a sea-port town of America, in the island of Cuba, and on the north-west part of it, opposite to Florida. It is famous for its harbour, which is in every respect one of the best in the West Indies, and perhaps in the world. It is entered by a narrow passage, upwards of half a mile in length, which afterwards expands into a large basin, forming three Cul de Sac, and is sufficient, in extent and depth, to contain 1000 sail of the largest ships, having almost throughout six fathom water, and being perfectly covered from every wind. The town was built by Diego de Velasquez, who conquered the island of Cuba. It was but a small place, and named originally the port of Carenas; but afterwards, when the city by its increase of wealth grew considerable, it was called St Christopher of the Havanna. In 1536, it was of so inconsiderable a value, that being taken by a French pirate, he ransomed the place for the paltry sum of 700 pieces of eight. Some time after it was taken by the English, and a second time by the French: nor was its value underfitted, or any care taken to put it in a posture of defence, till the reign of Philip II.; though what was then done proved insufficient. But since the accession of a branch of the House of Bourbon to the Spanish crown, more pains have been taken to render it a place of strength.

The Havanna stands on the west side of the harbour, in a pleasant plain; and is the residence of the governor and captain-general of Cuba, and of the royal officers, as well as of an affluence for the affluence of the governor and captain-general of the West Indies. The bishop of St Jago de Cuba likewise chooses to fix his residence here. The buildings are elegant, built of stone, and some of them most superbly furnished. Here are eleven churches and monasteries, and two handsome hospitals. Near the middle of the town is a spacious square, surrounded with uniform buildings. The churches are rich and magnificent; the lamps, candelabra, and ornaments for the altars being of gold and silver; some of the lamps are of the most curious workmanship, and weigh near 100 weight. The Recollects church, which stands on the best ground in the city, has 12 beautiful chapels in it, and in the monastery are cells for 50 fathers. The church of St Clara has seven altars adorned with plate, and the nunnery contains 100 women and servants, all clothed in blue. The church belonging to the Augustines has 13 altars; that of St Juan de Dios 9, with an hospital for soldiers of 12,000 pieces of eight revenue. It is not a bishop's see, though the bishop of St Jago resides here, the revenue of which prelate is not less than 50,000 pieces of eight a-year. In 1700 the inhabitants were computed at 26,000, and we may very well imagine them to be increased since. They are a more polite and social people than the inhabitants of any of the Spanish ports on the continent; and of late imitate the French both in their dress and manners. The city is supplied with water by a small river called Lagida, which rises from the hills on the south-west side of the town, and divides itself into three streams, one of which falls into the sea on the east side of the town, but the other two flow through the place, entering the walls near the middle of the city.

As to the fortifications, it was already remarked, that the entrance to the harbour is by a narrow gut near half a mile in length: this passage is defended on the east side by a strong castle called El Moro, situated on a high rock; and on the walls and battlements are mounted 40 pieces of cannon. Under the faces of the south-west bastion of the Moro, and more within the entrance of the harbour, is a battery of stone called the Twelve Apollons, almost level with the water, and the guns of which carry each a ball of 36 pounds. A little higher, and opposite to the Point gate, is the La Divina Pastora, or the Shepherd's Battery, of 14 guns, level with the water. On the west side of the entrance, at the point, is a square fort called the Punta, with four bastions well mounted with cannon, about 200 yards distant from the Punta gate of the town. On the bastions of the town, next the harbour, are a number of cannon; and about the middle of the city is another fort, called El Fuerte, a square fort with four bastions, mounted with 22 pieces of cannon, of no great strength; but in this last the governor resides, and in it the king of Spain's treasures are deposited till the arrival of the galleons. On the land-side, from the Punta gate to the dock-yard, there is a rampart with bastions, faced with stone, and earthen parapets with a ditch, which in several places has fallen in, and is almost filled up, particularly behind the Punta and land gates, near the stone-quarries, which, if joined to one another, might be of great detriment to the place in case of a siege, as a lodgement might be made in them. The ground here rises with an easy ascent to the land-gate; and is either open pasture or garden ground, well flooded with the cabbage-tree. Before the land-gate is a ravelin. The hill on a rising ground from this gate (which is the highest part of the town) to the dockyard, is steeper than on the other side.

