L30/14/260/2

From Valentine Morris:

6 Dec 1782

From: 1782 To: 1782

Forgot to inform Grantham in his last letter that St Vincent, after a few years cultivation, will produce an equal quantity of sugar as Grenada, if not more. At present it produces between six and seven thousand large hogsheads of sugar, besides other exports. St Vincent is very close to St Lucia, and under the protection of shipping from there, whereas Grenada is not. When Morris arrived as Governor, only two thousand hogsheads of sugar were produced per annum. Lord North's speech yesterday in the House of Commons that the French would make infinite concessions in the West Indies to regain St Lucia gives Morris an opportunity to inform Grantham that long before concluding the last peace, he apprised Lord Mansfield (who honoured him with a visit to his seat in Monmouthshire) of the "infinite and almost inestimable value from local circumstances of that Island", and that in consequence the Duke of Bedford endeavoured to retain it for England, but it was finally ceded to the French. Over a year before the French declaration of hostilities against England, Morris wrote from St Vincent concerning St Lucia to Lord Mansfield and to Lord George Germain, recommending the capture of the island as soon as a rupture with France occurred, and "telling his Lordship repeatedly that from situation &c. its importance, particularly as a curb, and watch house on Martinico was inestimable, invaluable &c. &c.".

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North,
Mansfield,
Germain, George

St.Vincent & the Grenadines, Grenada, St.Lucia, West Indies