an island of France, on the coast of Brittany, 15 miles distant from it. This island is between 12 and 13 leagues in circumference. It is a mixture of craggy rocks and fertile soil; but the inhabitants are very poor, and the only trade carried on in it is the curing of pilchards. There are three harbours in the island, viz. Palais, Sahzon, and Goulford; every one of which labours under some capital defect, either in being exposed, shallow, or dangerous in the entrance. It contains only one little city called Le Palais, three country towns, 103 villages, and about 5000 inhabitants. The island originally belonged to the earl of Cornouaille; but was afterwards yielded to the king, who in 1742 erected it into a duchy, in favour of Marshal Belleisle. The town of Palais takes its name from a castle which belonged to the duke de Belleisle, which stood in its neighbourhood; but was afterwards converted into a citadel fronting the sea, strongly fortified. Its fortifications are composed principally of hornworks; and it is provided with two dry ditches, the one next the counterscarp, and the other so contrived as to secure the interior fortifications. This citadel is divided from the largest part of the town by an inlet of the sea, over which there is a bridge of communication. From the other part of the town, and which is most inhabited, it is only divided by its own fortifications and a glacis. In this state was the island in 1761, when an expedition was undertaken against it by a British fleet under the command of Commodore Keppel, having on board a considerable land force commanded by General Hodgson. The fleet sailed from Spithead on the 29th of March, and arrived before Belleisle on the 7th of April. The next day it was agreed to attempt a landing on the south-east part of the island, in a sandy bay, near Lochmana point. Here the enemy were in possession of a little fort; they had moreover entrenched themselves on a hill excessively steep, the foot of which was scraped away. The attempt was made in three places with great resolution; but the British were at last repulsed with the loss of 500 men. It was not before the 25th of April that the weather allowed a second attempt. This was made on a very strong place, where the enemy were rather less attentive, on account of the excessive steepness and difficulty of climbing up the rocks. Besides the principal attack, two feints were made at the same time to distract the enemy, while the men of war directed their fire with great success on the hills. These manoeuvres gave Brigadier general Lambert, with a handful of men, an opportunity of climbing up a very steep rock without molestation. This little body formed themselves in good order without delay, and were immediately attacked by 300 French. The British, however, sustained this attack until the whole corps of Brigadier Lambert, which had now likewise ascended, came to their assistance, with whose help they repulsed the enemy. The landing of all the forces being soon after made good, the French were driven into the town of Palais. Here the chevalier de St Croix who commanded them, a brave and experienced officer, resolved to hold out to the last extremity; and it was not till the 7th of June that he capitulated, and the garrison marched out with the honours of war. The island, however, was restored to the French by the treaty concluded in 1763.

an island of North America, lying at the mouth of the strait between the country of the Esquimaux, or New Britain, and the north end of Newfoundland; whence the straits take also the name of Belleisle. W. Long. 58. 5. N. Lat. 51. 50.