1788-Jan.–Jun.: Over the first six months of the year, eighty-six Spanish and seventy-two French vessels called at the port of Kingston alone.

1788-Jan.–Jun.: Over the first six months of the year, eighty-six Spanish and seventy-two French vessels called at the port of Kingston alone. Notably, over fifty of these French vessels originated from the colony of Saint-Domingue. The frequent arrival of foreign ships helped circulate goods that touched the everyday lives of people across all social structures. These interactions formed the infrastructure for the “common wind” that would soon carry revolutionary news across the region.