(or rather Granada), the most southern of the Antilles, lies between N. Lat. 11° 58' and 12° 20', and W. Long. 61° 20' and 61° 35', being 60 miles N.W. of Tobago and about the same distance from the nearest point of South America. It is 25 miles in length from N. to S., and its greatest breadth is 12 miles; area 133 square miles. Grenada was discovered by Columbus in 1498, and at that time it was inhabited by a numerous and warlike race, the Caribs. The Spaniards did not attempt to form a settlement, and the Caribs remained in undisturbed possession of their territory until the year 1650, when Du Parquet, the French governor of Martinique, organized an expedition, consisting of 200 adventurers, for the purpose of seizing the island. These were received with the utmost kindness; and the few knives, glass-beads, and other trinkets presented to the natives, they subsequently asserted to be the price paid for the island. This afforded them a pretext for commencing hostilities against the Caribs; and Du Parquet, who had returned to Martinique, sent a reinforcement of 300 men with orders to extirpate the natives altogether. The greatest cruelties were practised on the unfortunate natives—not even the women and children were spared. Father Du Tertre mentions that on one occasion "forty of the Caribs were massacred on the spot. About forty others who had escaped the sword, ran towards a precipice, from whence they cast themselves headlong into the sea, and miserably perished." In a few years the island became vested in the crown of France; but for a long time the colony remained in a state of poverty and depression, so that, according to Abbé Raynal, the island in 1700 contained only 251 whites, and 525 blacks, who were employed on 3 plantations of sugar, and 52 of indigo. Subsequently the French turned their attention more particularly to their colonies, and Grenada rapidly increased. In 1753 it contained 1262 whites, 175 free blacks, 11,991 slaves, and 83 sugar plantations. Grenada surrendered on capitulation to Britain in 1762, and was formally ceded to that country by the definitive treaty of peace which took place in the following year. Certain stipulations were made in favour of the inhabitants; but the island does not seem to have prospered, and was retaken by the French in 1779. By the general peace, which took place in January 1783, it was restored to Britain, of which it has since been a dependency, although an insurrection of the slaves which took place towards the close of the last century is said to have been fermented by the French for the purpose of again obtaining possession of it.

Grenada is in general mountainous and picturesque. The interior and north-west coast consist of continuous ridges of hills rounded in their outline, and covered with vast forest trees and brushwood. An irregular but continuous range of mountains traverses the island from north to south, and in some parts rises to the height of 3000 feet above the level of the sea. From these several lesser ridges branch off, and form rich and picturesque valleys. The geology of the island is very complicated and irregular. The great mass of the mountains and some parts of the low lands consist of red and gray sandstone, greywacke, hornblende, and argillaceous schist; but the strata are very much diversified, being in one place horizontal, in another vertical, and in almost all suddenly and abruptly intersected by each other. Sulphur and fuller's earth are common; and porphyry, limestone, and basaltic rocks occur in certain places. The rivers are numerous but not large. In the centre of the island, and 1740 feet above the level of the sea, is the Grand Etang, a circular lake 2½ miles in circumference and 14 feet deep. Several hot chalybeate and sulphurous springs are met with in different parts. Along the coast are numerous excellent bays and harbours. The waters abound with fish; and game and various species of birds are abundant. Hurricanes are comparatively mild and unfrequent, but shocks of earthquakes are sometimes experienced. The medium temperature throughout the year is estimated at 82° Fahr. in the low country, but in the more elevated parts it is, of course, lower. A considerable quantity of rain falls, and throughout the year showers are frequent. Of late years the climate has been materially improved. The soil consists principally of a rich black or reddish coloured mould. The chief products are sugar, cocoa, coffee, and cotton; indigo and tobacco are also raised, together with luxuriant crops of fruits and vegetables, which grow here in great abundance and arrive at high perfection. In 1853, 17,722 acres were under cultivation. Grenada is divided into six parishes—St Patrick, St Andrew, St John, St Mark, St David, and St George. In the last of these is the capital St George or George Town, which is built upon a peninsula projecting into a spacious bay on the west or lee side of the island, not far from the southern extremity. It is embosomed in an amphitheatre of hills, and stands principally on elevations which rise from the bay, and consequently the streets are steep. The houses are well built of brick or stone, and on the whole the town has a handsome appearance. It is divided by a ridge running into the sea, and forming on one side the Carenage, a large basin of water, surrounded by wharfs and stores. Here the ships lie land-locked and in deep water close to the wharfs. The entrance is defended by a citadel called Fort George, which stands upon a rocky eminence. On the left the land rises gradually to some height, the summit being crowned by the fortifications of Hospital Hill; and a long ridge, which falls towards the middle, connects this fort with Richmond Heights which constitute the background of the scene, and which are also fortified. The ridge which connects Fort George with Hospital Hill also separates the Carenage from the larger portion of the town, which contains the market-place and looks upon the bay. Upon this hill are built some of the principal houses of the town, the church, and the parsonage. At its extremity is the court-house, and nearly opposite is the Catholic chapel. Besides the Carenage there is another spacious sheet of water called the Lagoon, which is separated from the former by a reef passable only by boats. Among the public buildings of George Town are the court-house, a fine and commodious building, the jail, the church, a handsome building with a spire and clock, the Roman Catholic chapel, and the custom-house. The market-place is a square piece of ground of considerable dimensions, surrounded by houses, and having a public fountain. Pop. (1851) 4567. The other towns are unimportant.

Between St Vincent and Grenada there is a cluster of small islands called Grenadines, some of which are dependencies of Grenada. Of these Carriacou is the most important. It is about 19 miles in circumference, and contained, in 1851, 4461 inhabitants. The principal town is Hillsborough. It is fertile and well cultivated, but suffers occasionally from long-continued drought. Cotton was formerly the chief article of cultivation, but sugar is the staple article now raised.

The following return shows the different products of Grenada and the Grenadines in 1853.—Sugar, 11,293,851 lbs.; rum, 326,808 galls.; molasses, 19,972 galls.; cocoa, 9318 lbs.; cotton, 73,633 lbs. The imports from Great Britain during that year amounted in value to L71,981; from British colonies to L44,181, and from foreign countries to L22,898.—total L139,060. Exports to Great Britain, L104,432; to British colonies, L14,289; to foreign countries, L5224.—total, L123,955. In 1853 the total revenue was L15,038, L9,171 being custom duties, and L5,567 assessed and other taxes; and the expenditure, L17,130 being—civil government, L6122; judicial, L820; ecclesiastical, L2478; education, L1097; police, L2358; prisons, L380; and miscellaneous, L5865. In that year the revenue was L2328 less, and the expenditure L236 more, than in the preceding year. The population in 1851 was 32,671, of which 15,713 were males, and 16,958 females. In 1853 it was estimated at 34,077. There were then 11 Episcopalian churches, and 16 belonging to other denominations, with an average attendance of 11,916. The number of scholars attending Episcopalian schools was 967, other schools 1057. Crimes and offences—44 felonies, 50 misdemeanours, and 120 other offences.

in Artillery, a kind of small shell which, as soon as the fuze is lighted, is projected by the hand. It weighs about 1 lb. 13 oz., and is chiefly used for throwing into the ditch or covered way from the parapet. Grenades were first used in 1594.