Get those trade ships to "The Downs" - save the economy !

The upper chamber, the Executive Council of Virginia meets 4 March 1760 giving us a glimpse that this war is quite global. Commander of all North American forces, Amherst, implores Virginia to still help, even though Virginia cared only about their theatre of the war ---- the "reduction" of French Fort Duquesne.

Amherst and Pitt still wanted Virginians to help build and guard Fort Pitt. That would keep the region stable. That would stablize trade.

But now Virginia was more concerned about another threat ---- the Cherokee war in SC and NC expanding to Virginia.

But even more important than all of that --- the trade between Virginia and England.

That last sentence quoted from the Executive Council mentions the trade across the Atlantic Ocean.

Executive Council of Virginia 4 March 1760:

Letter from Col. Byrd dated New York Feby . 11th recommending the Continuance of the Virginia Regiment till Christmas next . [Byrd declines to go south to lead the regiment to help SC in the Cherokee war, Virginia insists he go. And he does comply. By 3 Nov 1760 he resigns.]

Also a Letter from Lord Colvill , dated Hallifax Harbour Decemr 9th informing that he had writ an Order for Capt . Faulknor of the Mercury , then at Boston , to repair without Loss of Time to Virginia , to take under Convoy all the homeward bound Trade , and see them safe to the Downs .

"Home" was still England, even if you lived in Virginia for years.

See on the map the area of the "Downs." This old map shows North pointing to the right. Touch or click map to see source. The new map futher below doesn't show those Goodwin Sands islands.

"According to the Deal Maritime Museum and other sources, there are records of as many as 800 sailing ships at anchor at one time." at the Downs- wikipedia.

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On the new map below, use your eyes to key off of Ramsgate. Below that is Sandwich and Pegwell Bay. That's the area of the "the Downs." Touch or click on map to go to the Google interactive map.