrow strait called Salt River. For a short distance on each side of this strait, the breadth of the island is not more than four miles. By this remarkable channel, the sea on the north-west communicates with the sea on the south-east. Its breadth varies from about thirty to eighty yards; and it is navigable for vessels not exceeding fifty tons burden. The north-west of the island is divided into Basseterre and Cabesterre ; the eastern division of it is named Grandeterre. That portion of the island from which the whole takes its name, is, towards the middle, full of high and rocks, where the climate is so cold and' the soil so barren, that little vegetation is to been seen. Over the summit of these rocks, the mountain called La Souffriere, or the brimstone mountain, rises to a great height. This mountain of sulphur continually sends forth, through various apertures, a thick black smoke, frequent ly mingled with sparks of fire. It is of a singular form, being divided into two parts by a remarkable channel, navigable by boats. There are many marks of volcanos in other parts of the island. Oil a part of the western shore, the sea is so hot at a small distance from the beach, as to boil eggs; and the sand on being stirred, emits it strong sulphureous odour. The island contains a boiling fountain, and a hot marsh, which is very deceitful, and dangerous The islands, of which Guadaloupe is the chief, were discovered by Columbus in his second voyage, when he visited Dominica, Guada-loupe, and An tigua. But they werc at that time neglected by the Span iards, in their eager lust of dominion and gold on the larger islands, and on the American continent, the unexplored treasures of which were then opening to their ambition.
No European nation had taken possession of Guada loupe, when an expedition of five or six hundred French men, under two adventurous leaders, arrived from Dieppe in June 1635. The new settlers soon commenced a war with the native Caribs, for the purpose of supplying them selves with provisions, of which their own exertions could not yet produce a sufficient quantity for their subsistence. Many or these poor, simple and undisciplined people, un able to maintain a regular struggle with their more skilful invaders, retired to some of the other islands. Others of them concealed themselves in the natural strongholds and recesses of their own, and having previously destroyed their plantations and stores, their superior knowledge of the country enabled them to sally out unexpectedly, and to inflict vengeance on such straggling parties of their op pressors as fell in their way. After a struggle, which was kept up with various success, and which at length produced a terrible famine, a peace was patched up be tween the contending parties in 1640; and the remnant of Europeans, who had escaped the calamities which they had drawn on themselves, were joined by some discon tented sailors and colonists from St Christophers. The su perior advantages of Martinique as a sea-port, induced many adventurers to leave Guadaloupe, and pass over to that island ; and from this time the French administration bestowed for some years almost exclusive attention on the latter, which became the scat of government of the French islands. For the first sixty years of its occupation by the French, Guadaloupe made little progress ; but in the course of the ensuing fifty-five, its improvement was as rapid as it had formerly been slow. In April 1759, the island was conquered by the English. In July 1763, it was restored to its former owners in a highly improved condition. The French government now began to see the value of this settlement, and an independent government was given to it. The island was taken by the British in April 1794, but was retaken by the French under Victor Hughes in February 1795.