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Port Stanley, Falkland Islands.

The Falkland Islands, belonging to Great Britain, form a group in the South Atlantic, consisting altogether of above 100 islands. They lie off the coast of South America, about 350 miles east’d of the Strait of Magellan. Only two of the islands, namely East and West Falkland, are of any considerable size, and these are separated from each other, by a sound from 2 1/2 to 18 miles. The whole group comprises an area of 6500 square miles, and is indented in a remarkable manner by bays and sounds, which form excellent harbors, and these, together with the varied outlines of the mountains, constitute the principal features in the general aspect of the country. They were owned by the French and Spanish, but were finally taken by the English. The government is administrated by a governor, who resides at Stanley, aided by an executive and legislative Council. The members of both councils are appointed by the Crown. Nearly all the islands of size are inhabited. The positions of the settlements will be seen by reference to a chart, a knowledge of which would be available to shipwrecked Mariners seeking relief. Population about 2000. The exports consist of wool, provisions, hides, horns, houp, bones and tallow. In the general appearance of the Falkland Islands, there is little remarkable. Ridges of rocky hills over 1000 feet high are seen traversing extrusive tracts of moorland, without a trace, and bound by a low rocky coast. Excellent harbors, easy of access, affording good shelter, and formed by the remarkable indentations of the coast and abound among these islands. A remarkable feature in the botany of the Falkland Islands is the entire want of trees, but there is a variety of sweet-scented flowers, which in Nov. and Dec. nearly cover the ground.