--- Page 1 --- --- Page 2 --- Jobn Cartrr Sroln fihrarg Aromt Ininersity --- Page 3 --- --- Page 4 --- --- Page 5 --- --- Page 6 --- --- Page 7 --- THE H I S T O R Y, CIVIL AND COMMERCIAL, OF THE BRITISH COLONIES IN THE WEST INDIES. 3y BRYAN EDWARDS, Esq. F.R.S. S.A. IN THREE VOLUMES. THIRD EDITION, WITH CORSIDERABLE ADDITIONS ILLUSTRATED WITH PLATES. VOL. II, LOND ON: FRINTED FOR JONNSTOCKDALE, FICCADILLT IS0I. --- Page 8 --- Mokn Carter Breen Library Printed by Luke Hanfard, Gicat Turnftile, Lincoln's-Inn Fields, --- Page 9 --- ii J CONTEN T OF THE SECOND VOLUME, BOOK IV. PRESENT INHABITANTS, CHAP. I. SUNNARTaNE of tbe Inbabitants ofthe feveral HandsClafu-Emigrani, from Great Britain and Ireland-Prodominart charaéter of the European refidenti-Credles or Natives.- Efaefdlinate.- Charader oftbe Creole Women and Children.- Oftbe peoplé of Colour, and their diferent tribes cr cafs. -Limitations and refriclions on the Mulattocs, and natirve Blacks of free condition-Tbeir Charager at lengtb, concluding avith an Ode to Sable Venus. Page I CHAP. II. of Nrgroes in a Rate ef Sinsery-Praliminary Olfercvations. - Origin ofthe Slave Trade-Poriuguf Settlements on tbe African Coaf.-Negrecs introduced into Hipaniola in 1502, andibe Slave Trade revived at the infance of Bartb. de las Cafas, in 1517-llauukiui's wvoyages to the Coaf, in 1562 and 1563African Company epablifbed by Tames 1.-Second charter in 1631 6y Charles 1-Third charter in 1662.-Fourtb charter in 1672. -Efea gf the Petition and Declarationef Rigbt in 1688.-A85 eftbe gth and toth ofWilliam and Mary, C. 26.--New reglu. lations in 1750--Dfription %f the African Coah.-Forts and Fadaric.-Experis from Great Britain.-Nunber of Negrees tran/ported annually to the Britifh Colonies.-State ef the Trade from 1771 to 1787-Number ef Negroes at tbis time exported annually by tbe diferent Nations of Europe Az CHAP. III. ition and Declarationef Rigbt in 1688.-A85 eftbe gth and toth ofWilliam and Mary, C. 26.--New reglu. lations in 1750--Dfription %f the African Coah.-Forts and Fadaric.-Experis from Great Britain.-Nunber of Negrees tran/ported annually to the Britifh Colonies.-State ef the Trade from 1771 to 1787-Number ef Negroes at tbis time exported annually by tbe diferent Nations of Europe Az CHAP. III. --- Page 10 --- (w CO N T E N T S. CHAP. III. Maudingen, or Natives of tbe Windward Coaf. - Their Wars, manners, and per/ons. Mabenttans.- tirves of the Gold Cugh-Their -Koromanyn Nagroer, or Naby an account oF tbe Nagro rebellion feraciaufui of dipofition difplayed Tbeir in Tamaica, in 1760.- dab or nationalmanuri,e Fiday-Thirg wvars, andfperfitiou- - Natives ofWbisin.-Perfins and tempers.- cedgeabuin-Nagen- -Nugroesfrom BeAngola.-Survey -Canibals. - -Natives of Kongo and of the charader and di/pofitions of Negroes in a Rate haverg. CHAP. IV. Means of obtaining Slaves in ARia.-Olfroation jettions to a dired and immediate abolition gf tbe trade tbercon.-Ob- bytbe Britifo Nation only. -Tbe probable in Africa and the We Indies, confeguences oFfucb a meafare, botb in tbe number of Slaves annualty otind-Dignprtars exported offixes theresf.-Mode of tranfporting from Aion-Coft gulations recently Negroes to the WeR Indies, andreRablifbed by ad %f aegulations. parhianonti--Epna ofsbefe CHAP. V. Arrival ana falein the Wel Indies.- -Negroer nervly difpofed of and mplyed-Detail of tbe parcbefed, bow a Jugart plantation.- -Mode management of Negroes 072 and medical care. Abupn-Late efmaintairing tbem. - Honfes, cletbing, andfcurity Canfes oftbeir regulations for their protedtion Slarvery in its milden form amualdecreafe.- Polygany, tSc ufriendly to population General obfreaies-brpualife: the furtber the tbe Slaves, with swvbich the Juljea concludes, meliorating condition oF Appendixes to Book IV. No. I. No.. Mode management of Negroes 072 and medical care. Abupn-Late efmaintairing tbem. - Honfes, cletbing, andfcurity Canfes oftbeir regulations for their protedtion Slarvery in its milden form amualdecreafe.- Polygany, tSc ufriendly to population General obfreaies-brpualife: the furtber the tbe Slaves, with swvbich the Juljea concludes, meliorating condition oF Appendixes to Book IV. No. I. No.. BOOK V, --- Page 11 --- C ) N T E N T S. BOOK V. AGRICULTURE CHAP. I. Sngar cane. -Knowun to the ancint--Cotjiedurt concerningitsintrodudtion into Earjpe-Coregeljram, Sicily ta the Azores, Ec. in tbe 1gtb century, and from thence t0 tbe Wep Indit-Boidoxce to prove tbat Coiumbus bimfalf carried it from the Canary Ifands t0 Hifpanidla-Summary of P. Labat's reafoning to demonfrate tbat it avas found growing Apontaneonfy in the Wef Indies.- Botb accounts raoacibd.-Bwtarial name and defeription-Seils bef adapted for its cultirvations and tbeir varieties, deferibed.- Uj and advantage of tbe plougb-Ufal metbod of boling and planting.- -Seafin proper for Hrent-H-Nm-ie provements Juggefed. CH A P II. Crop-time tbe Jeafon ofbealth andfefivity. -Mills for grinding the canes.- -Of the cane-juice, and its component parts.- -Procefs for cbtaining raw or mufcrvado fagar-Milaftis, and its dipefal.- Procefs ofmaking clayed/ugar.- Ofrum. Still-boufes andpilliCiferns, and tbeir ingredients. Windaard Hand procgfi-Jamaica metbod fdouble difillation.- Due quantity of rum from a given quantity of fweets, efertained andpated." CHAP. III. Capital neccfary in the fettlement or furcbafe d a Jugar plantation efagiven extent.- The lands, bnildings, andpock Rparately CUnfdaei-Particaiart and cof.-Grefs retures from the property. Annual Dytedfnan-iwpshi-Fatiniypingerdorgn not taken into the account. - Difirence zot commonly attended t0, in the medeefefimating tbe profits of an Englifs efatt, and cne in the WeR Indies. Infurance of W'eft India efates in time efnuar, and ciber occafional dedutions. The qutfions auky the cultivation ef the Sugar Hands bas encreafed, under Jo many difouragemens? confiderel and diliufed. CHAP. IV. --- Page 12 --- C O N T E N T S. CHAP, IV. Ofthe minor Stople commoditier; viz. uariou/pecics - Mode COTTON, its grouuth and Imfort of tbis article into feulitcation, Great and rifques attending it. mdes the manufactures Britain, and profits accruingfrom mamfagture. produced by i-INDIGO, its cultivation and and -Opalence of tbe Frf Indigo planters in Jamaica, that rifediascomcaraing the diclineera tbis brancb of cultivation in tbe Mocha fand-COFFEE, -Situation wubether tbat of tbe Waf Indies equalto awwas Jbjea in Great Britain,- and fil-Enrbitast duly to aubicb 1t tbe plant and curing the -Approved metbod of cultivating and returns efF a Coffee berj-Bfimate plantation.- of tbe annual expences NOTTO, ALOES, and PIMENTU; CACAO, GINGER, ARbrief account ef eacb. Appendix to Book V, is brancb of cultivation in tbe Mocha fand-COFFEE, -Situation wubether tbat of tbe Waf Indies equalto awwas Jbjea in Great Britain,- and fil-Enrbitast duly to aubicb 1t tbe plant and curing the -Approved metbod of cultivating and returns efF a Coffee berj-Bfimate plantation.- of tbe annual expences NOTTO, ALOES, and PIMENTU; CACAO, GINGER, ARbrief account ef eacb. Appendix to Book V, BOOK VI. COVERNMENT AND COMMERCE. CHAP, I. Colonial Eablfinomn-0ribe Captain General or nor; bis Powers and Priuiliges. -Some ChiefGoverChoice of Perfens for tbis bigh refedions on the ufial tenant Governor, and Prefidnt--Ofibe Ofie-Licuemaste General, LieuCouncil, their Ofice and Fandioni-Origie Iis of their Claim to a pbare in tbe Neefity, Propriety, and Legality Legifanaretions in the Confitation eftbis Body casfitora-Sane Correcpropefid. CHAP, II. Hiofsef. ARabl-Piangatise denied to le in the Crown bliping in the Colonies Confitatioxs ofepaBritain-Mef ofthe Britifo lefi free tban tbat of Great grantsfrom the Motber IFep Indian Mands) Rausledby EmiCoutry.-Rgyal ters, Comfrmationt enly of ancient Proclamatiens and Charotber Hands, originally made Counties Rigbts. L Barbadett, andame giflatures borw confituted, and tbe extent Palavine.-Their local LeTointed au.-Their of tbeir JuriMidion 4 Greut Britain horu Allgiance 10, and Dependence ott, the Cronun Lamentary Autberity over Rered-Costintionad them, Extent of Par409 CHAP III. by EmiCoutry.-Rgyal ters, Comfrmationt enly of ancient Proclamatiens and Charotber Hands, originally made Counties Rigbts. L Barbadett, andame giflatures borw confituted, and tbe extent Palavine.-Their local LeTointed au.-Their of tbeir JuriMidion 4 Greut Britain horu Allgiance 10, and Dependence ott, the Cronun Lamentary Autberity over Rered-Costintionad them, Extent of Par409 CHAP III. --- Page 13 --- C O N T E N T S. vii CHAP. III. Principles 07 wwhich the Nations oF. Europefettled Colonies in America.- -Commercial Regulations %f Great Briain-Remarks on tbe Aas yAumijgain-dinifin 9f foreign-built, Fuflsevntually kendfoial-Eijonifrom Great Britain to the Sugar Hands, and their walut-Thejame from Ireland.-Wines from Madeira and tbe Aores-Otber Profiti.-Summary 9f the avbole. Imports from tbe Wef Indies to Great Britain and Ireland, and their Value according to the London Prici-Amount of Britifs Capital wvefed in the Sugar Handi.-Slipping and Scaner.-Gentral O6ersatinu-dipedir CHAP. IV. Trade betrveen tbe Britifs Wef Indies and Nortb America previous totbe late Civil War.- Oficial Account ofAmerican Supplies, and tbeir Value- -Sbips and Seamen.- Returns-- Advantages srefulting from tbis Trade to Gruubriais-Mighm. adopied by Government on the Re-sfablifoment ef pact.-Pricdamation of tbe 2d July, 1783-Peritions from the Wej tbe Settlers in Nova Scotia, Be. and tbe Sbip-builders Inbiu-Oppoftion at Home, - ef Reference to the Committee of Priwy Council-Buidene taken by tbe Committs-Tbeir Anal Opinion tbereon-Preaudingr of Gowvernment. -Defrudion FNegrens in tbe Wef Indies in confequence. - Aa of the 28 Geo. III. Cb. 6.-Prefent State and Valucoft tbe Trade betveen tbe Britifs W Indies and the remaining Britifo Provinces in Anurica.-Tbaelame with the United States 9f Aaria-lfriasfrin tbe ubele-Appondix. CHAP. V. Charges brougbt againa tbe Planters introdulory of Opinions and Doatrines the Defign ofwbich is to prove, that tbe Settlement of the Britifo Plantations was improvident and swwif-Tifinmony oftbel Inpedor-Gemeral on tbis Subjea, and Animadverfions tbereen.-Erroneous Idea concerning a difina Interef betawveen Great Britain and ber Sugar Hands-Tbe National Income and the Prefueflatiuituali arifingfram thofe Jodhesfarnadfparue y-Opinions of Popletbwaite and Chill-Hbetber the Duties 02 WeR Indian Commodities imported.fall in tbe Confumer, and in avbat ations was improvident and swwif-Tifinmony oftbel Inpedor-Gemeral on tbis Subjea, and Animadverfions tbereen.-Erroneous Idea concerning a difina Interef betawveen Great Britain and ber Sugar Hands-Tbe National Income and the Prefueflatiuituali arifingfram thofe Jodhesfarnadfparue y-Opinions of Popletbwaite and Chill-Hbetber the Duties 02 WeR Indian Commodities imported.fall in tbe Confumer, and in avbat --- Page 14 --- viii C 0 N T E N T S: aubat Cafes P-Drawbacks and Bounties: : Explanation efthofe Terms,and their Origin and Propriety traced and demonfrated.- Of tbe Mouopely-compaa ; its Nature and Origin-Rfridians on the Colonijfs enumerated; and the Benefts refulting therefrom to tbe Motber Gountry pointed out and illafrated.- - Advantages aubich avould accrue to the Planter, tbe Revenue, and the Public, from permitting the Inbabitants efsbe Wea Indies to refine their raz Sugar for the Britifb Cafhanpio-Urjied Clamoursraijid in Great Britain on ary temporary Advance of the Wef Indian Staples.-Prejed %f efablifbing Sugar Plantations in tbe Eaf Indies under tbs Protedion of Govermment ohind-Reugirane wubich might be ofered againf tbis and otber Meafurei-Conclafion. APPENDIX: Containing Tables of Wen Indian Exports and Imports to and from Great Britain and Ireland THE HIS --- Page 15 --- TI HE H I S T O R Y, CIVIL AND COMMERCLAL, OF The Britifh Colonies in the Weft Indies. BOOK IV. PRESENT INHABITANTS, CHAP I. Summary account of the Inhabitants efihe feveral Hlandb.-Clafes-1 Emigrantsfrom Great Britain and lrdaud-Predoninnu charader of the European refidouts-Creales or Native.-Efea of climate. -Charagter of the Creole Women and Children-Of the people of Colour, and their diferent tribes or cafs.-Limitations and refrictions on the Mulattoes and native Blacks offree condition-Their charaster at length, concluding with an Ode to the Sable Venus. HE prefent ftate (1791) of the population CHAP. - in the Briti(h Weft Indies appears, on a I. fummary of the feveral accounts given in former 1 parts of this work, to be as follows, viz. Voi. II. B Jamaica --- Page 16 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK Whites. Blacks. IV. Jamaica Y Barbadoes 30,000 - 250,000 - 16,167 62,115 Grenada St. Vincent 1,000 - 23,926 Dominica 1450 - 11,853 1,236 14,967 Antigua - 2,590 37,808 Montlerat - 1,300 Nevis - 10,000 St. Chriftopher's 1,000 8,420 1,900 - 20,435 Virgin Hles - - 1,200 - - 9,000 Bahamas - 2,000 - 2,241 Bermudas - 5.463 4.919 Total a 65:303 - 455,684 THERE is likewife, in each of the confiderable number of perfons, of mixed IAands, a and Native Blacks, of free condition. blood, maica they are In Jareckoned, as we have ten thoufand ; and I have reafon to believe fhewn, at do not fall fhort of the fame number in they other Iflands colleétively taken. all the inhabitants therefore The whole into four may properly be divided great claffes, I. European 2. Creoleor Native Whites; Whites; blood, and free Native 3. Creoles of mixed ftate of flavery. I Thall Blacks; 4. Negroes ina treat of each clafs rately ; premifing, however, that there fepafons not comprehended in either are perclafs; fuch as emigrants fall fhort of the fame number in they other Iflands colleétively taken. all the inhabitants therefore The whole into four may properly be divided great claffes, I. European 2. Creoleor Native Whites; Whites; blood, and free Native 3. Creoles of mixed ftate of flavery. I Thall Blacks; 4. Negroes ina treat of each clafs rately ; premifing, however, that there fepafons not comprehended in either are perclafs; fuch as emigrants --- Page 17 --- WEST INDIES. emigrahts from North America, and a confi- CHAP. derable body of Jews. In Jamaica, the latter I. enjoy almoft every privilege poffeffed by the Chriftian Whites, excepting only the right of voting at eleétions; of being returned to ferve in the affembly, and of holding any office of magiftracy; ; but they have the liberty of purchafing and holding lands, as freely as any other people; and they are likewife allowed the publick exercife of their religion; ; for which purpofe they have ereéted two or more fynagogues ; and I have not heard that Jamaica has had any reafon to repent of her liberality towards them. a a I As, a - however, they differ but little in manners and a - cuftoms from the reft of their nation which are difperfed in all the countries of Europe, I fhall pafs them by, without further detail. The other White Inhabitants, not comprehended in this enumeration, are too few to merit particular notice (aj. Ir (a) The following account of the White Inhabitants, Frec-Negroes, and Slaves, in the French Weft Indies, may ferveto gratify curiofity. It is taken from the authority of Monf. Neckar; but I have reafon to think that the Negro Slaves are nearly doubled in the French Iflands fince this account was taken. Whites. Free Blacks, &:c. Slaves. St. Domingo, in 1779 32,650 7.055 249,093 Martinico, in 1776 : 11,619 - 2,892 71,268 Guadaloupe, in 1779 - 13.261 - 1,382 85,327 B2 St. --- Page 18 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK Ir may reafonably be that IV. the natives of fuppofed moft of V Europe who emigrate to the Weft Indies, remove thither with the hope of recciving greater encouragement to their abilities and induftry than has offered at home. Yet let it not be imagined that the major, or even any confiderable part, of them are defperate and needy adventurers, who feek refuge from a expatriate themfelves in the fond idea prifon, of or luxurioufly without labour. Thefe Mlands living but little countenance to give idlenefs, nor offer any afylum to vagabonds and fugitives. Many of the Britith Colonies were originally compofed of men who fought, in the wilderneffes of the New World, the peaceable enjoyment of thofe natural or fuppofed rights of which they were in their native country. I extend this deprived to perfons of oppofite defeription political fentiments and conneétions, to loyalifts as well as to for it is hoped that fome of each republicans: whofe principles party were men duet were honeft, though their conmight have been wrong. The advocateso of loyalty fought refuge chiefly in Barbadoes, and St. Lucia, in 1776 - Tobago, fuppofed to be) 2,397 1,05o - 10,752 nearly the fame as St. - Lucia - - - - 2,397 1,05o - 10,752 Cayenne, in 1780 - 1,358 - 10,539 63,682 13:429 - 437,736 many duet were honeft, though their conmight have been wrong. The advocateso of loyalty fought refuge chiefly in Barbadoes, and St. Lucia, in 1776 - Tobago, fuppofed to be) 2,397 1,05o - 10,752 nearly the fame as St. - Lucia - - - - 2,397 1,05o - 10,752 Cayenne, in 1780 - 1,358 - 10,539 63,682 13:429 - 437,736 many --- Page 19 --- WEST INDIES. many of the adherents of Cromwell, after the CHAP. reftoration of Charles II. found proteétion in JaI. maica. At prefent, among the numbers whom accident or choice conduéts to the Britifh Weft Indies, the juniors in the learned profeffions of law, phyfick, and divinity, conftitute a confiderable body. Thefe men ought to be, and, generally fpeaking, really are, perfons of education and morals. Few places afford greater encouragement to the firft and fecond of thefe employments; and, as ability is foftered and called forth by exercife, no part of the Briti(h dominion has, in my opinion, produced abler men in either (in proportion to their number) than thefe iflands. Local prejudice, and bigotry towards great names, may perhaps incline fome perfons to difpute this affertion; ; but, prejudice and bigotry apart, it will be found, I believe, that Nature has diftributed the gifts of genius more equally and generally than is commonly imagined : it is cultivation and favour that ripen and bring them to perfeétion. The Britith Navy and Army likewife contribute confiderably to the augmentation of the White Inhabitants. Individuals in both thefe profeffions, either from the inducement of agreeable connections, which it would be ftrange if many of them did not form in a long refidence in thefe countries, or captivated by the new profpects which open to their contemplation, very B 3 frequently --- Page 20 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK frequently quit the bufinefs IV. dangers of a of arms, and the tempeftuous element, and become peacefulcitizensand; induftriousp planters. Nextto thefe may be reckoned the mercantile inhabitants, fuch part of the as factors, ftore-keepers, bookkeepers, and clerks; who are followed by tradefmen and artificers of various kinds, fuch wrights, as millcarpenters, mafons, copperfmiths, and others; moft of whom, either through or neceffity, after fome accident years refidence, become adventurersin the foil. Then come the hufbnd. men, or culivators ofthe land, who are commonly profeffedly fuch; tion of diftinguifhed by the appellamanagers, overfeers, and plantation bookkeepers ; and they conftitute a numerous of people, compofed of men of all countries body charadters; for, unfortunately, and adventurer, who has either Jearned every enterpriling no trade, or has been brought particular ufelefs in thefe up to one which is regions, fancies bimfelf capable of fpeedily acquiring all the various the fugar planter, and the right knowledge of goverament of his management and fellow-creatures, the though in truth a more weighty Negroes; and one more charge in itfelf, important in its can fcarcely fall to the lot of man. confequences, I HAVE, I think, in a former place, the caufes to which it is partly afligned emigrants from various afcribable that parts of the mother. country, bimfelf capable of fpeedily acquiring all the various the fugar planter, and the right knowledge of goverament of his management and fellow-creatures, the though in truth a more weighty Negroes; and one more charge in itfelf, important in its can fcarcely fall to the lot of man. confequences, I HAVE, I think, in a former place, the caufes to which it is partly afligned emigrants from various afcribable that parts of the mother. country, --- Page 21 --- WEST INDIES. country, fucceffively conftitute the bulk of the CHAP. fugar colonifts; of whom it is certain that the I. ) major part retain, in a confiderable degree, the manners ard habits of.life in which they were educated. Yet there are authors who affcét to defcribe the inhabitants of all the Weft Indies, as a herd of criminals and conviéts; and cite the ftale crimes and violences of lawlefs men, a century ago, wben thefe iflands were the rendezvous of pirates and bucaniers, as a juft reprefentation of the reigning colonial habits, manners, and difpofitions ! CALUMNIES fo grofs, defcat themfelves by theirabfundityy-bor although it isin the higheft degree ridiculous to imagine that a voyage acrofs the Atlantick creates any fudden or radical change in the human mind, yet, notwithflanding what has been juft obferved concerning local manners and habits in the different claffes of European fettlers, it cannot be denied that there prevails befides, fomething ofa marked and predominant character common to all the White refidents. OF this character it appears to me that the leading feature is an independent fpirit, and a difplay of confcious equality throughout all ranks and conditions. The pooreft White perfon feems to confider himielf nearly on a level with the richeft, and, emboldened by this idea, approaches bis employer with extended hand, and a frecdom, B 4 which, --- Page 22 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK which, in the countries of IV. Europe, is feldom difplayed by men in the lower orders of life towards their fuperiors. It is not difficult to trace the origin ofthis principle. It arifes, without from the pre-eminence and diftinétion doubt, neceffarily attached even to the which are White Man, in a complexion of a country where the complexion, generally ipeaking, diftinguithes freedom from flavery. Of the two great claffes of moft of thefe colonies, the people in the Whites in the Blacks outnumber As a fenfe of proportion of feven to one. latterin common fafety therefore unites the clofer ties than are neceffary who are differently among men fituated, fo the fame ftance neceflarily gives birth circumprocal among them to recidependance and refpeét. Other caufes tribute to the fame end. <6 Where cona greatjudge of human nature) flavery" (fays 66 any part of the world, thofe sjs eftablifhed in 6e by far the moft who are free, are €6 dom. proud and jealous of their freeFreedom is to them e6 but not only an enjoyment, a kind of rank C Not feeing there, that and privilege: 6c where it is a freedom, as in countries common 6 with much blefling, may be united abjeét toil, <6 all the exterior of with great mifery, with 66 among them like fervitude, liberty looks ce and liberal. fomething that is more noble Thust the 66 Colonies (of people ofthe Southern America) are much more ftrongly, 66 and is to them e6 but not only an enjoyment, a kind of rank C Not feeing there, that and privilege: 6c where it is a freedom, as in countries common 6 with much blefling, may be united abjeét toil, <6 all the exterior of with great mifery, with 66 among them like fervitude, liberty looks ce and liberal. fomething that is more noble Thust the 66 Colonies (of people ofthe Southern America) are much more ftrongly, 66 and --- Page 23 --- WEST INDIES. s and with a higher and more ftubborn fpirit, CHAP. c attached to liberty, than thofe to the NorthI. 66 ward. Such were all the ancicnt common- 1 < wealths; fuch were our Gothick anceftors; Ce fuch in our days are the Poles; and fuch will < be all mafters of flaves, who are not flaves 66 themfelves (c)." POsSIBLY too, the climate itfelf, by increafing fenfibility, contributes to create an impatience of fubordination. But, whatever may be the caufe of this confcioufnefs of (clf-importance in the Weft Indian character, the confequences refulting from it are, on the whole, beneficial. Ifit fometimes produces an oftentatious pride, and a ridiculous affedtation of fplendour, it more frequently awakens the laudable propenfities of our nature-franknefs, fociability, benevolence, and generofity. In no part of the globe is the virtue of hofpitality more generally prevalent, than in the Britifh Sugar Ilands. The gates of the planter are always open to the reception of his guefts. To be a ftranger is of itfelf a fuffcient introduction. This fpecies of hofpitality is indeed carried fo far, that, as Mr. Long has remarked, there is not one tolerable inn throughout all the Weft Indies (d). To (c) Burke's Speech in Parliament, 22 March, 1775- (d) There are fome peculiarities in the habits of life of the White Inhabitants, which cannot fail to catch the eye of an European newly arrived; one of which is the contraft between the reception of his guefts. To be a ftranger is of itfelf a fuffcient introduction. This fpecies of hofpitality is indeed carried fo far, that, as Mr. Long has remarked, there is not one tolerable inn throughout all the Weft Indies (d). To (c) Burke's Speech in Parliament, 22 March, 1775- (d) There are fome peculiarities in the habits of life of the White Inhabitants, which cannot fail to catch the eye of an European newly arrived; one of which is the contraft between --- Page 24 --- Io HISTORY OF THE EOOK To the faie caufe IV. on the other may perhaps be aferibed, hand, that cagernefs for and juridical litigation controverfy, which fo remarkably predominates in moft of thefe Iflands. this unfortunate From paffion, ruinous as it proves to individuals, this frequently refults to the advantage however community at Jarge; that the lower orders of men, from their ance at the courts of law frequent attenddegree of as jurymen, acquire a knowledge, and a clearnefs and cifion of prereafoning, which are not generally to tween the general plenty and (at leaft in Jamaica) and the meannefs magnificence of their tables apartments; i being no of their houfes and country habitations of the uncommon thing to find, at the loaded with plate, and the choiceft planters, a fplendid fideboard with the fineft damafk, and a dinner wines, a table covered twenty covers; and all this, in a hovel of perbaps fixteen or Englifh barn. A firanger cannot fail alfo not faperior to an incongruity and to obfervea firange Negro domefficks, inconfiftency and their betweeen the great number of butler (and he but feldom) is the appearance and apparel. The ed the luxury of fhoes and only attendant that is allow. there is commonly one to each ftockings. Ail the others, and Footed majehy; fome of them gueft, wait at table in baxepeculiarity in the manners of the perhaps half-naked. Another (in Jamaica efpecially) is the number. Englifh in the Weft-Indies in their converfation. Thus of nautical expreffions fiead of bring or give it. A they fay, hand Juch a iking, inNegroes, is faid to be plantation well ftocked with is called a birthe; the sedt-hundids.an kitchen office. or employment a warchoufe is callidafars is denominated the cook. rom; acat; a waificoat is termed a orRore-rom; jacket; a fopha is called Eaft and Weit, they fay to wwindkoard and in fpeaking of the guage lias probably and leezvard, This lanprevailed fince the days of the buçaniers. be faid to be plantation well ftocked with is called a birthe; the sedt-hundids.an kitchen office. or employment a warchoufe is callidafars is denominated the cook. rom; acat; a waificoat is termed a orRore-rom; jacket; a fopha is called Eaft and Weit, they fay to wwindkoard and in fpeaking of the guage lias probably and leezvard, This lanprevailed fince the days of the buçaniers. be --- Page 25 --- WEST INDIE S. IE be found in men of the fame rank in England. CHAP. Thus the pettyjuries in the Weft-Indies are comI. monly far more intelligent and refpeétable than thofe in Great Britain. Every candid perfons who has attended the courts of criminal jurifdiction in both countries, muft confirm this obfervation. Bur iti is to the Creoles or Natives, that we muft look for the original and peculiar caft of character impreffed by the climate, ifindeed the influence of climate be fuch as many writers imagine. For myfelf, I am of opinion that the climate of the Weft Indies difplays itfelf more ftrongly on the perfons of the Natives, than on their manners, or on the faculties of their minds. They are obvioufly a taller race, on the whole, than the Europeans; 5 but I think in gcneral not proportionably robuft. (have known feveral who were full fix feet four inches in height; but they wanted bulk, to meet our ideas of mafculine beauty. All of them, however, are diftinguifhed for the freedom and fupplenefs of their joints ; which enable them to move with great eafe and agility, as well as gracefulnels, in dancing. From the fame caufe they excel in penmanfhip, and the ufe of the fmall fword. It has been truly obferved, that the effect of climate is likewife obvious in the ftructure of the eye, the focket being confiderably deeper than among the natives of Europe. By --- Page 26 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK By this conformation, IV. thofe ill effects which they are guarded from - analmoft continual glare of fun-fhine might otherwife ftrong it is a curious produce ; and circumftance, that their fkin feels confiderably colder than that of a proof, I think, that nature has European; a peculiar means of protedting them contrived fome which fhe has denied from the heat, to the nations of regions, as unneceffary. temperate their mode of living differs Accordingly, in though that of the European no refpeét from relidents, they are obnoxious to thole rarely inflammatory diforders which frequently prove fatal to the latter. THE ladies of thefe Mlands have indeed caufe to boaft of this fortunate greater the men ; a pre-eminence exemption, than by the calm and even tenour acquired of undoubtedly by an habitual their lives, and cept the exercife temperance and felf-denial, Exof dancing, in which delight and excel, they have they avocation to impel them no amufement or either to much exertion of body or mind. Thofe blies and gambling midnight affemconventions, wherein health, fortune, and beauty, are fo frequently in the cities of facrificed known. In their Europe, are here happily unthink, abftemious diet, the Creole women are, I even to a fault. or lemonade, is the ftrongeft Simple water, they indulge; and beverage in which a vegetable mefs at noon, fealoned avocation to impel them no amufement or either to much exertion of body or mind. Thofe blies and gambling midnight affemconventions, wherein health, fortune, and beauty, are fo frequently in the cities of facrificed known. In their Europe, are here happily unthink, abftemious diet, the Creole women are, I even to a fault. or lemonade, is the ftrongeft Simple water, they indulge; and beverage in which a vegetable mefs at noon, fealoned --- Page 27 --- WEST INDIES. feafoned with cayenne pepper, conftitutes their CHAP. principal repaft. The effeét of this mode of life, I. L in a hot and oppreffive atmofphere, is a lax fibre, and a complexion in which the lily predominates rather than the rofe. To a ftranger newly arrived, the ladies appear as juft rifen from the bed of ficknefs. Their voice is foft and fpiritlefs, and every ftep betrays languor and laffitude. With a a a the fineft perfons, they certainly want that glow of health in the countenance, that delicious crimfon (lumen purpureum juventae) which, in colder countries, enlivens the coarfeft fet of features, and renders a beautiful one irrefiftible. Youth's orient bloom, the blufh of chafte defire, - The fprightly converfe, and the fmile divine, (Love's gentler train) to milder climes retire, And full in Albion's matchlefs daughters fhine. IN one of the principal features of beauty, however, few ladies furpafs the Creoles; for they have, in general, the fineft eyes of any women in the world; large, languifhing, and expreffive S fometimes beaming with animation, and fometimes melting with tendernefs; a fure index to that native goodnefs of heart and gentlenefs of difpofition for which they are eminently and defervedly applauded, and to which, combined with their fyflem of life and manners (fequeftered, domeftick, and unobtrufive) it is doubtlefs --- Page 28 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK lefs owing, that no women on IV. wives, or better carth make better mothers (e): PERHAPS, the circumftance moft able in the charaéter of the diftinguithclimate feems to Natives to which the of the contribute, is the carly mental powers in difplay quick young children; whofe perception, and rapid advances in knowledge, exceed thofe of European fame age, in a degree that is infants of the able and perfectly unaccountaftonifhing. This circumftance deed too ftriking to have is inefcaped the notice any one writer who has vifited the of of America; and the fact tropical parts blifhed to be denied, being too well eftahave confoled the philofophers of Europe the themfelves with an idea that, as genius of the young Weft Indians fooner to maturity; it declines attains that of Europeans. more rapidly than in this cafe in Nature is fappofed to act tions in a mariner analogous to her the vegetable operathat come fooneft kingdomi, where the trees time lefs firm to perfection, are at the fame and durable than thofe which quire more time for the regrowth. Itis indeed completion of their certain, that the fubfequent (e) The Creole ladies are noted for fine they preferve and kecp beautifully white very teeth, which the juice of a withe called the by a conftant ufe of thammus. It is cut into fmall Chew-fick; a fpecies of brufh. The juice is a frong pieces, and ufed as a toothtergent. bitter, and a powerful deacquirements and durable than thofe which quire more time for the regrowth. Itis indeed completion of their certain, that the fubfequent (e) The Creole ladies are noted for fine they preferve and kecp beautifully white very teeth, which the juice of a withe called the by a conftant ufe of thammus. It is cut into fmall Chew-fick; a fpecies of brufh. The juice is a frong pieces, and ufed as a toothtergent. bitter, and a powerful deacquirements --- Page 29 --- WEST INDIES. 1S acquirements of the mind in the Natives, do not CHAP. always kcep pace with its early progrefs; but the I. chief caufe (as Ulloa hath obferved) of the fhort Y duration of fuch promiling beginnings, feems to be the want of proper objeêts for exercifing the faculties. The propenfity alfo, which the climate undoubtedly encourages, to early and habitual licentioufnefs, induces a turn of mind and difpofition unfriendly to mental improvement. Among fuch of the Natives as have happily efcaped the contagion and enervating effects of youthful exceffes, men are found of capacitics as ftrong and permanent, as among any people whatever. As Icannot therefore admit that the Creoles in general poffels lefs capacity and ftability of mind than the natives of Europe, much lefs can Ia allow that they faH fhort of them in thofe qualities of the heart which render man a blefling to all around him. Generofity to each other, and a high degree of compaffion and kindnefs towards their inferiors and dependents, diftinguifh the Creoles in a very honourable manner (f). IF they are proud, their pride is allied to no meance (f), Adventurers from Europe are univerfally more 66 cruel and morofe towards the Slaves than the Creoles or 46 Native Wefl-Indians." Ramfay, Eilay on the Treatment and Converfion of the Slaves, &c. nefs. --- Page 30 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK nefs. Inftruéted from IV. a very theirinfancy to entertain Y high opinion of their own they are cautious of doing any act confequence, which leffen the confcioufnefs of their may From the fame caufe they fcorn proper dignity. concealment. every fpecies of They have a franknefs of tion beyond any people on earth. Their difpofifidence is unlimited and entire. confalfehood themfelves, Superior to others. they fufpect it not in How far this noblenefs of difpofition afcribed to the influence of a genial may be how far to education and climate, and not to diferiminate. example, I prefume The effeéts of heat on the body are fufficiently vifible; but perhaps Philofophers have relied too much on a fuppofed pathy between the body and mind: C6 fymcc tives of hot climates" The Na- < flothful and timid (fays one writer) 66 are means the ;" but timidity is by no The mind neceffary confequence of indolence. due may require great force to.roufe it to exertion; but, being properly urged, difplay qualities very oppofite to thofe ofa timid may difpofition. At leaft, timidity conftitutes of the charaéter of the Natives of no part Weft-Indies. the Britifh minant Indolence, I admit, is too predoin among them ; but that they are deficient perfonal courage, no man, who has the fmnalleft acquaintance with them, will allow for a moment. Even roufe it to exertion; but, being properly urged, difplay qualities very oppofite to thofe ofa timid may difpofition. At leaft, timidity conftitutes of the charaéter of the Natives of no part Weft-Indies. the Britifh minant Indolence, I admit, is too predoin among them ; but that they are deficient perfonal courage, no man, who has the fmnalleft acquaintance with them, will allow for a moment. Even --- Page 31 --- WEST INDIES. Even the indolence of which they are accufed,is CHAP. rather an averfion to ferious thought and deep I. refleétion, than a flothfulnefs and fluggithnefs of 1 nature. Both fexes, when the fprings ofthe mind are once fet in motion, are remarkable for a warin imagination and a high flow of fpirits. There feems indeed univerfally to reign among them a prompitude for pleafure. This effect has been afcribed, and perhaps juftly, to the levity of the atmoiphere (g). To the fame caufe is commonlyi imputed the propenfity obfervable in moft of the Weft Indians to indulge extravagant ideas of their riches; to view their circumfances through a magnifying medium, and to feaft their fancies on what another year will effect. This anticipation of imaginary wealth is fo prevalent as to become juftly ridiculous; yet I am inclined to think it is a propenfity that exifts independent of the climate and atmofphere, and that it arifes principally from the peculiar fituation of the Weft Indian Planters as land-holders. Not having, like the proprietors of landed eftates in Great Britain, frequent opportunities.of letting their plantations to fubftantial tenants, they are, for the moft part, compelled to become praétical farmers on their own lands, of which the returns are, in the highefl degree, fluétuating and uncer- (g) Mofeley on the Climate of the Weft Indies. Vor. II. - tain, --- Page 32 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK tain. Under thefe IV. circumftances, a Weft-Indian Y property is a fpecies oflottery, and as fuch, it birth to a fpirit of adventure and gives awakens enterprife, and extravagant hopes and too frequently expeétations 1 terminating in perplexity and difappointment. SucH are the few obfervations which I have noted concerning the charaéter, mannérs ofthe White difpofition, and inhabitants of thefe iflands. I proceed now to perfons of mixed blood termed People of Colour) and Native (ufually free condition. Of the Blacks of former, all the different claffes, or varieties, are not cafily diferiminated. In the Britifh Weft Indies known they are commonly by the names of Samboes, Mulattoes, droons, and Mefizes (h); but the Quafrom whom thefe Spaniards, appellations are borrowed, have many other and much nicer the diftinétions, of which following account is given by Don Anthonio (h) A Sambo is the offspring of a Black Woman Mulatto Man, or vice verfa. bya Mulatto of a Black Woman by a White Man. Quadron - of a Mulatto Woman by a White Man. Mfize Or Muftee - of a Quadroon Woman by a White Man. The offspring of a Meftize by a White law. A Meltize therefore in Man are white by Quinteron of the Spaniards, our iflands is, I fuppofe, the de given by Don Anthonio (h) A Sambo is the offspring of a Black Woman Mulatto Man, or vice verfa. bya Mulatto of a Black Woman by a White Man. Quadron - of a Mulatto Woman by a White Man. Mfize Or Muftee - of a Quadroon Woman by a White Man. The offspring of a Meftize by a White law. A Meltize therefore in Man are white by Quinteron of the Spaniards, our iflands is, I fuppofe, the de --- Page 33 --- WEST INDIES. de Ulloa, in his defcription of the inhabitants of CHAP, Carthagena : I. 66 AMONG the tribes which are derived from an intermixture of the Whites with the Negroes, the firft are the Mulattoes ; next to thefe are the Tercerones, produced from a White and a Mulatto, with fome approximation to the former, but not fo near as to obliterate their origin. After thefe, follow the Quarterones, proceeding from a White and a Terceron. The laft arc the Quinterons, who owe their origin to a White and Quarteron. This is the laft gradation, there being no vifible difference betwecn them and the Whites, either in colour or