, 1866-06-15

been established between that port and
Cuba, touching at Porto Rico and st.
Domingo. One Of the French lines Of
steamers from ST. Nazaire to Vera Cruz,
called into existence by the French expe-
dilion to Mexico, has likewise selected
ST. Thomas as one of its stations. With
in the present year two lines of steamers
from New York, one to the BraZils, the
other TO Venezuela, have been started,
and they both make st. Thomas a station.
When we add that there is steam COM
munication once a month between st.
Thomas and Halifax by way of Bermu-
da, it will be seen that the little island,
so contemplate in Mr.. Trollope's eyes,
with it's "Niggery-Hispano- Dano- Yankee
Doodle" inhabitants, is of no little COM
mercial importance, and must possess
some peculiar characteristics that cause
it to be made the central station for all
lines of steamers traversing these seas.
That it is so is to be attributed partly to
its favorable geographical position, and
the natural fitness Of its harbor for the
purpose in question, partly TO the circum-
stance of its being possessed by one Of the
smaller powers ofEurope less liable to be
involved in war, than the larger ones, and
thus enjoying the benefit of neutrality in
time of wars. What furthermore makes
st. Thomas the most desirable station is,
that it is and has been, long before steam
navigation was known, an emporium for
every variety of merchandise, not only
for many Of the islands, but for the Span
ish Main.
THE ISLAND OF ST. THOMAS.
The island, about fifteen miles long
and five broad, is situated in longitude
G50 12G' west, and in latitude $50 %"
The only town in the island is also call
ed st. Thomas, and contained in 1860 n
permanent population Of eleven thousand
four hundred souls-the population Of
the whole island being about l $500.
It is easily approached by vessels coming
from north, south, east and west, so much
50 that it is the principal harbor Of re-
fuge for all vessels in distress in these
seas. Its capacious and deep harbor,
opening to the south, can be entered
without a pilot, and offers a safe and Sc
cure anchorage. The port has been for
many yeas provided with a slip, on
which ships of great tonnage could be
repaired, and the present year will see
finished a floating dock, cable of accom-
modating the largest ocean steamers,
should they require repair. 1t will be
the second of its kind in the West Indies,
as Havana is the only other port that
possesses one, and it must add greatly
to the Importance Of St. Thomas.
The har6or of st. Thomas is the rem
devious of the men-of-war of all nations;
more so of Americans, perhaps, than of
any other nation. They come there to
coal, to provision, and to receive des-
patches from home.
1t need scarcely be pointed out that
the supplying of these different lines of
merchant steamers and men-ofwar, as
well as the r~eftting of vessels arrived in
distress, has opened an extensive and
profitable business.
1t we leave the harbor, and land in the
little town, situated in a semi-circle on
the southern slopes Of the hills that pro-
tect the harbor towards the north, we
find a wealthy, prosperous little commu-
nifty of merchants from all parts of the
world. The two nations, numbering the
fewest representatives, are, however, un-
fortunately for Mr.. Trollope, the Ameri-
cans md Tho Dor;oL#