Description:

From Bonner and Middleton’s Bristol Journal – editorials all talk of either rebellions in America or French wars.

Copy of a letter, written in March 1780, asking that another naval vessel be sent to protect the island of Jamaica against the French.

In 1776, the thirteen American colonies began fighting for independence from Britain. France, Spain and Holland supported the Americans. North America supplied the Caribbean islands with large amounts of food and supplies. The American colonies also bought a large amount of the sugar, rum and molasses produced. The resulting war seriously disrupted transatlantic trade, and Bristol merchants were affected by this. In the Caribbean, 3,000 slaves died as a result of food shortages caused by the war.

Date: Aug 26th 1780

Copyright: Copyright BCC Library Service