features; nay, they a are often fairer than the Spaniards. The children of a White and Quinteron confider themfelves as frec from all taint of the Negro race. Every perfon is fo jealous of the order of their tribe or caft, that if, through inadvertence, you call them by a degree lower than what they aétually are, they are highly offended. Before they attain the clafs of the Quinterones, there are feveral intervening circumftances which throw them back; for between the Mulatto and the Negro, there is an intermediate race, which they call Samboes, owing their origin to a mixture between one of thefe with an Indian, or among themfelves. Betwixt the Tercerones and Mulattocs, the Quarteranes and the Tercerones, &c. are thofe called Tente --- Page 34 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK Tente eil cl Ayre, in IV. Sn/pended the air; becaufe 1 they neither advance nor recede, Children, whofe parents are a Quarteron or Quinteron, and Mulatto or Terceron, are Salto atras a becaufe, inftead of retrogrados; advancing towards being Whites, they have gone backwards towards the Negro race. The children between a Negro and a Quinteron, are called Sambos de Negro, de Mulatto, de Terceron, &c." Ix Jamaica, and I believe in the reft of our Sugar Iflands, the defcendants of Negroes White people, entitled by birth to all the by and liberties of White fubjects in the full rights are fuch as are above three Reps removed extent, in lineal digrefion from the Negro venter. All below this, whether called Meftizes, Quadrons, or Mulattoes, are deemed by law Mulattoes. ANCIENTLY there was a diftinétion in maica between fuch of thefe Jaof freed mothers people as were born (the maxim of the civil law, partus Jequiter ventrem, prevailing in all our COlonies) and fuch as had been leafed from immediately reflavery by deed or teftament of their owners. While the former were allowed a trial byjury in criminal cafes, the latter were tried in the fame way as the common flaves, by tices and three freeholders. twonuf Jatter admitted Neither were the as evidences againft free-born nerfons, until the year 1748, when an act was pafled born (the maxim of the civil law, partus Jequiter ventrem, prevailing in all our COlonies) and fuch as had been leafed from immediately reflavery by deed or teftament of their owners. While the former were allowed a trial byjury in criminal cafes, the latter were tried in the fame way as the common flaves, by tices and three freeholders. twonuf Jatter admitted Neither were the as evidences againft free-born nerfons, until the year 1748, when an act was pafled --- Page 35 --- WEST INDIES. paffed in their favour, putting both clafieson the CHAP. fame footing. I. AT the fame time, the Iegal capacities which they poffeffed, were very imperfectly defined: The Mulattoes were allowed no other privilege than the freed Negroes, concerning whom (few of them being baptized, or fuppofed to be fonfible of the nature of an oath) the couris of law interpretedithe act of manumiffion by the owner, as nothing more than an abandonment or releafe of his own proper authority over the perfon of the flave, which did not, and could not, convey to the objeét of his bounty, the civil and political rights of a natural-born fubject 3 and the fame principle was applied to the iffue of freed mothers, until after the third generation from the Negro anceftor. THE principal incapacities to which thefc people are now fubject, as diftinét from the Whites, are thefe; FIRST; In moft of the Britifh Iflands, their evidence is not received in criminal cafes againft a White perfon, nor even againft a perfon of Colour, in whofe favour a particular act has been paffed by the legiflature. In this refpect they feem to be placed on a worfe footing than the enflaved Negroes, who have mafters that are interefted in their proteétion, and who, C3 if --- Page 36 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK if their flaves are IV. cover maltreated, have a right to re1 damages, by an aétion on the cafe*, SECONDLY; They are denied the privilege of being eligible to ferve in parochial veftries general affemblies; ; or of acting in and publick truft, even fo low as that of any office of neither are they a conftable; permitted to hold even in the Black and Mulatto commifions militia. companies of They are precluded alfo from at eleétions of members to ferve in the voting It may be urged, however, that the affembly. England require laws of of baptifin, and a certain degree property, in fimilar cafes, THIRDLY; By an act of the affembly of Jamaica, paffed in the year 1762, it is that a teflamentary devife from enaéted, to a Negro or a White perfon Mulatto, not born in of real or perfonal eftate, wedlock, 6.2,000 excecding in value currency, Thall be void, and the perty defcend to the heir at law. proAs fome counterbalance however to thefe ftrictions, the reis readily afembly, on proper application, enough inclined to pafs granting the privileges of White privaterads, fome people, with limitations, to fuch perfons of have been regularly Colour as baptized, and properly edu. . In Jamaica, this has been fince the publication of gricvance the former editions, partly redreffed cated, currency, Thall be void, and the perty defcend to the heir at law. proAs fome counterbalance however to thefe ftrictions, the reis readily afembly, on proper application, enough inclined to pafs granting the privileges of White privaterads, fome people, with limitations, to fuch perfons of have been regularly Colour as baptized, and properly edu. . In Jamaica, this has been fince the publication of gricvance the former editions, partly redreffed cated, --- Page 37 --- WEST INDIES. cated. On the fame ground, private bills are CHAP. fometimes paffed to authorize gentlemen of forI. ) tune, under particular circumftances, to devife their eftates to their reputed Mulatto children, notwithftanding the act of 1762. BuT there is this mifchief arifing from the fyftem of rigour oftenfibly maintained by the laws againft this unfortunate race of people; that it tends to degrade them in their own eyes, and in the eyes of the community to which they belong. This is carried fo far, as to make them at once wretched to themfelves, and ufelefs to the publick. It very frequently happens that the loweft White perfon, confidering himfelf as greatly fuperior to the richeft and beft-educated Free man of Colour, will difdain to affociate with a perfon of the latter defcription ; treating him as the Egyptians treated the Ifraclites, with whom they held it an abomination 10 eat bread. To this evil, arifing from publick opinion, no partialinterpofition of the legiflature in favour ofindividuals, affords an effectual remedy and the confequence is, that inftead of a benefit, thefe unhappy people are a burthen and a reproach to fociety. They have no motives of fufficient efficacy either to engage them in the fervice of their country, or in profitable labour for their own advantage. Their progrefs in civility and knowledge is animated by no encouragement; 5 their attachment is reC. 4 ceived evil, arifing from publick opinion, no partialinterpofition of the legiflature in favour ofindividuals, affords an effectual remedy and the confequence is, that inftead of a benefit, thefe unhappy people are a burthen and a reproach to fociety. They have no motives of fufficient efficacy either to engage them in the fervice of their country, or in profitable labour for their own advantage. Their progrefs in civility and knowledge is animated by no encouragement; 5 their attachment is reC. 4 ceived --- Page 38 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK ceived. without IV, approbation; ; and their ) exerted without reward (i). diligence I AM bappy however to affert with their fidelity and truth, that loyalty have hitherto remained unimpeached and unfufpeéted. Tothe they are objeêts of Negroes fame or a envy and hatred; for the Whites greater degree of fueperiority which the affume over them, the free claim to over the Blacks, Mulattoes lay the idea of Thefe, again, abhor being flaves to the defcendants of (i) It would furely be a wife and humane grant to every free Negro and law that fhould competent witnef, in all criminal Mulatto, the right of being a in thofe of perfonal cates, and more elpecially might be injury to himfelf * proper to require of fuch -Perhaps indeedit tifm, and the abilityto read and perfons the proof of bapufeful regulations might be made write; and 1 think that fome leges to the coloured people to apportion greater privito the Whites; a fyftem which according to tbeir approximation but to keep up and render ufefel would not ferve to confound, local caufes have created, and which thofe diftinétions which inan to abolif. To the it is not in the power of (who poffefs the necefary Quadrons and Meflizes forinflance would grant the right of veting qualification for in rval property) I fembly. Such a privilege would give reprefentativesint them theaf. community, and attach them an intereft in the In favour of fuch perfons powerfully to its dified. Whether it would alfo, be the act of 1762 might government. be mnodeep and difficult wife to repeal it alrogether, isa local manners and queftion. Men who are unacquainted with an opinion in this cafe. cuftoms, are not competent to pronounce freed The Affembly of Jamaica have lately people in that Iland, granted this privilege to the flaves, refentativesint them theaf. community, and attach them an intereft in the In favour of fuch perfons powerfully to its dified. Whether it would alfo, be the act of 1762 might government. be mnodeep and difficult wife to repeal it alrogether, isa local manners and queftion. Men who are unacquainted with an opinion in this cafe. cuftoms, are not competent to pronounce freed The Affembly of Jamaica have lately people in that Iland, granted this privilege to the flaves, --- Page 39 --- WEST INDIES. flaves. Thus circumftanced, the general cha- CHAP. raéter of the Mulattoes is ftrongly marked by I. the peculiarity of their fituation ; and I cannot but think that they are, on the whole, objeéts of favour and compaffion. Ix their deportment towards the White people they are humble, fubmiffive, and unaffuming. Their fpirits feems to fink under the confcioufneis of their condition. They are accufed however of proving bad mafters when invefted with power 5 and their conduét towards their flaves is faid to be, in a high degree, harth and imperious. Ifufpedt there is fome truth in this reprefentation ; for it is the general charaéteriftick of human nature, that men whofe authority is moft liable to be difputed, are the-moft jealous of any infringement of it, and the moft vigilant in its fupport. THE accufation generally brought againft the free people of Colour, is the incontinency of their women 5 of whom, fuch as are young, and have tolerable perfons, are univerfally maintained by White men of all ranks and conditions, as kept miftreffes. The fact is too notorious to be concealed or controverted; and I truft I have too great an efteem for my fair readers, and too high a refpeét for myfelf, to ftand forth the advocate of licentioufnefs and debauchery. Undoubtedly, the conduét of many of the Whites in --- Page 40 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK in'this refpedt, is a IV. violation of all decency and - deeorum; and an infult and injury to Let it not offend any modeft focicty. add my opinion, that the ear, however, if I fpoken of, are much lefs unhappy females here reprehenfion than their deferving reproach and keepers. I fay this, from confidering their education and condition in for fuch are the unfortunate life; their birth, that not one in fifty of circumftances them of to write or read. Profitable is taught fore, from thofe who inftruétion therewithheld from are capable of giving it, is them ; and unhappily, the men of their own young ftate of complexion, are in too low a degradation, to think of On the other hand, no White man of matrimony. pearance, unlefs decent apconfiderable urged by the temptation of a hand in fortune, will condefcend to give his marriage to a Mulatto! The is fhocking. Thus, excluded very idea all hope of ever as they are from arriving to the honour and pinefs of wedlock, infenfible of its hapbeauty and fanctity 3 ignorant of all chriftian and obligations; threatened by moral their paffions, and poverty, urged by what encouraged by example; upon principle can we expect thefe ill-fated women to act otherwife than they do? NEITHER thould it be forgotten, at the fame time, that very few of thefe poor females, in parifon of the whole, are guilty of that infamous comfpecics honour and pinefs of wedlock, infenfible of its hapbeauty and fanctity 3 ignorant of all chriftian and obligations; threatened by moral their paffions, and poverty, urged by what encouraged by example; upon principle can we expect thefe ill-fated women to act otherwife than they do? NEITHER thould it be forgotten, at the fame time, that very few of thefe poor females, in parifon of the whole, are guilty of that infamous comfpecics --- Page 41 --- WEST INDIES. fpecies of profligacy and proftitution, which CHAP, flourifhes, without principle or fhame, and in I. the broad eye of day, throughout all the cities 1 of Europe. In their drefs and carriage they are modeft, and in converfation referved; ; and they frequently manifeft a fidelity and attachment towards their keepers, which, if it be not virtuc, is fomething very like it. The terms and manner of their compliance too are commonly as decent, though perhaps not as folemn, as thofe of marriage; and the agreement they confider equally innocent ; giving themfelves up to the hufband (for fo he is called) with faith plighted, with fentiment, and with affection. THAT this fyftem ought to be utterly abolithed I moft readily admit. Juftice towards the many beautiful and virtuous young ladies refident in thefe iflands, cries aloud for a thorough reformation of manners : But by whom is fuch a reform to be begun and accomplifhed ? It can hardly be expected, I think, from the objects of our prefent enquiries, who are confcious of no vices which their chriftian inftruétors have not taught them; and whofe good qualities (few and limited as they are) flow chiefly from their own native original character and difpofition. OF thofe qualities, the moft ftriking Îs tendernefs of heart; a foftnefs or fympathy of mind towards affliction and diftrefs, which I conceive is --- Page 42 --- HISTORY OF THE EOOK is feldom difplayed in either IV. extreme of - - fperity or wretchednefs. Thofe who have proexperienced any of the viciffitudes and never mities of life, turn averfe from the calation of them; and thofe contemplaagain who are wretched themfelves, have no leifure to attend to the fufferings of others: but the benevolence of the poor people of whom I treat, is not merely folitary and contemplative; it is an aétive in which they may be faid principle, and I have the particularly to excel; authority of a great writer before quoted (Don Anthonio De me in this Ulloa) to fupport kindnefs reprefentation. Speaking of their to many poor Europcans, who, in the hopes of mending their fortunes, Spanifh Weft-Indies, repair to the known, he has the where they are utterly unfollowing account of fuch them as are called at Carthagena of he fays, men without Prulizones; being, commendation. C6 employment, ftock, or reMany of thefe (he after traverfing the ftreets until obferves) thing left to they have noreduced procure them lodging or food, are to have recourfe to the laft the Francifcan extremity, hofpital ; where they in a quantity barely fufficient receive, kind of made to preferve life, a pap of caffada, of which the Natives themfelves will not eat. This is theirf their lodging is the porticoes of the food; churches, until their fquares and good fortune throws them in treets until obferves) thing left to they have noreduced procure them lodging or food, are to have recourfe to the laft the Francifcan extremity, hofpital ; where they in a quantity barely fufficient receive, kind of made to preferve life, a pap of caffada, of which the Natives themfelves will not eat. This is theirf their lodging is the porticoes of the food; churches, until their fquares and good fortune throws them in --- Page 43 --- WEST INDIES. in the way of fome trader going up the country, CHAP. who wants a fervant. The city merchants, ftandI. ing in no need of them, difcountenance thefe adventurers. Affedted by the difference of the climate, aggravated by bad food, dejeéted and tortured by the entire difappointment of their rOmantick hopes, they fall fick; without any other fuccour to apply to, than Divine Providence. Now it is that the charity of the people of Colour becomes confpicuous. The Negro and Mulatto free women, moved at the deplorable condition of thefe poor wretches, carry them to their houfes, and nurfe them with the greateft care and affection. If any one die, they bury him by the alms they procure, and even caufe maffes to be faid for his foul." IBELIEVE that no man, who is acquainted with the general conduét and difpofition of the fame clafs of people in our own iflands, will doubt that they would act as benevolently and humanely, under fimilar circumftances, as thofe of Carthagena. Their tendernefs, as nurfes, towards the fick; their difinterefted gratitude and attachment where favours are fhewn them 5 and their peaceful deportment under a rigorous fyf tem of laws, and the influence of manners ftill more oppreflive, afford great room to lament that a more enlightened and liberal policy is not adopted towards them. The enfranchifement of fuch will doubt that they would act as benevolently and humanely, under fimilar circumftances, as thofe of Carthagena. Their tendernefs, as nurfes, towards the fick; their difinterefted gratitude and attachment where favours are fhewn them 5 and their peaceful deportment under a rigorous fyf tem of laws, and the influence of manners ftill more oppreflive, afford great room to lament that a more enlightened and liberal policy is not adopted towards them. The enfranchifement of fuch --- Page 44 --- 30" HISTORY OF THE EOOK fuch as are enflaved, Chriftian IV. whole, and inftruction to the - encouragement to their would, in time, make them a ufeful induftry, clafs of and valuable citizens; ; induce them to each other, and render intermarry with vicious their prefent relaxed and fyftem of life, as odious in it is baneful to fociety appearance, as (k). HITHERTO I have confined people who, myfelf to thofe having fome portion of blood in their veins, Chriftian circumftance, pride themfelves on that and to the confcious value which it is probable that of commendable in fome part of what is their conduét is owing. The (h) The Rev. Mr. Ramfay has concerning thefe enlarged on the fame idea 4 women, he obferves unfortunate pcople, 66 Children of Mulatto 66 by White men) fhould (meaning, be I prefume, their children 46 Intendants fhould be declared free from their birth. 66 time to fuch trade or appointed to fee them placed out in 66 inclination and the demands bufinefs as may beft agree with their 66 done at the expence of of the colony: : this thould be 6 might be depofited in the their fathers, and a fuflicient fum 46 foon after their hands of the birth, to anfwer the churchwandens, keeping the purpofe; the intendant 66 the number' churchwardens of free to their duty. Byt thefe means 6s the colonies, and add to citizens their would infenfibly increafe in 6 rank of citizens, fecurity and ftrength. A new 66 races, would be placed between the Black and White 66 themfelves to the eflablifhed, White They would naturally attach 6 lation, and fo become race as the moft honourable rect Black, &c." All a barrier againft the defigns of the theory, but, I am this, however, is eafily propofed in than Mr. afraid, more difficult to adopt in Ramfay was aware of, praétice free --- Page 45 --- WEST INDIES. free Blacks, not having the fame advantage, CHAP. have not the fame emulation to excel. In truth, I. they differ but little from their brethren in bonds, whofe manners, genius, and charaéter, will be the fubject of my next enquiries. I thall therefore conclude the prefent chapter by prefenting to my readers, a performance of a deceafed friend, in which the charaéter of the fable and faffron beauties of the Weft-Indies, and the folly of their paramours, are pourtrayed with the delicacy and dexterity of wit, and the fancy and elegance of genuine poetry. I. they differ but little from their brethren in bonds, whofe manners, genius, and charaéter, will be the fubject of my next enquiries. I thall therefore conclude the prefent chapter by prefenting to my readers, a performance of a deceafed friend, in which the charaéter of the fable and faffron beauties of the Weft-Indies, and the folly of their paramours, are pourtrayed with the delicacy and dexterity of wit, and the fancy and elegance of genuine poetry. --- Page 46 --- HISTORY OF THE THE SABLE VENUS; An ODE. (Written in Janaica.) Alba liguftra cadunt vaccinia nigra leguntur. VIRG, BOOK IV. Iroxe had my gay lyre forfook, But ftrung it t'other day, and took T'wards HELICON my way; The mufès all, th' affembly grac'd, The prefident himfelf was plac'd, By chance 'twas concert-day. ERATO fmil'd to fee me come ; Afk'd why I ftaid fo much at home $ I own'd my conduét But now, the fable wrong jqueen oflove, Refolv'd my gratitude to prove, Had fent me for a fong, The ladies look'd extremely fhy, APOLLO's finile was arch and fly, But not one word they faid: Ig gaz'd,-fure filence is confent,- I made my bow, away I went; Was not my duty paid ? Come --- Page 47 --- a . X --- Page 48 --- CEPICA --- Page 49 --- W E S T INDIES, Come to my bofom, genial fire, CHAP: Soft founds, and lively thoughts infpire; I. Unufual is my theme : Not fuch diffolving OvID fung, Nor melting SAPPHO's glowing tongue,- More dainty mine I deem. Sweet is the beam of morning bright, Yet fweet the fober fhade of night; On rich ANGOLA's fhores, While beauty clad in fable dye, Enchanting fires the wond'ring eye, Farewell, ye PAPHIAN bow'rs. O fable Queen! thy mild domain I feek, and court thy gentle reign, So foothing, foft and fweet; Where meeting love, fincere delight, Fond pleafure, ready joys invite, And unbought raptures meet, The prating FRANK, the SPANIARD proud, The double ScoT, HIBERNIAN loud, And fullen ENGLISH own The pleafing foftnefs of thy fway, And here, transferr'd allegiance pay, For gracious is thy throne. VoL, II, D From --- Page 50 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK From Eaft to Weft, o'er either IV. Ind' Y Thy fcepter fivays; thy pow'r we find By both the tropicks felt ; The blazing fun that gilds the zone, Waits but the triumphs of thy throne. Quite round the burning belt. When thou, this large domain to view, JAMAICA's ifle, thy conqueft new, Firft left thy native thore, Bright was the morn, and foft the breeze, With wanton joy the curling feas The beauteous burthen bore. Ofiv'ry was the car, inlaid With ev'ry Thell of lively fhade; The throne was burnith'd gold: The footftool gay with coral beam'd, The wheels with brighteft amber gleam'd, And glift'ring round they roll'd. The peacock and the oftrich fpread Their beauteous plumes, a trembling thade, Froin noon-day's fultry flame: Sent by their fire, the careful Enft, The wanton breezes fann'd her breaft, And flutter'd round the dame. The bore. Ofiv'ry was the car, inlaid With ev'ry Thell of lively fhade; The throne was burnith'd gold: The footftool gay with coral beam'd, The wheels with brighteft amber gleam'd, And glift'ring round they roll'd. The peacock and the oftrich fpread Their beauteous plumes, a trembling thade, Froin noon-day's fultry flame: Sent by their fire, the careful Enft, The wanton breezes fann'd her breaft, And flutter'd round the dame. The --- Page 51 --- WEST INDIES. The winged fifh, in purple trace CHAP. The chariot drew; with eafy grace I. Their azure rein the guides: And now they fly, and now they fwim; Now o'er the wave they lightly fkim, Or dart beneath the tides. Each bird that haunts the rock and bay, Each fcaly native of the fea, Came crowding o'er the main: The dolphin fhews his thoufand dyes, The grampus his enormous fize, And gambol in her train. Hef fkin excoll'd the raven plume, Her breath the fragrant orange bloom, Her eye the tropick beam : Soft was her lip as filken down, And mild her look as ev'ning fun That gilds the COBRE (1) ftream, The lovelieft limbs her form compofe, Such as her fifter VENUS chofe, In FLORENCE, where fhe's feen; Both juft alike, except the white, No difference, no-none at night, The beauteous dames between. (1) Ariver fo called in Jamaica. D 2 With --- Page 52 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK With native eafe ferene the fat, Y IV. In elegance of charms compleat, And every heart the won : Falfe drefs deformity may fhade, True beauty courts no foreign aid : Can tapers light the fun 1 The pow'r that rules old ocean wide, "Twas he, they fay, had calm'd the tide, Beheld the chariot roll : Affum'd the figure of a tar, The Captain of a man of war, And told her all his foul. She fimil'd with kind confenting eyes 1 Beauty was ever valour's prize; He rais'd a murky cloud : The tritons found, the firens fing, The dolphins dance, the billows ring, And joy fills all the crowd. Bleft ofispring of the warm embrace! Fond ruler of the crifped race ! Tho' ftrong thy bow, dear boy, Thy mingled fhafts of black and white, Are wing'd with feathers of delight, Their points are tipt with joy But, --- Page 53 --- WEST INDIES, But, when her ftep had touch'd the ftrand, CHAP. Wild rapture feiz'd the ravifh'd land, IV, From ev'ry part they came : - Each mountain, valley, plain, and grove Hafte eagerly to fhew their love; Right welcome was the dame. PORT-ROYAL fhouts were heard aloud, Gay Sr. IAGO fent a crowd, Grave KINGSTON not a few : No rabble rout,--I heard it faid, Some great ones join'd the cavalcadeThe Mufe will not fay who. Gay Goddefs of the fable fmile! Propitious ftill, this grateful Ile With thy proteétion blefs I Here fix, fecure, they conftant throne; Where all adoring thee, do QNE, ONE Deity confefs, For me, ifIno longer own Allegiance to the CYPRIAN throne, I play no fickle part; It were ingratitude to flight Superior kindnefs; I delight To feel a grateful heart. D3 Then Some great ones join'd the cavalcadeThe Mufe will not fay who. Gay Goddefs of the fable fmile! Propitious ftill, this grateful Ile With thy proteétion blefs I Here fix, fecure, they conftant throne; Where all adoring thee, do QNE, ONE Deity confefs, For me, ifIno longer own Allegiance to the CYPRIAN throne, I play no fickle part; It were ingratitude to flight Superior kindnefs; I delight To feel a grateful heart. D3 Then --- Page 54 --- HISTORYOF THE BOOK Then, playful Goddefs! ceafe to IV, Nor in new beauties vainly change, range; Tho' whatfoe'er thy view, Try ev'ry form thou canft put on, III follow thee thro' ev'ry one 5 So' ftaunch am I, fo true. Do thou in gentle PHIBIA fmile, In artful BENNEBA beguile, In wanton MiMBA pout 5 In fprightly CUBA's eyes look gay, Or grave in fober QUASHEBA, I ftill thall find thee out. Thus have I fung; perhaps too gay Such fubject for fuch time of day, And fitter far for youth : Should then the fong too wanton feem, You know who chofe th' unlucky Dear BRYAN tell the truth, theme, --- Page 55 --- WEST INDIES. CHA P. II. Of Negroes in afate of Slavery. Preliminary Obfervations. - Origin of the Slave Trade-Portuguefe Settlements on the African Coaf.-Negroes introduced into Hifpaniola in 1502, and the Slave Trade revived at the infance of Barth. de las Cafas, in 1517-Haukiu's Voyages to the Coaf, in 1562 and 1563-African Company efablifhed by Tames I.-Second charter in 1631 by Charles L-Third charter in 1662-Fourth charter in 1672.-Efeg of the Petition and Declaration of Right in 1688.-485 of the gtle and Ioth of William and Mary, C. 26.-New regulations in 1750.- Defcription efthe African, Coaf. - Forts and Factories. - Exports from Great Britain-Number of Negroes tranfported annually to the Britifh Colonies-State of the Trade from 1771 10 1787-Nunber of Negroes at this time exported amnually by the difereut Nations of Europe. Turp progrefs of my work has now brought me CHAP. to the contemplation of human nature in its II. Y moft debafed and abjeét ftatc;-to the fad profpeêt of 450,000 reafonable beings (in the Englifh iflands only) in a ftate of barbarity and flavery 3 of whom-I will not fay the major part, butD4 great 10 1787-Nunber of Negroes at this time exported amnually by the difereut Nations of Europe. Turp progrefs of my work has now brought me CHAP. to the contemplation of human nature in its II. Y moft debafed and abjeét ftatc;-to the fad profpeêt of 450,000 reafonable beings (in the Englifh iflands only) in a ftate of barbarity and flavery 3 of whom-I will not fay the major part, butD4 great --- Page 56 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK great numbers affuredly, have been torn from IV. their native country and Y deareft conneétions, by means on which no good mind can refleét but with fentiments of diguft, commiferation, and forrow! I AM not unapprized of the danger I incur at thisjuncture (a) in treating the fubject of African Slavery, and the Slave Trade. By endeavouring to removethofe wild and ill-foundedn notions which havel been long encouraged by mifinformed writers in Great Britain, to the prejudice of the inhabitants of the Britifh Sugar Iflands, I am confcious that I fhall be expofed to all that 66 bitternefs and wrath, and anger and clamour, and and malice, 93 with which it has long evil-fpeaking been do load the unfortunate popular flave-holder: : yet nothing is more certain than that the Slave Trade be very wicked, and the planters in general may innocent. By far the greateft part of the prefent very inhabitants of the Britifh Weft Indies came into poffeffion of their plantations by accident. inheritance or Many perfons there are, in Great Britain itfelf, who amidft the continual fluétuation of human: affairs, and the changes incident property, find themfelves poffeffed of eftates to the Weft Indies which they have in invefted with never feen, and powers over their fellow çreatures (a) Alluding to the petitions depending in (1791) for an abolition of the Slave Trade, parliament therc, --- Page 57 --- WI EST INDIES. there, which, however extenfively odious, they CHAP. have never abufed : fome of thefe gentlemen, unII. acquainted with local circumftances, and mifled by the popular outcry, humanely gave orders to emancipate all their flaves, at whatever expence; but are fince convinced that their benevolent purpofes cannot be carriedinto effect confiftently even with the happinefs of the Negroes themfelves.-The Reverend Society eftablifhed in Great Britain for propagating the Gofpel in foreign parts, are themfelves under this very predicament. That venerable body hold a plantation in Barbadoes under a devife of Calonel Codrington ; and they have found themielves not only under the difagreeable neceffity of fupporting the fyftem of flavery which was bequeathed to them with the land ; but are induced alfo, from the pureft and beft motives, to purchafe Occafionally a certain number of Negroes, in order to divide the work, and keep up the ftock. They well know that moderate labour, unaccompanied with that wretched anxiety to which the poor of England are fubject, in making provifion for the day that is paffing over them, is a ftate of comparative felicity: and they know alfo, that men in favage life have no incentive to emulation : perfuafion is loft on fuch men, and compulfion, to 2 certain degree, is humanity and charity, THE number of Negroes, in order to divide the work, and keep up the ftock. They well know that moderate labour, unaccompanied with that wretched anxiety to which the poor of England are fubject, in making provifion for the day that is paffing over them, is a ftate of comparative felicity: and they know alfo, that men in favage life have no incentive to emulation : perfuafion is loft on fuch men, and compulfion, to 2 certain degree, is humanity and charity, THE --- Page 58 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK THE queftion then, and the IV.. wherein only - Y the charaéter of the planters is queftion ed, is this:-Making due allowance concernfrailty under the influence of for human 'ever a degree of power dangerous to virtue, is their general towards their flaves fuch conduét fults from their only as neceffarily refituation? Ifto this affirmative be returned, enquiry, an zity, though it furely Chriftian chamay Jament and condemn the firft eftablithment of a fyftem of flavery and the means by which it is ftill among them, fupported, will not kept up and neither haftily arraign thofe who introduced, nor, as I thall hereafter have been wanting in their beft fhew, correét and remedy many of the evils endeavours ofit. ta HAVING premifed thus much, I Thall now proceed to lay before my readers fome account of the origin and prefent ftate of the Slave between the nations of Africa and fuch of Trade, States of Europe as are the conftitute what concernedinit: this will remains of the prefent In the next, I Thall offer fome chapter. Negro charaéter and thoughts on the I fhall difpofition : after which treat; firft, ofthe means by which are procured in Africa; flaves conveying fécondly, ofthe mode of them to the Weft Indies; and of their general treatment and thirdly, foldt to the planters there fituation when will afford : an arrangement which opportunitics of illuftrating the forcgoing --- Page 59 --- WEST INDIES. going obfervations, by enabling me to interfperfe CHAP, fuch refleétions as occur to my mind on the II. feveral petitions now depending in parliament 3 for a total abolition of the Slave Trade, all or the greateft part of which are grounded on abufes charged to exift under thofe feveral heads. IN the year 1442, while the Portuguefe, under the encouragement of their celebrated Prince Henry, were exploring the coaft of Africa, Anthony Gonfalez, who two years before had feized fome Moors near Cape Bojador, was by that prince ordered to carry his prifoners back to Africa : he landed them at Rio del-Oro, and received from the Moors in exchange, ten Blacks, and a quantity of gold duft, with which he returned to Lifbon. THE fuccefs of Gonfaiez, not only awakened the admiration, but ftimulated the avarice of his countrymen; ; who, in the courfe of a few fucceeding years, fitted out no lefs than thirtyfeven fhips in purfuit of the fame gainful traffick. In 1481, the Portuguefe built a fort on the Gold Coaft; another, fome time afterwards, on the Iiland of Arguin; ; and a third at Loango Saint Paul's, on the coaft of Angola; and the king of Portugal took the title of Lord of Guiney. So early as the year 1502, the Spainards began to employ a few Negroes in the mines of Hifpaniola; ucceeding years, fitted out no lefs than thirtyfeven fhips in purfuit of the fame gainful traffick. In 1481, the Portuguefe built a fort on the Gold Coaft; another, fome time afterwards, on the Iiland of Arguin; ; and a third at Loango Saint Paul's, on the coaft of Angola; and the king of Portugal took the title of Lord of Guiney. So early as the year 1502, the Spainards began to employ a few Negroes in the mines of Hifpaniola; --- Page 60 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK niola; but, in the year IV. governor of that ifland, following, Ovando, the - forbad the tation ofthem; furtherimpor alledging, that they taught the Indians all manner ofwickednefs, and rendered them lefs traétable than formerly (6). So dreadfully rapid, however, was the decreafe of thefe laft-mentioned unfortunate people, as to induce the court of Spain a few years afterwards, to revoke the ders iffued by Ovando, and to authorize, orby royal authority, the introduétion of African Slaves from the Portuguefe Settlements on the coaft of Guiney. In the year 1517, the Emperor Charles V. granted a patent to certain perfons for the exclufive fupply of 4,000 Negroes to the iflands of Hifpaniola, Cuba, annually, Puerto Rico (c). This Jamaica, and patent having been affigned to fome Genoefe merchants, the fupply of Negroes to the Spanifh American became from that time an eftablifhed and plantations branch of commerce. regular THE concurrence of the Emperor in this meafure was obtained at the folicitation of Bartholomew de las Cafas, Bilhop of Chiapa, the celebrated proteétor and advocate of the and the conduét of this great Indians; prelate, on that OCcafion, has been the fubject of much cenfureand (b) Herrera, Decad. I. lib. 5.c. 12, (e) Herrera, Decad, 2. lib, 2. C. 20, animadl. --- Page 61 --- WEST INDIES. animadverfion. He is charged with the ini- CHAP. quitous abfurdity of reducing one race of men II. to flavery, while he was concerting the means of Y reftoring freedom te another. 66 While he contended," fays a late writer (d), c for the liberty of the people born in one quarter of the globe, he laboured to enilave the inhabitants of another region; and, in the warmth of his zcal to fave the Americans from the yoke, pronounced it to be lawful and expedient to impofe onc, Aill heavier, upon the Africans." It would be difficult perhaps to fay what yoke could well be heavier than the rigorous one impofed by the Spaniards on the wretched Indians; ; under which, as the fame Hiftorian elfewhere relates, the Natives of Hifpaniola 66 were reduced, in the fhort fpace of fifteen years, from at leaft a million, to fixty thoufand." But the conduét of Las Calas is not fully and fairly ftated in the foregoing reprefentation; for it fuppofes that each clafs of pleople (the Negroes and Indians) was found in a fimilar condition and fituation of life, whereas it is notorious that many of the Negroes imported from Africa, are born of enflaved parents, are bred up as Slaves themfelves, and as fuch have been habituated to labour from their infancy. On this account we are told, that one able (d) Robinfon, Hift. Amer. Negro of Las Calas is not fully and fairly ftated in the foregoing reprefentation; for it fuppofes that each clafs of pleople (the Negroes and Indians) was found in a fimilar condition and fituation of life, whereas it is notorious that many of the Negroes imported from Africa, are born of enflaved parents, are bred up as Slaves themfelves, and as fuch have been habituated to labour from their infancy. On this account we are told, that one able (d) Robinfon, Hift. Amer. Negro --- Page 62 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK Negro Was capable of iv. four Indians. performing the work of On the other hand, the condition of thefe laft-mentioned moved from people was widely rea ftate of flavery. C The inhabitants of thefe iflands," fays a ec have been fo ufed to the cotemporary writer, in a life of plenty and enjoyment of liberty, paftime, that the of fervitude is yoke infupportable to them; and affuredly, if they would but embrace our ligion, they would be the holy rehappieft of human beings in the enjoyment of their ancient freedom (e)." Las Cafas therefore fonably contended, reaenough, that men inured to fervitude and drudgery, who could tion of circumftances experience no alterafrom a change of and who felt not the fentiments which mafters, alone can infpire, were not fo freedom great objeéts of commiferation, as thofe who, having joyed the fweets of unbounded always endenly liberty, were fuddeprived of it, and urged to tafks of labour which their ftrength was unable to Las Cafas could neither perform. abufes and evils that prevent nor forefee the have arifen from the of traffick recommended fyftem therefore by him, and is not juftly chargeable with the rafhnefs, abfurdity, and iniquity, which have fince been imputed to his conduét. (e) Pet. Martyr, Decad. Op --- Page 63 --- WEST INDIES. Or the Englifh, the firft who is known to CHAP, have been concerned in this commerce, was the II. celebrated John Hawkins, who afterwards re- 1 ceived from Queen Elizabeth the honour of knighthood, and was made treafurer of the navy. His adventures are recorded by Hakluyt, a COtemporary hiftorian. Having made feveral voyages to the Canary iflands, and there received information (fays Hakluyt) 66 that Negroes were 66 very good merchandize in Hifpaniola, and that 46 ftore of Negroes might cafily be had on the tc Coaft of Guiney, he refolved to make trial €e thercof, and communicated that device, with &6 his worfhipful friends of London, Sir Lionel c6 Ducket, Sir Thomas Lodge, Mafter Gunfon K6 (his father-in-law) Sir William Winter, Mafter tc Bromfield, and others; all which perfons liked K fo well of his intention, that they became litc beral contributors and adventurers in the acCc tion; for which purpofe there were three good ec thips immediately provided, the Salomon of 6E 120 tunne, wherein Mafter Hawkins himielf 56 went, as general; the Swallow, of IOO tunnes, 66 and the Jonas, a bark of 40 tunnes; ; in which xE fmall fleete, Mafter Hawkins took with him € IOO men." HAWKINS failed from England for Sicrra Leone, in the month of Oétober I 562, and in 3 fhort and adventurers in the acCc tion; for which purpofe there were three good ec thips immediately provided, the Salomon of 6E 120 tunne, wherein Mafter Hawkins himielf 56 went, as general; the Swallow, of IOO tunnes, 66 and the Jonas, a bark of 40 tunnes; ; in which xE fmall fleete, Mafter Hawkins took with him € IOO men." HAWKINS failed from England for Sicrra Leone, in the month of Oétober I 562, and in 3 fhort --- Page 64 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK a fhort time after his arrival on the IV. into his coaft, got ) poffeffion, partly (fays Hakluyt) by the fword, and partly by other means, to the number of 300 Negroes, befides other merchandize, with which he proceeded direétly for Hifpaniola, and touching at different ports in that mand, difpoled of the whole of his cargo in exchange for hides, ginger, fugar, and fome pearls; and arrived in England in September I 563, after a very profperous voyage, which brought great profit to the adventurers. THE fuccefs which had attended this firft expedition, appears to have attraéted the notice, and excited the avarice of the Britifh government; for we find Hawkins, in the year following, appointed to the command of one of the Queen's fhips, the Jefus of 700 tons, and with the Solomon, the Tiger, a bark of 50 tons, and the Swallow, a bark of 30 tons, fent a fecond time on the fame trading expedition ; but with what part of the profits for his own fhare, is not mentioned. He failed from Plymouth, the 18th of Oétober 1564, and the fame day joined at fea the Minion, another of the Queen's fhips, commanded by captain David Carlet, and which, with two others, the John Baptift, and the Merlin, were likewife bound for Guiney. THE hiftory of this voyage is related at large in --- Page 65 --- WEST INDIES in Hakluyt's Colleétion, by a perfon who em- CHAP. barked with Hawkins; from whofe account it II. - 1 appears, that the fleet was difperfed by a violent gale of wind, in the Bay of Bifcay; ; that the Merlin caught fire and blew up; that the John Baptift put back, but that all the other veffels arrived at length at Cape Verde, on the Coaft of Africa. 