Such are the fortifications of the Havanna, which are the best the Spaniards have in the West Indies, as indeed the place is of the greatest importance. But though strong, they have many defects, and from the situation of the town and forts, are commanded by many eminences, of which an enemy could not fail to take advantage. On the east side of the harbour, the Cavannas, on a part of which the Moro is built, HAVANNA commands in a great measure that fort, but absolutely commands the Punta, El Fuerte, and whole north-east part of the city, which is the best fortified. On the west side of the city runs a suburb, called Guadaloupe, whose church is situated on an eminence about half a mile from the land-gate, which it is on a level with, and higher than any other part of the fortifications. From the north side of this rising ground, the Punta gate may be flanked; and from the south-east side the dock-yard is commanded. Along the north side runs an aqueduct, which falling into the ditch at the land-gate, runs down to the dock-yard, both for watering the ships and turning a saw-mill. About half a mile from the church, is a bridge made over a rivulet that runs into the bay about 100 yards. That road leads to the centre of the island, and extends to Baracoa, above 600 miles distant. From this bridge to the Lazaretto, is about two miles, with a rising ground betwixt them. A trench thrown up between these two places would cut off the communication with the town by land. From these observations it will plainly appear, that the Havanna, though well fortified, is not impregnable.

The Havanna has greatly contributed to the maritime strength of the crown of Spain, many ships having been built here within these few years, from 60 to 80 guns, the island furnishing the finest materials, such as oak, pine, cedar, and mahogany. The only defect of the harbour is the narrowness of its entry: for though free from bars and shoals, yet only one ship at a time can enter it; from which circumstance the galleons have more than once been insulted, and some of them taken, at the mouth of the harbour, the forts there not being able to afford them any assistance.

Upon the rupture with Spain in 1762, the British ministry sent a squadron and army against this place under the command of admiral Pocock and lord Albemarle. The Spaniards had in the harbour at the time a fleet of twelve sail of the line, two of them but just launched, two more on the stocks nearly finished, and several merchant ships. The men of war were almost ready for sea; but no account had reached the governor of the intended attack. The place, however, was gallantly defended, and sustained a siege of two months and eight days before it could be reduced; when a capitulation was signed, and along with the city was yielded a district of 180 miles to the westward. This conquest was without doubt in itself the most considerable, and in its consequences the most decisive, of any we had made since the beginning of the war; and in no operation were the courage, steadiness, and perseverance of the British troops, and the conduct of their leaders, more conspicuous. The acquisition of this place united in itself all the advantages which can be acquired in war. It was a military achievement of the highest class. By its effect on the enemy's marine it was equal to the greatest naval victory, and in the plunder it equalled the produce of a national subsidy. Nine sail of the enemy's line-of-battle ships were taken; three of their capital ships had been sunk by themselves at the beginning of the siege; two more were in forwardness upon the stocks, and were afterwards destroyed by the captors. The enemy on this occasion lost a whole fleet of ships of war, besides a number of considerable merchant ships; and in ready money, in tobacco collected at the Havanna on account of the king of Spain, and in other valuable merchandizes, the sum lost by the enemy perhaps did not fall short of three millions sterling.

The city of Havanna was restored by the peace of 1763; and is of the greatest importance to Spain, being the rendezvous for all their fleets to return from America to Europe, lying at the mouth of the gulph of Florida, through which they are all obliged to pass. Here the navy of Spain stationed in the West Indies ride; and here the galleons, the flota, and other merchant ships from other ports both of the continent and islands, meet in September, to take in provisions and water, with great part of their lading; and for the convenience of returning to Spain in a body. A continual fair is held till their departure, which generally happens before the end of the month, when proclamation is made, forbidding any person belonging to the fleet to stay in town on pain of death; and accordingly, on firing the warning gun, they all retire on board.—The commerce carried on in this port, which is very considerable, may be distinguished into the particular commerce of the island of Cuba, and that more general by the galleons and flota. The former consists in hides, usually styled of the Havanna, which are excellent, and of great value; sugar, tobacco, admirable in its kind, &c. Though strangers are prohibited to trade, yet a contraband commerce is carried on brisker here than at La Vera Cruz. Some little trade is carried on by other ports of Cuba, but it is very inconsiderable. As to the general commerce, this port is the place of rendezvous (as already mentioned) for all ships, particularly from Cartagena, Puerto Velo, and La Vera Cruz, which return to Spain from the Indies. The Havanna is regularly supplied with European goods only by the regular ships from Cadiz and the Canaries. The flota and galleons bring there no more than the refuse of their cargoes, which they had not been able to dispose of at Cartagena, Puerto Velo, or La Vera Cruz. When the fleet is in the harbour, provisions are excessively dear on shore, and money so plenty, that a Spaniard expects half a piece of eight a day from a male slave, and a quarter from a female, out of what they earn for their labour. The fleet generally sails from thence, through the channel of Bahama, in the month of September; and is the richest in the world; since, in silver and merchandise, there is seldom less than thirty millions of pieces of eight on board, or six millions seven hundred and fifty thousand pounds of our money.—It is natural to imagine, that a port of so much consequence as the Havanna ought to be well fortified. Since it has been restored to Spain, many new works have been added, to prevent if possible a similar disaster befalling it. W. Long. 82° 13'. N. Lat. 23° 12'.