one of the smallest of the British West India Islands, belonging to the Leeward group, and about equally distant (30 miles) from Antigua, Guadaloupe, and Nevis; N. Lat. 16° 40', and W. Long. 62° 10'. It is of an oval form, mountainous on its eastern shores, and has a gradual slope westward to the sea. Area 30,720 acres. The island is of volcanic origin, and characterized by great abruptness, both in the elevation of its hills and in the descent of the valleys. Vegetation is everywhere abundant, and reaches in trees and shrubs to the greatest heights of the island, viz., about 2500 feet. The climate is remarkably salubrious. The chief productions are the sugar-cane, arrow-root, and timber. Owing to the heavy taxation on land, however, the full resources of its soil have not yet been developed, although of late years much has been done in lightening those burdens; and thus, in all probability, the planters here will shortly be able to compete with those on the other islands, or on the mainland. There being no other class or trade on the island than that of landholders, the legislature has been obliged to lay the entire taxation on them; and consequently in 1855 we find that 33 per cent. was taxed on the letting value of a farm for the purposes of government, besides about 25 per cent. more on the imports, which include here many of the necessaries of life. This system, however, is being gradually ameliorated in its effects by the rigid economy of the government. The trade of Montserrat is carried on exclusively with the neighbouring islands. In 1855 the imports amounted in value to L7704; and in 1854 to L8963; while the exports of the former year amounted to L19,986, against L14,515 in 1854. The chief imports are corn, cottons, dried fish and preserved meats, manure, and hardware; the principal exports, sugar (L13,552 worth in 1855), molasses, and rum. In regard to the shipping, there was in 1854 a tonnage of 4562, against 3986 in the preceding year, entered; and a tonnage of 4589 in 1854, against 4310 in 1853, cleared from the island. The government of Montserrat is administered (under the governor-in-chief of the Leeward group) by a president and an executive council of eight members appointed by the crown, who also form the legislative council. There is, besides, a representative assembly, consisting of 12 members. In 1855 the revenue amounted to L3500, and the expenditure to L3264. Education, which has been productive of much good here, was dispensed in 1854 in 18 schools, attended by 1623 scholars, of whom 891 were females. This island was discovered by Columbus in 1493, and named after a mountain near Barcelona. In 1632 a party of Irish Roman Catholics from St Christopher's settled on it; and after experiencing a French invasion in 1712, the island was finally made over to Britain by the treaty of Breda in 1783. Representative government was first established here in 1689. Plymouth, the capital, is situated on the S.W. of the island. Pop. of island (1851) 7053, the great majority of whom are blacks.