66 The people of Cape Verde,' 19 fays the writer, < are called Leoplares, and are counted <6 the goodlieft men of all others faving the c6 Congoes, who inhabit this fide the Cape de cc Buena Efpcrance. Thefe Leophares have wars 6 againft the Jaloffs, which are borderers by Te them. Thefe men alfo are more civil than 46 any other, becaufe of their daily trafficke with <6 the Frenchmen, and are of a nature very gentle <6 and loving. Here we ftayed- but one night, 66 and part of the day, for the 7th of December 4 we çame away ; in that intending to have 66 taken negrocs there perforce; the Minion's <6 men gave them to underftand of our coming, 4f and our pretence; wherefore they did avoyde 46 the fnares wc had lay'd for them." Ir feems probable from this account, that the çaptain of the Minion having an independent çommand, was jealous of Hawkins's authority, or, it is rathér to be hoped, was fhocked at the exceffes to which his avarice urged him, in laying Inares to feize and çarry off the unoffending NaVoi, II. E tives, men gave them to underftand of our coming, 4f and our pretence; wherefore they did avoyde 46 the fnares wc had lay'd for them." Ir feems probable from this account, that the çaptain of the Minion having an independent çommand, was jealous of Hawkins's authority, or, it is rathér to be hoped, was fhocked at the exceffes to which his avarice urged him, in laying Inares to feize and çarry off the unoffending NaVoi, II. E tives, --- Page 66 --- 5o HISTORY OF THE BOOK tives. After this, the IV. in Minion no longer acted Y concert, nor failed in company with Hawkins and his fquadron. ON the 8th of December, Hawkins anchored at a fmall ifland called Alcatrafa, At this we are informed that the Jefus and Solomon place riding at anchor, the two barks with their boats, went to an ifland belonging to a people called the Sapies, to fce if they could take any of the inhabitants. The Englith landed, to the number of cighty, with arms and ammunition ; but the Natives flying into the woods, they returned without fuccefs. A fhort time find this righteous afterwards, we commander at one of'the iflands which are called Sambula. cE In 6s ifland (fays the this writer) we ftayed certain Cc dayes, going every day on fhore to take the 66 tants with burning and inhabiCc Thefe inhabitants fpoiling their towns. c: (who were called Samboes) hold divers of the Sapies taken in war as <6 flaves, whom their ic they kept to till the ground, of whom we took many in that Ce the Samboes place, but of dc none at all; for they fled into the maine." 73 The writer then proceeds to give an account of the manners and cuftoms of thefe people; and relates, among other particulars, that flavery is the eftablifhed for c If a man (fays he) fteals punifhment but theft. CE from a Portugal cloth another, he is fold to the Portugals for X 66 a flave." --- Page 67 --- WEST INDIES. 5t "a flave." Her relates further, that the Samboes, CHAP. in a time of fcarcity, devoured their captives, for II. - want of better food. THE reftof Hawkins's adventures are nothing to my prefent purpofe. What has been quoted, is fufficient to demonftrate that a regular traffick had been eftablifhed, fo carly as the year 1564, both by the Portuguefe and the French, with fome nations of Africa, for the purchafe of Slaves; that this intercourfe was founded on mutual contract, and tended to civilife the Natives on the Coaft; fome nations of whom were poffefled of Slaves, which they kept for the purpofès of agriculture; and occafionally killed for food ; a horrid practice, that, 1 believe, no longer exifts in this part of Africa. In regard to Hawkins himfelf, he was, I admit, a murderer and a robber. His avowed purpofe in failing to Guiney, was to feize by ftratagem or force, and carry away, the unfufpecting Natives, in the view of felling them as Slaves to the people of Hifpaniola. In this purfuit, his object was prefent profit, and his employment and paftime devaftation and murder. He made a third voyage to Africa in 1568, for the fame purpofe, with a fquadron of fix Thips, which the reader will not be forry to find terminated moft miferablys and put a ftop, for fome years, to any more piratical expeditions of the Englith to the coaft of Africa. E2 THE felling them as Slaves to the people of Hifpaniola. In this purfuit, his object was prefent profit, and his employment and paftime devaftation and murder. He made a third voyage to Africa in 1568, for the fame purpofe, with a fquadron of fix Thips, which the reader will not be forry to find terminated moft miferablys and put a ftop, for fome years, to any more piratical expeditions of the Englith to the coaft of Africa. E2 THE --- Page 68 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK THE firft notice IV. which I find in hiftory of ari - 1 aétual attempt by the Britith nation to eftablifh a regular trade on the African Coaft, is in the year 1618, when King James I. clufive charter to Sir Robert granted an exother Rich, and fome merchants of London, for raifing a ftock for a trade to Guiney: joint ingly fitted Chips were accordout; but the profits not to anfiwer being found expedtation, the proprietors foon afterwards withdrew their charter was fuffered contributions; and the to expire (). Ix 1631, King Charles I. ereéted by charter a fecond compiny for a trade to Africa; to Sir Richard Young, Sir Kenelm granting fundry Digby, and Coaft merchants, to enjoy the fole trade to the of Guiney, between Cape Blanco and the Cape of Good Hope, together with the ifles adjacent, for 31 years to come. As the had by this time began the fettlement of Englifh tions in the Weft Indies, plantaNegroes were in fuch demand as to induce the new great expence, to ereét forts and company, at a the Coaft, for the warehoufes on proteétion of their but fo many private adventurers commerce; and interlopers $ Queen Elizabeth is faid to have granted a 3oth year of ber reign, for patent in the from the river Senegal to a hundred carying on an exclufive trade Leone; but I do not find that leagues beyond Sierra confeguence of it. any voyage was ever made in of --- Page 69 --- WEST INDIES. of all nations, broke in upon them, as in effect CHAP. to force the trade open, and fo it continued II. until after the reftoration of Charles II. IN the year 1662, a third exclufive African eompany was incorporated, confifting of many perfons of high rank and diftinétion; at the head of whom was the king's brother, the duke of York. This company undertook to fupply our Weft Indian plantations with 3,000 Negroes annually; but in 1664, the king intending to make war on the Dutch, fecretly fent Sir Robert Holmes to the Coaft, with orders to feize the Dutch forts near Cape Verde; in which fervice Holmes fucceeded, and built at the fame time a new fort at the mouth of the River Gambia, called James Fort, which we ftill hold. Thence failing fouthward, he maftered all the Dutch faétories on the Guiney Coaft, except St. George D'Elmina and Acheen; all of which were however retaken in 1665, by De Ruyter, the Dutch admiral; together with the Fort of Koromantyn, belonging to the Englifh company, which (if I miftake not) the Dutch hold at this day, by the name of Fort Amfterdam. IN 1672 (the third company having in this year furrendered their charter to the crown) the fourth and laftexclufive company was eftablithed. It was dignified by the title of the Royal African Company, and had, among its fubfcribers, the E 3 King, Dutch admiral; together with the Fort of Koromantyn, belonging to the Englifh company, which (if I miftake not) the Dutch hold at this day, by the name of Fort Amfterdam. IN 1672 (the third company having in this year furrendered their charter to the crown) the fourth and laftexclufive company was eftablithed. It was dignified by the title of the Royal African Company, and had, among its fubfcribers, the E 3 King, --- Page 70 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK King, the duke ofYork, and IV. of many other perfons high rank and quality; ; and the whole capital of 6.111,000 was raifed in nine months. Out of this fubfeription, the late ed company was allow6-34,000 for their three forts of Cape Coaft Caftle, Sierra Leone, and James Fort. The new company foon improved their trade, and increafed the numbert of their forts; and, as all former companies were obliged to fend to Holland to make up an affortment for the cargoes of their fhips, they now introduced into the making of fundry kinds of woollen England and other manufaétures not before goods, known; and they imported from the Coaft great quantittes of gold, out of which, in 1673, 50,000 (fo named from the guineas country) were coined. They alfo imported redwood for dyers, ivory, wax, and fome other valuable commodities, and ported to the value of 6-70,000 they exEnglith goods. annually in Bur the revolution in 1688 changed the fcene; for by the rft of William and the Petition and Declaration Mary, as monly called, the African 9f Right is comand all other exclufive companies not authorized by parliament, were abolifhed : the African trade, therefore, became in fact, free and open; although the ftill perfifted in feizing the fhips of company traders; a meafure which occafioned feparate much clamour, --- Page 71 --- WEST INDIES. mour, and no fmall obftruétion to the Negro- CHAP. trade. The difputes which this conduet gave 11. rife to, are however too uninterefting at prefent to be brought again to remembrance. In 1689 was eftablithed the firft Afiento company for fupplying the Spanifh Weft Indies with Negrocs from Jamaica; and in 1698 the trade to Africa, which, by the Petition of Right was virtually laid open, was exprefsly made fo, under certain conditions ; for by ftatutes 9 and ioth of Will. and Mary, C. 26. it was enaéted- < THAT for the prefervation of the trade,and for the advantage of England and its Colonies, it fhould be lawful for any of the fubjeéts of his Majefty's' realm of England, as well as for the company, to trade from England and the Plantations in America to Africa, between Cape Mount and the Cape of Good Hope; upon paying for the aforefaid ufes a duty of IO per cent. ad valorem, for the goods exported from England or the Plantations, to be paid to the colleétor at the time of entry outwards, for the ufe ofthe company. The fame liberty was given to trade between Cape Blanco and Cape Mount ; but, in addition to the IO per cent. on exportation, there was to be paid a further fum of IO per cent. ad Vafaremt, on ali goods and merchandize, redwood E 4 excepted, upon paying for the aforefaid ufes a duty of IO per cent. ad valorem, for the goods exported from England or the Plantations, to be paid to the colleétor at the time of entry outwards, for the ufe ofthe company. The fame liberty was given to trade between Cape Blanco and Cape Mount ; but, in addition to the IO per cent. on exportation, there was to be paid a further fum of IO per cent. ad Vafaremt, on ali goods and merchandize, redwood E 4 excepted, --- Page 72 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK excepted, which was to IV. the place pay only 5 per cent. at - of exportation, imported into or the Plantations, from the coaft England, Blanco and Cape Mount. between Cape The duties fo were to be applied to the maintenance paid forts and caftles, the of the foldiers. The providing ammunition, and company were yearly to an account of the receipt of thefe duties render their and application, to the Curâtor Baron of Exchequer. Perfons paying thefe duties were to have fame proteétion and defence for the fhips, and goods, from the forts their perfons, the fame freedom and and caftles, and tions and fecurity for their negociatrade, as the company. fettle factories within their They might free from all limits, and were to be moleftations from the No duty impofed by this aét company. to Negroes was to extend exported, or to gold and was the act to be fo conftrued filver, nor one from as to hinder any. trading to that part of Africa, commonly called South Barbary, as far as Cape Blanco," extending foutherly AGAINST the regulations of this was to continue in force for law, which company and 13 years, both the many of the private traders remonftrated without effect; and the affairs, in the courfe of a few company's years, declined to fa --- Page 73 --- WEST INDIES. fo great a degree, that they were unable either CHAP, to fupport their faétories with new inveftments, II, or' to pay the debts which they had already incurred. Parliament, at length was induced to give them fome affiftance; and in 1739 voted %. 1O,000 for that purpofe, and the like fum annually until the year 1744, when, by reafon of the war with France and Spain, the grant was doubled. In each of the two fucceding years E. 10,000 was again voted;-but nothing was granted for 1747. In the year 1750 the African trade, after having paffed, as we have feen, through different conftitutions and conditions, affumed a new appearance; for in that year the law took place under which it ftill exifts, and is at prefent regulated. Itis entitled, <6 An act for extending and improving the trade to Africa;" the terms and conditions whereof I need not fet forth, as the act itfelf is fo cafily referred to. Of the feveral countries, however, which with the trade isat prefent carried on, and the ftate of it for fome years paft, fome particulars may be neceffary. My account will be brief; there being many defcriptions of Guiney extant ; and an abridgment and fummary of the beft hiftories (collated and arranged with great judgment and accuracy) are given to the public in Aftley's collection of voyages 5 wherein fet forth, as the act itfelf is fo cafily referred to. Of the feveral countries, however, which with the trade isat prefent carried on, and the ftate of it for fome years paft, fome particulars may be neceffary. My account will be brief; there being many defcriptions of Guiney extant ; and an abridgment and fummary of the beft hiftories (collated and arranged with great judgment and accuracy) are given to the public in Aftley's collection of voyages 5 wherein --- Page 74 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK wherein the reader will find IV. ufeful information much curious and (g). THAT part then of the African coaft on the Atlantick Ocean, with which the people of Europe have an intercourfe, extends from Blanco, in 21° N. latitude, to a Cape tlement called Portuguefe fetLoango St. Panl's, in the of Angola, lat. 9° S. kingdom coaft of comprehending a line of upwards of 1,300 Englith leagues, and confifing of various countries, inhabited great number of favage nations, by a from each other, in differing widely government, language, manners, and fuperftitions. THE, firft of thele countries, in which Britifh have an the eftablifhment, is the of Senegambia; province including the river which opens into the Weflern Senegal, 16 degrees, and the river ocean in nearly titude. Gambia in 13' N.laBoth thefe rivers are navigable hundred miles up the many country. The obtained from this part of Africa Negroes are known to (g)In the year 1763 Senegal and its vefted in the African Company; but in dependencies were. came vefted in the crown, and the 176; the fame beThus the whole African trade is free trade to all was his laid open. fubjects; but that part ofit which is carried on Majeity's Sallee and Cape Rouge is under the direétion between of Port ment. From Cape Rouge to the Cape of Good governEnglith forts are under the diredion of a Hope, the çompany. committee of the the --- Page 75 --- WEST INDIES. the Weft Indian planters by the general name CHAP. of Mandingoes. II. - FROM Cape Roxo (or Rouge) to Cape Appollonis, the European fettlements, except a fmall Englith factory in the river Sierra Leone, are chiefly thofe of the Portuguele--The Negroes obtained through their means, as well as from the Englith factory, are likewife called Mandingoes-I believe improperly 5 as many different languages sare fpoken on the coaft between Senegal and Appollonia. This part of Africa is commonly called the Windward Coaft. THE Gold Coaft extends from Cape Appollonia to the river Volta, comprehending a line of IOO leagues. The maritime country is divided into a number of petty ftates or principalities, feemingly independent of, and often at war with, each other; the chief of which are Axim, Ante, Adom, Jabi, Commani, Fetu, Sabou, Fantyn (a rich and powerful people) Acron, and Agonna; fome of which are faid to maintain a republican, or more properly an ariftocratical, form ofgovernment. Of the inland country we know but little more than that it confiits of three extenfive kingdoms, called Affiantee (or Shantee)Akim, and Aquambou; each of which fupplies the maritime ftates with great numbers of flaves, which they fell to the Europeans, In the Britifh Weft Indies, moft of the Negroes purchafed on the Gold powerful people) Acron, and Agonna; fome of which are faid to maintain a republican, or more properly an ariftocratical, form ofgovernment. Of the inland country we know but little more than that it confiits of three extenfive kingdoms, called Affiantee (or Shantee)Akim, and Aquambou; each of which fupplies the maritime ftates with great numbers of flaves, which they fell to the Europeans, In the Britifh Weft Indies, moft of the Negroes purchafed on the Gold --- Page 76 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK Gold Coaft, are known IV. tion of by the general appella1 Koromantes, from Koromantyn, one of the earlieft of our factories on this part of the African coaft, as hath been already obferved, but which is now become an infignificant faétory, in poffeffion of the Dutch. It is village, fituated Or in the kingdom of Fantyn, two miles from the fort of Anamaboc. I believe that the different dialeéts of the fame fame, or language, is fpoken throughout all the Gold Coaft countries. FROM the river Volta to the river tends the Whidah country, (at Lagos, exto the king of prefent a province Dahomey, a great inland kingdom) by fome geographers confidered as of the Gold Coaft; by others denominated The part Coaf proper. It begins with the fmall and barren Slave ftate of Koto or Lampi, next to which is the kingdom of Adra, comprehending the fubordinate maritime principalities of Great and Little Popo, or Papaw; ; from whence the Whidah Negroes are called generally, by the Britifh traders, Papaws. The Whidah the inhabitants of language, exeept as to Koto, is peculiar and appropriate. The people of Koto fpeak a dialeét of the Gold Coaft, and there is a tribe ofWhidah Negroes called Nagoes, who have a dialeét which, though underftood by the Papaws, differs from the Whidah language in many particulars. Wesr of the river Lagos begins the great kingdom --- Page 77 --- WEST INDIES. kingdom of Benin, the coaft of which forms a CHAP. gulph or bight, ending at Cape Lopez, wherein II. are fituated the trading places (being fo many - 1 villages on the banks of feveral rivers) of Benin, Bonny, Old and New Callabar, Cameron, and Gaboon, THE flaves purchafed on this part of the coaft, have the general denomination of Eboes ; probably from Arebo, the name of a village, formerly a confiderable town, on the riyer Benin. Some of them (a tribe, I believe, from the interior country)are likewife called Mocoes. Inlanguage they differ both from the Gold Coaft Negroes and thofe of Whidah, and in fome refpeêts from each other; for from Whidah to Angola, the dialects vary at almoft every trading river. FROM Cape Lopcz to the river Congo, diftant 140 leagues, I believe the trade is chiefly engroffed by the Dutch and the French. Tothe fouthward of this river, very little trade is carried on by any Europeans except the Portuguele, who, as hath been obferved, have a large city at Loango St. Paul's, on the Coaft of Angola, ftrongly fortified; from which place they have penetrated quite through the country to their fet- "tlements at, and fouth of, Mozambique, upon the eaftern coaft of Africa, where they have caravans conftantly going and returning, and by that means ed by the Dutch and the French. Tothe fouthward of this river, very little trade is carried on by any Europeans except the Portuguele, who, as hath been obferved, have a large city at Loango St. Paul's, on the Coaft of Angola, ftrongly fortified; from which place they have penetrated quite through the country to their fet- "tlements at, and fouth of, Mozambique, upon the eaftern coaft of Africa, where they have caravans conftantly going and returning, and by that means --- Page 78 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK means carry on an extenfive JV. inland and advantageous - commerce. THE whole number of forts and factories eftablifhed on the coaft by the different of Europe, is I believe forty; of which powers belong to the Englifh, three to the fourteen fifteen to the Dutch, four to the French, four to the Danes. Portuguele, and THE commodities exported by the Britifh traders to Africa, confift chiefly of woollens, Manchefter goods, linens, Birmingham and Sheffield goods; ; Eaft Indian filks and mixed goods; lith printed callicoes and Engcloths, mufquets, cottons; ready-made bayonets, cutlaffes, fhot, wrought and gunpowder, unwrought brafs and lead, pewter, wrought and unwrought copper, worfted caps, earthen iron, hats, and ware, Britifh fpirits, rum brandy, tea, fugar, coffée and provifions of every kind.-The annual value, of late years, is eftimated on an average at about 6.800,000 fterling. Ix fome parts ofthe coaft there is a on each fliip, to the duty paid king or chief man of the country; which is called his cuftoms. In other parts this is not exa@ted; but it is only in fuch places as bave but little trade. When is obtained to trade, the flaves are permifion brought by the Black merchants fometimes on board the fhips, --- Page 79 --- WEST INDIES. Chips, and there fold; and fometimes they àre CHAP. purchafed on thore at the merchants houfes, and Il. C - brought off to the fhips by the captains; ; after which the Black traders come on board to receive payment. In thefe particulars, circumftances and fituations very often change the mode,juft as an oppofition among a number of purchafers makes it more or lefs neceffary. Many of the factories on the coaft are private property; of courfe they procure flaves for the fhips in their own concern. Sometimes they barter flaves with ftrangers, in order to enlarge their own affortment of goods, or to procure fome particular commodities of which they are in want. Amorig the forts, the officers that belong to them carry on trade more or lefs with the thipping as their circumftances will admit, and according as they are more or lefs independent; but the Black traders are fuppofed to fell their flaves about forty Chillings each cheaper than the factories. IN thofe parts of the coaft to which fhipping refort all the year, the intercourfe between the Black traders within land (for an extent as yet unexplored by any White perfon) and thofe on the coaft, is conftant and regular; but we have no fufficiently precile and particular account of the mannerin which this conftant fupply ofi flaves for fale is kept up and fupported. I fhall hereafter give the beft information 1 have been able to than the factories. IN thofe parts of the coaft to which fhipping refort all the year, the intercourfe between the Black traders within land (for an extent as yet unexplored by any White perfon) and thofe on the coaft, is conftant and regular; but we have no fufficiently precile and particular account of the mannerin which this conftant fupply ofi flaves for fale is kept up and fupported. I fhall hereafter give the beft information 1 have been able to --- Page 80 --- HISTORY OF THE BO OK to colleét on this head. IV. fuflicient Iregret that I have not materials to enable me to furnith an accurate flatement of the number of Africans that have been tranfported to the Britilh colonies fince their firft fettlement. riofity However, that cumay not be wholly difappointed, I have colleéted fuch materials as I think will enable the reader to form fofnejudgment in this which probably will not be very wide refpect, of the truth. Ix the various publications with which the prefs abounded during the time that the between the African difputes Company and the traders were an object of national private afferted concern, it is by one party, and not denied by the other, that about 140,000 Negroes had been ported by the company, and exprivate adventurers, 160,000 more by between the years 1680 and 1700: Total 300,000. From 1700 to December 1786, the number imported into was 610,000. I fay this on fufficient Jamaica having in my poffeffion lifts of all the evidence, entries. Of the number imported val into the fouthern during the fame interprovinces of North as well as the Windward Mlands, I America, with cannot fpeak precifion; but I am of opinion that the Jamaica import may fairly be reckoned third ofthe whole. On thefe onegrounds, the total import into all the Britifh colones of America and --- Page 81 --- WEST INDIES. 6; and the Weft Indies, from 168c to 1786, may CHAP. be put at 2,130,000, being, on an average of II. the whole, 20,095 annually. This I admit is much lefs than is commonly fuppofed : Anderfon roundly fixes the annual import at 100,000 3 but vague and general affertions prove nothing. The re-export may bc ftated at about one-fifth part ofthe import. Ir appears to me, that the Britich flave trade had attained to its higheft pitch of profperity a fhort time before the commencement of the late American war. The following has been given to the public as an accurate account of the fhips which failed from England for the Coaft in 1771, and of the number of flaves for the purchafe and tranfportation of which they were fufficientlyprovided, and I believe its authenticity cannot be doubted; viz. Ships. Negroes. To Sencgambia 40 for 3,310 Windward Coaft 56 - 11,960 Gold Coaft 7:525 Bight of Benin 23,301 Angola 4 - 1,050 Total 192 - - 47,146 Ofthe above 192 fhips Negroes. 107 failed from Liverpool, for - 29,250 from London, for - - 8,136 from Briftol, for - - 8,810 4 - - from Lancafter, for - - 950 Voi. II. F IN for 3,310 Windward Coaft 56 - 11,960 Gold Coaft 7:525 Bight of Benin 23,301 Angola 4 - 1,050 Total 192 - - 47,146 Ofthe above 192 fhips Negroes. 107 failed from Liverpool, for - 29,250 from London, for - - 8,136 from Briftol, for - - 8,810 4 - - from Lancafter, for - - 950 Voi. II. F IN --- Page 82 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK IN the year 1772 failed from Great IV. Britain, for - 1 the African coaft 175 veffels, having goods on board valued at - II - 6.866,394 * D 688,110 IO II 1774 - 167 D" 846,525 12 1775 - 152 D* 786,168 2 8 1776 - IOI D° 470,779 I I 1777 - 58 D 239,218 3 - 1778 - 41 Do 154,086 I IO 1779 - 28 Do 159,217 19 7 THIS defalcation was unqueftionably the late owing to war, on the terminatfon of which the trade immediately began to revive, as the appears by following account of the Negroes into and exported from the Britifh Weft imported Iflands, from 1783 to 1787 (both Indian five); viz. years incluYear. Ships. Noof Tons. Negroes im- Negroes ex- Negroes ported. 1;8; - 38 . - ported. retained. 5:455 16,208 - : 1784 - 93 - 13:301 - 28,550 a 809 15:399 1785 - 73 10,730 - 5,263 - 23,287 1786 - 21,598 - 5,018 - 16,580 67 8,0yo - 19,163 - - 1787 - 85 - 12,183 - 21,023 : 4:317 14,843 5,366 - 15.657 OF the whole number now annually exposted from Africa, by the fubjects of Great Britain, France, Holland, Denmark, and Portugal, and the particular countries whence fupplied, the following aceount was tranfmitted by the merchants --- Page 83 --- WEST INDIES. chants of Liverpool to the Lords of the Privy CHAP. Council, and it is undoubtedly as authentick II. and particular a return as can poffibly be ob- - - tained : viz. No of Slaves exported. By the Britifh 38,000 French 20,000 Dutch 4,000 Danes 2,000 Portuguefe I0,000 Total 74,000 No of Slaves. Of which Gambia furnifhes about Ifles Delos, and the adjacent rivers 1,500 From Sierra Leone to Cape Mount 2,000 From Cape Mount to Cape Palmas 3,000 From Cape Palmas to Cape Appollonia 1,000 Gold Coaft 10,000 Quitta and Popo - 1,000 Whydah Porto Novo, Eppee, and Bidagry 3.500 Carried forward a 27,200 F2 Lagos No of Slaves. Of which Gambia furnifhes about Ifles Delos, and the adjacent rivers 1,500 From Sierra Leone to Cape Mount 2,000 From Cape Mount to Cape Palmas 3,000 From Cape Palmas to Cape Appollonia 1,000 Gold Coaft 10,000 Quitta and Popo - 1,000 Whydah Porto Novo, Eppee, and Bidagry 3.500 Carried forward a 27,200 F2 Lagos --- Page 84 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK IV. ofSlaves. No Brought forward 27,200 Lagos and Benin 3,500 Bonny and New Calabar Old Calabar and Cameroons 14,500 Gabon and Cape Lopez 7,000 Loango, Melimba, and Cape Renda 13,500 Majumba,. Ambris, and Miffoula 1,000 Loango St. Paul's, and Benguela 7,000 Total 74,200 OF the miferable people thus condemned to perpetual exile and fervitude, though born in various and widely-feparated countries, it is not eafy to difcriminate the peculiar manners and native propenfities. The fimilar and uniform fyftem of life to which they are all the few opportunities and the little reduced : ment that are given them for mental encourageimprovement; are circumftances that neceffarily induce a predominant and prevailing caft of charaéter and difpofition. cc. The day," fays Homer, 66 which makes man a flave, takes away half his worth," and, in fact, he lofes every impulfe to action, except that of fear. Neverthelefs, there are among feveral --- Page 85 --- WEST INDIES feveral of the African nations fome ftriking and CHAP. predominant features, which cannot eafily be II. overlooked by a perfon refiding in any one of 1 the fugar plantations. Thefe peculiarities I thall endeavour to defcribe with candour and impartiality; after which, I Thall attempt a delineation of their general charaéter, as it is difplayed under all the various modifications and circumftances of original habits, and prefent fituation and condition. F3 --- Page 86 --- HISTORY OF THE CHAI P. III. Mandingoes, or Natives ofthe Windaward Malonedans-Tleir Cogf.- wars, manners, and perfou-Koronanta Negroes, or Natives the Gold Coah-Thir of played ferocionfuefs efdipeftion dif. by an account of the Negro rebellion in Jamaica in 1760.-Their wationalmamers, and Mperfitions.- -Natives of Whidah wars, -Their good or Fida. Benin.-P rseleechonte Perfons and uojon-Coniuh-No tives of Kongo and Angela.-Survey of the charaëter and difpefitions of Negroes in a Aate of Alavery, BOOK IV. Mosr, if not all, the nations that inhabit 1 part of Africa which lies to the that eaftward of Sierra northward and Leone, are Mahometans; ; and following the means of converfion prefcribed their prophet, are, as we are told, by war with fuch of the perpetually at fufe to adopt their furrounding nations as rereligious tenets. The foners taken in thefe religious pridoubt not, great part of the flaves wars which furnith, I ported from the are exfaétories on the Windward and it is probable that death would be Coaft; of moft of the captives, if the fate be met with. purchafers were not ta Bur of converfion prefcribed their prophet, are, as we are told, by war with fuch of the perpetually at fufe to adopt their furrounding nations as rereligious tenets. The foners taken in thefe religious pridoubt not, great part of the flaves wars which furnith, I ported from the are exfaétories on the Windward and it is probable that death would be Coaft; of moft of the captives, if the fate be met with. purchafers were not ta Bur --- Page 87 --- WEST INDIES. BUT the Mandingoes have frequent wars with CHAP. each other, as well as with fuch nations as they III. - 1 confider enemies of their faith 5 and I am afraid that fome of thefe wars arife from motives even lefs juftifiable than religious zeal. An old and faithful Mandingo fervant, who ftands at my elbow while I write this, relates, that being fent by his father to vifit a diftant relation in a country wherein the Portuguefe had a fettlement, a fray happened in the village in which he reficded; that many people werc killed, and others taken prifoners, and he himfelf was feized and carried off in the fkirmith 3 not, as he conceives, by a forcign enemy, but by fome of the natives of the place ; and being fent down a river in. a canoe, was fold to the captain of the thip that brought him to Jamaica, Of his national cuftoms and manners he remembers but little, being, at the time of his captivity, but a youth. He relates, that the natives practife circumcifion, and that he himfelf has undergone that operation ; and he has not forgot the morning and evening prayer which his father taught him; in proof of this affertion, he chaunts, in an audible and Chrill tone, a fentence that Iconceive to be part of the Alcoran, La illa, ill illa ! (a), which he fays they fing aloud at the firft appearance of the new moon. He relates, moreover, that in his OWA (a) There is no God, but God. F 4 country --- Page 88 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK country Friday was IV. ftrict conflantly made a day of fafting, It was almoft a fin, he on that day, to fwvalloz his obferves, exprefion. /pittles-fiuch is his BESIDES this man, I had once another Mandingo fervant, who could write, with ty and great beauexaétnefs, the Arabick fome paffages from the Alcoran, alphabet, and learning extended Whether his any further, I had no tunity of being opporhe informed, as he died foon after came into my poffeflion. THE advantage poffeffed by a few of thefe people, of being able to read and is cumftance on which the write, a cirthe Weft Indies Mandingo Negroes in the reft of the flaves; pride themfelves greatly among that they over whom they confider poffefs a marked and truth they difplay fuch fuperioritys in and gentlenels of difpofition demeanour, as would feem the refult of education and carly rally difcipline, were it not that, genefpeaking, they are more prone to theft than any ofthe African tribes. It has been that this propenfity, fuppofed to a ftate of among other vices, is natural flavery, which degrades and the human mind in a deplorable corrupts why the manner; but vicious in Mandingoes fhould have become more this refpect than the reft ofthe of Africa in the fame condition of Natives tion I cannot anfwer. life, is a quef. IN their complexions and perfons, the Mandingoes theft than any ofthe African tribes. It has been that this propenfity, fuppofed to a ftate of among other vices, is natural flavery, which degrades and the human mind in a deplorable corrupts why the manner; but vicious in Mandingoes fhould have become more this refpect than the reft ofthe of Africa in the fame condition of Natives tion I cannot anfwer. life, is a quef. IN their complexions and perfons, the Mandingoes --- Page 89 --- WEST INDIES. dingoes are eafily to be diftinguifhed from fuch CHAP. oft the Africans as are born nearer to the equator; 3 III. but they confift neverthelefs ofvery diftinét tribes, fome of which are remarkably tall and black, and there is one tribe among them (called alfo the Foolah) that feems to me to conftitute the link between the Moors and Negroes properly fo called. They are of a lefs glofly black than the Gold Coaft Negroes 3 and their hair, though bulhy and crifped, is not woolly, but foft and filky to the touch. Neither have the Mandingoes, in common, the thick lips and flat nofes of the more fouthern Natives ; and they are, in a great degree, exempt from that ftrong and fetid odour, which exhales from the fkin of moft of the latter; but in general they are not well adapted for hard labour*. AFTER all, they differ lefs in their perfons, than in the qualities of the mind, from the NaThere is a remarkable anomaly of nature fometimes feen in the children born of Negro women by black men. Their features are thofe ofthe Negro, but their complexions are white : not the white of the European, but a cadaverous palenefs without any mixture of red, and their hair is of the fame colour, though crifped and woolly. I have infpeéted feveral of thefe poor creatures, and always found them weak fighted, and, in general, defedivein underftanding. Thefe are the people called by the Spaniards Albinos; but that a nation of them exifts in any part of the world, as afferted by Voltaire, I do not believe, Vor. II. F 5 tives --- Page 90 --- HISTORY OF THE B OOK tives of the Gold Coaft; who IV. conftitute the may be faid to genuine and original unmixed Negro, both in perfon and charaéter. THE circumftances which diftinguith the Koromantyn, or Gold Coaft, Negroes, from all others, are firmnefs both of body and mind ferocioufnefs of ; a difpofition; but withal, courage, and a activity, ftubbornnef, or what an ancient Roman would have deemed an elevation, of which prompts them to foul, and enterprizes of dificulty danger ; and enables them to meet in its moft horrible death, thape, with fortitude or indifference, They fometimes take to labour with great promptitude and alacrity, and have conftitutions well adapted for it; for many of them have undoubtedly been flaves in Africa:-I have interrogated great numbers on this fubject, and although fome of them afferted they were born free, who, as it was afterwards proved teftimony of their by the own relations, were fold as flaves by their mafters, others actually feffed to me thât had frankly conin their they no claim to freedom own country, and were fold either to pay the debts, or to expiate the crimes, of their owners. On the other hand, the Gold Coaft being inhabited by various different tribes which are engaged in perpetual warfare and with each other, there cannot be a doubt hoftility that I many who, as it was afterwards proved teftimony of their by the own relations, were fold as flaves by their mafters, others actually feffed to me thât had frankly conin their they no claim to freedom own country, and were fold either to pay the debts, or to expiate the crimes, of their owners. On the other hand, the Gold Coaft being inhabited by various different tribes which are engaged in perpetual warfare and with each other, there cannot be a doubt hoftility that I many --- Page 91 --- WEST INDIES. many of the captives taken in battle, and fold CHAP, in the European fettlements, were of free con- III. dition in their native country, and perliaps the 1 owners of flaves themfelves. It is not wonderful that fuch men fhould endeavour, even by means the moft defperate, to regain the freedom of which they have been deprived ; nor do I conceive that any further circumftances are neceffary to prompt them to aétion, than that of being fold into captivity in a diftant country. I mean only to ftate faéts as I find them. Such I well know was the origin of the Negro rebellion which happened in Jamaica in 1760. It arofe at the inftigation of a Koromantyn Negro of the name of Tacky, who had been a chiefin Guiney; and it broke out on the Frontier plantation in St. Mary's parifh, belonging to the late Ballard Beckford, and the adjoining eftate of Trinity, the property of my. deceafed relation and benefactor Zachary Bayly, to whofe wildom, activity and courage on this occafion, it was owing that the revolt was not as general and deftructive as that which now rages in St. Damingo (1791). On thofe plantations were upwards of one hundred Gold Coaft Negroes newly imported, and I do not believe that an individual amongft them had received the leaft fhadow of ill treatment from the time of their arrival there. Concerning thofe on the Trinity eftate, . deceafed relation and benefactor Zachary Bayly, to whofe wildom, activity and courage on this occafion, it was owing that the revolt was not as general and deftructive as that which now rages in St. Damingo (1791). On thofe plantations were upwards of one hundred Gold Coaft Negroes newly imported, and I do not believe that an individual amongft them had received the leaft fhadow of ill treatment from the time of their arrival there. Concerning thofe on the Trinity eftate, --- Page 92 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK eftate, I can pronounce of my own IV. that knowledge, they were under the government of an overfeer of fingular tendernefs and humanity. His name was Abraham Fletcher; 5 and let it be remembered, in juftice even to the rebels, and a leffon to other as overfeers, that his life was from relpeét to his virtues. The fpared heard ofhis charaéter infurgents had from the other Negroes, and fuffered him to pafs through them unmoleftedthis fact appeared in evidence (b). Having colleéted (8) Mr. Bayly had himfelf left the Trinity eftate the ceding evening, after having perfonally prefituation of his newly purchafed inlpe@ted into the them with his own hands their Africans, and delivered prehending the bloody bufinefs clothing in and knives, little apfoon afterwards which thefe knives were employed. He flept at Ballard's plantation of Mr. Cruikfhank, a few miles Valley, a awoke by his fervant at day-break, with the diftant; and was hjs Trinity Negroes had revolted. The information that brought by fome of his own people, who had intelligence fled was oftheir Mafter, and reported that the in fearch at their. heels, No time therefore infurgents were clofe recommended to Mr. being to be loft, Mr. Bayly men who were with Cruikfhank, and fome other Gentlehim, to proceed arms as they could colleat, to an eftate in forthwith, the with fuch which having a defenfible houfe, was fixed neighbourhood, place of rendezvous : on as a proper He then mounted his promifing to join them in a few hours. of the rebels, horfe, and proceeded himfelf in fearch complain of ill conceiving (as he knew they had no reafon to would reduce them treatment) that his prefence and perfuafions on which Mr. to obedience. As he defcended the hill Karomantyn yell Cruikfhank's houfe was fituated, he heard the %f war, and fàw the whole body of rebel Negroee neighbourhood, place of rendezvous : on as a proper He then mounted his promifing to join them in a few hours. of the rebels, horfe, and proceeded himfelf in fearch complain of ill conceiving (as he knew they had no reafon to would reduce them treatment) that his prefence and perfuafions on which Mr. to obedience. As he defcended the hill Karomantyn yell Cruikfhank's houfe was fituated, he heard the %f war, and fàw the whole body of rebel Negroee --- Page 93 --- WEST INDIES. colleéted themfelves into a body about one CHAP. o'clock in the morning, they proceeded to the III. fort at Port Maria ; killed the centinel, and pro- - Y Negroes in full mafch, for the habitation of the Overfeer; a fmaller houfe fituated within half a mile of the other. He approached them norvithflanding, and waving his hat, endeavoured to obtain a hearing, but was anfwered by a difcharge of mufquetry, by which his fervant's horfe was fhot under him, and both himfelfand the fervant very narrowly efcaped with life, The Savages then proceeded to the maffacre of the White people in the Overfeer's houfe : and Mr, Bayly rode round to all the different plantations in the neighbourhood, giving them notice of their danger, and fending all the Whites to the place of rendezvous. By this meafure he had colleéted before noon about 130 Whites and trufty Blacks, tolerably armed'; whom he then led in purfuit of the rebels. They were found at Haywood-Hall, roafting an ox by the flames of the buildings, which they had fet on fire. The Whites attacked them with great fury, killed cight or nine on the fpot, took feveral of them prifoners, and drove the reft into the woods, where they aéted afterwards wholly on the defenfive, and weref foon exterminated. Thus a timely check was given to a confpiracy, which was found to have been general among the. Koromantyn Negroes throughout thel Iland, and the country was probably faved from utter deftruétion by the prudence and promptitude. of an individual.