Views of New York Harbour

Published by J F W Des Barres, 1777

The Hydrographic Office was founded in 1795 to provide the Royal Navy with accurate charts and surveys of their areas of operation. That proud tradition has been maintained to the present day and over the years famous surveyors and explorers such as Cook, Flinders, Vancouver and Bligh have contributed to this task. Among these famous names Joseph Frederick Wallet des Barres stands pre-eminent.

The request of the Admiralty for charts of the coasts of Nova Scotia and the American colonies launched des Barres on ten active years of continuous surveying. He returned to England in 1774 and was immediately engaged on publishing his charts of the American coast. The outcome was an unparalleled series of views and charts that appeared under the title ' Atlantic Neptune'.

These coastal views of the area around New York Harbour were a major aid to navigation and position fixing in the great days of sail. They were used to supplement the des Barres charts of New York and provided valuable assistance to the mariner who was unfamiliar with the port. The central view shows the Battery area of New York and the entrances to the North and East Rivers.