The native American., 1839-03-23
From the London Sunday Times.
COLONIAL POSSESSIONS.

AT a period when the country is threatened
with hostities by more than one ofthe Continental
powers the following statistical account OF our CO.
lonial possessions cannot fail to possess some in
terest.
The Colonial Office in Downing street, at the
head of which is Lord Glenelg, (who, notwith-
standing the drowsy qualities which he is report
ed 10 possess, ought 10 be "wide awake" with
the weight of so important charge upon his
hands,, possesses the entire superintendent,
management, and control of the following OF our
possessions -
In North America.-Upper and Lower Canada,
New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward S
Island, Cape Breton, and Newfoundland; con-
tanning all area of 455 900 square miles, or 279,-
100000 acres, with population OF l 100000
Of aohue coloniss.
In South acknowledgements, Essequibo, Ber-
bice, Honduras, and the Falkland Islands; con-
tanning an area of 1885, 900 square miles, or 1867
100000 acres, with population of 10000.
In the West Indies Jamaica, Trinidad, To-
bago Grenada, ST. Vincent, Barbadoes, Montser-
rat, Nevis; St. Kits, Arguilla Tortola, and the
Virgin Isles, New Providence, and the Bahama
Islands, and st. Georges, and the Bermuda Is
lands; containing an area Of 10000 square miles,
or 100000 acres, with a population OF l,OOO,-
900.
In Africa.-rhe Cape of Good Hope, Maurili-
us, Maize, and the Seychelle Islands, st Helena,
Ascension, Sierra Leone, and Gambia, Accra, Cape
Coast NC, containing an area OF $50, 900 square
miles or 100000, 900 acres, with population OF
$4,000.
In Australasa.-New South Wales, Van Die
mans Land, Swan River, King Georges Sound,
South Australasia, Norfolk Island, &C.; contain
ing an of 100000 square miles, or 800, 000,.
900 acres, with population of 100000.
In Asia.-Ceylon, containing an area of Id
644 square miles, or ii III $50 acres, with po-
pulaon of 100000.
In Europe.-Gibraltar, Malta, Coco, Corfu,
| Cephalonia, Zante, Santa Maria Ithaca, Faox Ce.
rigo, &C., and Heligoland, containing an area OIL
! l 800 square miles, or 100000 acres, with
population of 100000.
Total: 100000 square miles, or 100000,
600 acres, with population Of 100000 Of
"British Subjects
independently of the foregoing, we have to ado
the following territories, which are "under the
management and influenced by the government o
the East India Company and the Board of Con
troll in Cannon-row."
British territories in notwithstanding an
area of 432 ,4s3 miles, with population of 80,
636,371.
Tributary territories in Hindostan.-Contain
ing an area of 3G3,6l0 square miles, with po
puation Of 54,27l ,O92.
British territories beyond Hindoston. Contain
ing an area of 50,ll7 square miles, with popu
lation of 297O54
Tributary territories beyond Hindostan.-Con
tanning an of $4,000 square miles, with po-
pulation of 4Os 900.
Total 1,096,2lO square miles, with popula-
ton of 145, 6l2,5l7.
In the event of our being again plunged into a
war, from the immense quantities Of troops and
shipping which they will require to enable this
country to retain possession of them and the vast
distance which many of these colonies are from
the mother country, it is more than probable that
the loss of several of them would be the result of
those hostilites with which, it appears, according
to the warlike preparations of the ministry, we
are now threatened The next question will be,
as many of our colonies do not pay their own ex-
penses, whether the loss Of the least profitable
among them would not, in reality, be real gain
to the country.