-I have related thefe circumftances concerning my deceafed relation's conduet on this occafion for two reafons; firft, becaufe it prefents an example to be imitated in fimilar emergencies; and fecondly, becaufe I have thus an oppertunity given me of paying a jufttribute to the memory of one, whom I loved and honoured when living, and lamented when dead, with more than filial affection and piety; for he polfeffed the cleareft head, the moft enlarged and comprehenfive mind, the fweeteft temper, and the kindeft and moft benevolent difpofition, of any man that it has been my fortune to meet with, in my diverfified jousney through life! See vol. ip-3 308. vided have thus an oppertunity given me of paying a jufttribute to the memory of one, whom I loved and honoured when living, and lamented when dead, with more than filial affection and piety; for he polfeffed the cleareft head, the moft enlarged and comprehenfive mind, the fweeteft temper, and the kindeft and moft benevolent difpofition, of any man that it has been my fortune to meet with, in my diverfified jousney through life! See vol. ip-3 308. vided --- Page 94 --- HISTORY OF THE EOOK vided themfelves with as a IV. and ammunition great quantity of arms - as they could conveniently dif pofe of, Being by this time joined by a number of their countrymen from the neighbouring plantations, they marched up the high road that led to the interior parts of the country, death and defolation as they went. At Ballard's carrying Valley they furrounded the overfeer's houfe about four in the morning, in which White fervants in finding all the of them in the bed, they butchered every one moft favage manner, and drank their blood mixed with literally and other eftates, rum. At Efher, they exhibited the fame tragedy; and then fet fire to the buildings and In one morning they murdered between canes. and forty Whites and thirty Mulattoes, not even infants at the breaft, before their fparing was ftopped. Tacky, the progrefs woods Chief, was killed in the by one of the parties that went in of them; ; but fome others of the purfuit ringleaders being taken, and a general inclination to revolt pearing among all the Koromantyn apthe ifland, it was thought Negroes in terrible neceffary to make a few examples of fome of the moft Of three who were clearly guilty. concerned in proved to have been the murders committed at Ballard's Valley, one was condemned to be and the other two to be burnt, and left to hung up alive in irons, perifh in that dreadful fituation. The wretch that was burnt was made to fit on the ground, --- Page 95 --- WEST INDIES. ground, and his body being chained to an iron CHAP. ftake, the fire was applied to his feet. He utter- III. ed not a groan, and faw his legs reduced to afhes 3 with the utmoft firmnefs and compofure; after which, one of his arms by fome means getting loofe, he fnatched a brand from the fire that was confuming him, and flung it in the-face of the executioner. The two that were hung up alive were indulged, at their own requeft, with a hearty meal immediately before they were fufpended on the gibbet; which was ereéted in the parade of the town of Kingfton. From that time, until they expired, they never uttered the leaft complaint, except only of cold in the night, but diverted themfelves all day long in difcourfe with their countrymen, who were permitted, very improperly, to furround the gibbet. On the feventh day a notion prevailed among the fpectators, that one of them wifhed to communicatean important fecret to his mafter, my nearrelation; who being in St. Mary's parifh, the commanding officer fent for me. Iendeavoured, by means ofan interpreter, to let him know that I was prefent $ but I could not underftand what he faid in rea turn. I remember that both he and his fellow fufferer laughed immoderately at fomething that occured,-I know not what. The next morning one of them filently expired, as did the other on the morning of the ninth day. THE communicatean important fecret to his mafter, my nearrelation; who being in St. Mary's parifh, the commanding officer fent for me. Iendeavoured, by means ofan interpreter, to let him know that I was prefent $ but I could not underftand what he faid in rea turn. I remember that both he and his fellow fufferer laughed immoderately at fomething that occured,-I know not what. The next morning one of them filently expired, as did the other on the morning of the ninth day. THE --- Page 96 --- 6o HISTORY OF THE BOOK THE courage, or unconcern, which IV. of this the peopie country manifeft at the approach of death, arifes, doubtlefs, in a great meafure, from their national manners, wars, and fuperftitions, which are all, in the higheft degree, favage and Aj power overthe livesofhis flavesi is fanguinary. poffeffed,and exercifed too, on very frivolous occafions, without compunétion or fcruple, by every mafter of flaves on the Gold Coaft. Fathers have the like power over their children. In their wars are bloody and cruel beyond any nation that they exifted; ; for all fuch of their ever ferve not for captives as they reflaves, they murder with circumftances of outrageous barbarity; cutting them acrofs the face, and tearing away the under jawa which they preferve as a trophy, leaving the miferable viétims to perith in that condition. I have colleéted this account from themfelves, They tell me likewife, that whenever a confider. able man expires, feveral of his wives, and a great number of his flaves, are facrificed at his funeral. This is done, fay they, that he may be properly attended in the next world. This circumftance has been confirmed to me by Gold Coaft Negro that I have every the fubject, and I have enquired interrogated of on many (c). In (c) The following particulars I colleSted from fome own Koromantyn Negroes, whofe veracity Ihad no reafon of my to doubt:-Clara, 3 moft faithful well-difpofed woman, who was broughe . This is done, fay they, that he may be properly attended in the next world. This circumftance has been confirmed to me by Gold Coaft Negro that I have every the fubject, and I have enquired interrogated of on many (c). In (c) The following particulars I colleSted from fome own Koromantyn Negroes, whofe veracity Ihad no reafon of my to doubt:-Clara, 3 moft faithful well-difpofed woman, who was broughe --- Page 97 --- WEST INDIES. 8r In a country where executions are fo frequent, CHAP: and human blood is fpilt with fo little remorfe, III. death muft neceflarily have loft many of its 1 a terrors; S brought from the Gold Coaft to Jamaica the latter end of 1784, relates, 6 that fhe was born ina village near. Anamaboo; that her father and mother, and their children (nine in number) were flaves to a great man named Anamoa, on whofe death fhe herfelf, and two of her brothers (who likewife belong to me) with feveral others of his flaves, were fold to his debts. That twenty others were killed at hisfuneral. Iafked pay her which country fhe liked beft, Jamaica or Guiney? She replied, that Jamaica was the better country, sfor that people were not killed there, as in Guingy, at thefineral of their mafters." 99 She informed me alfo, in anfwer to fome other enquiries, of a remarkable fact (i.e.) that the natives of the Gold Coaft give their children theyaur (a frightful diforder) by inotulation; ; and fhe defcribed the manner of performing the operation to be making an incifion in the thigh, and putting in fome of the infeétious matter. I afked her what benefit they expeéted from this praétice ? She anfwered, that by this means their infants had the diforder flightly, and recovered fpeedily, whereas by catching it at a later time of life, the difeafe, the faid, € got into the bone,' that was her expreflion. Cudjoe, aged (as I fuppofe) about fifty,relates that he was born in the kingdom of Afiantee, the king or chieftain of which country was named Poco. Cudjoe's elder brother having been caught in adultery with the wife of a man named Quafhee, was adjudged to pay a fine to the man he had injured; which not being able to do, he delivered over him (Cudjoe) who was at that time, by his own account, a boy: about fixtech, as a compenfation; and Quafhee immediately carried hin off, and foon afterwards fold him to a Black flave-merchant, O who having purchafed many others, carried them all to the fea-coaft (they were two months on their journey) and fold them to a Captain Reeder, who brought Vor. II. them pay a fine to the man he had injured; which not being able to do, he delivered over him (Cudjoe) who was at that time, by his own account, a boy: about fixtech, as a compenfation; and Quafhee immediately carried hin off, and foon afterwards fold him to a Black flave-merchant, O who having purchafed many others, carried them all to the fea-coaft (they were two months on their journey) and fold them to a Captain Reeder, who brought Vor. II. them --- Page 98 --- 8z HISTORY OF THE BOOX terrors; and the natives in general, confcious IV. have no fecurity even for they - the day that is paffing over them, feem prepared for, and refigned the fate that probably awaits them. This to, tempt of death, or indifference about life, conthey bring with them to the Weft Indies; 3 but if fortunately they fall into good hands at firft, and become well fettled, they acquire by degrees other fentiments and notions. Nature refumes her lawful influence over them. With the fcioufnefs of fecurity, the love of exiftence conamidft all the evils that attend it in a ftate alfo, of flavery, gains admiffion into their bofoms. They feel it, and, fuch is the force of habitual barthem to Jamaics. Iafked him, what right his to fell bim? 6 Becoufe, faid he, my Father brother had by his account fathers have an unqueftionable was dead; and their children, and probably, on the demife ofthe right to fell fame power is affumed by the eldeft fon over the father, the branches. He relates further, that the king has the younger of life and death, and that executions are power That when the king or any very frequent, number of his flaves are facrificed confiderable at his tomb. man dies, a great not to afcertain any particular number, but He pretends fedtly well the death of the old king whom Poco remembers perand is pofitively certain that upwards of one hundred fucceeded, were flaughtered on that occafion. To convince me that people he underftood what he faid when he mentioned that number,he counted the fingers of both his hands ten times. He faith further, that wars are very frequent; that all able men are compelled to bear arms; and that when they take the old and infirm are killed, and the young and able prifoners, ferved to be fold for ilaves. pre. barity, --- Page 99 --- WEST INDIES barity, feem afhamed of their own weaknefs. A CHAP. gentleman of Jamaica vifiting a valuable Koro- III. mantyn Negro that was fick, and perceiving that 1 he was thoughtful and dejeéted, endeavoured by foothing and encouraging language, to raife his drooping fpirits. Malfa, faid the Negro (in a tone of felf-reproach and confcious degeneracy) fince me come 10 White man's country me lub (love) life to0 much! EVEN the children brought from the Gold Coaft manifeft an evident fuperiority, both in hardinefs of frame, and vigour of mind, over all the young people of the fame age that are imported from othér parts of Africa. The like firmnefs and intrepidity which are diftinguithable in adults of this nation, are vifible in their boys at an age which might be thought too tender to receive any lafting impreffion, either from precept or example.-I have been myfelf an eyewitnefs to the truth of this remark, in the circumftance I am about to relate. A gentleman of my acquaintance, who had purchafed at the fame time ten Koromantyn boys, and the like number of Eboes (the eldeft of the whole apparently not more than thirteen years of age) caufed them all to . be colleéted and brought before him in my prefence, to be marked on the breaft. This operation is performed by heating a fmall filver brand, compofed of onc or two G 2 letters, to the truth of this remark, in the circumftance I am about to relate. A gentleman of my acquaintance, who had purchafed at the fame time ten Koromantyn boys, and the like number of Eboes (the eldeft of the whole apparently not more than thirteen years of age) caufed them all to . be colleéted and brought before him in my prefence, to be marked on the breaft. This operation is performed by heating a fmall filver brand, compofed of onc or two G 2 letters, --- Page 100 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK letters, in the flame of fpirits of IV. ing it to the fkin, wine, and apply1 which is previoufly anointed with fiveet oil. The application is and the pain momentary. inftantancous, be cafily Neverthelefs it may fuppofed that the apparatus muft have a frightful appearance to a child. Accordingly, when the firit boy, who happened to be one of the Eboes, and the ftouteft of the led forward to receive the whole, was mark, he fcreamed dreadfully, while his companions of the fame nation manifefted ftrong emotions of fympathetic terror. The gentleman ftopt his hand; ; but the Koromantyn boys, laughing aloud, and, immediately coming forward of their own accord, offered their bofoms undauntedly to the brand, and receiving its impreffion without flinching in the leaft, fnapt their fingers in exultation over the poor Eboes, ONE cannot furely but lament, that a thus naturally emulous and intrepid, people funk into fo fhould be deplorable a ftate of barbarity and fuperftition; and that their fpirits thould ever be broken down by the yoke of flavery! Whatever may be alledged concerning their ferocioufnefs and implacability in their prefent notions of right and wrong, I am perfuaded that they fefs qualities, which are pofferve capable of, and well decultivation and time to conclude improvement-But it is my obfervations on this nation, --- Page 101 --- WEST INDIES. tion, which I fhall do, with fome account of their CHAP. religion 1; for which my readers are indebted to III. the refearches of an ingenious gentleman of Ja- 1 maica, who is well acquainted with their language and manners. Its authenticity has been frequently confirmed to me, on my own enquiries among the Koromantyn Negroes themfelves. THEY believe that ACCOMPONG, the God of the heavens, is the creator of all things; a Deity of infinite goodnels; to whom however they never offer facrifices, thinking it fufficient to adore him with praifes and thankigiving. ASSARCI is the god of the earth; to him they offer the firft fruits ofthe ground, and pour out libations of the liquors they drink to his honour. IPBOA is the god of the fea: if the arrival of fhips which trade upon their coaft is delayed, they facrifice an hog to deprecate the wrath of Ipboa. OBBONET is a malicious deity, who pervades heaven, earth, and fea; he is the author of all evil, and when his difpleafure is fignified by the infliction of peftilential diforders, or otherwife, nothing will divert his anger but human facrifices; ; which are feleéted from captives taken in war, Or, if there be none prefent, then from their flaves. BESIDES the above deitics, every family has G 3 a peculiar the wrath of Ipboa. OBBONET is a malicious deity, who pervades heaven, earth, and fea; he is the author of all evil, and when his difpleafure is fignified by the infliction of peftilential diforders, or otherwife, nothing will divert his anger but human facrifices; ; which are feleéted from captives taken in war, Or, if there be none prefent, then from their flaves. BESIDES the above deitics, every family has G 3 a peculiar --- Page 102 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK a peculiar tutelar faint, who is IV. been fuppofed to have originally a human being like one of themfelves, and the firft founder of their the anniverfary of whofe burial, family; ; upon ofhis defcendants the whole number affemble round his the oldeft man, after grave, and offering up praifes to Accompong, Affarci, Ipboa, and their tutelar facrifices a cock or goat, by cutting its deity, and thedding the blood throat, head of an houfchold of upon the grave. Every fices a the family, next facricock, or other animal, in like as foon as all thofe who are able manner, and fices have made their to bring facri-' have been oblations, the animals which killed, are dreffed, and a great follows. feftival AMONG their other not be omitted their mode fuperftitions alfo, muft of oath of fecrecy or adminiftering an and earth taken from purgation.-Homan the blood, lation, are mixed with grave of fome near reparty to be fworn, who water, is and given to the the mixture, with compelled to drink caufe the an imprecation, that it may if belly to burft, and the bones to the truth be not fpoken. This teft rot, quently adminiflered to their is frepicion of wives, on the fufinfidelity, and the it bears to the trial refemblance which defcribed in the ofjealoufy by the bitter water book of Numbers a curious and ftriking (chap. v.)is circumftance, Ixow --- Page 103 --- WEST INDIES. Ixow proceed to the people of Whidah, or CHAP. Fida. The Negroes of this country are called III. generally in the Weft Indies Papars, and are unqueftionably the moft docile and beft-difpoled flaves that are imported from any part of Africa. Without the fierce and favage manners of the Koromantyn Negroes, they are alfo happily exempt from the timid and defponding temper of the Eboes, who will prefently be mentioned. The cheerful acquiefcence with which thefe pcople apply to the labours of the field, and their conftitutional aptitude for fuch employment, arife, without doubt, from the great attention paid to agriculture in their native country. Bofman fpeaks with rapture of the improved ftate of the foil, the number of villages, and the induftry, riches, and obliging manners of the Natives. He obferves, however, that they are much greater thieves than thofe of the Gold Coaft, and very unlike them in another refpect, namely, in the dread of pain, and the apprehenfion of death. 66 They are," fays he, 66 fo very apprehenfive of death, that they are unwilling to hear it mentioned, for fear that alone fhould haften their cnd; ; and no man dares to fpcak of death in the prefence of the king, or any great man, under the penalty of fuffering it himfelf, as a punifhment for his prefumption." He relates further, that they are addiéted to gaming beyond G4 any of pain, and the apprehenfion of death. 66 They are," fays he, 66 fo very apprehenfive of death, that they are unwilling to hear it mentioned, for fear that alone fhould haften their cnd; ; and no man dares to fpcak of death in the prefence of the king, or any great man, under the penalty of fuffering it himfelf, as a punifhment for his prefumption." He relates further, that they are addiéted to gaming beyond G4 any --- Page 104 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK any people of Africa. All IV. I am rightly thefe propenfities, if Y informed, are obfervable in the charaéter of the Papaws in a ftate of flavery in the Weft Indies. That punifhment which excites the Koromantyn to rebel, and drives the Ebo Negro to fuicide, is received by the the chaftifement of legal Papaws as is their authority, to which it duty to fubmit patiently. The cafe feems to be, that the generality of thefe ftate of abfolute people are in a flavery in Africa, and, been habituated to a life of labour, they fubmit having to a change of fituation with little reluétance, MANY of the Whidah be circumcifed. Negroes are found to Whether it be a religious ceremony common to all the tribes that under the appellation of Papaws, I know not. go It is praétifed univerfally by the Nagoes; a people that fpeak the Whidah langunge; but I have met with Negroes from this part of the coaft that difavow the praétice, WE are. now come to the Bight of Benin, comprehending an extent of coaft of near Englifh leagues, of which the interior are unknown, even by name, to the countries Europe, All the Negroes people of vaft and imported from thefe unexplored regions, except a tribe are diftinguifhed by the name of which called in the Weft Indies Mocoes, are they Eboes; and in general appear to be the loweft and moft wretched of --- Page 105 --- WEST INDIES of all the nations of Africa. In complexion they CHAP, are much yellower than the Gold Coaft and III. Whidah Negroes; but it is a fickly hue, and their eyes appear as if fuffufed with bile, even when they are in perfeét health. Id cannot help obferving too, that the conformation of the facc, in a great majority of them, very much refembles that of the baboon. I believe indeed there is, in moft of the nations of Africa, a greater elongation of the lower jaw, than among the people of Europe; but this diftinétion I think is more vifible among the Eboes, than in any other Africans. Imean not however to draw any conclufion of natural inferiority in thefe people to the reft ofthe human race, from a circumftance which perhaps is purely accidental, and no more to be confidered as a proof of degradation, than the red hair and high cheek bones of the Natives of the North of Europe. THE great objection to the Eboes as flaves, is their conftitutional timidity, and defpondency of mind; which are fo great as to occafion them very frequently to feek, in a voluntary death, a refuge from their own melancholy reflections. They require therefore the gentleft and mildeft treatment to reconcile them to their fituation 3 but if their confidence be once obtained, they manifeft as great fidelity, affection, and gratitude, as çan reafonably be expeéted from men in North of Europe. THE great objection to the Eboes as flaves, is their conftitutional timidity, and defpondency of mind; which are fo great as to occafion them very frequently to feek, in a voluntary death, a refuge from their own melancholy reflections. They require therefore the gentleft and mildeft treatment to reconcile them to their fituation 3 but if their confidence be once obtained, they manifeft as great fidelity, affection, and gratitude, as çan reafonably be expeéted from men in --- Page 106 --- yo HISTORY OF THE BOOK in a ftate of flavery. The females IV. are better labourers than of this nation the men, probably from having been more hardly treated in Africa. THE depreffion of fpirits which thefe feem to be under, on their firft arrival in people the Weft Indies, gives them an air of foftnels and fabmifion, which forms a ftriking contraft to the frank and fearlefs temper of the Koromantyn Negroes. Neverthelefs, the Eboes are in fact more truly favage than any nation of the Gold Coaft; inafimnuch as many tribes among them, elpecially the Moco tribe, bave been, without doubt, accuftomed to the thocking praétice of feeding on human fleth. This circumflance I have had attefted beyond the poffibility of difpute, by an intclligent truft-worthy domeftic of the Ebo nation, who acknowledged to with evident fhame and reluétance, me, though (having lived many years among the Whites) that he had himfelf, in his youth, frequently horrid regaled on this banquet : and his account received fhocking confirmation from a circumftance which a occurred in the year 1770 in Antigua, where two Negroes of the fame country were tried for killing and devouring one of their fellow-flaves in that ifland. They were time before, purchafed, a fhort by a gentleman of the name of Chriftian, out ofa fhip from Oid Calabar, and I am told were conviéted on the cleareft evidence. Or --- Page 107 --- WEST INDIES, Or the religious opinions and modes of CHAP. worfhip of the Eboes, we know but little; ex- III. cept that, like the inhabitants of Whidah, they pay adoration to certain reptiles, of which the guana (a fpecies of lizard) is in the higheft eftimation (d). They univerfally practife circumcifion, < which with fome other of their fuperftitions (fays Purchas) may feem Mahometan, but are more likely to be ancient Ethnic rites; for many countries of Africa admit circumcifion, and yet know not, or acknowledge not, Mahometanifm; i but are either Chriftians, as the (d) I have been affured by an intelligent perfon who had vifited many parts of Afriça, that the Eboes frequently offer up human facrifices in their worthip of this animal.. Perhaps the certainty of this may be queftioned; but the following anecdote is undoubtedly true. In the year 1787, two of the feamen of a Liverpool thip trading at Bonny, being afhore watering, had the misfortune to kill a guana, as they were rolling a caik to the beach. An outcry was immediately raifed among the Natives, and the boat's crew were furrounded and feized, and all trade interdiéted, until public juftice fhould be fatisfied and appeafed. The offenders, being carried before the king, or chief man of the place, were adjudged to die. However, the feverity of juftice being foftened by a bribe from the captain, the fentence was at length changed to the following, that they fhould pay a fine of 700 bars (about 6-75) and remain in the country as flaves to the king, until the money fhould be raifed. The captain not being willing to advançe fo large a fum for the redemption of thefe poor wretches, failed without them, and what becaie pf them afterwards I have not heard., Cophti, ged to die. However, the feverity of juftice being foftened by a bribe from the captain, the fentence was at length changed to the following, that they fhould pay a fine of 700 bars (about 6-75) and remain in the country as flaves to the king, until the money fhould be raifed. The captain not being willing to advançe fo large a fum for the redemption of thefe poor wretches, failed without them, and what becaie pf them afterwards I have not heard., Cophti, --- Page 108 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK Cophti, Abifinians, or Gentiles. IV. people of They (the Y Benin) cut or rafe the fkin with three lines drawn to the navel, efteeming it to falvation." neceflary NEXT in order to the Whidah thofe from Congo and Negroes, are Angola; ; whom I confider to have been originally the fame people. I fay but little of them that is can appropriate and particular; except that they are in general a flender fightly race, of a deep and gloffjy black (a tribe of the Congoes excepted, who refemble the Eboes) and I believe very nearly tion of a difpofinaturally mild and docile. They me to be fitter for domeftic appear to fervice than for field-labour. They are faid however to become expert mechanicks; and, what is much to their honour, they are fuppofed to be more honeft than many other of the African tribes. ftriély HAVING thus recited fuch obfervations have occurred to me on as rious African nations in contemplating the vathe Weft Indies feparately and diftinét from each other, I fhall attempt an eftimate of their general charaéter now difpofitions, and influenced, as in a great undoubtedly they are degree, by their fituation and condition in a ftate of flavery; circumftances efface the native that foon original impreffion which diftinguilhes one nation from anotherin Negroes newly imported, --- Page 109 --- WEST INDIES. imported, and create a fimilitude of manners, and CHAP. a uniformity of charaéter throughout the whole III. Y body. THUS, notwithftanding what has been related of the firmnefs and courage of the natives of the Gold Coaft, it is certain that the Negrocs in general in our iflands (fuch ofthem at leaft as have been any length of time in a ftate of fervitude) are of a diftruftful and cowardly difpofition. So degrading is the nature of flavery, that fortitude of mind is loft as free agency is reftrained. To the fame caufe probably muft be imputed their propenfity to conceal, or violate the truth; which is fo general, that I think the vice of falfehood is one of the moft prominent features in their character. Ifa Negro is afked even an indifferent queftion by his mafter, he feldom gives an immediate reply; but, affecting not to underftand what is faid, compels a repetition of the queftion, that he may have time to confider, not what is the true anfwer, but what is the moft politick one for him to give. The pronenefs obfervable in many of them to the vice of theft, has already been noticed ; and I am afraid that evil communication makes it almoft general. Ir is no eafy matter, I confefs, to difcriminate thofe circumftances which are the refult of proximate caufes, from thofe which are the effects of national cuftoms and early habits in favage life; but have time to confider, not what is the true anfwer, but what is the moft politick one for him to give. The pronenefs obfervable in many of them to the vice of theft, has already been noticed ; and I am afraid that evil communication makes it almoft general. Ir is no eafy matter, I confefs, to difcriminate thofe circumftances which are the refult of proximate caufes, from thofe which are the effects of national cuftoms and early habits in favage life; but --- Page 110 --- HISTORY OF THE EOOK but I am afraid that cowardice and IV. have been the difimulation Y will properties of flaveryin all ages, and continue to be fo, to the end of the It is a fituation that world. of the beft affeétions of neceffarily fuppreffes many the human calls forth any latent virtues, heart.-Ifit fympathy and they are thofe of fame condition compaffion towards perfons in the of life; and that the Negroes in accordingly we find to théir general are ftrongly attached their countrymen, but, above all, to fuch of companions as came in the fame with them from Africa. This is fhip ftance: the term a ftriking circum- /hipmate is underftood them. as fignifying a relationfhip of the moft among dearing nature; perhaps as enwhen the fufferers recaling the time their were cut off together from common country and kindred, and awakena ing reciprocal fympathy, from the of mutual affliction. remembrance Bur their benevolence, with a very few tions, extends no further. The fofter virtues excepfeldom found in the bofom of the are African. Give him fufficient enflaved becomes the moft remorfelefs authority, and he the of tyrants. Of all degrees of wretchednefs endured by the fons of men, the greateft, affuredly, is the is.felt by thofe who are mifery which the Slaves of unhappily doomed to be Slaves; a moft unnatural which fometimes takes place in the relation, fugar plantations; --- Page 111 --- WEST INDIES. tions; as forinftance, when it is found neceffary CHAP. to inftruét young Negroes in certain trades or III. handicraft employments. In thofe cafes it is 1 ufual to place them in a fort of apprenticelhip to fuch of the old Negroes as are competent to give them inftruétion; but the harfhnefs with which thefe people enforce their authority, is extreme; and it ferves in fome degree to leffen the indignation which a good mind neceffarily feels at the abufes of power by the Whites, to obferve that the Negroes themfelves, when invefted with command, give full play to their re* vengeful paffions; and exercife all the wantonnefs of cruelty without reftraint or remorfe. THE fame obfervation may be made concerning their conduct towards the inferior animal creation. Their treatment of cattle under their direction is brutal beyond belief. Even the ufeful and focial qualities of the dog fecure to him no kind ufage from an African mafter. Although there is fcarce a Negro that is not attended by one, they feem to maintain thefe poor animals folely for the purpofe of having an objeét whereon to exercife their caprice and cruelty. And, by the way, it is a fingular circumftance, and not the lefs true for being fomewhat ludicrous, that the animal itfelf, when the property of a Negro, betrays at firft fight that fuch is his condition; for, lofing his playful propenfitics, he feems mafter. Although there is fcarce a Negro that is not attended by one, they feem to maintain thefe poor animals folely for the purpofe of having an objeét whereon to exercife their caprice and cruelty. And, by the way, it is a fingular circumftance, and not the lefs true for being fomewhat ludicrous, that the animal itfelf, when the property of a Negro, betrays at firft fight that fuch is his condition; for, lofing his playful propenfitics, he feems --- Page 112 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK feems to feel thei inferiority of bis IV. tually crouches before fuch ftation; and aca of his own fpecies, as are ufed to better company. With the he. acquires alfo the cowardly, thievifh, and manners, fullen difpofition ofhis African tyrant. BUT, notwithftanding what has been related of the felfith and unrelenting temper of the enflaved Africans, they are faid to be highly tible of the paffion of love. It has even fufcep- been fuppoled that they are more fubjeét to, and fenfible of, its impreffion, than the natives of colder climates. 6c The Negro (fays Dr. Robertfon) glows with all the warmth of defire natural to his climate." c6 The tender paffion (fays another writer) is the moft ardent one in the breaft of the enflaved African.-It is the only fource of his joys, and his only folace in affliction." Monfieur de Chanvalon (the hiftorian of Martinico) tiates on the fame idea with expaCc Love, great cloquence.- (fays he) the child of nature, to whom fhe entrufts her own prefervation; whofe progrefs no difficulties can retard, and who triumphs even in chains; that principle of life, as neceflary to the barmony of the univerfe, as the air which we breathe, infpires and invigorates all the thoughts andpurpofes of the Negro, and lightens the yoke ofl his flavery. No perils can abate, nor impending punifhments. reftrain, the ardour of his paffion.-He leaves his mafter's habitation, and traverling --- Page 113 --- WEST INDIES. verling the wildernefs by night, difregarding its CHAP. noxious inhabitants, feeks.a refuge from his for- III. rows, in the bofom of his faithful and affectionate miftrefs." ALL this however is the language of poetry and the vifions of romance. The poor Negro has no leifure in a ftate of flavery to indulge a paffion, which, however defcended, is nourifhed by idlenefs. Ifby love, is meant that tender attachment to one individual object, which, in civilifed life, is defire heightened by fentiment, and refined by delicacy, I doubt if it ever found a place in an African bofom.