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John Byre's Survey of St. Vincent

Rare James Wyld edition of this large map of St. Vincent, published in London, first published by Hooper in London.

The map provides a remarkable depiction of the topographical features of the island, along with a detailed accounting of the Mountainous and Cultivated lands "granted to the Charibs by Late Treaty,"   The southwestern part of the Island is subdivided among the non-Charibs for auction (numbered to approximately 170 lots), with a large section identified as "Monckton's Quarter," (the lands reserved to the British General and Colonial Administrator Robert Monckton.

The map identifies the land parcels were surveyed in 1764 by John Byres,and thereafter auctioned in England. One very large parcel was omitted from the initial auction because of a prior grant to General Robert Monckton who captured St. Vincent and Martinique,and  was given 4,000 acres on the south Windward coast between what is today Biabou Village on the north and Stubbs Village on the south, extending inland to the headwaters of the rivers flowing down the Mesopotamia Valley.
Monckton never settled his land but sold it instead for £30,000. The auction of land earned for the British Treasury £162,854 on the sale of 20,538 acres, an average of £7. 16s per acre.

The map includes a note from Jonathan Byres, Chief Surveyor, explaining the map:

This Plan represents the figure of the Island of St. Vincent whichin Obedience to your Instructions I have laid down by actual Survey and described thereon the Boundaries of all the Lands Sold, Leased, Appropriated or otherwise disposed of by your Board.  

The Spaces on the Plan left unnumbered represent the Lands remaining to the Crown which are still undisposed of the greatest part being mountainous and uncultivated.

Below the first section is a certification by William Young, Willaim Hewitt and Robert Wynn describing the different lands and explaining the symbols on the map, concluding with the following note:

The Three Chains round the Coast are also considered by us as appropriated to the use of the contiguous Planter, excepting in Cases where any particular Spot may hereafter be found neceeary for erecting Forts or Batteries in which case His Majesty may erect such Forts or Batteries thereon without paying any Compensation for same.

Rarity

First published in 1776, the edition, with the imprint of James Wyld, is very rare.  We cannot locate another example. of the map.