The Franco-Spanish convention was meant to be secret, but British intelligence learned enough to send Hood and additional ships to the Caribbean. George III reportedly placed defence of the most valuable islands ahead of reducing risk at home. Sugar accounted for about one fifth of British imports, and tobacco lifted the combined share to roughly 24 percent. Losing those flows would remove goods, customs revenue, and wartime financial capacity at once. The Saintes therefore becomes a case study in intelligence protecting an imperial economic system, not simply two fleets meeting by chance.
Notable Point · 26:06-27:48
Intelligence and sugar revenue make Caribbean defence urgent
British knowledge of the supposedly secret invasion plan enabled reinforcement of islands that supplied nearly a quarter of imports.