-The Negroes in the Weft Indies, both men and women, would confider it as the'greateft exertion of tyranny, and the moft cruel of all hardihips, to be compelled to confine themfelves to a fingle conneétion with the other fex; and I am perfuaded that any attempt to reftrain their prefent licentious and diffolute manners, by introducing the marriage ceremony among them, as is ftrenuoufly recommended by many perfons in Great Britain, would be utterly impraéticable to any good purpofe. Perhaps it may be thought that the Negroes are not altogether reduced to fo deplorable a ftate of flavery, as is commonly reprefented, when it is known that they boldly claim and exercife a right of difpofing of themfelves in this refpeét, accordVoL. II. H ing any attempt to reftrain their prefent licentious and diffolute manners, by introducing the marriage ceremony among them, as is ftrenuoufly recommended by many perfons in Great Britain, would be utterly impraéticable to any good purpofe. Perhaps it may be thought that the Negroes are not altogether reduced to fo deplorable a ftate of flavery, as is commonly reprefented, when it is known that they boldly claim and exercife a right of difpofing of themfelves in this refpeét, accordVoL. II. H ing --- Page 114 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK ing to their own will and IV. controul from their pleafure, without any - mafters. THAT paffion therefore to which the name of Love) is afcribed the (dignified by ening all the miferies of power of foftdefire,i flavery, is mere animal implanted by the great Author of all for the prefervation of the things fpecies: This the Negroes, without doubt, poffefs in common with the reft of the animal creation; and they as inclination indulge it, prompts,in an almoft intercourfe with the other promifeuous fex; or at leaft in temporary connections, which they form without remony, and diffolve without reluétance. Ceage indeed begins to mitigate the When leffen the fick'enefs of ardour, and youth, many of them form attachments, which, ftrengthened by habit, and endeared by the confcioufhefs of mutual cility, produce a union for life. It is not imbecommon to behold a venerable unftamp, who, couple of this tottering under the load contribute to each other's comfort, with of.years, ful affiduity which is at a chearfeéting. once amiable and afTHE fituation of the aged among the is indeed Negroes commonly fuch as to make them amends for the hardfhips and fome youth. The labour fufferings of their feldom required of the men is any thing more than to guard the provifion: --- Page 115 --- WEST INDIES. vifion grounds; ; and the women are chiefly em- CHAP. ployed in attending the children, in nurfing the III. fick, or in other eafy avocations ; but their hap- 1 pinefs chiefly arifes from the high veneration in which old age is held by the Negroes in general, and this I confider as one of the few pleafing traits in their charaéter. In addrefling fuch of their fellow-fervants as are any ways advanced in years, they'prefix to their names the appellation of Parent, as Ta Quaco, and Ma Quafheba; Ta and Ma, fignifying Father and Mother, by which defignation they mean to convey not only the idea of filial reverence, but alfo that of efteem and fondnefs. Neither is the regard thus difplayed towards the aged, confined to outward ceremonies and terms of refpect alone. Itis founded on an aétive principle of native benevolence, furnifhing one of the few exceptions to their general unrelenting and felfith charaéter. The whole body of Negroes on a plantation muft be reduced to a deplorable ftate of wretchednefs, if, at any time, they fuffer their aged companions to want the common neceffaries of life, or even many of its comforts, as far as they can procure them. They feem to me to be actuated on thefe occafions by a kind ofinvoluntary impulfe, operating as a primitive law of nature, which fcorns to wait the cold diétates of reafon: among them, it is the exercife of a common duty, H 2 which ft be reduced to a deplorable ftate of wretchednefs, if, at any time, they fuffer their aged companions to want the common neceffaries of life, or even many of its comforts, as far as they can procure them. They feem to me to be actuated on thefe occafions by a kind ofinvoluntary impulfe, operating as a primitive law of nature, which fcorns to wait the cold diétates of reafon: among them, it is the exercife of a common duty, H 2 which --- Page 116 --- ICO HISTORY OF THE BOOK which courts no obfervation, and looks IV. applaufe (e). fot no Y AMONG other propenfities and qualities of the Negroes muft not be omitted their nefs, loquacioufThey are as fond of exhibiting fet as orators by profeflion; but it fpeeches, fiderable requires a confhare of patience to hear them throughout 5 for they commonly make a long before they come to the.p preface point; 9 beginning with a tçdious enumeration of their paft fervices andd hardfhips. They dwell with peculiar the fact admits energy (if it) on the number of children they have prefented to Malla which they (Meher) after recapitulate fome of the inftances of particular kindnefs fhewn them their or employer, by owner adducing thefe alfo as proofs of their own merit; it being evident, they think, that fuch kindnefs can be no gratuitous. This is their (c) The greateft affront (fays Mr. fered to a Negro, is to curfe his father and Long) that can be ofhis progenitors. It may not in mother, or any of that many of the Negroes attain beimproper to this place to add, bruary 1792, a Black woman of the great name longevity. of Flora .-In Feat the very extraordinary age of 120, at Savanna-la-Mar Gale died Jamaica. She remembered perfedtly well the in quake in 1692, wbich proved fo fatal to Port great earthleft a numerous progeny of children, grand and Royal She children, and it is remarkable that the great-grandbaptized, afligning for reafon her defire always refufed to Be dance at her funeral, according to havea grand Negro ceremony never allowed in to the cuftom of Africaga a as have been chriftened. Jamaica at the burial of fuch ufual --- Page 117 --- WEST INDIES. IOI ufual exordium, as well when they bring com- CHAP. plaints againft others, as when they are called III. upon to defend themfelves; and it is in vain to 1 jnterrupt either plaintiff or defendant. Yet I have fometimes heard them convey much ftrong meaning in a narrow compafs: I have been furprifec Dy fuch figurative expreffions, and (notwithftanding their ignorance of abftract terms) fuch pointed fentences, as would have refleéted no difgrace on pocts and philofophers. One inftance recurs to my memory, of fo fignificant a turn of expreflion in a common labouring Negro, who could have had no opportunity of improvement from the converfation of White people, as is alone, I think, fufficient to demonftrate that Negroes have minds very capable of obfervation. It was a fervant who had brought me a letter, and, while, I was preparing an anfwer, had, through wearinefs and fatigue, fallen afleep on the floor: as foon as the papers werc ready, I direéted him to bc awakened ; but this was no cafy matter. When the Negro who attempted to awake him, exclaimed in the ufual jargon, You 10 hear Mala call you? that is, Don't you hear Mafter call you ? Sleep, replied the poor fellow, looking up, and returning compofedly to his flumbers, Sleep hab no Mafa. (Sleep has no Mafter.) OF thofe imitative arts in which perfeétion H 3 can the floor: as foon as the papers werc ready, I direéted him to bc awakened ; but this was no cafy matter. When the Negro who attempted to awake him, exclaimed in the ufual jargon, You 10 hear Mala call you? that is, Don't you hear Mafter call you ? Sleep, replied the poor fellow, looking up, and returning compofedly to his flumbers, Sleep hab no Mafa. (Sleep has no Mafter.) OF thofe imitative arts in which perfeétion H 3 can --- Page 118 --- 1O2 HISTORY OF THE BOOK can be attained only in an IV. ciety, it is natural improved ftate of fohave but little to fuppole that the Negroes in knowledge. An opinion prevails Europe that they poffels organs adapted to the fcience of mufick; but peculiarly lieve is an ill founded idea. this I bethey difplay neither In vocal harmony feems in this variety nor compafs. Nature rioufly refpeét to have dealt more penuby them than towards the reft of the human race, As praétical them, by muficians, fome of great labour and careful become fufficiently inftruction, in a publick expert to bear an under-part concert; but I do not recolleét to have feen or heard of a Negro who could ever be called a fine truly ment. In performer on any capital inflrugeneral they prefer a loud and continued noife to the fineft longquently confume the harmony, and freboard with whole night in. beating on a chief afick. TFhis is in fact one of their mufical inftruments; befides hàve the Banja or which, they the Merrinuang, the Dundo, and Gombay; all of African origin. The an imperfeét kind of firft is is played on by the violincello; except that it finger like the guitar; ducing a difmal monotony of four proDundo is notes. The is precifely a tabor; and the a ruftick drum; being formed of the Goombay a hollow tree, one end trunk of fheep's fkin, ofwhich is covered with a From fuch inftruments nothing like --- Page 119 --- WEST INDIES. TO3 hke a regular tune can be expeéted, nor is it CHAE P, attempted. III. Y THEIR fongs are commenly impromptt, and there are among them individuals who refemble the improvifatore, or extempore. bards, of Italy; but I cannot fay much for their poetry. Their tunes in general are chara@teriftick of their national manners; thofe of the Eboes being foft and languifhing; of the Koromantyns heroick and martial. At the fame time, there is obfervable, in moft of them, a predominant melancholy, which, to a man of feeling, is foietimes very affedting. Ar their merry meetings, and midnight feftivals, they are not without ballads of another kind, adapted to fuch occafions; 3 and here they give full fcope to a talent for ridicule and derifion, which is exercifed not only againft each other, but alfo, not unfrequently, at the expence of their owner or employer; but moft part of their fongs at thefe places are fraught with obfcene ribaldry, and accompanied with dances in the higheft degree licentious and wanton. Ar other times, more elpecially at the burial of fuch among them as were refpected in life, or venerable through age, they exhibit a fort of Pyrrhick or warlike dance, in which their bodies are ftrongly agitated by running, leaping, and jumping, with many violent and frantick geftures H 4 and owner or employer; but moft part of their fongs at thefe places are fraught with obfcene ribaldry, and accompanied with dances in the higheft degree licentious and wanton. Ar other times, more elpecially at the burial of fuch among them as were refpected in life, or venerable through age, they exhibit a fort of Pyrrhick or warlike dance, in which their bodies are ftrongly agitated by running, leaping, and jumping, with many violent and frantick geftures H 4 and --- Page 120 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK and contortions. Their IV. of the funeral fongs too are all heroick or martial caft; affording fome colour to the prevalent notion, that the confider death not only as a welcome and Negroes releafe from the calamities happy alfo as a paffport to the place oftheircondition, of but their a deliverance which, while it frees nativity; them from bondage, reftores them to the fociety of their deareft,1 long-loft, andlamented relatives in Africa. But I am afraid that this, like other notions concerning the European Negroes, is the dream of poetry; the fympathetick effufion of a fanciful or too credulous an imagination (f). The Negrocs, (P Perhaps it w'as fome fuch that the following little poem-the imagination gave rifeto And now publifhed for the firft time. produétion of early youth. ODE ON SEEING A NEGRO FUNERAL Mawaurdiest O'er yonder plain His bier is borne: : The fable train By youthful virgins led: Daughters of injur'd Africk, fay Wby raife ye thus th' heroick lay, Why triumph o'er the dead? No tear bedews their fixed eye: "Tis now the Hero lives, they cry i Releas'd from flav'ry's chain : Beyond the billowy furge he flies, And joyful views his native fkies, And long loft bowers again, On --- Page 121 --- WEST INDIES. zo5 groes, in general, are fo far from courting death, CHAP. that, among fuch of them as have refided any III. iength of time in the Weft Indies, fuicide is 1 much On Koromantyn's palmy foil Heroick deeds and martial toil Shall fill each glorious day; Love, fond and faithful, crown thy nights, And blifs unbought, unmix'd delights, Paft cruel wrongs repay. Nor lordly pride's ftern avarice there, Alone fhall nature's bounties fhare ; To: all her children free.- Fort thee, the dulcet Reed fhall fpring, His balmy bowl the Coco bring, Th' Anana bloom for thee. The thunder, hark ! "Tis Africk's God, He wakes, he lifts th'a avenging rod, And fpeeds th' impatient hours; From Niger's golden ftream he calls; Fair freedom comes,- -oppreffion falls; And vengeance yet is ours! Now, Chriftian, now, in wild difmay, Of Africk's proud revenge the prey, Go roam th'a affrighted wood;- Transform'd to tigers, fierce and fell, Thy race fhall prowl with favage yell, And glut their rage for blood! But foft,-beneath yon tam'rind fhade, Now let the Hero's limbs be laid; Sweet flumbers blefs the brave: There fhall the breezes fhed perfume, Nor livid lightnings blaft the bloom That decks MAHALI's grave. And vengeance yet is ours! Now, Chriftian, now, in wild difmay, Of Africk's proud revenge the prey, Go roam th'a affrighted wood;- Transform'd to tigers, fierce and fell, Thy race fhall prowl with favage yell, And glut their rage for blood! But foft,-beneath yon tam'rind fhade, Now let the Hero's limbs be laid; Sweet flumbers blefs the brave: There fhall the breezes fhed perfume, Nor livid lightnings blaft the bloom That decks MAHALI's grave. --- Page 122 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK much lefs frequent than IV. happy, and civilifed among the free-born, inhabitants of Great Britain, With them, equally with the Whites, nature fhrinks back at approaching diffolution; and when, at any time, fudden or untimely death overtakes any of their companions, inftead of rejoicing at fuch an event, they never fail it to the malicious contrivances and toimpute arts' of fome praétitioners in diabolical African origin, Obeah, a term of fignifying forcery or the prevalence of which, witchcraft, among many of their countrymen, all the Negroes moft firmly and implicitly believe, We may conclude, that their funeral fongs and ceremonies therefore, monly are comnothing more than the diffonance of favage barbarity and riot; as remote from the fond fuperftition to which they are afcribed, as from the fober dictates of a rational forrow. HAVING mentioned the praétice of Obeah, the influence of which has fo on the powerful an effect Negroes, as to bias, in a confiderable degree, their general conduét, difpofitions, and manners, I fhall conclude the prefent chapter by prefenting to my readers the following curious account ofthis extraordinary very and its effeéts: it was tranfmitted fuperftition, of Jamaica to the Lords of the by the Agent Privy Committee of Council, and by them fubjoined to their report on the flave trade; and, if I miftake not, the --- Page 123 --- WEST INDIES. 1O7 the publick are chiefly indebted for it to the CHAP, diligent refearches, and accurate pen, of Mr. III. Long. 66 THE term Obeali, Obial, or Obia (for it is varioufly written) we conceive to be the adjeétive, and Obe or Obithe noun fubftantive; and that by the words Obia-men or women, are meant thofe who practife Obi. The origin of the term we fhould confider as of no importance in our anfwer to the queftions propofed, if, in fearch of it, we were not led to difquifitions that are highly gratifying to curiofity. From the learned Mr. Bryant's (g) commentary upon the word Ophs, we obtain a very probable etymology of the term- A ferpent, in the Egyptian language, € was called Ob or Aub- Obion is ftill the ec Egyptian name for a ferpent."- Mofes, in 66 the name of God, forbids the Ifraelites ever €6 to enquire of the demon Ob, which is tranf- <6 lated in our Bible Charmer, or Wizard, Di46 vinator, aut Sorcilegus."- The woman at 4e Endor is called Oub or Ob, tranflated Pytho- <6 niffa; and Oubaios (he cites from Horus Apollo) < was the name of the Bafilifk or Royal Serpent, es emblem of the fun, and an ancient oracular 46 Deity of Africa." This derivation, which applies to one particular fect, the remnant pro- (g) Mythology, vol. I. p.48, 475, and 478. bably , Di46 vinator, aut Sorcilegus."- The woman at 4e Endor is called Oub or Ob, tranflated Pytho- <6 niffa; and Oubaios (he cites from Horus Apollo) < was the name of the Bafilifk or Royal Serpent, es emblem of the fun, and an ancient oracular 46 Deity of Africa." This derivation, which applies to one particular fect, the remnant pro- (g) Mythology, vol. I. p.48, 475, and 478. bably --- Page 124 --- Io8 HISTORY OF THE BOOK bably of a very celebrated IV. mote ages, is religious order in renow become in Jamaica the term to denote thofe Africans who in that general practife witchcraft or forcery, ifland alfo the clafs of what are called comprehending thofe who, by means ofa narcotick Myal-men, or with the juice of an herb potion, made ed Calalue (faid to be the branchor fpecies of Solamum) which occafions a trance or profound fleep of a certain duration, endeavour to convince the deluded their (peétators of power to re-animate dead bodies, €6 As far as we are able to decide from own experience and information when our in the ifland, and from the we lived all the current teftimony of Negroes we have ever converfed with on the fubjeét, the profeffors of Obi are, and were, natives of Africa, and none always have other; and they brought the fcience with them from thence to Jamaica, where it is fo univerfally that we believe there are few of the large praétifed, eftates poffeffing native Africans, which have not one or more of them. The oldeft and moft thofe who ufually attraét the crafty are and greateft devotion confidence; thofe whofe hoary heads, and a fomewhat peculiarly harth and forbidding in their afpedt, together with fome fkill in the medicinal and plants of poifonous fpecies, have fied them for fucceféful qualiweak and credulous. impofition upon the The Negroes in general, whether --- Page 125 --- Wil ST INDIES. ICg whether Africans or Creoles, revere, confult, and CI HAP. fear them; to thefe oracles they refort, and with III. the moftimplicit faith, upon all occafions, whether 1 for the cure of diforders, the obtaining revenge for injuries or infults, the conciliating of favour, the difcovery and punifhment of the thief or the adulterer, and the prediétion of future events. The trade which thefe impoftors carry on is extremely . lucrative 5 they manufaéture and fell their Obies adapted to different cafes and at different prices. A veil of myftery is fludioufly thrown over their incantations, to which the midnight hours are allotted, and every precaution'is taken to conceal them from the knowledge and dif covery of the White people. The deluded Negroes, who thoroughly believe in their fupernatural power, become the willing accomplices in this concealment, and the ftouteft among them tremble at the very fight of the ragged bundle, the bottle or the egg-fhells, which are ftuck in the thatch or hung over the door of a hut, or upon the branch of a plantain tree, to deter marauders. In cafes of poifon, the natural effeéts ofit are by the ignorant Negroes; afcribed entirely to the potent workings of Obi. The wifer Negroes hefitate to reveal their fufpicions, through a dread of inçurring the terrible vengeance which is fulminated by the Obeah-men againft any who fhould betray them : it is very difficult which are ftuck in the thatch or hung over the door of a hut, or upon the branch of a plantain tree, to deter marauders. In cafes of poifon, the natural effeéts ofit are by the ignorant Negroes; afcribed entirely to the potent workings of Obi. The wifer Negroes hefitate to reveal their fufpicions, through a dread of inçurring the terrible vengeance which is fulminated by the Obeah-men againft any who fhould betray them : it is very difficult --- Page 126 --- tio HISTORY OF THE BOOK difficult therefore for the White IV. tinguith the Obeah proprictor to dif ) profepor from any other Negro upon his plantation; and fo infatuated the Blacks in general, that but few are occur of their having affumed inftances to impeach thefe mifcreants. courage enough firmly With minds fo prepoffeffed, they no fooner find Obi for them near the door of their Jet path which leads houfe, or in the toit, than they give themfelves up for loft. When a Negro is robbed of a fowl or a hog, he applies direétiy to the or woman ; it is then made known Obeah-man fellow Blacks, that Obi is fet for the among his as foon as the latter hears the thief; and terrified dreadful news, his is left but imagination in begins to work, no refource the fuperior fkill of fome more eminent Obcah-man of the counteraét the neighbourhood, who may but ifno magical operations of the other ; one can be found of higher rank and ability, or if, after gaining fuch an ally, he ftill fancy himfelf thould a affeéted, he prefently falls into decline, under the inceffant horror ofimpending calamities. The flighteft painful the head, the fenfation in lofs bowels, or any other part, any cafual or hurt, confirms his believes himfelf the devoted apprehenfions, and he and irrefiftible viétim of an invifible cheerfulnefs agency. Sleep, appetite, and forfake him, his his difturbed ftrength decays, imagination is haunted without A relpite, --- Page 127 --- WEST INDIES. III refpite, his features wear the fettled gloom of de- CHAP. fpondency : dirt, oF any other unwholeforne fub- III. ftance, become his only food, he contracts a mor- ) bid habit of body, and gradually finks into the grave. A Negro, who is taken ill, enquires of the Obeah-man the caufe of his ficknefs, whether it will prove mortal or not, and within what time he fall die or recover ? The oracle generally afcribes the diftemper to the malice of fome particular perfon by name, and advifes to fet Obi for that perfon ; but if no hopes ame given of recovery, immediate defpairtakes place, which no medicine can remove, and death is the certain confequence. Thofe anomalous fymptoms which originate from caufes deeply rooted in the mind, fuch as the terrors of Obi, or from poifons, whofe operation is flow and intricate, will baffle the fkill of the ableft phyfician. 66 CONSIDERING the multitude of occafions which may provoke the Negroes to exercife the powers of Obi againft each other, and the aftonifhing influence of this fuperftition upon their minds, we cannot but attribute a very confiderable portion of the annual mortality among the Negroes of Jamaica to this fafcinating mifchief. < THE Obi is ufually compofed of a farrago of materials, moft of which are enumerated in the Jamaica law (h), viz. 66 Blood, feathers, parrots (h) Paffed 1760, 6s beaks, the Negroes to exercife the powers of Obi againft each other, and the aftonifhing influence of this fuperftition upon their minds, we cannot but attribute a very confiderable portion of the annual mortality among the Negroes of Jamaica to this fafcinating mifchief. < THE Obi is ufually compofed of a farrago of materials, moft of which are enumerated in the Jamaica law (h), viz. 66 Blood, feathers, parrots (h) Paffed 1760, 6s beaks, --- Page 128 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK cé. beaks, dogs teeth, IV. <c alligators teeth, brokent Y bottles, grave-dirt, rum, and 6 WITH a view to illuftrate the egg-fhells." have given of this defcription we praétice, and its commont effects, we have fubjoined a few examples out of the very great number which have occurred in Jamaica; 5 not that they are peculiar to that ifland only, for we believe fimilar examples may be found in other Weft India colonies. Pere Labat, in his hiftory of Martinico, has mentioned fome which are very remarkable (i). C6 Ir may fcem extraordinary, that a praétice alledged to be fo frequent in Jamaica fhould not have received an earlier check from thel The truth is, that the fkill of fome legiflature, the art of poifoning, has been noticed Negroes, in the colonifts ever fince became much acquainted with them. Sloane and Barham, who praétifed phyfick in Jamaica in the laft century, have mentioned ticular inftances ofit. The fecret and infidious parmanner in which this crime is generally trated, makes the legal proof of it extremely perpedifficult, Sufpicions therefore have been frequent, but deteétions rare : thefe murderers have fometimes been brought to juftice, but it is reafonable to believe that a far greater number have efcaped with impunity. In regard to the other (i) Tome ii. P. 59. 447.499. 506. and --- Page 129 --- WEST INDIES. I13 and more common tricks of Obi, fuch as hanging CHAP, up feathers, bottles, egg-fhells, &c. &c. in order III. - Y to intimidate Negroes of a thievich difpofition from plundering huts, hog-ftyes, or provifiongrounds, thefe were laughed at by the White inhabitants as harmlefs ftratagems, contrived by the more fagacious, for deterring the more fimple and fuperftitious Blacks, and ferving for much the fame purpofe as the fcarecrows which are in general ufed among our Englith farmers and gardeners. But in the year 1760, when a very formidable infurrection of the Koromantyn or Gold Coaft Negroes broke out in the parifh ofSt. Mary, and fpread through almoft every other diftriét of the ifland, an old Koromantyn Negro, the chief inftigator and oracle of the infurgents in that parifh, who had adminiftered the Fetifh or folemn oath to the confpirators, and furnifhed them with a magical preparation which was to render them invulnerable, was fortunately apprehended, conviéted, and hung up with all his feathers and trumperies about him; and his execution ftruck the infurgents with a general panick, from which they never afterwards recovered. The examinations which were taken at that period, firft opened the eyes of the publick to the very dangerous tendency of the Obeals practices, and gave birth to the law which was then enaéted for their fuppreffion and punithVor. II. I ment, a magical preparation which was to render them invulnerable, was fortunately apprehended, conviéted, and hung up with all his feathers and trumperies about him; and his execution ftruck the infurgents with a general panick, from which they never afterwards recovered. The examinations which were taken at that period, firft opened the eyes of the publick to the very dangerous tendency of the Obeals practices, and gave birth to the law which was then enaéted for their fuppreffion and punithVor. II. I ment, --- Page 130 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK ment. But neither the IV. ftriét terror of this law, the Y inveftigation which has ever fince been made after the profeffors of Obi, nor the many examples of thofe who from time to time have been hanged or tranfported, have hitherto duced the defired effeét. We profore, that either this fect, like conclude, therehas flourifhed othersin the world, under perfecution ; or that freth fupplies are annuallyintroduced from the African feminarics. The folloaving is the paper referred to in the preceding account. OBEAH PRACTICE. €e We have the following narratives planter rin from a Jamaica, a gentleman of the ftriéteft veracity, who is now in London, and atteft the truth of them. ready to CE Upox returning to Jamaica in the 1775, he found that a great many of his year had died during his ablence; and that of Negroes remained alive, at leaft one-half fuch as were debilitated, bloated, and in a very deplorable condition. mortality continued after his arrival, and The three were frequently buried in two or were taken ill, and one day ; others fame began to decline under the fjymptoms. Every means were tried by medicines, --- Page 131 --- WEST INDIES. IIS dicines, and the moft careful nurfing, to preferve CHAP. the lives of the feebleft; but in fpite ofall his en- III. deavours, this depopulation went on for above a twelvemonth longer, with more or lefs intermifion, and without his being able to afcertain the real caufe, though the Obeah practice was ftrongly fufpeéted, as well by himfelf, as by the doctor and other White perfons upon the plantation, as it was known to have been very common in that part of the ifland, and particularly among the Negroes of the Papaw or Popo country. Still he was unable to verify his fufpicions, becaufe the patients conftantly denied their having any thing to do with perfons of that order, or any knowledge of them. At length a Negrefs, who had been ill for fome time, came one day and informed him, that feclingit was impoffible for her to live much longer, the thought herfelf bound in duty, before the died, to impart a very great fecret, and acquaint him with the true caufe of her diforder, in hopes that the difclofure might prove the means of ftopping that mifchief, which had already fwept away fuch a number of her fellow-flaves. She procecded to fay, that her ftep-mother (a woman of the Popo country, above eighty years old, but ftill hale and aétive) had put Obi upon her, as fhe had alfo done upon thofe who had lately died ; and that the old woman had praétifed Obi for as many ycars paft as the could remember. I2 66 THE means of ftopping that mifchief, which had already fwept away fuch a number of her fellow-flaves. She procecded to fay, that her ftep-mother (a woman of the Popo country, above eighty years old, but ftill hale and aétive) had put Obi upon her, as fhe had alfo done upon thofe who had lately died ; and that the old woman had praétifed Obi for as many ycars paft as the could remember. I2 66 THE --- Page 132 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK ce THE other Negroes of the IV. fooner heard of this plantation no Y in impeachment, than they ran a body to their mafter, and confirmed the truth ofit, adding, that the had carried on this bufinefs ever fince her arrival from Africa, and was the terror of the whole Upon this he neighbourhood. - - repaired direétly, with fix White fervants, to the old woman's houfe, and open the door, obferved the whole infide forcing of the roof (which was of thatch) and every crevice of the walls ftuck with the implements of her confifting of rags, feathers, bones of trade, thoufand other articles. cats, and a large earthen Examining further, a pot or.jar, clofe covered, was found concealed under her bed.-It contained gious quantity of round balls of earth a prodivarious dimenfions, or clay of large and fmall, whitened on the outfide, and varioufly compounded, fome with hair and rags, or feathers of all forts, and ftrongly bound with twine; others blended with the upper feétion of the fkulls of cats, or ftuck round with cats teeth and claws, or with human or dogs teeth, and fome glafs beads of different colours; there were alfo, great many egg-fhells filled with a vifcous or gummy fubftance, the qualities of which he negleéted to examine, and many little bags ftuffed with a variety of articles, the particulars of which cannot at this diftance of time be recolleéted. The houfe was inftantly --- Page 133 --- WEST INDIES. inftantly pulled down, and with the whole of its CHAP. contents committed to the flames, amidft the ge- III. neral acclamations of all his other Negroes. In - - 1 regard to the old woman, he declined bringing her to trial under the law of the ifland, which would have punifhed her with death ; but, from a principle of humanity, delivered her into the hands of a party of Spaniards, who (as the was thought not incapable of doing fome trifling kind of work) were very glad to accept and carry her with them to Cuba. From the moment of her departure, his Negroes feemed all to be animated with new fpirits, and the malady fpread no farther among them. The total of his loffes in the courfe of about fifteen years preceding the difcovery, and imputable folely to the Obeah pragtice, he eftimates at leaft, at one hundred Negroes, OB E A H TRIALS < HAVING received fome furtherinformation upon this fubject from another Jamaica gentleman, who fat upon two trials, we beg leave to deliver the fame in his' own words, as a fupplement to what we have already had the honour of fubmitting. 66 IN the year 1760, the influence of the pro-. I3 feffors years preceding the difcovery, and imputable folely to the Obeah pragtice, he eftimates at leaft, at one hundred Negroes, OB E A H TRIALS < HAVING received fome furtherinformation upon this fubject from another Jamaica gentleman, who fat upon two trials, we beg leave to deliver the fame in his' own words, as a fupplement to what we have already had the honour of fubmitting. 66 IN the year 1760, the influence of the pro-. I3 feffors --- Page 134 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK feffors of the Obeah IV. great art was fach, as to induce a ) many. of the Negro flaves in gage in the rebellion which Jamaica to enyear, and which happened in that then made gave rife to the law which was againft the practice of Cc ASSURANCE Obi. was given to thefe deluded people, that they were to become and in order to render them invulnerable; furnifhed them fo, the Obeah-men with a powder, with which were to rub themfelves. they €c In the firft of them engagement with the rebels, nine were killed, and many prifoners taken ; amongft the latter was one veryi who offered to difclofe intelligent fellow, on condition that his life many fhould important matters, be was promifed. He then related fpared; which which the Negroes, the active part name of known among them by the Obeah-men, had taken in propagating the infurredtion; 5 one of whom was thereupon hended, tried (for rebellious appreed, and fentenced to death. confpiracy) conviétN. B. This was the Koromantyn Obeahman alluded to in our firft paper. c Ar the place of execution, he bid to the executioner, defiance in the telling him, that <e It was not power of the White people to kill And the Negroes him." plexed when they fàw (fpeétators) bim were greatly perexpire, Upon other Obeah- hended, tried (for rebellious appreed, and fentenced to death. confpiracy) conviétN. B. This was the Koromantyn Obeahman alluded to in our firft paper. c Ar the place of execution, he bid to the executioner, defiance in the telling him, that <e It was not power of the White people to kill And the Negroes him." plexed when they fàw (fpeétators) bim were greatly perexpire, Upon other Obeah- --- Page 135 --- WEST INDIES. Obeah-men, who were apprehended at that time, CHAP. various experiments were made with eleétrical III. machines and magic lanterns, but with very little 1 effeét, except on one, who, after recciving fome very fevere fhocks, acknowledged that < his mafter's Obi exceeded his own." <e THE gentleman from whom we have this account, remembers having fat twice on trials of Obeah-men, who were both, convicted of felling their Obeah preparations, which had occafioned the death of the parties to whom they had been adminiftered; ; notwithftanding which, the lenity of their judges prevailed fo far, that they were only punithed with tranfportation. To prove the fact, two witneffes were deemed neceffary, with corroborating circumftances." --- Page 136 --- HISTORY OF THE CHAP. IV. Means ef obtaining Slaves in Afri-Oéfreatins thereon.- --Oljeéions to a direét and immediate abolition of the trade by the Britifh Nation only.- The probable confequences of fuch a mea/ure, both in Africa and the Wef Indies, corfidered-Dijproportions of Jexes in the number of Slaves annually exported from Africa- Catfes therefMode of tranfporting Negroes to the WeR Indies, and regulations recently efablifed by aë of parliament-Efea ofthofe regulations. BOOK Ir hath been obferved in a former chapter, that IV. no certain and precife account is - eafily to be obtained of the means by which the market for flaves is annually kept up and fupported in Africa. The feveral inftances that are given of flavery arifing from captivity in war, delinquency and debt, feem inadequate to fo regular and abundant a fupply. It is difficult to imagine that cafual contributions of this kind, can poffibly furnith an annual export of 74,000 (a). Having (a) Befides which great numbers are fupplied from the nations bordering on the rivers of Senegal and Gambia, for the emperor of Morocco and the ftates of Barbary. Caravans alfo travel from thence acrofs the continent to Upper Egypt of flavery arifing from captivity in war, delinquency and debt, feem inadequate to fo regular and abundant a fupply. It is difficult to imagine that cafual contributions of this kind, can poffibly furnith an annual export of 74,000 (a). Having (a) Befides which great numbers are fupplied from the nations bordering on the rivers of Senegal and Gambia, for the emperor of Morocco and the ftates of Barbary. Caravans alfo travel from thence acrofs the continent to Upper Egypt --- Page 137 --- WEST INDIES. Having an opportunity, a few years ago, of con- CHAP. fulting a very intelligent perfon on this point, IV. who had vifited many parts of the coaft, and appeared to be a man of veracity and candour, Ireceived from him, in writing, an anfwer, which I fhall prefent to my readers verbatim ; and fubjoin fuch further information as I have been able to colleét. The anfwer which I received, was given in the words following:- In all parts of the coafl, and Tapprehend it to be the fame inland, the body of the pcople are in a ftate of abfolute and unlimited flavery : their children are born to no other inheritance, and are liable to be fold by their owners as they think proper. Moft parts of the coaft differ in their governments; fome are abfolute monarchies, while others draw near to an ariftocracy. In both, the authority of the chief or chiefsis unlimited, extending to life, and it is exercifed as often as criminal cafes require, unlefs death is commuted into flavery ; in which cafe the offender is fold, and if the Mhipping will not buy the criminal, he is immediately put to Egypt with confiderable fupplies of Negroes, fome of which. are fent afterwards to Conftantinople. A very curious and interefting account of this traffick is given in the Report of the Lords of the Privy Council. Great numbers of flaves are likewife fent from Mozambique, and the ports on the caftern coaft, to Perfia, Goa, and other parts of the Eaft Indies. Hence it has been calculated that Africa is drained annually of not lefs than 150,000 ofits natives. death, --- Page 138 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK death. Fathers of free condition IV. fell their have power to children, but this power is but feldom enforced. Inever knew very but once, and then the father an inftance ofit his was fo execrated by neighbours, for the act of felling a fon and daughter, that he fhortly afterwards fell into ftate of delpondency and died. The a of fome family was diftination, and the fon and were bought by a friendly daughter afterwards captain, who I know lieve gave freedom to one of them, and I behe gave it to both. I never knew another inftance of this kind, nor do I believe there is flave in a thoufand one procured in this way. Neither dolimagine that there are many procured orinteftine broils. The truth by wars is, the bulk of the people are born flaves to great men, reared as held as property, and as fuch, indeed property fold. There are many circumftances by which a free man may become a flave: fuch as being in not able to pay; and in fome of fuch debt, and debt be large, not cafes, if the only the debtor, but his family likewife, become the flaves of his may be fold. creditors, and Adultery is commonly the fame punifhed in manner; both the offending parties being fold, and the injured purchafe-money paid to the hufband. Obi, or pretended witchcraft (in which all the Negroes firmly believe, and it is generally accompanied with the crime of ing) is another, and a poifonvery common offence, for which large, not cafes, if the only the debtor, but his family likewife, become the flaves of his may be fold. creditors, and Adultery is commonly the fame punifhed in manner; both the offending parties being fold, and the injured purchafe-money paid to the hufband. Obi, or pretended witchcraft (in which all the Negroes firmly believe, and it is generally accompanied with the crime of ing) is another, and a poifonvery common offence, for which --- Page 139 --- WEST INDIES. which flavery is adjudged the lawful punifh- CH. A P. ment; and it extends to all the family of the ofIV. fender. There are various other crimes which 1 fubjeét the offender and his children to be fold ; and it is more than probable, that if there were no buyers, the poor wietches would be murdered without mercy. SUCH is the account which I received, and it is confirmed by feveral of the witneffes that were examined by the Committee of the Privy Council, and by others that appeared before the Houfe of Commons; but it is contradicted in fome material circumftances by other gentlemen, whofe examinations were taken at the fame time, and to whofe authority much refpect is due. Mr. Penny afferts, that although three-fourths of the inhabitants of the Windward Coaft are flaves to the other fourth, yet that thefe local and domeftick flaves are never fold, uniefs for crimes. He js of opinion that in no country, eitherin the maritime diftriets or in the interior parts of Africa, are flaves bred for fale, but that moft of thofe which are difpofed of to the Europeans, are fold in confequence of delinquency, or captivity in war. The fame, or nearly the fame, account is given of the Fantyn nation by Mr. Norris; who obferves, that c6 a confiderable portion of the community are perfons born flaves, but that thefe have peculiar privileges, and enjoy many advantages, --- Page 140 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK advantages, which the flaves off the IV. countries do neighbouring Y not, and cannot be fold at the caprice of their mafters." His opinion number of flaves is, that the furnifhed in the Fantyn country (about 2,000 annually) is made up by delinquency and debt (b). UNDER fuch contradiétory information, it OCcurred to me, during my refidence in Jamaica, to examine many ofthe Negroes themfelves. Imean Negroes newly arrived from Africa; for from thole who have refided any length of time in the Weft Indies, it is difficult to obtain, even to ofanindifferent enquiries nature, fuch anfwers as carry with them conviétion of their truth. It is feldom, for inftance, that any Guiney Negro will acknowledge that he was in a ftate of flavery in his native country. Obferving the refpeét and nence allowed to wealth and pre-emiconfequence the Whites, and the among privileges which attach to freedom in the Weft Indies, among thofe of his own colour who, are born or rendered free, he is tempted, whetherjuftly or not, to affert his claim (8) Several other witnefes fpeak of the attach to domeftick flaves in Africa, but it is privileges obfervable which many of thefe admit, and not one I believe denies, that that African mafter has the power of putting fuch flaves to the with impunity, whenever he thinks proper; and it death, fently be fhewn from the teftimony of fome of the will prethemftives, that it is a miftake to fuppofe the malter Negroes fell them at pleafure. cannot to (8) Several other witnefes fpeak of the attach to domeftick flaves in Africa, but it is privileges obfervable which many of thefe admit, and not one I believe denies, that that African mafter has the power of putting fuch flaves to the with impunity, whenever he thinks proper; and it death, fently be fhewn from the teftimony of fome of the will prethemftives, that it is a miftake to fuppofe the malter Negroes fell them at pleafure. cannot to --- Page 141 --- WEST INDIES. to fome degree of confideration from his paft, CHAP. if not from his prefent condition; and it is a IV. Y natural and excufable propenfity. Conceiving therefore that the truth might be beft obtained from Negroes recently imported, I enquired of many young people, from different parts of Africa, concerning the circumftances of their captivity and fale, and, having reduced their information to writing, I interrogated many of them again on the fame fubject, after an interval of feveral months. If the fame account precifely was given by the fame people a fecond time, I commonly confidered it as grounded in truth. On other occafions, I have examined brothers and fifters apart. If their information agreed in minute particulars, I could have no reafon to fufpeét them of falfehood. Of five-and-twenty young perfons of both fexes whom I thus interrogated, fifteen frankly declared that they were born to flavery, and were either fold to pay the debts, or bartered away to fupply the wants of their owners. Five were fecretly kidnapped in the interior country, and fold to Black merchants, who conveyed them from an immenfe diftance to the fea-coaft, and fold them to the fhip-mafters that brought them to Jamaica. The other five appeared to have fallen viétims in fome of thofe petty wars which it is probable rapacity and revenge reciprocally inftigatc that they were born to flavery, and were either fold to pay the debts, or bartered away to fupply the wants of their owners. Five were fecretly kidnapped in the interior country, and fold to Black merchants, who conveyed them from an immenfe diftance to the fea-coaft, and fold them to the fhip-mafters that brought them to Jamaica. The other five appeared to have fallen viétims in fome of thofe petty wars which it is probable rapacity and revenge reciprocally inftigatc --- Page 142 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK inftigate throughout IV. Africa the whole continent of - (c). On fuch occafions, the the able are carried into young and captivity by the victors, and (e) Perhaps the reader will not be fented with a few of thefe difpleafed to be predown at the time, and without examinations, as they were taken Adam (a any view to publication. Congo) a boy as I guefs about country name Sarri, came from a vaft diftance fourteen, his waylaid and ftole, in the path about three miles inland, was village, by oné of his countrymen. It from his own ing, and the man hid him all was early in the mornhim in the night. He day in the woods, and marched month, and then fold to was another conduéted in this manner for a powder and fhot, and Black man for a gun, fome fecond time for a keg of a quantity of falt. He was fold a chafer bought feveral brandy. His laf-mentioned purwhen he had colleéted other boys in the fame manner, and coaft, where twenty, fent them down to the feathey were fold to a captain of a fhip. further, that his father, Scindia Her relates under the king, and a Quante, was a chief or captain people, whom he great warrior, and had taken fold as flaves. many Quaw and. Qgamina (brothers) from the Gold them, as I guefs, about Coaft, one of were born flaves to a twenty years old, the other eighteen, many other flaves, and man fold named Banafau, who had a great thele two to the brought them. to Jamaica. On captain that their mafter fold being afked for what caufe charge againft them them, of they fuppofed the queftion implied a with great quicknefs, mifconduct, and one of them replied were fold in that they were not the only flaves that Guiney without having been crime: their mafter, they faid, owed guilty of any to pay his debts. money, and fold them Apba, a Gold Coaft girl, aged about a man named Quamina Yati. Her fifteen, was a flave to others to the fame mafter fold her andtwo goods, captain, for a quantity of linen and other Tamofa, ion implied a with great quicknefs, mifconduct, and one of them replied were fold in that they were not the only flaves that Guiney without having been crime: their mafter, they faid, owed guilty of any to pay his debts. money, and fold them Apba, a Gold Coaft girl, aged about a man named Quamina Yati. Her fifteen, was a flave to others to the fame mafter fold her andtwo goods, captain, for a quantity of linen and other Tamofa, --- Page 143 --- WEST INDIES. and the aged and infirm commonly murdered on CHAP. the fpot. By thefe means, and the commutation IV. of death into flavery for crimes real and pretend- 1 ed, are the nations of Europe fupplied ; and it cannot furely be a queftion, amongft a humane Yamoufa, a Chamba youth, about fixteen, was a flave to a perfon named Soubadou; who fold him, together with a cow, for a gun, a quantity of other goods, and fome brandy. Oliver, from Afiantee-his country name Sang-a young man, as I guefs, about twenty-two or twenty-threc years of age. His father was a free man, a carpenter-lived in a village far from the fea. The village was attacked by a party of Fantees, who came in the night, and fet fire to the houfes, and killed molt of the inhabitants with guns and cutlaffesparticularly the old. The young people they took prifoners, and afterwards fold him and two others, for a picce of gold called fca, to a Blaçk merchant, who carried them to the Fantee country.