Natural resources, page 11
[page 11]
For the support of whatever number of soldiers or sailors, no
west India Island, can show greater fertility & general resource.
The Luxuriant plants, shrubs, and fine timber growing to the very
summit of its loftiest hills, sufficiently designate the richness
and depth of soil. – The Mountains ridge arrests cloud and
dispenses rains; - and the springs, and source of water formed in
its heights, pour forth considerable streams to fertilize a Country:
no Island is better waterd than Tabago.
Having stated the Island to be fertile, in the Growth of whatever
the Earth may produce for the use and subsistence of man; - I should
not omit, what the Seas actually do produce:- The Fisheries are
abundant and inexhaustible on every part of the Coasts;- and
on the north side, half o’ League at sea, and immediately
in the offing of Manowar Bay, - There are Banks swarming
with the finest fish, which the west India seas anywhere produce.
All the requisites inviting to form a principal Depôt and
post of arms in the Island of Tabago, seem collected to a
point and situation, for convenient subserviency to the very place,
which Nature hath strongly markd,- and which military
Genius & sagacity, would select, - fur such purpose.
The Courland Bays may be considered, as places of rendevous
In this exhibition
- Background information
- Gallery and transcription
- Introducing the Essay
- Natural resources of the island
- Tobago's relative position
- The Commercial & political importance of the island of Tobago
- The Commercial & political importance of the island, continued
- Port of enterprize and command, page 29
- Orinoco River, page 30
- Appeal to British merchants, page 31
- Historical political instability of the island, page 32
- The reach of the Orinoco River, page 33
- Potential trade agreements with Spain, page 34
- Further trade routes with South America, page 35
- Establishing the port of Courland, page 36
- Prospects of national advantage, page 37
- Conclusions
- Military significance of Man o' war Bay, page 38
- Further significances, page 39
- Military consensus, page 40
- French intentions for the island, page 41
- Suitability as a port for ships of war, page 42
- Relative safety of the island, page 43
- The necessity to prepare for conflict, page 44
- Revelations of an inside source, page 45
- Fas est, et ab hoste doceri, page 46
- Select bibliography