The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-10-30
BARBADOS.

Its Area and POpuiation-Prosperify
taRes of Geographical Position--Bridge-
town-Form Of GovernmeDt-LeGaI,E ecIcsi-
nsticaI and Educational Departmcnts-Re.
venuc-Fertiiity of the Soil-Climnte.
In the eastern portion OF the Caribbean sea lies
Barbados one OF the most fourishng aud populous
OF the British w est India Islands. The extreme
length or the Island is ouly fourteen miles its
breadth, from point TO point twenty one, and at
census taken In 1851 IL contained the comparatively
enormous population or l52, 727 persons, chiefly ma.
tives, OF whom about 100 600 blacks and the
mander white and colored. The island is for tns
most part beautifully level, high hills ana deep val.
legs being met with only in the northeastern
parishes. The progress OF Barbados has been rapid
and although II has from time to time been lmpeded
by various occurrences yet there ia Caribbean
Island OF its size that can bear the slightest compar
son to II.
The small size Of the colony would give but little
idea OF Its commercial importance lts eastern post
ton gives It great advantages over It's West india
neighbors. In addition 10 q remuneratlye Inter
course with the Old aud New Worlds IL commands
profitable and largely increasing iniercoonia trade,
which contributes small degree 10 ia pros
perity. The city of Bridgetown, the capital and only
town OF importance, ~ ~ the southwestern part OF
the island us hsroor IS capscions ana partly and.
locked. The population Is between nineteen and
twenty thousand The form or government is not
unlike that OF the mother country. The Governor,
who receives salary OF SiOuO per annuIn, repre-
sents the sovereign, and Is assisted in his admins
tratlon by board VI council. composed OF nine
members including the bishop Of the diocese, VINO
resides on the Island. Tue chief power IS. how
ever, vested IN legislative assembly, consist
ing OF tweuty.four members, Two being con.
trlbuted nv each parish and the remaining two
by the city OF Bridgetown. The STAND j. DIVIDED
into eleven parishes, each OF which is presided
over by rector who has under MS supervision the
curates OF the various chapels in hs parish There
IRE, including eleven parish churches about forty
places OF worship, chiefly Episcopallan, TO each OF
which ~ attached school Tor the education OF the
juvenile portion OF the coored population In ad-
diHon to public and private schools Of high edu-
cational standard there is college, called, In honor
OF It's founder, "Codrington College.r Tue laws OF
the island are supported by the magistrates OF the
various parishes aud OF the city, aud are enforced by
well organized police force. There Is also chief
Justice, " ho presides over the whole, aud has IN
measure under hts supervision the Courts OF Appeal
Chancery, Escheat, &C. The colony is projected
from internal and external aggression by regi.
mcnt OF British troops regularly stationed there,
whose presence has very desirable influence over
the badly disposed OF tho lower orders. The annual
revenue is about fl0o 600 sterling, an amount which
Is generally quite adequate to the expenditure.
The circulating currency IL mixed, large
amounts being calculated In English and
small ones In American currency. United States
coin is, however, at q discount -Four semi
weekly Journals issued the city three OF which
arc ably edited and have large circulation. rho
staple production OF the island 10 sugar the average
| yield being about $4,000 hogsheads annually. The
ooIored population u quiet aud lntSnigcnt many Of