-He was afterwards fold or transferred over to fix different Black purchafers; the laft of whom carried him down to the fea-coaft, and fold him on board a mhip.- Was much frightened at the fight of White men, and thought he was to be eaten. Efher relates that the was born in the Ebo country, about one day's journey from the fea-coaft, where her grandmother lived, to whom the was fent on a vifit by her father. While there, the village was attacked by a body of Negroes (the knows not of what country, nor on what account) on whofe approach fhe and all the women were fent into the woods, where a party of the enemy found them, and carried away all fuch as were able to travel, The old, and thofe who were averfe to remove, were put to death; her grandmother among the reft. The third day fhe was fold to the White people. She has many marks about the cheft, which fhe appeals to as a proof of free birth, and afferts that her father had a plantation of corn, yams, and tobacco, and poffeffed many flaves. and ach fhe and all the women were fent into the woods, where a party of the enemy found them, and carried away all fuch as were able to travel, The old, and thofe who were averfe to remove, were put to death; her grandmother among the reft. The third day fhe was fold to the White people. She has many marks about the cheft, which fhe appeals to as a proof of free birth, and afferts that her father had a plantation of corn, yams, and tobacco, and poffeffed many flaves. and --- Page 144 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK and enlightened people, concerning the IV. of a traffick thus injuftice fupported. To attempt its defence in all cafes, were to offer an infult to the common fenfe of mankind, and an the beft of outrage on feclings our nature. Yet a good mind may honeftly derive fome degree of confolation, in confidering that all fuch ofthe wretched victims as were flaves in Africa, are, by being fold to the Whites, removed to a fituation infinitely more defirable, even in its worft ftate, than that of the beft and moft favoured flaves in their native country. It is, on all hands, admitted that the condition of thofe poor people, under their own governments, is the moft deplorable that we can conceive a human creature to be fubject to. They have no fecurity for property, nor proteétion for their perfons ; they exift at the will and caprice of a mafter, who is not amenable to any law for his ill treatment of them, and who may flaughter them at his pleafure. He has in truth but little intereft in their prefervation, very having no means of employing them in profitable labour, and when provifions are fcarce, he has even a ftrong inducement to deftroy them. THE chief objeétion to the flave trade arifes from the great encouragement which, I fear, it unavoidably holds forth to acts of violence, preflion, and fraud, among the natives towards opeach other. Without doubt, this is the ftrong M part --- Page 145 --- WEST INDIES. part oft the petitioners cafe; and Iadmit it to be CHAP. fo, with that franknels which I truft no honeft IV. Weft Indian will condemn. At the fame time 1 - it deferves very ferious confideration, whether a direét and immediate difcontinuance ofthe trade by the Britith nation only (the other nations of Europe continuing to purchafe as ufual) would afford a remedy to thofe miferies, the exiftence of which every enlightened mind cannot but admit, and every good mind muft deplore; or rather, whether a partial and fudden abolition (fo inveterate is the evil) would not aggravate them in a high degree. In confidering this queftion, we muft have in view not only, the circumflances attending the Slave Trade on the Coaft, but alfo the fituation of the enilaved Negroes already in the Sugar Colonies. On the firft head, it is to be enquired whether, fuppofing Great Britain fhould abandon her fhare in this commerce, a lefs number of flaves would in confequence thereof be brought down for fale in Africa? Admiral Edwards, who ferved on the ftation, and was on thore feven months at a time, is decidedly of opinion that; fo long as other nations continue to purchafe, the number would not be diminifhed in the leaft (d); and a little reflection may perhaps convince us (d) See his evidence in the Report of the Committee of Privy Council 1789. Vor. II. K that abandon her fhare in this commerce, a lefs number of flaves would in confequence thereof be brought down for fale in Africa? Admiral Edwards, who ferved on the ftation, and was on thore feven months at a time, is decidedly of opinion that; fo long as other nations continue to purchafe, the number would not be diminifhed in the leaft (d); and a little reflection may perhaps convince us (d) See his evidence in the Report of the Committee of Privy Council 1789. Vor. II. K that --- Page 146 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK that his opinion is founded in IV. nature of the cafe. reafon, and the Among the commercial nations of Europe, it is true that, in moft cafes of purchafe and barter, the demand and the fupply grow up together, and continue to regulate and fupport each other: but thefe are the ments of well-informed and' civilized arrangeAfrica, it is apprehended men. In the flave merchants poffels no ideas of this kind, neither does the nature of their traffick allow of fuch When two African ftates regulations. are at war with each other, the aim of each undoubtedly is to as many enemies, or feize on as great a number deftroy of captives, as poffible. Of thefe laft unfortunate viétims, all fuch as are able to travel, are commonly fent down to the coaft for fale, the reft are maffàcred on the fpot, and the fame fate tends thofe unhappy wretches atwho, being fent down, are found unfaleable. The prices indeed on the coaft have been known to market is more or lefs vary as the fo plentifully fupplied; ; but, long as fhips from Europe create a market, whether the, prices be high or low, it can be doubted, that wars will hardly be as frequent as and that the fame aéts of oppreffion, violence ever, and fraud, which are faid to be committed by on their fubjects, and by princes individuals on each other, for the purpofe of procuring flaves for fale, will exift, as ufual, without regulation or reftraint. BEHOLD --- Page 147 --- WEST INDIES.. BEHOLD then an excefs of 38,000 of thefe CHAP. miferable people (the prefent annual export in IV. Britifh thipping) thrown upon the market, and 1 it is furely more than probable that one or the other of thefe confequences will follow : Either the French, the Dutch, and the other maritime nations of Europe, by feizing on what we furrender, will encreafe their trade in proportion to the encreafed fupply (e), or, having the choice and refufal ofg8,000 more than they have at prefent, will become more difficult to pleafe; confining their purchafes to fuch only as are called prime flaves. Thus the old, and the very young, the fickly and the feeble, will be fcornfully rejeéted ; and perhaps izventy poor wretches be confidered as unfaleable then, and facrificed accordingly, to one that is fo confidered and facrificed now. THAT this latter fuppofition is not a mere fpeculative contingency, is abundantly proved by many refpeétable witnefles, whofe examinations were taken by the committee of the privy council : - Being afked concerning the difpofal of fuch flaves as are rejeéted by the European traders, either becaufe their cargoes are already (e) Admiral Edwards being afked, Whether, if Great Britain were to relinquifh the trade in flaves, the number fold to Europeans would, in his opinion, be much diminifhed? replied, Moft certainly it would not be diminifhed. The French and Dutch would immediately get poffeflion of this trade. K2 afforted, by the committee of the privy council : - Being afked concerning the difpofal of fuch flaves as are rejeéted by the European traders, either becaufe their cargoes are already (e) Admiral Edwards being afked, Whether, if Great Britain were to relinquifh the trade in flaves, the number fold to Europeans would, in his opinion, be much diminifhed? replied, Moft certainly it would not be diminifhed. The French and Dutch would immediately get poffeflion of this trade. K2 afforted, --- Page 148 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK afforted, or becaufe the miferable IV. viétims are Y confidered as too old or too feeble for was given in labour, it be evidence, as a faét too notorious to controverted, that they are very if not generally, put to death. The flave frequently, not having the means of merchant, for maintaining his captives any length of time, makes no fcruple to that it is his intention to avow deftroy them, they are not fold by a certain provided day; ; and the wvork deatl, on fuch occafions, is fometimes of in fight of our thipping. performed count Shocking as this acmay feem, itis verified by undifputed teftimony ; and to fuppofe that a difcontinuance the trade by one nation only, will of this put an end to enormity, is to fuppofe that the African flaveholder will become more merciful, as his flaves are rendered of lefs value; a conclufion which am afraid experience will not warrant I (). THE (f) Mr. Newton (an evidence in of the tion to parliament for an abolition of fupport the applicafome of the flaves, that have been trade) admits that have been knocked on the head with rejeéted by the Europeans, that brought them, and thrown the paddles of the boat Coaft, Mr. Miles fuppofed overboard. On the Gold purpofe of being facrificed at they the are moftly referved for the inftance of this came within his burial of great men. One W euves knew an inftance of a woman own knowledge. -Mr. was accufed of witcheraft, and could being deftroyed, wlio fave her life, he offered to not be fold. In order te but her head was cut off before give an anker of brandy for her; inftances, fimilar to his meflenger arrived, Other this, are related by Mr. Mathewsand Mr. Gandy. they the are moftly referved for the inftance of this came within his burial of great men. One W euves knew an inftance of a woman own knowledge. -Mr. was accufed of witcheraft, and could being deftroyed, wlio fave her life, he offered to not be fold. In order te but her head was cut off before give an anker of brandy for her; inftances, fimilar to his meflenger arrived, Other this, are related by Mr. Mathewsand Mr. Gandy. --- Page 149 --- WEST INDIES. THE effcct which a partial abolition would CHAP. probably have in our fugar iflands is now to be IV. confidered ; and here it muft, in the firft place, be obferved, that it feems not to be known, or is not adverted to, in England, that the fugar eftates are not only very much underftocked in general, but that there is fcarce one of them, for reafons that will prefently be feen, that poffeffes a fufficient number of Negro women, in proportion to the men. Of courfe there being fewer pairs, there are fewer children born. * Thus fituated, there muft neceffarily happen a decreafe on the whole number of the flaves, even under the mildeft treatment, and enjoying the greateft plenty of wholefome provifions.-Secondly, it muft be remembered, that moft of the fugar eftates, having been fettled on credit, are burthened with heavy incumbrances to perfons in Great Britain. Many planters are under covenants to Gandy. Sir George Young faved the life ofa beautiful boy, about five years old, at Sierra Leone. The child being too young to be an objeét of trade, would have been throwninto the river by the perfon that had him to fell, but Sir George, to fave his life, offered a quarter caik of Madeira wine for him, which was accepted-he brought him to England, and made a prefent of him to the Marquis of Lanfdown.-Admiral Edwards, Mr. Penny, Mr. Dalzel, Mr. Anderfon, and others, concur in the fame account of the difpofal of fuch as are rejeéted by the Europeans. Report of the Lords ofthe Committec of Council, 1789, Part ift. K 3 confign --- Page 150 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK confign thither annually, certain 1 IV. tities of fugar and rum. The effeét fpecifick quana direét and unqualified abolition therefore of that while the few would be this, perfons who have money at command, would be waiting, and perhaps contriving, opportunities to ftock their with the flaves of their diftreffed and plantations neighbours, the great majority of planters haraffed would find themfelves in a moft cruel and uncomfortable fituation; their eftates already weak-handed, deprived of the poffibility of felling their lands, and no means in their power of ing their ftock of labourers by augmentpurchafe; their creditors, at the fame time, clamorous and importunate for produce, which can only be obtained by great exertions of labour: in fuch circumftances what are they to do? I cannot better illuftrate this part of my fubjeét, than by the cafe of the Dutch planters of Effequebo and Demerary: by an impolitick interdiétion of foreign flave fhips into thofe provinces, have, for fome time paft, felt all the effects they of a virtual abolition ; and here follows the account which they give of their fituation, tranfcribed from a late mernorial to the States General : 46 It is impoffible (fay the petitioners) to inform your High Mightineffes of the real annual diminution of our flaves, but it is generally calculated at five in the hundred, or a twentieth part, This is erary: by an impolitick interdiétion of foreign flave fhips into thofe provinces, have, for fome time paft, felt all the effects they of a virtual abolition ; and here follows the account which they give of their fituation, tranfcribed from a late mernorial to the States General : 46 It is impoffible (fay the petitioners) to inform your High Mightineffes of the real annual diminution of our flaves, but it is generally calculated at five in the hundred, or a twentieth part, This is --- Page 151 --- WEST INDIES. is little felt the firft year: nineteen remaining ÇH A P: Negroes hardly perceive that they do the work IV. which the preceding year employed twenty. But the fecond year the fame work falls to the fhare of eighteen, and, if another year paffes without an augmentation by purchafe, feventeen muft do the work firft allotted to twenty. This mufl give rife to difcontent, defertion, and revolt; or, if the Negroes put up patiently with this furcharge of labour, illnefs and an earlier death muft be the confequence. Or, laftly, if the planters feek to avoid all thefe inconveniences, they muft gradually contract the limits of their plantations, and of courfe diminifh their produce." : -Thus immediate intereft in all cafes, and urgent diftrefs in many, are oppofed to the principles of juftice and the diétates of humanity (g)! WHAT I have thus deliberately written, is not, if I know my own heart, the language of felfith- (g) The prefent annual decreafe of the Negroes in the Britifh Weft Indies is eftimated at two and a half per cent. on the whole number ; but if the fame quantity of labour which they now perform, fhall continue to be exaéted from them as their numbers diminith, it cannot be doubted that the lois will be greater every year, and augment with accelerated rapidity. The fugar eftates will, undoubtedly, fuffer moft, and it is no dificult matter to calculate in what time they will be entirely difmantled. In Jamaica, the number employed in that line of culture in 1789 was 128,728, all of whom, without freth fupplies from Afriça, would probably be extinét in lels than thirty years. K4 nefs --- Page 152 --- HISTORY BOOK nefs OF THE IV. or party. I confefs that, 1 means by which flaves refleéting on the tained in Africa, and the are very frequently obattended the mode of deftruétion that formerly Weft Indies, I was at tranfporting them to the became this one time of opinion it of great and renowned nation, inftead regulating her conduét by that of to fet a laudable other ftates, mediate and example to them, by an improbated unqualified fuppreffion of this recommerce 3 and I fhould ftill and avow 'the fame fentiments, maintain fuller enquiry and better were I not, on peét that the means information, led to fufend. I fear that propofed are not adequate to the a direét and fudden by one nation alone, will not ferve the abolition, of humanity in Africa; andIam purpofes that fuch a meafare will tend fully convinced very high degree, the miferies to aggravate, in a of the Negroes already in the Weft ofa great majority decreafing Indies ; whole population is at prefent and who, therefore, unlefs recruited unavoidable ; from Africa, muft find their by fupplies labours as their numbers diminifh. augment, A queftion too arifes in this cuflion of which place, the diffurther debate might probably render all on the fubject of abolition fluous. It extends to nothing lefs than fuperticability of the meafure. Whether the pracfor any nation in it be pollible Europe, fingly confidered, to prevent Indies ; whole population is at prefent and who, therefore, unlefs recruited unavoidable ; from Africa, muft find their by fupplies labours as their numbers diminifh. augment, A queftion too arifes in this cuflion of which place, the diffurther debate might probably render all on the fubject of abolition fluous. It extends to nothing lefs than fuperticability of the meafure. Whether the pracfor any nation in it be pollible Europe, fingly confidered, to prevent --- Page 153 --- WEST INDIES. prevent its fubjects from procuring flaves in CHAP. Africa, fo long as Africa fhall continue to fell, is IV. a point on which I have many doubts; but none concerning the poffibility of conveying the flaves fo purchafed into every ifland of the Weft Indies, in fpite of the maritime force of all Europe. No man who is acquainted with the extent of uninhabited coaft in the larger of thofe iflands;- the facility of landing in every part of them 5 the prevailing winds, and the numerous creeks and harbours in all the neighbouring dominions of foreign powers (fo conveniently fituated for contraband traffick) can hefitate a moment to pronounce, that an attempt to prevent the introduction of flaves into our Weft Indian colonies, would be like that of chaining the winds, or giving laws to thc ocean (h). (h) It was faid (with what truth I know not) that befides confifcation of fhip and cargo, it was meant to confider the clandeftine importation of flaves into our colonies as a felonious act, and to punith it capitally. The Spaniards treat many fpecies of fmuggling in this manner, and in no part of the world is the contraband traffick fo prevalent as in the Spanifh dominions. It is a curious queftion, in what manner a cargo of flaves, feized as contraband, would be difpofed of? To declare a fet of poor helplefs favages free, and turn them loofe in a ftrange country, without food or clothing, would hardly be thought of, and to fend them back to Africa, befides the expence and length of the voyage, would be to confign them over to certain deftruétion. This difficulty feems to have been altogether overlooked, during the difcuffion of the flave bufinefs in parliament. The --- Page 154 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK The next objeét to which it was IV. direét our enquiries, is the mode propofed to 1 flaves from Africa of conveying to the Weft Indies, and their mortality in the voyage; conftituting the fecond ground on which moft of the petitioners to liament for an abolition of the trade, have refted partheir application. But before I proceed to confider this part of my fubjeét, it may not be improper to offer a few obfervations concerning the great difproportion of fexes in the purchafes that are made on the coaft; it being a well-known fact, that of the vaft numbers of flaves exported from Africa, about one-third annually females. This circumftance only are into has been tortured a charge of criminal negleét and avarice againft the planters of the Weft improvident who are fuppofed from thence to have Indies, of making their flaves no with fituation will even as happy as their admit, or of keeping up their numbers by natural encreafe. How far thefe charges are founded, let the following of a very competent witnefs determine teftimony :-6 The difproportion in the number of male and female flaves exported from Africa (fays Mr. Barnes (i)) appears to me to be imputable to the three following caufes: Firft, to the praétice of which prevails polygamy throughout Africa, Secondly, to (i) Report of the Committee of Council 1789. fome admit, or of keeping up their numbers by natural encreafe. How far thefe charges are founded, let the following of a very competent witnefs determine teftimony :-6 The difproportion in the number of male and female flaves exported from Africa (fays Mr. Barnes (i)) appears to me to be imputable to the three following caufes: Firft, to the praétice of which prevails polygamy throughout Africa, Secondly, to (i) Report of the Committee of Council 1789. fome --- Page 155 --- WEST INDIES fome of the very caufes of flavery itfelf; men CHAP. are more apt to commit civil offences than IV. women, and in all fuch cafes, where males and females are involved in the fame calamity, the firt caufe ftill has its operation : the young females are kept for wives, and the males are fold for flaves. Thirdly, to the circumftance that females become unfit for the flave-market at a much earlier period than the males. A woman, through child-bearing, may appear a very exceptionable flave at twenty-two, or twenty-three years of age, whereas a healthy well-made man will not be objected to at four or five-and-thirty 5 confequently, if an equal number of males and females of like ages were offered for fale, a much greater proportion of the females would be rejected on that account onlyj With regard to the queftion, Whether the European traders prefer purchafing males rather than females?. I have to obferve, that though it is impoffible to conduét the bufinefs, either of a houfe or of a plantation, without a number of females, yet as the nature of the 1lave-fervice in the Weft Indies (being chiefly field labour) requires, for the immediate intereft of the planter, a greater number of males, the European trader would of courfe with to purchafe his affortment according to the proportion wanted ; but the fact is, he has not an option in the cafe for the reafons already --- Page 156 --- HISTORY OF THE EOOK already mentioned; fo that in IV. Africa it is moft parts of with great dificulty he can many faleable females as will form get as affortment." The any tolerable application of thefe will hereafter be remarks feen.-Inow return to the ner of tranfporting the flaves thus manfrom Africa to the Weft Indies. purchafed, Iris difficult, I think, to affign any probable reafon or motive why the treatment of thefe poor people at fea fhould be otherwife than humane and as indulgent as the fafety of the will admit. Many thocking inftances crew ever adduced, in the evidence were howcommittee of delivered to the privy council, of moft and wanton barbarity and outrageous wards them in different cruelty exercifed toneffes that fhips; but, as the witwere brought forward to eftablifh thofe charges were not the moft refpeétable point of character; and in fome cafes in to have fuits at law with the were proved whom they captains againft gave evidence, I fhall colleét account from lefs difputable my authority, Ir is admitted on all hands that the flaves are fecured in irons.when menon board; but Sir they firft come the George Young, a captain in royal navy, who appears to be well with the trade in all its branches, is of acquainted that this is not opinion, praétifed more than neceffity requires. The mode is, by faftening every. two men whom they captains againft gave evidence, I fhall colleét account from lefs difputable my authority, Ir is admitted on all hands that the flaves are fecured in irons.when menon board; but Sir they firft come the George Young, a captain in royal navy, who appears to be well with the trade in all its branches, is of acquainted that this is not opinion, praétifed more than neceffity requires. The mode is, by faftening every. two men --- Page 157 --- WEST INDIES. 14t men together, the right ancle of one being lock- CHAP. ed, by means of a fimall iron fetter, to the left of IV. the other; and if marks of a turbulent difpofition appear, an additional fetter is put on their wrifts. On the paffage, when danger is no longer apprehended, thefe irons are commonly taken off; and women and young people are exempt from them from the beginning (k). They are lodged between decks, on clean boards, the men and women being feparated from each other by bulk-heads; and freih air is admitted by means of windfails or ventilators. Covering of any kind, as well from the warmth of the climate as from the conftant practice of going naked, would - be infupportable to them. Every morning, if the weather permits, they are brought upon deck, and allowed to continue there until the evening. Their apartments, in the mean time, are wathed, feraped, fumigated, and fprinkled with vinegar. The firft attention paid to them in the morning is to fupply them with water to waflx their hands and faces, after which they are provided with their morning meal: this, according to the country from whence they come, confifts either of Indian corn, or of rice or yams. Before noon theyare conftantlyand regularlymade to bathe in falt-water, and nothing can be more (k) The bulk of the cargo is generally young people from fixteen years of age to thirty.-The loweft fize four feet. agrecable --- Page 158 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK agreeable and refrething, Their IV. confifting fometimes of dinner is varied, been food to which they have accuftomed in Africa, as yams and Indian corn, &c. and at other times from ofprovifions brought Europe, as dricd beans and peafe, fhelled barley, and bifcuit; all thefe wheat, foft.in fteam, and mixed are boiled of up with a fauce made meat, with fith, or palm-oil; this laft isa conftant and defirable article in their At each meal they are allowed as much cookery. can eat, and have likewife a as they water; unlefs fufficiency of frell when, from an uncommon long voyage, the prefervation of the thip captain to put them to a fhort allowance. compels the alfo are given them when the weather Drams wet; and pipes and tobacco is cold or them. In the intervals whenever they defire between their. are encouraged to divert themfelves meals, they and dancing; for which with mufick uncouth purpofe fuch rude and inftruments as are ufed in colleéted before their Africa, are alfo departure; and they are permitted to amufe themfelves with of chance, for which games with they are likewife furnifhed implements of African invention. In ficknefs, the invalids are immediately removed captain's to the cabin, or to an hofpital built near the forecaftle; ; and treated with all the regard to medicine and care, both in will food, that circumftances admit; and when, fortunately for the X Negroes, Africa, are alfo departure; and they are permitted to amufe themfelves with of chance, for which games with they are likewife furnifhed implements of African invention. In ficknefs, the invalids are immediately removed captain's to the cabin, or to an hofpital built near the forecaftle; ; and treated with all the regard to medicine and care, both in will food, that circumftances admit; and when, fortunately for the X Negroes, --- Page 159 --- WEST INDIES. groes, the thip touches at any place in her voy- CHAP. age, as frequently happens, every refrefhment that IV. the country affords, as cocoa-nuts, oranges, limes, 1 and other fruits, with vegetables of all forts, are diftributed among them; and refrefhments of the fame kind are freely allowed them at the place of their deftination, between the days of arrival and fale. FROM this account, which is confirmed by the teftimony of a great number of refpeétable men, many of whom were; wholly difinterefted in the queftion, and could therefore have no motive to violate or fupprefs the truth, it may be fuppofed that every fcheme which can eafily be devifed to preferve the Negroes in health, cleanlinefs, and cheerfulnefs, is adopted in the voyage. So dreadful, notwithfanding, has been the mortality in feveral thips, wherein thefe precautions were ufed, as to evince, beyond all contradiction, that there was fomething in thofe inftances intrinfically wrong 3 and it cannot be doubted that the mifchief has been afcribed to its proper caufe, namely, the criminal rapacioufnefs of many of the fhip-mafters in purchafing more Negroes than their accommodations were calculated to convey. It appeared in evidence before the Houfe of Commons, that a thip of 240 tons would frequently be crowded with no lefs than 520 flaves ; which was not allowing ten --- Page 160 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK ten inches of room to each IV. individual. The confequence of this inexcufable tentimes a lofs of 15 avarice, was ofper cent. in the voyage, and 4 i per cent. more in the harbours of the Weft Indies, previous to the fale, from difeafes contraéted at fea;-a deftruétion of the human fpecies on which it is impoffible to refleét without indignation and horror! To the feveral arguments, however, which have been raifed on the ground of thefe abufes, in fupport of the fcheme of fhort anfwer be abolition, a very may given:-Admit all the miferies and deftruéive wretchednefs which have been placed to this account to have exifted in full force, and it will ftill remain to be enquired whether meafures of lefs powerful operation than a total fuppreffion of the trade, will not obviate in. future the evils complained of; becaufe, if regulations alone are fufficient for that purpofe, abolition cannot be neceffary. Regulations have accordingly been framed and inforced under the authority of the Britifh parliament, of which the certain effeét ought furely to be known, before the evils they are meant to redrefs are pronounced irremediable. By an act of the 28th year of his prefent Majefty (fince renewed and amended) the flave fhips are reftriéted to the of five flaves to every three tons 5 and conveyance even this proportion is allowed only as far as 201 tons. For every ceffary. Regulations have accordingly been framed and inforced under the authority of the Britifh parliament, of which the certain effeét ought furely to be known, before the evils they are meant to redrefs are pronounced irremediable. By an act of the 28th year of his prefent Majefty (fince renewed and amended) the flave fhips are reftriéted to the of five flaves to every three tons 5 and conveyance even this proportion is allowed only as far as 201 tons. For every --- Page 161 --- WEST INDIES. every additional ton they are limited to one ad- CHAP. ditional flave (2). To thefe important precauIV. tions for fecuring to the Negroes a fufficiency of - room, is addcd the neceffary provifion of a regularly-qualified furgeon: ; to whom, as well as to the fhip-mafter, very liberal encouragement is given, to induce both of them to exert every provident endeavour in preferving their unfortunate captives in health and fpirits: the fum of one hundred pounds being allowed to the mafter, and 6.50 to the furgeon, if the lofs on the voyage amounts to no more than two in the hundred, and half thofe fums if the lofs fhall not exceed three in the hundred. OF the full effect which this fyftem of reftriction and encouragement hath hitherto produced in all the Britifh colonies, I am not informed 5 but judging by returns which I have obtained from one of the principal marts in the Weft Indies, it would feem to have been found, in a very eminent degree, advantageous and falutary. At the port of Montego-Bay, in Jamaica, the Negroes imported betwecn the 18th day of No- (1) It is alfo provided, that veffels not exceeding 201 tons Thall not carry of male flaves (exceeding four feet four inches in height) more than one for each ton, and veffels of larger fize more than three fuch males for every five tons. This regulation feems intended as an encouragement to the export ofa greater proportion of females, VoL. II. L vember --- Page 162 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK vember 1789 and the Isth of July 1791, were IV. in - 1 9,993, 38 thips 5 the mortality at fea, exclufive of the lofs of 54 negroes in a mutiny on the coaft, was 746, which is fomewhat under feven per cent. on the whole number of flaves. This, though much lefs, I believe, than the average lofs which commonly happened before the regulating law took place, is, I admit, fufficiently great; 5 and, had it prevailed in any degree equally on the feveral fhips concerned, might, perhaps, have been confidered as a fair eftimate of the general mortality confequent on the trade, notwithftanding the precautions and provifions of the regulating act. But on examining the lift, I find that cight of the 38 fhips, were entitled to, and actually received, the full premium 5 two others received the half premium; and one other (a fchooner that failed from Jamaica to the coaft before the act took place) returned without the lofs of a fingle negro. Of the 746 deaths, no lefs than 328 occurred in four (hips only, all of which, with five other veffels, comprehending the whole number of hips in which three-fifths of the mortality occurred, came from the fame part of the coafl, the Bight of Benin; a circumftance that gives room to conclude (as undoubtedly was the faét) that the negroes from that part of the country brought difeale and conta4 gion before the act took place) returned without the lofs of a fingle negro. Of the 746 deaths, no lefs than 328 occurred in four (hips only, all of which, with five other veffels, comprehending the whole number of hips in which three-fifths of the mortality occurred, came from the fame part of the coafl, the Bight of Benin; a circumftance that gives room to conclude (as undoubtedly was the faét) that the negroes from that part of the country brought difeale and conta4 gion --- Page 163 --- WEST INDIES. gion with them from the land ; an epidemic CHAP. fever and flux generally prevailing on the low IV. marfhy fhores of the Bonny rivers, during the autumnal months, which fometimes proves even more deftruétive on thore than at fea. PERHAPS the truefl criterion by which to eftimate the beneficial effeét of the regulating law, is the comparatively trifling lofs that now occurs in the harbours of the Weft Indies before the Guiney fhips open their fales. This mortality, which was formerly eftimated at 41 per cent. and was manifeftly the confequence of ficknefs or improper treatment in the voyage, is now happily mitigated in fo great a degree, that out of the whole number of 9,993 flaves imported into Montego-Bay as. before ftated, the lofs between the days of arrival and fale, was no more than 69, or not quite * per cent. Enough therefore hath been effeéted to demonftrate, that it is by no means impoffible, nor indeed a very difficult matter, to render the conveyance of Negroes from Africa to the Weft Indies, as little prejudicial to their healths, as the tranfportation of any other body of people acrofs the occan in any part of the world. Few voyages were more deftructive to the fcamen than that of Lord Anfon, and none lefs fo than thofe of Captain Cook; an inconteftable proof that the mortality, which has commonly occurred at fea, has at all times arifen L2 from --- Page 164 --- HISTORY OF THE EOOK from ill-conftruéted thips, and negleét, or IV. improY per management on board (m.) CONCERNING the Weft India Planters, as they are entirely innocent and ignorant of the manner in which the Slave Trade is conduéted (having no other concern therein than bécoming purchafers of what Britifh aéts of parliament have made objeéts of fale) fo it is equally confonant to their intereft and their wilhes, that effeétual means fhould be purfued for preferving the health of the negroes, by fecuring to them proper and reafonable accommodation on the paflage. The affembly of Jamaica, inftead of remonftrating againft that augmentation in the price of flaves, which they muft have forefeen that the aét of the Britith parliament would neceffarily create, with the liberality of dignified minds applauded the principle of the meafure, declaring it to be founded in neceffity, juftice, and humanity,and expreffed their opinion that the wifdom and authority of Parliament might be beneficially exerted in further regulations oft the African commerce, particularly in preventing the deten- (m) Perhaps no plan is fo likely to fave the lives and preferve the healths of the Negroesat fea, as that of limiting the flave-fhips to 200 tons burthen, and allowing them to reccive on board only 2 or 2 1 to a ton. Sinall veffels are foon loaded; and from a multitude of examples that I have feen, it appears. to me that the greateft mortality happens in the larger fliips. tion ed in further regulations oft the African commerce, particularly in preventing the deten- (m) Perhaps no plan is fo likely to fave the lives and preferve the healths of the Negroesat fea, as that of limiting the flave-fhips to 200 tons burthen, and allowing them to reccive on board only 2 or 2 1 to a ton. Sinall veffels are foon loaded; and from a multitude of examples that I have feen, it appears. to me that the greateft mortality happens in the larger fliips. tion --- Page 165 --- WEST INDIES. tion of thips on the coaft; in prohibiting the CHAP. purchafe of flaves who fhould appear to have IV. been kidnapped ; in compelling the flave-fhips / to tranfport an equal number of both fexes, and to provide ventilators and a fufficient quantity of provifions, efpecially water: fuch a recommendation it might be fuppofed would engage immediate attention, not only as coming from men who are certainly the beft judges ofits propricty and neceffity, but alfo becaufe the means of enforcing moft of the regulations which they recommend are practicable and apparent. HAVING thus, I prefume, fufficiently treated of the means by which flaves are procured for fale in Africa, and the regulations that have been eftablifhed by the Britifh parliament for their better conveyance to the Sugar Iflands, I Thall proceed, in the next chapter, to a detail of their general treatment and fituation there, immediately on and after their arrival, and diftribution among the planters. L3 --- Page 166 --- HISTORY OF THE CHA P. V. Arrival and fale in the W'ell ladies.