or SOMERS'S ISLANDS, a cluster of small islands in the Atlantic Ocean, about four hundred in number, but for the greater part so small and barren that they possess neither inhabitants nor name. The north part of these islands is situated in Long. 62° 28'. W. Lat. 32° 34'. N. Their discovery resulted from the shipwreck of Juan Bermudas, a Spaniard (whose name they now bear), when on a voyage from Old Spain to Cuba with a cargo of hogs, about the year 1522. Henry May, an Englishman, suffered the same fate in 1593; and lastly, Sir George Somers shared the destiny of the two preceding navigators in 1609. Sir George was the first who established a settlement upon them, but he died before he had fully accomplished his design. A company of 120 persons was formed in Virginia, sixty of whom, under the command of Mr Henry More, proceeded to the island; and an accession of inhabitants was gained during the civil wars, many having sought a refuge from the tyranny of the ruling party in this distant sanctuary.

Of the vast number of islands composing this archipelago, not above twelve are inhabited. The names of the principal of these are St George, Hamilton, St David, Cooper, Ireland, Somerset, Nonsuch, and Long and Bird Islands. These are closely connected, and in their characteristic features so similar, that they may be considered and described as one island. The coast is of the most dangerous description, being thickly studded with rocks, which appear and disappear with the ebb and flow of the tide. A landing is never attempted without a pilot. The extreme length of the colony, from St Catherine's Point on St George's to the western extremity of Bermudas, is not more than twenty miles; but the road continues round the Great Sound to the N.E. point of Somerset, making the distance 24 miles. The greatest breadth from north to south by land is about one mile and a half, and the whole superficies is 12,161 acres. The harbour of St George's Island has water and space enough to accommodate the whole British navy; yet until, by the labour of the convicts and submarine blasting, the entrance was deepened and enlarged, it was so obstructed by rocks that the harbour was almost unapproachable. The appearance of Bermudas at first sight is highly romantic; but a closer inspection does not justify the first impression, and the prospect becomes very monotonous. Broad fields of barren rock, and tracts of evergreen cedar, are scattered over the whole island, which is traversed by Bermudas, numerous sheets of salt water. There are a great number of caves, some of which pierce far into the land. Beautiful varieties of stalactites and stalagmites fret these subterranean halls. Bermudas is still greatly behind in agriculture, although capable of producing all varieties of vegetables. In 1827 there was only one plough in the whole colony, the spade being in more general request. Since 1843, however, the produce of the land has largely increased. The neglect of internal resources may be ascribed to the facility with which supplies are received from America, and also to the great variety of excellent fish with which the shores abound, withdrawing the attention of numbers of the lower orders from the cultivation of the soil. The whale is an annual visitor of the coast; the fishing of which being a lucrative employment, is another inducement to neglect the spade. The soil is very fertile in the growth of esculent plants and roots, such as potatoes, onions, cabbages, carrots, turnips, peas, French beans, &c. The citron, sour orange, lemon, and lime, grow spontaneously in great luxuriance; but the apple and the peach arrive at no perfection. Medicinal plants, such as castor, aloe, and jalap, grow to great perfection without culture; and coffee, indigo, cotton, and tobacco, are also spontaneous products. A great quantity of arrow-root is raised, which is considered of first-rate quality. Few oxen or sheep are reared in the colony, these being supplied from North America. Bermudas possesses no fresh-water streams, and only a few wells, the water of which is brackish; but there are a great many tanks, which fill during the rainy season, and afford the principal supply of water. Vegetation is very rapid on these islands, there being but little variety of temperature in the different seasons. Spring may be said never to forsake them, and accordingly the fields and forests are clad with a mantle of perpetual green. The climate, however, is by no means healthy, and only a short residence is necessary to foster the germs of constitutional disease. The yellow fever and typhus are often destructive. In 1853 the former of these diseases made dreadful ravages.

There are only two small towns in Bermudas, St George's and Hamilton, each of which has a mayor and other civic officers. The former was the capital until Sir James Cockburn removed the senate and courts of justice to Hamilton, which, being centrally situated, is much more convenient. There is little display of architectural taste in these places, the buildings being both disproportioned and irregularly huddled together. They are built of sandstone, veins of which are everywhere found. Limestone is also abundant. There are three signal stations, one at St George's, another at Mount Langton, and a third at Gibb's Hill. At each of these a small party of soldiers is stationed. A dockyard, prisons, a lighthouse, a mansion for the naval commissioner, and several other public works, have been built, for the erection of which about 1700 convicts are employed. The annual cost of the maintenance of these people is about £20 a-head. The churches and schools are numerous. Government has made great efforts to encourage education in the colony; but these have been feebly seconded by the inhabitants, especially the whites. In the admiralty school at Ireland Island, the white and coloured children are instructed together; but in other parts of the colony prejudice as yet runs too high for such a combination. The result is, that the children of the poorer class of whites, who will not associate with the coloured class, are either sent to small schools badly conducted, or not sent to school at all. It has been found that the coloured people are not only more eager to procure a good education for their children, but are better able to pay for it, than the lower class of whites.

The revenue in 1849 was £11,914; in 1850, £12,630; to which is to be added the annual parliamentary grant of £4049. The expenditure in 1849 was £17,426; in 1850, The military expenditure in 1850 was L70,160. The charge for 1566 prisoners during 1850 was L34,595. The value of imports in 1849 amounted to L132,733; in 1850, to L130,501; of these the larger proportion was from the United States. The exports for 1849 amounted to L15,315; for 1850, to L19,960.

The population in October 1843 was 9934; on the 1st January 1851, 11,092,—consisting of 4669 whites; males 1665, females 2704. The coloured population amounted to 6423; males 2832, females 3591. The increase of white population since 1843 has been at the rate of one-eighth per annum; the increase of the coloured population at two-eighths. The great disproportion between the males and the females among the whites is attributed to the increasing emigration of the young men.