ANTIGUA, one of the Antilles or Caribbee Islands, situated 20 leagues east of St Christophers, in Long. 61. 45. W. and Lat. 17. 6. N. It is about 50 miles in circumference, and is reckoned the largest of the British Leeward Islands. This island having no rivers, and but few springs, or such as are brackish, the inhabitants are obliged to preserve the rain-water in cisterns. The air here is not so wholesome as in the neighbouring islands, and it is more subject to hurricanes; but it has excellent harbours, parti-
cularly English Harbour, which is capable of receiving the largest man-of-war in the navy. The principal trade, however, is carried on in the harbour of St John's the capital, situated in the north-west part of the island, and which has water sufficiently deep for merchant vessels. The island contains an area of 108 British square miles, equal to 69,120 acres, of which about 34,000 are appropriated to the growth of sugar, including pasture grounds. The other staples are cotton, ginger, and tobacco.
The first attempt to establish a settlement in Antigua was made by Sir Thomas Warner, but it did not succeed. It was afterwards granted by Charles II. to Lord Willoughby, who in 1632 settled a colony upon it. In 1850 the population was 37,357, of whom only about 2000 were whites. The estimated value of the imports in 1851 was L.198,425 sterling; of the exports, L.219,239, being an increase over the preceding year of L.34,802, and L.87,357 respectively. In 1851 the ordinary revenue was L.21,888, and the expenditure L.21,193. The island is under a governor, council, and assembly.