-Negres newly purchafed, how difpofed of and employed.- Detail of the management ef Negroes 018 a fngar plastation.-Mode of maintaining them-Houjes, clothings and medical care.-- Abufes. 1 Late regulations for their proteétion and fecurity. - Canfesef their annual decreafe- -Polygamy, c.-Slavery in its mildef form unfriendly to population.-- General ebcrustious-Prepdah for the further meliornting the condition of the Slaves, with whick the fubject concludes. BOOK Trsa arrival of a Guiney in the IV. fhip Weft In5 dies is announced by publick advertifement, fpecifying rhe number of Negroes imported, the country from wbence, and day of fale. It was the praétice until of late, to open the fale on thipboard, the males being arranged in one part of the fhip, and the females in another: : but, as vifitors ofall defcriptions were admitted without hefitation or enquiry, it frequently happened, when flave-fhips were fcarce, that fuch crowds of people went on board, and began fo difgraceful a fcramble, as to terrify the poor ignorant Africans with the notion that they wcre feized on bya. herd of of fale. It was the praétice until of late, to open the fale on thipboard, the males being arranged in one part of the fhip, and the females in another: : but, as vifitors ofall defcriptions were admitted without hefitation or enquiry, it frequently happened, when flave-fhips were fcarce, that fuch crowds of people went on board, and began fo difgraceful a fcramble, as to terrify the poor ignorant Africans with the notion that they wcre feized on bya. herd of --- Page 167 --- WEST, INDIES. I5I of cannibals, and fpeedily to be devoured. The CHAP. wifdom ofthe legiflature of Jamaica has correéted V. this enormityin that ifland, by enaéting that the Y fales fhall be conduéted on fhore, and that care fhall be taken not to feparate different branches of the fame family. I am afraid it hath been found difficult, in all cafes, to enforce this latter regulation ; but it is ufual with moft planters, I believe, to enquire of the Negroes themfelves, by means of an interpreter, whether they have relations on board, and to purchafe families together; or, by exchanging with other buyers, to prevent, if poffible, that cruel feparation between parents and children, and brothers and fifters, which muft fometimes, I doubt, unavoidably take place. I never knew an inftance where fuch purchafe or accommodation was knowingly declined or refufed (a). ALTHOUGH there is fomething extremely fhocking to a humane and cultivated mind, in the idea of beholding a numerous body of our unfortunate fellow-creatures, in captivity and exile, expofed naked to publick view, and fold like a herd of cattle, yet I could never perceive (except in the cafes that have been mentioned of (a) Soon after this was written, the author of this work had the honour of propofing to the affembly of Jamaica, of which he was a member, an aét which was unanimoufly adopted, and is now an exifting law, by. which the Guiney factors are compelled, under the folemnity of an oath, to da their utmoft to enforce the regulation alluded to. L 4 a fcramble --- Page 168 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK a fcramble on fhipboard) that rhe themIV. felves were Negroes - Y oppreffed with many of thofe painful, fenfations which a perfon unaccuftomed to the fcene would naturally attribute to fuch apparent wretchednefs. The circumftance of being expofed naked, is perhaps of little account to thofe who were never fenfible of the neceffity or propriety of being clothed. The climate requires not the aid of drels, nor are the Negroes, though naked, deftitute of decorations, on which, at their firft arrival, they feem to fet a much higher eftimation than on raiment ; moft of the nations of Africa having their fkin, particularly on the forehead, the breaft, and round the waift, punétured or impreffed with figures and reprefentations of different kinds (fquares, circles, triangles, and crefcents) fimilar to the praétice which prevails in Otaheite, and the other iflands of the South Sca, called tatowing, as defcribed in the voyages of Captain Cook. Like thofe iflanders too, fome of the newly-imported Negroes difplay thefe marks with a mixture of oftentation and pleafure, either confidering them as highly ornamental, or appealing to them as teftimonies of diftinétion in Africa; where, in fome cafes, they are faid to indicate free birth and honourable parentage (b). The Negroes are apprifed alfo, before (8) Some of the Negroes of the Gold Coaft, or the adjacent countries (the Chamba Negroes for inftance) appear to me iflanders too, fome of the newly-imported Negroes difplay thefe marks with a mixture of oftentation and pleafure, either confidering them as highly ornamental, or appealing to them as teftimonies of diftinétion in Africa; where, in fome cafes, they are faid to indicate free birth and honourable parentage (b). The Negroes are apprifed alfo, before (8) Some of the Negroes of the Gold Coaft, or the adjacent countries (the Chamba Negroes for inftance) appear to me --- Page 169 --- WEST INDIES. before their arrival, that they are to be employed CHAP, in tillage ; and, knowing that they were bought V. with money, expect to be fold in the fame manY ner. They difplay therefore, on being brought to market, very few figns of lamentation for their paft, or of apprehenfion for their future condition; but, wearied out with confincment at fea, commonly exprefs great eagernefs to be fold i prefenting themfelves, when the buyers are few, with chearfulnefs and alacrity for felcétion, and appearing mortified and difappointed when refufed. Ifit happens, as it frequently does, when the purchafers have leifure and opportunity to infpeét them individually, that fome bodily defect or blemith is difcovered in any of them, the majority feem highlydiverted at the circumftance; manifefting, by loud and repeated burfts of me to ufe the fame, or nearly the fame, marks as the favages of New Zealand; viz. deep incifions on each cheek drawn circularly from the ear to the mouth. (Vide Hawkefuorth's Voyages, vol. iii. C. 9-) It is ridiculous enough, that foine of the writers againft the flave-trade fhould afcribe thefe marks of fuperftition or falfe tafte to the cruclty oft the planters, and gravely affert that they are the fcars of horrible gathes infliéted by the bloody hand of tyranny in the wantonnefs of punifhment. The Reverend Mr. Clarkfon catches very eagerly at this idea, and afferts with great folemnity, that 4 itis 46 a matter ofconftant lamentation with difinterefted people, 66 who, out of curiofity attend the Negro markets in Jamaica, 46 that they are not able to turn their eyes on any group of 66 Negroes without beholding thefe inhuman marks of paf66 fion, defpotifin, and caprice P laughter, éted by the bloody hand of tyranny in the wantonnefs of punifhment. The Reverend Mr. Clarkfon catches very eagerly at this idea, and afferts with great folemnity, that 4 itis 46 a matter ofconftant lamentation with difinterefted people, 66 who, out of curiofity attend the Negro markets in Jamaica, 46 that they are not able to turn their eyes on any group of 66 Negroes without beholding thefe inhuman marks of paf66 fion, defpotifin, and caprice P laughter, --- Page 170 --- 15i HISTORY OF THE BOOK laughter, that reflection conftitutes no IV. dominant very pre1 part of their charaéter (c). THE buyer having completed his affortment, and clothed his newly-acquired fubjects with a coarfe German linen, called oznaburghs, and vided them alfo with hats, prohandkerchiefs, and knives, fends them to the place of their intended refidence (a) : and now a praétice prevails in Jamaica, which I myfelf, unacquainted as I then was with the aétual management in detail of a fugarplantation, and refiding in a diftant country, ufed to reprobate and exclaim againft; but to which I now fubmit, from a full conviétion, founded on experience, of its ufefulnefs and neceffity. The praétice is that of diftributing the newly-imported Africans among the old Negroes, as penfioners (with fome little affiftance occafionally given) on their little pectlinm, and provifion- (o) The prices of new Negroes in the Weft Indies, at this time (1791) are nearly as follows:-An able man in his prine,. 6-50 ferling; an able woman, L-49 fterling; a youth approaching to manhood, 6-47 fterling; a girl, 6-46 fterling; boys and girls from 6.40 to young. fcrling, exclufive of the Colonial tax or duty on importa- E-45 tion, about twenty thilliogs more. (d) Iris the cuftom among fome of the planters-in moica, to mark theinitials of their name on the fhoulder Ja- or breaft of each sewly-puchafodsicgre by means of a fmalt Alver-brand heated in the flame of fpirits, as defcribed in a former chapter; but it is growing into difufe, and 1 believe in thc Windward Iflands thought altogether unneceflary. grounds, --- Page 171 --- WE S T INDIES. grounds. This I ufed to confider as an infup- CHAP. portable hardfhip on the poor people already fetV. tled and domefticated, and I pofitively and exprefly forbad a continuance of the cuftom in plantations over which I had authority. ON my return to the Weft Indies, I was furprifed to find the old-eftablifhed Negroes, when young people newly arrived from Africa, were fent among them, requeft, as a particular inftance of favour and indulgence to themfelves, the revival and continuance of the ancient fyftem; affuring me they had the means of fupporting the ftrangers without difficulty. Many who thus applied, propofed each of them to adopt one of their young country-folks in the room of children they had loft by death, or had been deprived of in Africa; others, becaufe they wifhed, like the patriarchs ofd old, to fee their fons take to themfelves wives from their own nation and kindred; and all of them, I prefume, becaufe, among other confiderations, they expeéted to revive and retrace in the converfation of their new vifitors, the remembrance and ideas of paft pleafures and fcenes of their youth. The ftrangers too were beft pleafod with this arrangement, and ever afterwards confidered themfelvesas the adopted children ofthofe by whom they were thus proteéted, calling them parents, and venerating them as fuch; and I never knew an inftance of the violation of a truft thus folicited caufe, among other confiderations, they expeéted to revive and retrace in the converfation of their new vifitors, the remembrance and ideas of paft pleafures and fcenes of their youth. The ftrangers too were beft pleafod with this arrangement, and ever afterwards confidered themfelvesas the adopted children ofthofe by whom they were thus proteéted, calling them parents, and venerating them as fuch; and I never knew an inftance of the violation of a truft thus folicited --- Page 172 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK folicited and beftowed. In the courfe of IV. ten months, eight or - Y provided they are mildly ufed and kept free of difeafe, new people, under thefe circumftances, become reconciled to the countrys begin to get well eftablilhed in their families, their houfes and provifion-grounds; and in all refpeêts as valuable as the native or creole prove negroes (e). WHAT has hitherto been obferved concerning the difpofal of Africans newly imported, is, I believe, applicable to Weft Indian eftates of all defcriptions; : but, as my own perfonal attention has been chiefly direéted to fugar plantations, I would be underftood to fpeak of thofe more particularly 5 and Thall now proceed to defcribe the methodical arrangement and diftribution of the labour with which they are conducted, as it is unqueftionably more fevere and confant than that on any other fpecies of landed perty in the Weft Indies. proTHE Negroes are divided into three fets or claffes, ufually called gangs; the firft confifting of the moft healthy and robuft of the men and women, whofe chief bufinefs it is, out of crop- (e) Generally fpeaking, a Creole Negro is confidered as worth more than one imported; but in a valuation, byindifferent perfons, of two able well-difpofed Negroes, nearly of the fame age, the one an African, the other a native, no great difference (if any) would be made. A child juft born is valued at 6-s. time, called gangs; the firft confifting of the moft healthy and robuft of the men and women, whofe chief bufinefs it is, out of crop- (e) Generally fpeaking, a Creole Negro is confidered as worth more than one imported; but in a valuation, byindifferent perfons, of two able well-difpofed Negroes, nearly of the fame age, the one an African, the other a native, no great difference (if any) would be made. A child juft born is valued at 6-s. time, --- Page 173 --- WEST INDIES. time, to clear, hole and plant the ground ; and, CH A P. in croptime, to cut the canes, feed the mills, and V. attend the manufacture of the fugar. It is computed that, in the whole body of the negroes on a well-conditioned plantation, there are commonly found one-third of this defcription, exclufive of domefticks and negro tradefmnen, viz. carpenters, coopers and mafons, with which each well-regulated plantation is provided (f). The fecond gang is compofed of young boys and girls, women far gone with child, and convalefcents, who are chiefly employed in weeding the canes, () The annual profit arifing to the owner, from the labour of each able field Negro employed in the cultivation of fugar, may be reckoned at twenty-five pounds fterling money. I reckon thus :-A fugar plantation, well conduéted, and in a favourable foil, ought to yield as many hog/heads of fugar, of 16 cwt. annually, as there are Negroes belonging to it, theaverage value of which, for ten years paft, may be ftated at 6-15 ferling the hogfhead ; but as every plantation is not thus produétive, and the rum, which is generally appropriated to the payment of contic gent eharges, not being always fufficient fort that purpofe, I will allow 6.10 fterling only, as the clear profit per hogthead of the fugar, which therefore is the average value of the labour of each Negro, old and young; and onethird only of the Negroes being able people, their labour may be put at 6-30 a head; out ofwhich hoacvernultbedeladsi, the intereft on their firft coft, and an allowance for the rifigue of lofing them by death or defertion (their maintenance, &c. being included in the contingent expences of the effate) for both which I allow fifteen per cent. This leaves about 5.25 ferling clear, or nearly a fcurth part of the aélual value of each flave. and onethird only of the Negroes being able people, their labour may be put at 6-30 a head; out ofwhich hoacvernultbedeladsi, the intereft on their firft coft, and an allowance for the rifigue of lofing them by death or defertion (their maintenance, &c. being included in the contingent expences of the effate) for both which I allow fifteen per cent. This leaves about 5.25 ferling clear, or nearly a fcurth part of the aélual value of each flave. and --- Page 174 --- 15S HISTORY OF THÉ BOOK and'other light work adapted to their and IV. ftrength 1 condition; and the third fet confifts of young children, attended by a careful old woman, who are employed in colleéting green-meat for the pigs and fheep; or in weeding the garden, or fome fuch gentle exercife, merely to preferve them from habits of idlenefs. THE firft gang is fummoned to the labours of the field either by a bell or the blowing of a conch-fhell, juft before fun-rife. They bring with them, befides their hoes or bills, provifions for breakfaft; and are attended by a White perfon, and a Black fuperintendant called a driver. -The lift being called over, and the names of all the abfentees noted, they proceed with their work until eight or hine o'clock, when they fit down in the fhade to breakfaft, which is prepared in the mean time by a certain number of women, whofe fole employment it is to act as cooks for the reft. This meal commonly confifts of boiled yams, eddoes, ocra, calalue and plantains, or as many of thofe vegetables as they can procure 3 feafoned with falt, and cayenne pepper; ; and, in truth, it is an exceeding palatable and wholefome mels. By this time moft of the abfentees make their appearance, and are fometimes punifhed for their fluggifhnefs by a few ftripes of the driver's whip. But I am happy to fay that of late years a very flight excufe is gerierally admitted. The fact --- Page 175 --- WEST INDIES. fact is, that when the mornings are chill and CHAP. foggy, as frequently happens even under the V. zone, the fenfations of the Negro are diftrefsful 1 beyond the imagination of an inhabitant of frozen regions. Inftead of deriving firmnefs and activity from the cold, he becomes inert, fluggifh and languid; and neither labour nor punifhment will animate lim to great exertion, until he is revivified by the genial warmth of the fun. At breakfaft they are feldom indulged with more than half or three quarters of an hour; and, having refumed their work, continue in the field until noon, when the bell calls them from labour. They are now allowed two hours of reft and refrefhment; one of which is commonly fpent in fleep. Their dinner is provided with the addition of falted or pickled fifh, of which each Negro receives a weekly allowance. Many of them, however, preferring a plentiful fupper to a meal at noon, pafs the hours of recefs, either in fleep, or in collecting food for their pigs and poultry, of which they are permitted to keep as many as they pleafe; or perhaps a few of the more induftrious, will employ an hour in their provifion-grounds. At two o'clock they are again fummoned to the field, where, having been refrefhed both by reft and food, they now manifeft fome figns of vigorous and animated application; although I can with great truth affert, that meal at noon, pafs the hours of recefs, either in fleep, or in collecting food for their pigs and poultry, of which they are permitted to keep as many as they pleafe; or perhaps a few of the more induftrious, will employ an hour in their provifion-grounds. At two o'clock they are again fummoned to the field, where, having been refrefhed both by reft and food, they now manifeft fome figns of vigorous and animated application; although I can with great truth affert, that --- Page 176 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK that one Englith labourer in his oWn climate IV. would perform at leaft three times Y the work of any one Negro in the fame period. At fun-fet, or very foon after, they are releafed for the night, (the drudgery, fo muich complained ofi in fome of the iflands to windward, of picking grafs, being happily unknown in Jamaica) and if the day has been wet, or their labour harder than ufual, they are fometimes indulged with an allowance of rum. On the whole, as the length of the days in the latitude of the Weft Indies differs very little throughout the year, I conceive they are employed daily about ten hours, in the fervice of their mafter, Sundays and holydays excepted. In the crop feafon, however, the fyftem is different; for at that time, fuch of the Negrocs as are employed in the mill and boiling-houfes, often work very late, frequently all night; but they are divided into watches, which relieve each other, according to the practice among feamen 3 and it is remarkable, that at this feafon the Negroes enjoy higher health and vigour than at any other period of the year; a circumftance undoubtedly owing to the free and unreftrained ufe which they are allowed to make of the ripe canes, the caneliquor and fyrup. THE praétice which prevails in Jamaica of giving the Negroes lands to cultivate, from the produce of which they are expected to maintain themfelves --- Page 177 --- WEST INDIES. therfclves (except in times of fearcity, arifing CHAP. from hurricanes and droughts, when affiftance is V. hever denied them) is univerfally allowed to be judicious and bencficial; ; producing a happy coalition of interefts between the mafter and the flave: The Negro who has acquired by his own labour a property in his mafter'sland, has much to lofe, and is therefore lefs inclined to defert his work. He earns a little money, by which he is enabled to indulge himfelf in fine clothes on holydays, and gratify his palate with falted mcats and other provilions that otherwife he could not obtain; and the proprietor is eafed, in a great meafure, of the expence of feeding him. In fome of the Windward Iflands they have not land enough for the purpofe; nor in any one of them, are the Negroes fo happily accommodated, in this refpect, as in the large ifland of Jamaica; where they are feldom either ftinted lin quantity ofland, or confined as to fituation. In fact, if the owner's territory is fufficiently extenfive, the Negroes make it a praétice to enlarge their own grounds, br exchange them for frefh land, every year. By thefe means, having quicker and better returns, they raife provifions in abundance, not only for their own ufe, but alfo a great furplus .to fell. The misfortune is, they truft more to plantaingroves, corn and other vegetables, that are liable to be deftroyed by ftorms, than to what are VoL. II. M called territory is fufficiently extenfive, the Negroes make it a praétice to enlarge their own grounds, br exchange them for frefh land, every year. By thefe means, having quicker and better returns, they raife provifions in abundance, not only for their own ufe, but alfo a great furplus .to fell. The misfortune is, they truft more to plantaingroves, corn and other vegetables, that are liable to be deftroyed by ftorms, than to what are VoL. II. M called --- Page 178 --- 16z HISTORY OF THE BOOK called grouud-provifons; fuch as yams, eddocs, IV. potatoes, caffada, and other efculent all roots; which are out of the reach of hurricanes ; but prudence is a term that has no place in the Negro-vocabulary. To obviate the mifchiefs which fatal experience has proved to flow from this grofs inattention, the Slave A8 of Jamaica obliges, under a penalty, every proprietor oflands to keep, properly cultivated in ground-provifions, one acre for every ten Negroes, exclufive of the Negro grounds (3). TaE (gJIn Jamaica the Negroes are allowed one day in a fortnight, except in time of crop, befides Sundays and holydays, for cultivating their grounds and carrying their provifions to market. Some of them find time on thefe days, befides raifing provifions, to make a few coarfe mannfaétures, fuch as mats for bedss bark ropes ofa ftrong and durable texture, wicker chairsand baikets, earthen jars, pans, &c. for all which they find a ready fale; but I cannot fay much for the fkill and elegance of their workmanfhip. The moit induftrious of the Negroes do not, I believe, employ more than fixteen hours in a month in the cultivation of their own provifiongardens (leaving all further care of theni to the beneficence of nature)andi in favourable feafons this is fufficient. Sunday Îs their day of market, and it is wonderful what nwmbers are then feen, haflening from all parts of the country, towards the towns and fhipping places, laden with fruits and vegetables, pigs, goats and poultry, their own property, In Jamaica it is fuppofed that upwards of. 10,000 affemble every Sunday morning in the market of Kingfton, where they barter their provifions, &c. for falted beef and pork, or fine linen and ornaments for their wives and children. I do not believe that an inflance can be produced of a mafter's interfering what nwmbers are then feen, haflening from all parts of the country, towards the towns and fhipping places, laden with fruits and vegetables, pigs, goats and poultry, their own property, In Jamaica it is fuppofed that upwards of. 10,000 affemble every Sunday morning in the market of Kingfton, where they barter their provifions, &c. for falted beef and pork, or fine linen and ornaments for their wives and children. I do not believe that an inflance can be produced of a mafter's interfering --- Page 179 --- WEST INDIES. THE cottages of the Negroes ufually compofe CHAP, a fmall village, the fituation of which, for the V. fake ofconvenience and water, is commonly near / the buildings in which the manufaéture of fugar is conduéted. They are feldom placed with much regard to order, but, being always intermingled with fruit-trees, particularly the banana, the avocado-pear, and the orange (the Negroes' own planting and property) they fometimes exhibit a pleafing and piéturefque appearance. To affirm that they arc very tolerable habitations, according to the idea which an untravelled Englifhman would probably form of the word, were an infult to the reader; but it may honeftly be faid, that, allowing for the difference of climate, they far excel the cabins of the Scotch and Irifh peafants, as defcribed by Mr. Young, and other travellers. They are fuch, at leaft, as are commenfurate to the defires and neceffities of their inhabitants, who build them according to their own fancy both in fize and fhape, the fering with his Negrocs in their peculium thus acquired. They are permitted alfo to difpofe at their deaths of what little property they poffefs; and even to bequeath their grounds or gardens to fuch of their fellow-flaves as they think proper. Thefe principles are fo well eftablifhed, that whenever iti is found convenient for the owner to exchange the negrogrounds for other lands, the Negroes muft be fatisfied, in money or otherwife, before the exchange takes place, It is aniverfally the praétice, M 2 mafter --- Page 180 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK mafter allowing the timber, and frequently perIV. mitting the eftate's carpenters to affift in the Y building. In general, a cottage for one Negro and his wife, is from fifteen to twenty feet in length, and divided into two apartments. It is compofed of hard pofts driven into the ground, and interlaced with wattles and plaifter. The height from the ground to the plate being barely fufficient to admit the owner to walk in upright. The floor is of natural earth, which is commonly dry enough, and the roof thatched with palmthatch, or the leaves of the cocoa-nut-tree; an admirable covering, forming a lafting and impenetrable fhelter both againft the fun and the rain. Of furniture they have no great matters to boaft, nor, confidering their habits of life, is much required. The bedftead is a platform of boards, and the bed a mat, covered with a blanket; a fmall table; two or three low ftools; a an earthen jar for holding water; a few fmaller ones; a pail; an iron pot; calaba/hes (h) of different fizes (ferving very tolerably for plates, difhes, and bowls) make up. the reft. Their cookery is conduéted in the open air, and firewood being always at hand, they have not only a fufficiency for that purpofe, but alfo for a fire within doors during the night, without which a (h)A fpecies of gourd, Negro three low ftools; a an earthen jar for holding water; a few fmaller ones; a pail; an iron pot; calaba/hes (h) of different fizes (ferving very tolerably for plates, difhes, and bowls) make up. the reft. Their cookery is conduéted in the open air, and firewood being always at hand, they have not only a fufficiency for that purpofe, but alfo for a fire within doors during the night, without which a (h)A fpecies of gourd, Negro --- Page 181 --- WEST INDIES. Negro cannot fleep with comfort. It is made in CHAP, the middle of one of the two rooms, and the V. ) - fmoke makes its way through the door or the thatch. This account of their accommodation, however, is confined to the loweft among the field-negroes : tradefmen and domefticks are in general vaftly better lodged and provided. Many of thefe have larger houfes with boarded floors, and are accommodated (at their own expence it is true) with very decent furniture :-a few have even good beds, linen fheets, and mufquito nets, and difplay a Thelf or two of plates and difhes of queen's or Staffordihire ware, OF clothing, the allowance of the mafter is not always fo liberal as might be wifhed, but much more fo of late years than formerly (i). Few of the Negroes, however, on Sundays and holydays, appear deficient in this point, or fhew any want of raiment, not only decent but gaudy. THE circumftances wherein the flaves in the WettIndies feem moftly indebted to their owners' liberality, are, I think, thofe of medical attendance and accommodation when fick. Every plantation, that I am acquainted with, is under the daily or weckly infpection of a practitioner in (i) I believe the Negroes on every plantation in Jamaica, without exception, receive a yearly allowance of oznaburglinen, woollen, baize, checks, &c. and but very few planters deny them hats, handkerchiefs, and other little articles, as knives, needles and thread, &c. &c. M 3 phyfick ' liberality, are, I think, thofe of medical attendance and accommodation when fick. Every plantation, that I am acquainted with, is under the daily or weckly infpection of a practitioner in (i) I believe the Negroes on every plantation in Jamaica, without exception, receive a yearly allowance of oznaburglinen, woollen, baize, checks, &c. and but very few planters deny them hats, handkerchiefs, and other little articles, as knives, needles and thread, &c. &c. M 3 phyfick --- Page 182 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK phyfick and furgery, who very refides IV. frequently on the fpot 3 and the - planters, being in general men of education themfelves, are not eafily reconciled, in fo important a matter, with fuch illiterate pretenders in medicine as are very often found in the country parts of England, to the dilgrace of the profeffion. Young men of fkill and fcience are therefore fought for and encouraged ; and as but few fingle plantations can afford a very liberal allowance, they are permitted to extend their praétice in the neigheourhood (k). For (k) The ufual recompence to the furgeon for attendance and medicines, is fix thillings a head per annum for all the Negroes on the eftate, whether fick or well, Amputations, difficult cafesin midwifery, inoculation, &c, are paid for exclufively, and on a liberai fcale. A property having 500 Negroes contributes about 6.150 flerling per annum ; and the furgeon, if he chufes, is entitled to board, wafhing, and ing; and this is altogether independent of the profits of lodg- his praétice with the Whites, I fuppofe there are few tion doétors in Jamaica, that have lefs than 5oo plantader their care; feveral (with their affiftants) have Negrocs unupwards of 5,000. Amông the difeafes which Negroes bring with them from Africa, the moft loathfome are the cacabayand theyazar; and it is difficult to fay" which is the worft, The former is the leprofy of the Arabians, and the latter (much the moft common) is fuppofed, by fome writers, to be the leprofy mentioned in Leviticus, C. xili. Both are very accurately decribed by Doétor Hillary, in his Obfervations on the Difeafes of Barbadoes. Young Negro children often cateli the yaws,and get through it without medicine or much inconvenicncy. At a later period it is feklom or never thoroughly eradicated; fay" which is the worft, The former is the leprofy of the Arabians, and the latter (much the moft common) is fuppofed, by fome writers, to be the leprofy mentioned in Leviticus, C. xili. Both are very accurately decribed by Doétor Hillary, in his Obfervations on the Difeafes of Barbadoes. Young Negro children often cateli the yaws,and get through it without medicine or much inconvenicncy. At a later period it is feklom or never thoroughly eradicated; --- Page 183 --- WEST INDIES. For the better accommodation of invalids CHAP, and women in child-birth, every plantation is V. Y provided with a fick-houfe or hofpital, divided into different apartments ; and over which one or more aged women prefide as nurfes. The proprietor commonly fupplies blankets, flour, rice, fugar, and oatmeal : thefe things I have feldom known to be denied, and fome gentlemen afford, befides frefh beef and mutton, more coftly articles ; fuch as fpiccs, fago, and wine. eradicated; and as, like the fmall-pox, itis nevew had but OncE, the Gold Coaft Negroes are faid to communicate the infeétion to their infants by inoculation. I very much doubt if medicine of any kind is of ufe in this difeafe.-But the greateft mortality among the Negroes in the Weft Indies arifes from two other complaints; the one affcôting infants between the fifth and fourteenth days after their birth, and of which it is fuppofed that one-fourth of all the Negro children perith. It is a fpecies of tetanus, or locked jaw ; but both the caufe of it in thefe poor children, and the remedy, remain yet to be difcovered. The other complaint affects adults, or rather Negroes who are paft their prine. They become dropfical, and complain of a conftant uneafincfs in the ftomach; for which they find a temporary relief in eating fome kind of earth. The French planters call this difeafe mal-d'eRomac, or the ftomach-evil. I have formerly heard of owners and managers who were fo ignorant and favage as to attempt the cure by fevere punifhment; confidering dirteating, not as a difeafe, but a crime. I hope the race is extinét. The beft and only remedy is kind ufage and wholefome animal food; and perhaps a fteel drink may be of fome fervice, Of one poor fellow in this complaint, I myfelf made 2 perfeét curc by perfifting fome time in this method. M 4 Os evil. I have formerly heard of owners and managers who were fo ignorant and favage as to attempt the cure by fevere punifhment; confidering dirteating, not as a difeafe, but a crime. I hope the race is extinét. The beft and only remedy is kind ufage and wholefome animal food; and perhaps a fteel drink may be of fome fervice, Of one poor fellow in this complaint, I myfelf made 2 perfeét curc by perfifting fome time in this method. M 4 Os --- Page 184 --- HISTORY OF THE 300K O the whole, fome IV. let notwithftanding defedts, allowance be made for the climate and foil, and it may be afferted with truth and modefty, that, if the fituation of the flaves in the Britifh Weft Indies were, in all cafes, on a level with their circumftances in regard to food, lodging, and medical affiftance, they might be deemed objeéts of envy to half the peafantry of Europe. AT the fame time let it not be forgotten, that the legiflative authority in many of the fugar iflands, has been, and ftill is, moft humanely and laudably exerted in exalting the condition of the flave in all refpeêts, and circumferibing the of the mafter.- Er Proteétion of their flaves power 66 the Report of the Privy Council) made but (fays er very fmall portion of their earlier policy. This a 65 branch has of late been taken up, and C direétions have been exprefs given to enfure to the < Negroes, the enjoyment of many ce tending to alleviate their condition. advantages In three c6 iflands particularly (Jamaica, Grenada, and DoCE minica) the wifh ta foften the rigours of their c6 fituation has manifefted itfelf more 6 Meafures have been devifed by the decidedly. Ec of thofe iflands for placing them in legiflatures a ftate c of fociety, where they will be entitled to a 66 teétion that in former times would have pro66 thought been incompatible with the dependance EF and fubordination of flavery." Ta --- Page 185 --- WEST INDIES. To this diftinguithed and honourable tefti- CHAP. mony it may be added, as a circumftance of ( V. Atill greater importance, that the age itfelf is hourly improving in humanity: and that this improvement vifibly extends beyond the Atlantick. Its influence is felt where the law is a dead letter. This, however, is to be underftood with confiderable allowance 3 for it is a melancholy truth, that authority over thefe poor people muft, on feveral occafions, unavoidably devolve into hands that will employ it only in its abufe; and in cafes too, in which, if redrefs be fought, the teftimony of the injured party is inadmiffible in a court ofjuftice. Under thofe circumftances, while the law lofes its authority, I am afraid that the fenfe of decorum alone affords but a feeble reftraint againft the corrupt paffions and infirmities of our nature, the hardnefs of avarice, the pride of power, the fallies of anger, and the thirft of revenge. THAT the narratives thercfore of exceffive whippings, and barbarous mutilations, which have lately awakened the fympathy of the publick, are all of them 66 abfolutely falfe;" "-though it has been afferted by others, fhall not be afferted by me. If they have happened but feldom, they have happened too often. The difference between me, and thofe who, on this ground, continue to urge the neceffity of an immediate and total anger, and the thirft of revenge. THAT the narratives thercfore of exceffive whippings, and barbarous mutilations, which have lately awakened the fympathy of the publick, are all of them 66 abfolutely falfe;" "-though it has been afferted by others, fhall not be afferted by me. If they have happened but feldom, they have happened too often. The difference between me, and thofe who, on this ground, continue to urge the neceffity of an immediate and total --- Page 186 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK total fupprefion of the flave-trade, is this: IV. affert that it is not they unfrequent, but common, the occurrence of every hour, to behold the miferable Negroes fali viétims to a feries of cruelties of which no other age or country affords an example; and they maintain that the planters, in geaeral, are guilty of thefe cruelties, without commiferation or remorfe. I, on the other hand, aver that, although fuch enormities have certainly fometimes happened, and may happen again, yet that the general treatment of the Negroes in the Britifh Weft Indies is mild, temperate, and indulgent; ; that inftances of cruclty are not only rare, but always univerfally reprobated when difcovered ; and, when fufceptible of legal proof, feverely punifhed (1). THE (1) As the latter part of this affertion has been very confidently denied by fome of the witneffes that have bef fore: a Committee of the Houfe of Commons, I appeared leave to trouble the reader with the following cafes in point: beg 46 Spanifh Town, Jamaica, Feb. 1777. Thomas Fell was indiéted for allaulting a Negro mnan flave, the property of Richard Welch, Efquire, and found guilry. Sentenced to a fine to the king of twenty pounds, and to be imprifoned pay in the common gaol one week, and until payment of the fine." 46 Kingfton, Jamaica. At the Surry alflize, 1786; Geddes was tried, and found guilty on two indiétments, George for cruelly beating and maiming two-of his own flaves. Sentencedto paya fine to the king of 6-100, on each indiatment, and to be imprifoned fix months in the jail of Kingfon, and until payment of the fine, and afterwards to find fecurity for his good behaviour, & C." 66 Surry common gaol one week, and until payment of the fine." 46 Kingfton, Jamaica. At the Surry alflize, 1786; Geddes was tried, and found guilty on two indiétments, George for cruelly beating and maiming two-of his own flaves. Sentencedto paya fine to the king of 6-100, on each indiatment, and to be imprifoned fix months in the jail of Kingfon, and until payment of the fine, and afterwards to find fecurity for his good behaviour, & C." 66 Surry --- Page 187 --- WEST INDIES. THE great, and I fear incurable, defcet in the CHAP. fyftem of flavery, is the circumftance already V. mentioned, that the evidence of the flave cannot G Surry Aflize, 1778. John Durant, a free man of Colour, was indiated and found guilty of affaulting a Negro man flave, named Sacco, the property of Eliza Wheeler, a free Negroe woman. Sentenced to be publickly flogged at the Beef market." 