Catalogue description Colonial Office and predecessors: Dominica, Original Correspondence

Bound volumes arranged chronologically, and from 1801 within the following subject headings: Despatches (letters of the governors), Offices (letters of government departments and other organisations) and Individuals (arranged alphabetically). Each volume with a contents list, or précis of each letter giving name of correspondent, date of letter and subject matter.

Dominica was granted with other islands in the Caribbean to the earl of Carlisle by Charles I in 1627, but was settled first by the French in 1632. It was captured by Britain in 1761 and ceded to her in 1763. France recaptured it in 1778, but it was restored to Britain in 1783. It was made part of the Windward Islands Federation in 1763, became a separate colony in 1771, was put under the governor-in-chief of the Leeward Islands in 1833 and under the islands' new federal legislature in 1871, but rejoined the Windward Islands Federation in 1940. Between 1958 and 1962 Dominica was a member of the Federation of the West Indies. In March 1967 Dominica attained full internal self-government and assumed a status of association with Britain. On 3 November 1978 the island became an independent republic under the name of Commonwealth of Dominica.