St GEORGE, a fort and town of Alia, in the peninsula on this side the Ganges, and on the coast of Coromandel, belonging to the British; it is otherwise called Madras, and by the natives Chilipatam. It fronts the sea, and has a salt water river on its back side, which hinders the fresh water springs from coming near the town, so that they have no good water within a mile of them. In the rainy seasons it is incommoded by inundations; and from April to September, it is so scorching hot, that if the sea breezes did not cool the air, there would be no living there. There are two towns, one of which is called the White Town, which is walled round, and has several bulwarks and bastions to defend it: it is 400 paces long and 150 broad, and is divided into regular streets. Here are two churches, one for the Protestants, and the other for the Papists; as also a good hospital, a town hall, and a prison for debtors. They are a corporation, and have a mayor and aldermen, with other proper officers. The Black Town is inhabited by Gentoos, Mahometans, and Portuguese and Armenian Christians, and each religion has its temples and churches. This, as well as the White Town, is ruled by the English governor and his council. The diamond mines are but a week's journey from this place, which renders them pretty plentiful, but there are no large ones since that great diamond was procured by Governor Pitt. This colony produces very little of its own growth or manufacture for foreign markets, and the trade is in the hands of the Armenians and Gentoos. The chief things the British deal in, besides diamonds, are calicoes, chintz, muslins, and the like. This colony may consist of 80,000 inhabitants in the towns and villages, and there are generally 400 or 500 Europeans. Their rice is brought by sea from Gangam and Orixa, their wheat from Surat and Bengal, and their fire wood from the islands of Diu; so that an enemy, with a superior force at sea, may easily distress them. The houses of the White Town are built with brick, and have lofty rooms and flat roofs; but the Black Town consists chiefly of thatched cottages. The military power is lodged in the governor and council, who are also the last resort in civil causes. The Company have two chaplains, who officiate by turns, and have each 1001. a-year, besides the advantages of trade. They never attempt to make proselytes, but leave that to the Popish missionaries. The salaries of the Company's writers are very small: but, if they have any fortune of their own, they may make it up by trade; which must generally be the case, for they commonly grow rich. It was taken by the French in 1746, who restored it at the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle.
St GEORGE's, the largest of the Bermuda or Summer islands. W. Long. 65. 10. N. Lat. 32. 30.
Cross of St GEORGE, a red one in a field argent, which makes part of the British standard.