|
The proximity of the Caribbean islands to mainland North America, along with the strength of trade between the two areas throughout the 18th century, meant that the two areas shared a very similar political ideology in the face of British economic and political policy. That the 13 Caribbean colonies, who shared the same preconditions and grievances that had inspired their mainland counterparts to rebel in 1775, remained loyal to the British Crown was something of a miracle. Indeed, many of the Caribbean islands, along with Bermuda herself, had contributed both physically and economically to the revolutionary cause throughout the war, much to the consternation of the British.
By 1797, Lieutenant Thomas Hurd RN had already completed a definitive survey of the island but this was never published by the Admiralty for fear that the extensive hydrographic information it contained might fall into American hands and so small, localised, surveys such as this one were the order of the day. The naval dockyard, along with the naval hospital, are shown on the chart were still under construction in 1817 when this chart was completed.
The survey shows the northern coastline of Pembroke Parish along with part of Ireland Island to the north. The coast of Pembroke was significant for the location of certain naval instillations including the fresh-water wells. Pembroke was also, by 1817, the administrative centre of the island with Admiralty House and Government House being located there.
This survey shows sounding which radiate out from a large vessel anchored off the coast toward the bays at Ducking Stool (immediately to the west of the Wells), Brackish Bay and the Wells themselves (which supplied the Navy with fresh water when there was no rainwater at the naval tanks at the dockyard) and to Harots Point to the east of the Wells. The soundings also show the depths to Harrington Point and the buoys in the harbour.
This chart includes a charming title balloon which gives the whole survey quite an artist flavour. Great attention is given to the detail of the flags which are depicted on the anchored vessel, Admiralty House and Government House. Note that the latter two have been drawn upside-down on the chart so that they may be viewed as they would appear to an observer approaching from a ship in the bay.
| 
