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either side into a basin about three-quarters of a mile in diameter, and being open to the southward is at all times free of ingress or egress with the prevailing trade winds.

Although of no great extent, it is perfectly safe except in the hurricane months-October, November, December. The anchorage for ships of large draught, however, is confined to a small space about 2 cables extent, just within the entrance.

There is a floating dock moored in the harbour, capable of receiving ships of 2,700 tons and 275 feet length of keel, and a patent steam slip at south-west corner of the harbour, taking ships of 1,200 tons. There is a factory for repairing machinery, belonging to the Royal Mail Steam-ship Company, and shipwright's work is well executed. There is a tug attached to a steam dredger which is available for towing purposes.

Firewood is scarce, but coal can be obtained generally at 27. 10s. per ton. Consul Palgrave, in his Report of 1877, gives average value of coal at the island as 17. 18s.

There are no wells or fountains in the town of Charlotte Amalia, but rain water can be purchased from tanks brought alongside vessels at the rate of 1 to 4 cents per gallon.

The harbour is almost tideless, the rise and fall of the tide at springs seldom exceeding 12 inches. There is a public wharf at the town.

There is a second harbour immediately to the west of the harbour of St. Thomas, called the Grigri Channel, separated from the main port by Water Island. This channel is sheltered and free from danger, has a depth of 6 to 9 fathoms, and is about half a-mile wide. There is an excellent anchorage off the west side of Water Island in 9 fathoms for the largest ships.

The anchorage called South-West Roads, lies still further west, has a depth of 12 to 14 fathoms, and there is a good mountain stream on the shore which will yield 4 tons of water per day in the dry weather. At the east end of the island there is a good anchorage at St. Thomas' Bay.

The town of Charlotte Amalia is situated on the north side of the harbour of St. Thomas, and is built on the slopes of the small hills, 200 to 300 feet high, which form the amphitheatre partly inclosing the harbour.

It contains some large public buildings, a bank, &c., and is chiefly built of brick. There is a military hospital and a public hospital. The town has been lighted with gas for some years. Traces are still visible of the hurricanes and earthquakes which visited the island in 1867 and 1871, in which former year the earthquake was attended by a tidal wave 30 feet high.

The island itself is naturally well drained, and the town, though its streets are narrow, is fairly clean and well kept; but the almost total absence of tide till lately prevented the regular and complete cleansing of the harbour, which is desirable, but since the cutting at the west side of the harbour of a boat channel, 20 feet wide and 6 feet deep, a current has been created through the harbour from the Grigri Channel, which has entirely changed the sanitary condition of the town by purifying the harbour. The town has thus been rendered healthy, so much so, that in 1877 last Consular Report it is stated that "St. Thomas has decidedly proved the healthiest spot in the West Indies."

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War-ships constantly call at the port for coals and mails. In 1875, 60,000 tons of coal were imported into the island.

Fortifications. On the easternmost of the three hills on which the town is built is Fort Christian and the Water Battery, which command the harbour, but the latter was being demolished in 1876. There are also some barracks and a prison on this hill. The port Regulations forbid any vessel to anchor in front of the fort so as to mask it, and prevent it having a range over the entire entrance to the harbour.

The eastern side of the basin is inclosed by the Fredricksburg Ridge, which rises abruptly from the shore, and terminates towards the south in Mohlenfels Point 100 feet high, on which there is a lighthouse, and which forms the eastern side of the entrance to the harbour. Mention is made of a Frederick Battery, also of Mohlenfels Battery, and of a battery at Corval Point, in the Grigri Channel.

The details of the present armament and garrison of St. Thomas are not in our possession, In 1801 and 1807 St. Thomas was captured by the English. There appears to have been no defence. It was restored in 1814, and has since remained in the hands of Denmark.

In 1867 and 1870 proposals for its purchase, as well as of the neighbouring Island of St. John, for 1,500,000l. by the United States, were made, and on the point of being carried into effect, when the offer was declined by the Senate of the United States. The two islands in question being small, remote, and not very productive, were found inconveniently expensive Colonies for the resources of Denmark, while they would form valuable acquisitions for the United States as stations and harbours in the Virgin Group.

Santa Cruz it was proposed to retain, as it is more productive by nearly one-half than the two other islands taken together.

There have been rumours, but of a less authentic character, of negotiations for the purchase of these islands by Germany since the above.

It has been said that St. Thomas is capable of being made a first-rate naval station.

On this subject we venture to make the following remarks:-

The central and convenient position of St. Thomas, and its recently improved healthiness, must be acknowledged; but it suffers from deficient supplies, notably of water, and in the event of communica- tions being cut off, condensers would have to be established in well-defended situations. The harbour is also comparatively small; the anchorage for ships of very deep draught, such as first-class iron-clads, being extremely limited, although no doubt the Grigri Channel could, by the enlargement of the present boat-channel, be united with the main harbour. The harbour is not absolutely safe in the hurricane months.

Again, any arsenal to be safe in the present day must be covered on the land side from long- range rifled guns. The hilly nature of the Island of St. Thomas might render very extensive fortifica- tions necessary, possibly the fortification of a large section of the island before the assailants could be

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Appendix No. 9.

DANISH WEST INDIES.

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