The limitations of Barbados as a principal station, page 22
Young's Essay employs many nautical terms - understandable as his focus is on an island situated in the Caribbean Sea - and in his work on transcribing the manuscript, the Special Collections intern, James Hatherill, learnt and became familiar with these. Control of the seas was the ultimate expression of power for a nation and Young demonstrates his understanding of this through his focus on naval and nautical matters.[page 22]
‘The Commercial & Political Importance’
of The Island of Tobago’
- Mano’war Bay,- in the Island of Tabago, is situated
in Lat:- 11°-#16:- Long: W.G.- 60° - #29;- and, as appears from
the Charts exhibited in this Book,- is to windward of all
the Antilles with the Exception of Barbadoes, the present
head Quarters of the army & Navy of Great Britain, in
these seas.- But,- with the exception of Its being the
most windward Island,- Barbadoes is not thought to
possess from nature or situation, any one requisite, of
accomodation or Security, fitting it to be a Place of Depôt,
and the Principal station of British Force.
- Yet,- Considering the enterprizing spirit of the
ennemy whom we Have to contend with,- and His new
resources of equippment at Antwerp, for armd expedition,
north about, and to the west India seas;- Sudden attack
is at some time to be expected, and at all times to be
be [sic] prepard against.
It will be the purpose of this essay, to examine if
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 limitations of Barbados as a principal station, page 22
- French naval strength, page 23
- Favourable ocean currents, page 24
- The key to Trinidad, page 25
- Trade winds and currents, page 26
- Navigational hazards, page 27
- The importance of the north side, page 28
- 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