So they were formed into an English regiment, and sent to fight on the coast of Africa; and in more senses than one 'went to their own place.' Then St.Lucia was ours till the peace of 1802; then French again, under the good and wise Nogues; to be retaken by us in 1803 once and for all.
I tell this little story at some length, as an instance of what these islands have cost us in blood and treasure.

I have heard it regretted that we restored Martinique to the French, and kept St. Lucia instead.

But in so doing, the British Government acted at least on the advice which Rodney had given as early as the year 1778.

St.Lucia, he held, would render Martinique and the other islands of little use in war, owing to its windward situation and its good harbours; for from St.Lucia every other British island might receive speedy succour.

He advised that the Little Carenage should be made a permanent naval station, with dockyard and fortifications, and a town built there by Government, which would, in his opinion, have become a metropolis for the other islands.