, 1866-11-02

Ayres and other South American coun-
tries-and its convenient position with
respect to the other West India Islands
themselyes-to form the central point
for the postal system of these regions.
1t has accordingly been selected as the
rendezvous of the ships of the British
Royal Mail Steamship Company which
start from Southampton twice a month,
and, on reaching st. Thomas, distribute
their mails 10 subsidiary lines of vessels,
Of which three diverge from that place,
two of them giving off branches at other
islands.
1t is also the first port of call on this
side of the Atlantic of one Of the lines Of
the West India and Pacific Steamship
Company, whose steamers leave Liver
pool twice q month for st. Thomas,
where they touch on their way to and
from Colon (~AspinwalD.
The Mexican line of the French Com
pagnae G6n6rale TranSGl0ntique, which
runs from st. Nazaire to Vera Cruz twice
a month also makes st. Thomas its first
West India port of call.
The United States and Brazil Mail
Steamship C~ompany's monthly line also
calls there on its way between New York
and Para, Pernambuco, Bahia and Rio de
Janeiro.
Another line runs from ST. Thomas to
the Spanish Islands, close OF hand.
And finally there is q monthly line from
Halifax 10 st. Thomas Ud Bermuda.
1t would seem on this account to be
the best place for the West India termi-
nus ofthe proposed British North Ameri-
can line, as letters once at st. Thomas
can be easily distributed TO any other
West India port. There are convenien-
cies too at St. Thomas for docking, ex-
aiming and repairing ships. There is a
patent slip which can accommodate YES
sells up to 1900 tons, and a magnificent
floating dock will shortly be completed,
which will receive vessels of the largest
size. The Royal Mail Steamship Compa-
ny possesses q very fine pier, and piers
and wharves are being constructed for
the vessels of the other European compa-
MES above enumerated. The Represen-
tative of His Majesty, His Excellency
Lieut.. Governor Rothe, assured the COM
mission of his disposition to afford the
same encouragement to any Malt Steam
rers from the British North American Pro-
VlQC6Ss as is given Io us AAAEdHy HuiihA"S
from European and United States ports,
and the managers Of the various existing
lines expressed their willingness to afford
facilities for coaling and despatching the
vessels of any such line on liberal terms.
1t may be we'll here to remark that in all
probability a considerable demand for the
Goals of Nova Scotia will soon arise at
st. Thomas for the supply of the steam
ships which frequent that port. An or
der for a sample cargo was obtained from
Mr.. Cameron, the agent of the r. Ne.
Steamship Company.
MARTINIQUE.-The Island of Martin
ique is a French possession. 1t was dis
covered by Columbus in 1893. 1t is of
irregular form, high and rocky, about As
miles long and varying from 10 to Is
miles wide. Its area is 382 square miles.
The loftiest summit, Mont PeIee, is
4,450 feet above the sea.
Extensive masses of volcanic rocks
cover the interior and extend from the
mountains TO the shores, where they form
numerous deep indentations along the
coast. Between the volcanic rocks, broad
hra wx.lor vollovc of rroof rarfilifv ooc1r