Catalogue reference: CO 37/44/34 folio 265. Crown Copyright.
By
the Observations, I have been enabled to make –
upon this Island, and it’s natural Advantages,
during a Residence of five years, I am grounded
in my Opinion, that this Island is a Post of the
greatest Consequence, to His Majesty’s Naval
and Commercial Interests.
The Recent Evacuation of the French
from St. Domingo to North America, the many
Prizes brought in here by a few Privateers only,
corroborates the above fact, that if a Naval Force
was situated here, the Communication between
the United States of America & the West Indies,
would be greatly interrupted, if not totally cut
off.