46 Quarter Seffion, Kingfton, Auguft, 1791. The King rverfus Thomfm, for affaulting and falfely imprifoning a Negro boy, the property of Francis Robertfon. Found guilty and fined L.10.-King verfius Bender, for wantonly and immoderately punifhing a Negro man, his own property, named Fortune. Found guilty and fined 6.20." The above are extraéts fairly abridged from the records in the proper office in Jamaica. Teftimonies of the fame kind, more fully ftated, from the Iland of St. Chriftopher, appear in the Report of the Committee of Privy Council; e to whom evidence was likewife given, that a White man, in the Ifland of Grenada, was, in the year 1776, conviéted of the murder of his own flave, and executed. If many other cafes cannot be cited, it may fairly be fuppofed, from thofe which. have been adduced, that frefh occafion has not often been given. The following fhocking inftance, however, happened in the Ifland of Jamaica, in the fummer of 1791 :-William Rattray, a carpenter at the port of Rio Bueno, in a fit of drunkennefs, threw an axe at a Negro boy, his own flave, which unfortunately killed him on the fpot. The coroner's inqueft finding it wilful murder, the man was apprehended, and fent to gaol in irons. He was not, it is true, publickly tried and hanged for the crime; for, being well affured that fuch would be his fate, he thought it beft to executej juftice on himfelf, and found in fuicide an efcape from the gallows. This fact, which is within my own knowledge, is certainly no proof that the murderers of their own flaves efcape with impunity. be the fpot. The coroner's inqueft finding it wilful murder, the man was apprehended, and fent to gaol in irons. He was not, it is true, publickly tried and hanged for the crime; for, being well affured that fuch would be his fate, he thought it beft to executej juftice on himfelf, and found in fuicide an efcape from the gallows. This fact, which is within my own knowledge, is certainly no proof that the murderers of their own flaves efcape with impunity. be --- Page 188 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK be admitted againft a White perfon, even in cafes IV. of the moft atrocious injury. This is an evil to which, on feveral accounts, I fear no direét and efficacious remedy can be applicd. In fome of the iflands, however, attempts have been made, with an earneftnefs fuited to the importance of the fubject, to fupply the defeét; and expedients bave been adopted for that purpofe, which, in moft cafes, it may be hoped, will have the good confequence of a folid proteétion. By the new flave act of Grenada, the juftices are required annually to nominate three freeholders to be guardians of the faves; who are to take an oath to fee thelaw duly executed. They are not only to infpeét the provifion-grounds, the clothing, and maintenance, and to enquire into the general treatment of the flaves, but alfo to interrogate on oath the managers and overfeers, concerning the due obfervance of the law; and in cafe of breaches thereof, to profecute the offenders. Of this meafure the Report of the Privy Council expreffèes the higheft approbation : - 46 The obliging managers and overfeers (it obferves) to anfwer upon oath, gives peculiar efficacy to a regulation intended forthe benefit of perfons whofeteftimony, by the law of the country, could not be heard in a profecution againft a White perfon."' 19 Ix the fame liberal fpirit, and co-operating to the --- Page 189 --- WEST INDIES. the fame generous end, the Jegiflature of Jamaica C IIA F. have conftituted the juftices and veftry of each V. parifh in that ifland, a council of proteclion, exprefsly for the purpofe of making full enquiry into the barbarities exercifed on flaves, and bringing the authors to puni(hment at the publick expence. With this view, it is enaéted, that wlen any complaint, or probable intelligence from anyJave, or otherwife, is made before a juftice of the pcace, of the mutilation and confinement of a flave, the juftice is impowered and required to iffue his warrant to bring the flave before him for infpeétion. C By this regulation (fay the affembly) it is intended, as far as poffible, to take from the owner, the power of concealment; for the magiftrate is enabled to obtain a vicw of the fact, on evidence, which, in other cafes, is, and ought to be, inadmifible." By another claufe in the fame aét,in order more effeétually to prevent the deftruétion of Negroes by exceflive labour and unreafonable punifhments, the furgeon of every plantation is required to produce and deliver in upon oath, * to the juftices and veftry, an annual account of the decreafe and encreafe of the flaves of fuch plantation, affigning alfo the caufes of fuch decreafe, to the beft of his judgment and belief. On this head the affembly remark 66 how tender and cautious every rational manager muft neceffarily be in the punifhments es by exceflive labour and unreafonable punifhments, the furgeon of every plantation is required to produce and deliver in upon oath, * to the juftices and veftry, an annual account of the decreafe and encreafe of the flaves of fuch plantation, affigning alfo the caufes of fuch decreafe, to the beft of his judgment and belief. On this head the affembly remark 66 how tender and cautious every rational manager muft neceffarily be in the punifhments --- Page 190 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK nithments which he adminifters, who IV. that he has a refident confiders, infpeétor into his conduét, and that the punifhment of death may follow an abufe of his authority.' ." SucH are a few of the many forcible and decifive teftimonies which the refident planters in the Weft Indies have given to the world of their juft abhorrence. of all aéts of cruelty and oppreffion towards the poor people over whom the accident of birth of fortune have invefted them with power.-They have demonftrated that their inclination concurs with their intereft effeétually to perform whatever humanity and the fenfe of reciprocal obligation require towards their African labourers; 5 and they have armed the law with additional energy, in the hope of curbing thofe paffions, fuppreffing thofe frailties, and preventing thofe exceffes, which the plenitude of is too apt to encourage. Ifthis effeét power all cafes and cannot, in contingencies, be produced, the failure muft be comprized among the other infurmountable difficulties and irrefiftible many évils oflife, for which human wifdom has hitherto in vain fought a remedy, THE grand (and I admit the moft plaufible) accufation againft the general conduét of the planters, arifes from the neceffity they find themfelves under of baving an annual recruit of 1laves from Africa, to fill up the numbers that perith in --- Page 191 --- WEST INDIES. in the Weft Indies. So long as it thall appear CHAP. that the natural encreafe of the Negroes already V. in the fugar iflands, is infufficient for this pur1 pole, it will be contended that this circumftance, ofitlelf, affords an obvious and undeniable proof that it is not to individuals alone, the blame of improper treatment ought to be attributed. That power, it is urged, muft in almoft all cafes be abufed, and that flavery muft be univerfally exceffive, which give occafion to fo dreadful a wafte of life. The objection has been anticipated, and in part anfwered, in the preceding pages, by the proof that has been given of the great difproportion of the fexes in the yearly importations fromi Africa. It has been fhewn from unqueftionable authority, that one third only are females. Thus, notwith(tanding every allowance for the Creoles or natives, who may reafonably be fuppofed to have encreafed according to the general laws of nature, there was in the year 1789, in Jamaica alone, an excels in its Negro population of 30,000 males. But this is not the whole extent ofthe evil. It is a truth well known, that the practice of polygamy, which univerfally prevails in Africa, is alfo very generally adopted among the Negroes in the Weft Indies; and he who conceives that a remedy may be found for this," by introducing among them the laws of marriage as eftablilhed in Europe, is utterly ignorant of their of nature, there was in the year 1789, in Jamaica alone, an excels in its Negro population of 30,000 males. But this is not the whole extent ofthe evil. It is a truth well known, that the practice of polygamy, which univerfally prevails in Africa, is alfo very generally adopted among the Negroes in the Weft Indies; and he who conceives that a remedy may be found for this," by introducing among them the laws of marriage as eftablilhed in Europe, is utterly ignorant of their --- Page 192 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK their manners, propenfities, and IV. is reckoned in fuperftitions. Ie Jamaica, on a moderate computation, that not lefs than ten thoufand of fuch as are called Head Negroes (artificers and others) poffefs from two to four wives. This partial ap: propriation of the women creates a ftill greater proportion of fingle men, and produces all the mifchiefs which are neceffarily attached to the fyftem of polygamy: In Africa, the redundancy of males, occafioned by an unequal diftribution bf the females, is undoubtedly one of the fources which fupplies the European trader with flaves; and the confequences attending it among the Negroes in the Weft Indies, are a thocking licentioufnefs and profligacy of manners in moft of their women ; who are expofed to temptations which they cannot refift. They hold chaftity in fo little eftimation, that barrennefs and frequent abortions, the ufual effeéts of a promifeuous intercourfe, are very generally prevalent among them. To: the fame origin may be afcribed that negleét, and want of maternal affeétion towards the children produced by former connections; obfervable in many of the Blacki females. THE circumftances thus enumerated, operating with combined energy, are abundantly fufficient to account for the annual diminution in the number of the flaves; and I fee no good reafon why it fhould not be frankly admitted, that --- Page 193 --- WEST INDIES. that flavery itfels, in its mildeft form, is un- CHAP. friendly to population. The human race, to enV. crcafe in numbers, muft be placed in favourable 1 circumftances; and, unlels reafon and fentiment in fome degree co-operate with corporeal inftinét, its offspring is born but to perifh. Among men who are deprived of free agency, or by whom it is but imperfeétly enjoyed, neither reafon nor fentiment can be the ruling principle. It is needlefs to purfue this argument any farther. Men of refleétion, apprized of the fact that fach difproportion between the fexes exifts among the Negroes, will draw the proper conclufions from it, and agree that an abolition of the flave trade will not afford a remedy. THUS have I delivered, in a detail which the reader will probably find too diffufe and minute, fuch obfervations as have occurred to me on the feveral matters, of which I propofed to treat. I have declined to enlarge on the various calumnies, and grofs milreprefentations, which have been fpread and encouraged againft the planters, bccaufe it is their misfortune that, on this queftion, many virtuous, humane and pious men, mifled by popular prejudice, openly concurin, and give thcir fancion to, the malignant efforts, and uncharitable mifconftruétions of the envious and illiberal. Such proceedings, however, are as impolitick as they are unjuft. They are equally inVoL. II. N jurious ies, and grofs milreprefentations, which have been fpread and encouraged againft the planters, bccaufe it is their misfortune that, on this queftion, many virtuous, humane and pious men, mifled by popular prejudice, openly concurin, and give thcir fancion to, the malignant efforts, and uncharitable mifconftruétions of the envious and illiberal. Such proceedings, however, are as impolitick as they are unjuft. They are equally inVoL. II. N jurious --- Page 194 --- 1;8 HISTORY OF TH E BO O K jurious to the maftera and the flave, IV. among the By exciting Y Negroes a fpirit of difcontent and difobedience, they compel, in many cafes, the benevolent man to reftrain that hand which otherwife would be ftretched out for their relief; and by rendering their mafters odious in their thus, thefe unfortunate people eyes, time that (apprized at the fame they are held in a fubjection which is reprobated in the mother country) may be led to make a general ftruggle for freedom, through defolation and bloodfhed. Far be it from me, however, to impute motives fo atrocious to of thofe refpeétable charaéters whofe any exertions for an abolition of the flave trade are at this time the objeét of publick attention. Moft of thefe gentlemen, without doubt, confider this meafure as only the firft procefs in a more extended and liberal plan, which has for its objeét, by the further influx of Negroes into our ftopping iflands, to compel the planters to cherifh and hufband their prefent ftock; and fuftain it in future by natural encreafe; until, by milder treatment, and the Chriftian inftitutes, the manners of the flaves fhall become foftened, their vices correéted, and their difpofitions gradually prepared for a total emancipation from that abfolute flavery in which they are now held. Such is the language, and I doubt not, the fond expeétation of many wife and excellent perfons. They confider that all this --- Page 195 --- WEST INDIES. this will be the neceffary cffeet of the intcrpofi- CHAP. tion of parliament, in prohibiting the furtherimV. Y portation of African flaves into our colonies. I have affigned fuch reafons as occur to me for believing that this conclufion is founded in error, and will terminate in difappointment. That I am no friend to flavery, in any fhape, or under any modification, I feel a confcious affurance in my own bofom. Yet that the flavery of fome part of the human fpecies, in a very abjeét degree, has exifted in all ages of the world, among the moft civilifed, as well as the moft barbarous nations, no man who has confulted the records of hiftory difputes. Perhaps, like pain, poverty, ficknefs, and forrow, and all the various other calamities of our condition, it may have been originally interwoven into the conftitution of the world, for purpofes infcrutable to man. Ofthis Iam certain, that an immediate emancipation of the flaves in the Weft Indies, would involve both mafter and flave in one common deftruétion.- Thus much however is allowed; the miferies we cannot wholly remove, we mayin fome cafes mitigate: We may alleviate, though we cannot cure. Ihave fhewn that this has been attempted, and in many inflances effcéted too, by the planters themfelves. What yet remains to be done, confiftently with found policy, and a juft regard even to the fafcty and happinels of the N 2 Negrocs ft Indies, would involve both mafter and flave in one common deftruétion.- Thus much however is allowed; the miferies we cannot wholly remove, we mayin fome cafes mitigate: We may alleviate, though we cannot cure. Ihave fhewn that this has been attempted, and in many inflances effcéted too, by the planters themfelves. What yet remains to be done, confiftently with found policy, and a juft regard even to the fafcty and happinels of the N 2 Negrocs --- Page 196 --- HISTORY OF THE 3OOK Negroes themfelves, is a fubjeét IV. ficult of deep and dif1 confideration. Hafty meafures, however humane in appearance, and plaufible in theory, may produce the moft calamitous of all contefts, a bellum fervile; which will probably but in the extermination of either never end the Blacks. the Whites OF Among the great variety of fchemes which have been offered for further the condition of the flaves, the moft obvious meliorating feem to be thefe : Firft, to render their labour certain and determinate: : in other words, to each Negro, apportion to according to his ftrength, a fpecifick quantity ofwork to be performed in a given time; allowing to fuch of them as hall have finifhed their tafk within the time limited, the reft of the day to themfelves, and pay them wages for extra labour. This is not always praéticable, but when it is, I am inclined to think favourably of the fcheme, becaufe it feems calculated to awaken a fpirit of emulation and induftry, which the dread of punifhment can never produce. At the fame time, it will be neceffary to fecure to the Negroes by law, the little property or peculium which their own induftry may thus acquire.-A fecond pofal is to make them arbiters on the conduét pro- of each other, by inftituting a fort of juries them for the trial of petty offences. It is among ceived that fuch a meafure will give them connotions of diftributive juftice, and right operate power-. fully --- Page 197 --- W E ST INDIES. fully towards their civilifation and improvement ; CHA P. and I have heard of two inftances in Jamaica in V. which it has been tried with fuccefs ; but it is evidently a regulation that muft be governed by circumftances, and left principally to the prudence and difcretion of the owner : an attempt to eftablith and enforce it by law, in their prefent notions of right and wrong, would, I fear, create inextricable confufion. A third meafure has been recommended, of lefs doubtful efficacy. It is, to render the fabbath, what it ought to be, a day of reft and religious improvement ; to which end, the markets on Sundays ought to be fuppreffed. They are a difgrace to a chriftian country ; and, if a market is found abfolutely neceffary to encourage the Negroes in labouring for themfelves, fome other day, once a fortnight, may be appropriated for that purpofe (m). In the mean time, inftead of abolifhing the flave-trade by aét of (m) The objeétion to this fcheme is, that it will deprive the planters yearly of twenty-fix days labour of the whole body oftheir Negroes, without producing the effeét intended, as the whole of each Sunday, will, in fuch cafe, be fpent in drunkennefs and debauchery at home. If this objeaion be well founded, let the days which are now given to the flaves (exclufive of Sundays) be the days of market, and compel them to work in their own gardens four or five hours every Sunday morning; and attend divine fervice in the afternoon. Honeft labour muft furely be more pleafing to the Almighty, as it is certainly more beneficial to man, than profligacy and riot. N 3 parliament, in fuch cafe, be fpent in drunkennefs and debauchery at home. If this objeaion be well founded, let the days which are now given to the flaves (exclufive of Sundays) be the days of market, and compel them to work in their own gardens four or five hours every Sunday morning; and attend divine fervice in the afternoon. Honeft labour muft furely be more pleafing to the Almighty, as it is certainly more beneficial to man, than profligacy and riot. N 3 parliament, --- Page 198 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK parliament, further encouragement fhould be IV. given to the of / importation a greater proportion of African women, until the fexes are become nearly equal; after which it is probable that, under the prefent humane and improved fyftem oflaws and manners, their numbers may be kept up by natural encreafe. If this good confequence fhall happily be produced, it cannot be doubted that the flave-trade will of itfelf gradually diminidh, and perhaps in a few years ceafe altogether, and expire without a ftruggle. BUT thefe, and all other regulations which can be devifed for the proteétion and improvement of this unfortunate clafs of people, will be of little avail, unlefs, as a preliminary meafure, they Thall be exempted from the cruel hardthip, to which they are now frequently liable, of being fold by creditors, and made fubjeét, in a courfe of adminiftration by executors, to the payment of all debts both of fimple contraét and fpecialty, This grievance, fo remorfelefsand tyrannical in its principle, and fo dreadful in its effedts, though not originally created, is now upheld and confirmed by a Britith adt of parliament; and no lefs authorityis competent to redrefs it. It was an act procured by, and paffed for the benefit of Britith creditors; and I blufh to add, that its motive and prigin have fanétified the meafure even in the opinipn of men who are among the loudeft of the de3 claimers --- Page 199 --- WEST INDIES. claimers again(t flavery and the flave trade (n). C. HAP. Thus the odious feverity ofthe Romanlaw, which V. Y declared fentient beings to be inter res, is revived and perpetuated in a country that pretends to chriftianity ! In a few years a good Negro gets comfortably eftablifhed, has built himfelfahoufe, obtained a wife, and begins to fee a young family rifing about him. His provifion-ground, the creation of his own induftry, and the ftaff of his exiftence, affords him not only fupport, but the means alfo of adding fomething to the mere neceffaries of life. In this fituation, he is feized on by the fheriff's officer, forcibly feparated from his wife and children, dragged to publick auction, purchafed by a ftranger, and perhaps fent to terminate his miferable exiftence in the mines of Mexico, excluded for ever from the light of heaven; and all this without any crime or demerit on his part, real or pretended. He is punifhed becaufe his mafter is unfortunate. I do not believe that any cafe of force or fraud in Africa can be produétive of greater mifery than (n) The aÉt alluded to, is the 5 George II. C. 7. entitled, 6 An aet forthe more cafy recovery of debts in his Majefty's plantations." Of the moft violent of the petitioners to parliament, not one has folicited the repeal of this execrable fiatute. The fociety in the Old Jewry, though apprized off the grievance, its origin and the remedy, are Glent on the fubject. They are men of the world, and with all their philanthropy, probably confider no rights fo facred as thofe of creditors. N 4 this! . C. 7. entitled, 6 An aet forthe more cafy recovery of debts in his Majefty's plantations." Of the moft violent of the petitioners to parliament, not one has folicited the repeal of this execrable fiatute. The fociety in the Old Jewry, though apprized off the grievance, its origin and the remedy, are Glent on the fubject. They are men of the world, and with all their philanthropy, probably confider no rights fo facred as thofe of creditors. N 4 this! --- Page 200 --- 18+ HISTORY OF THE BOOK this! Neither can it be urged, that, like IV. fome Y unauthorized cafes of cruelty in the Weft Indies, it occurs but feldom : unhappily, it occurs every day, and, under the prefent fyftem, will continue to occur, fo long as men Thall continue to be unfortunate. LET this ftatute then be totally repealed. It is injurious to the national charaéter; it is difgraceful to humanity. Let the Negroes be attached to the land, and fold with it. The good effeét of a fimilar regulation in the fyftem of ancient villenage has been pointed out and illuftrated by a great many writers; and thofe perfons who now oppofe an extenfion of the fame benefit to the Negroes in the Weft Indies, would do well to refleét, that, while they arraign the conduét of the refident planters towards their flaves, they are themfelves abettors and fupporters of the greateft of all the grievances under which thofe unfortunate people continue to fuffer. * * It is peculiarly gratifying to the Author of this work that he has the opportunity, in the prefent edition, to inform his readers, that in June 1797, he had the honour' and happinefs, as a member of the Britifh parliament, to bring into the Houfe of Commons, and to fucceed in carrying it into a law, a bill to repeal fo much of the 5 Geo, II, c. 7. as relates to Negroes in his Majefty's plantations. --- Page 201 --- / : --- Page 202 --- Mokat Gomrl Rrmen ktiny --- Page 203 --- WEST INDIES. CHAP. V. K A valuablc Friend, than whom no man is better acquainted with the Negro charadter, and the condition of the enflaved Africans, has favoured me with the following obfervations, which occurred to him on a perufal of the preceding chapter in the firit edition. 66 That the treatment of the Negroes in the Britifh Weft Indies, even before what has been lately done by the colonial affemblies to meliorate their condition, was not fyftematically bad, is to me convincing from this faét, which all who are acquainted with Negroes on plantations muft admit: that the Creole race (with fome few eminent exceptions) exceed the African in intelleét, ftrength, and comelinefs, in a very remarkable manner. Ifa better horfe is produced from an inferior breed, it is fair to conclude that the colt has had a better groom, and a better pafturethan the common on which the dam ufually fed. The great objeét to be wifhed at prefent, as it appears to me, is to purify the moral fenfe of Negroes. Hitherto, with all their improvements, they have caught from the Whites, I am afraid, more of the vices than the virtues of civilization. Correét the idea, which a Negro may be faid to imbibe with his mother's milk, that whatever he can cheat his owner of, in any direétion, is clear gain to himfelf. Make the intereft of the mafter and the flave go hand in hand. Now I think that fmall wages, fubjedt to ftoppage for delinquency, would have this effedt, Such a fyftem would be laying a foundation on which a large fuperftruéture might be built in the reformation of manners. Even in point of expence, an eftate can well afford it; for the aggregate of time wafted in the fick houfe, on the mere pretence of illnefs, is equal to a little fortunet to every planter. When and the flave go hand in hand. Now I think that fmall wages, fubjedt to ftoppage for delinquency, would have this effedt, Such a fyftem would be laying a foundation on which a large fuperftruéture might be built in the reformation of manners. Even in point of expence, an eftate can well afford it; for the aggregate of time wafted in the fick houfe, on the mere pretence of illnefs, is equal to a little fortunet to every planter. When --- Page 204 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK When I was laft in Jamaica, I made the experiment with a IV. body of tradefnen, and punétually paid to each at the end of the week (if a week's work was done) TWO BITTS (0). The effedt in point of labour was wonderful, and I believe that the fyftem would in time have taught the Negroes alfo, that honefty was better policy than thieving, &c. and have led by degrees to confequences ftill more important and beneficial both to the mafter and the flave." (0) About one fhilling Englifh. END OF THE FOURTH BOOK, --- Page 205 --- WEST INDIES. APPENDIXES TO BOOK IV, N U M BER I. AS a fupplement 10 fuch part %f the preceding APPENbook, as relates to the treatment ofthe Negroes in the DIX. Britifh Wen Indies, it is thought neceffary to prefent 1 the reader with the CONSOLIDATED SLAVE AcT OF JAMAICA, palfed the 2d of March 1792. It is prefumed that this law will demonfirate to general convittion, that the legiflature of Jamaica, availing themfelves aS well ofthe reproaches of their enemies, as of the fuggeRions of their friends, have given all polfible encourage ement to the raifing ofNegro children is the ifand, and fecuredto tbeir labourers as muck freedom, and as great a latitude of enjoyment of the neceffaries, comveniencies, and comforts of life, as can be done confifently with their own prefervation. The humane reader will not complain of the lengil of this Appendix, if he fall hereafter find that the other Britifh Ifands in the Wef Indies, encouraged by the example before them,/all introduce the benewolent provifions of this A8t, into their OZUn Negro code, the ifand, and fecuredto tbeir labourers as muck freedom, and as great a latitude of enjoyment of the neceffaries, comveniencies, and comforts of life, as can be done confifently with their own prefervation. The humane reader will not complain of the lengil of this Appendix, if he fall hereafter find that the other Britifh Ifands in the Wef Indies, encouraged by the example before them,/all introduce the benewolent provifions of this A8t, into their OZUn Negro code, --- Page 206 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK JAMAICA, J: IV. Y AN ACT to repeal an a repeal feveral aôts and ciaules DF 91 flaves, and for the better order and governnent of flaves, and for other purpofes;" and alio to repeal the feveral acts and claufes of acts, which were repealed by the act intituled as aforefaid; and for confolidating, and bringing into one act, the feveral laws relating to flaves, and for giving them further protection and fecurity; for altering the mode of trial of flaves charged with capital offences; and for other purpofes. Freamble. W HEREAS it is for the publick good, that all the laws refpedting the order and government of flaves, fhould be confolidated, and brought into one law, in order to prevent confufion, and that juftice may more effeétually be executed refpeéting flaves; and whereas it is found necelfary, for the purpofe of giving further fecurity to flaves, that the mode of trial of flaves charged with capital offences fhould be altered; and whereas, in order thereto, it is neceffary that all the herein after-mentioned laws, and claufes of laws, fhould be repealed; viz. &c. &c. &c. We, your majefty's dutiful and loyal fubjedts, the affembly of this your Majefty's ifand of Jamaica, do molt humbly befeech your Majefty that it may be enaéted, Be it therefore EnaÉted, by the lieutenant governor, council, and affembly of the faid ifland, and it is hereby enaéted and ordained by the zuLaws and - thority of the fame, That from and after the claufes of this all pafling of Jaws to be aét, and every the faid herein before-mentioned repealed. laws, and claufes of laws, and cvery part thercof, be and ftand Majefty that it may be enaéted, Be it therefore EnaÉted, by the lieutenant governor, council, and affembly of the faid ifland, and it is hereby enaéted and ordained by the zuLaws and - thority of the fame, That from and after the claufes of this all pafling of Jaws to be aét, and every the faid herein before-mentioned repealed. laws, and claufes of laws, and cvery part thercof, be and ftand --- Page 207 --- WEST INDIES. ftand annulled, repealed, and made void, and are hereby APPENannulled, repealed, and made void, to all intents and pur- DIX. pofes whatfoever, any thing in the faid laws, and claufes Y oflaws, or in any other law contained to the contrary, in anywife notwithftanding. II. And whereas nothing can contribute more to the good order and government of flaves than the humanity of their owners, in providing for and fupplying them with good and wholefome provifions, and proper and fufficient clothing, and all fuch other things as may be proper and neceffary for them, during their being in a ftate of flavery: For which end and purpofe, Be it further Enaéted by the authority aforefaid, That, from and after the paffing of Proprietors, ac. to allot this Aêt, every mafter, owner, or poffeffor, of any planta- land for tion or plantations, pens, or other lands whatfoever, fhall every flave, and to allow allot and appoint a fufficient quantity of land for every him to cultiflave he fhall have in poffeflion upon, or belonging to, vate it. fuch plantation or plantations, pens, or other lands, as and for the proper ground of every fuch flave, and allow fuch flave fufficient time to work the fame, in order to provide him, her, or themfelves, with fufficient provifions for his, her, or their maintenance: : and alfo, all fuch mafters, owners, or poffeffors of plantations, pens, or other lands, fhall plant upon fuch plantations, pens, or other lands, in grourid-provifions, at leaft one acre of land for every ten negroes that he Thall be poffeffed of on fuch plantation, pen, or other lands, over and above the Negro-grounds aforefaid; which lands fhall be kept up in a planter-like condition, under the penalty of fifty pounds. III. And be it further Enaéted by the authority aforefaid, That every fuch mafter, owner, or poffeffor, or his or her overfeer or chief manager, fhall perfonally infpeét into the condition of fuch negro-grounds once in every month at the leaft, in order to fee that the fame are cultivated and kept up in a proper manner, of which oath fhall be made, as in this act is hereafter directed. And whereas up in a planter-like condition, under the penalty of fifty pounds. III. And be it further Enaéted by the authority aforefaid, That every fuch mafter, owner, or poffeffor, or his or her overfeer or chief manager, fhall perfonally infpeét into the condition of fuch negro-grounds once in every month at the leaft, in order to fee that the fame are cultivated and kept up in a proper manner, of which oath fhall be made, as in this act is hereafter directed. And whereas --- Page 208 --- I9o HISTORY OF THE BOOK whereas it may happen, that in many plantations, pens, IV. fettlements, and towns; in this ifland, there may not be Y lands proper for the purpofes aforefaid; then, and in that otherwife Slaves cafe, the mafters, owners, or pofleffors, do, by fome other provided for. ways and means, make good and ample provifion for all fuch flaves as they fhall be poffeffed of; equal to the value of two fhillings and fix pence currency per week for each flave, in order that they may be properly fupported and maintained, under the penalty of fifty pounds. Owners IV. And be it further Enaéted by the authority aforeobliged to faid, That no mafter, owner, or of provide for poffeffor any flave or difabled flaves, whether in his or her own right, or as flaves. attorney, guardian, truftee, executor, or otherwife, Thall difcard or turn away any fuch flave or flaves, on account of or by reafon of fuch flave or flaves being rendered incapable of labour or fervice to fuch mafter, owner, or pofleffor, by means officknefs, age, orinfirmity; but every fuch mafter, owner, or pofleffor, as aforefaid, (hall be, and he is hereby obliged, to keep all fuch flave or flaves upon his, her, or their properties, and to find and provide them with wholefome neceffaries of life, and not fuffer fuch flave or flaves as aforefaid to be in want thereof, or to wander about, or become burthenfome to others for fuftenance, under the penalty of ten pounds for every fuch offence, to be recovered in a fummary manner, before any one juftice of the peace in this ifland; who is hereby authorized, empowered, and required, to caufe fuch mafter, owner, or poffeffor, his, her, or their attorney or agent, and fuch other perfons as he fhall judge neceffary, to be fummoned before him, to enable him to judge and determine of the propriety of fuch information, and whether fuch mafter, owner, or poffellor, ought to incur the faid penalty; and in the mean time, and until fuch trial can be had, the faid juftice of the peace, on his own view, or upon the information of any white perfon, upon oath, is hercby empowered and required to take up fuch wandering, fick, aged, or infirm flave he fhall judge neceffary, to be fummoned before him, to enable him to judge and determine of the propriety of fuch information, and whether fuch mafter, owner, or poffellor, ought to incur the faid penalty; and in the mean time, and until fuch trial can be had, the faid juftice of the peace, on his own view, or upon the information of any white perfon, upon oath, is hercby empowered and required to take up fuch wandering, fick, aged, or infirm flave --- Page 209 --- WI E ST INDIES. flave or flaves, and to lodge him, her, or them, in the APPENneareft workhoufe, there to be clothed and fed, but not DIX. worked, at the expence of the mafter, owner, or poffeffor, L 1 until fuch trial as aforefaid can be had ; and if it Thall appear to the faidjuftice, on fuch trial, that the party or parties fo complained of is or are guilty of the faid offence, and Thall refufe to pay the faid ten pounds, and the fees to fuch workhoufe for the maintenance of fuch flave or flaves, together with the charges of the conviction, the faid juftice is hereby required and empowered, under the penalty of twenty pounds, forthwith, by warrant under his hand and feal, direéted to the conftable, to commit fuch offender or offenders to the common gaol of the county or parifh where the offence Thall be committed, there to remain until he or fhe Thall pay the faid fum of ten pounds, and charges as aforefaid; one moiety of which faid fine Thall be paid to the informer, and the other moiety fhall be paid into thel hands of the churchwardens of fuch parifh, for the poor of faid parith; any law, cuftom, or ufage to the contrary notwithftanding, V. And, for the better encouragement of flaves to do Slaves te be their duty to their mafters, owners, cr poffeffors, Be it clothed their owner by further Enaéted by the authority aforefaid, That every once a year. mafter, owner, or poffeffor of flaves, fhali, once in every year, provide and give to each flave they fhall be poffeffed of proper and fufficient clothing, to be approved of by the juftices and veftry of the parifh where fuch mafter, owner, or poffeffor of fuch flaves refides, under the penalty of fifty pounds. VI. And be it further Enadted by the authority afore- Owners to inftruét faid, That all mafters and miftrefles, owners, or, in their flaves in abfence, overfeers of flaves, fhall, as much as in them lics, the tian Chrif reliendeavour the inftruction of their flaves in the principles gion. of the Chriftian religion, whereby to facilitate their converfion, and Thall do their utmoft endeavours to fit them for baptifm, and as foon as conveniently they can, caufe to by the authority afore- Owners to inftruét faid, That all mafters and miftrefles, owners, or, in their flaves in abfence, overfeers of flaves, fhall, as much as in them lics, the tian Chrif reliendeavour the inftruction of their flaves in the principles gion. of the Chriftian religion, whereby to facilitate their converfion, and Thall do their utmoft endeavours to fit them for baptifm, and as foon as conveniently they can, caufe to --- Page 210 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK to be baptifed all fuch as they can make fenfible of a Deity IV. and the Chriftian faith. Y VII. And be it further Enaéted the Owners to by authority aforegivei inan faid, That every mafter, owner, proprietor, or poffeffor of account of flaves, his or her overfeer or chief at their provifionmanager, giving ground, in an account of their flaves and ftock to the juftices and veftry, on the twenty- eighth day of December in every year, fhall, under the penalty of fifty pounds for every neglect, alfo give in, on oath, an account of the quantity of land in ground-provifions, over and above the negrogrounds, upon fuch plantation, pen, or other fettlement, where there are lands proper for the cultivation of fuch provifions; and, where there are not lands proper for fuch purpofes, then an account, on oath, of the provifion made on fuch plantation, pen, or other fettlement, or means adopted for the maintenance ofthe flaves thereon; and fhali alfo, at the fame time, and under the like penalty, give in an account, on oath, of the nature and quantity of the clothing aétually ferved to each flave on fuch plantation, pen, or other fettlement, for the approbation of the juftices and veftry as aforefaid; and thall, likewife, at the fame time declare, on oath, that he hath infpeéted the negro-grounds (where fuch grounds are allotted) of. fuch plantation, pen, or fettlement, according to the direétions of this act. Premium to VIII. And, in order to flaves for flaves for good and worthy act that encourage every informing they Thall do, Be it further Enon runa- aéted by the authority aforefaid, That or ways, &c. every flave flaves that fhall take up any runaway flave, or inform againft any perfon who fhall have or conceal any runaway flave or flaves, fo that fuch runaway flave or flaves may be taken and reftored to his owner or owners; every fuch flave or flaves, fo informing, fhall be entitled to fuch reward as any juftice fhall in reafon and juftice think juft and reafonable, and be paid by fuch perfon or perfons as fuchjuftice fhall determine ought to pay the fame, not CXceeding twenty thillings IX. And any perfon who fhall have or conceal any runaway flave or flaves, fo that fuch runaway flave or flaves may be taken and reftored to his owner or owners; every fuch flave or flaves, fo informing, fhall be entitled to fuch reward as any juftice fhall in reafon and juftice think juft and reafonable, and be paid by fuch perfon or perfons as fuchjuftice fhall determine ought to pay the fame, not CXceeding twenty thillings IX. And --- Page 211 --- WEST INDIES IX. And be it further Enaéted by thc authority afore- APPENfaid, That if any flave or flaves Thall kill or take any DIX. flave or flaves in actual rebellion, he or they fhall reccive U from the churchwardens of the refpeétive parifhes where Thekiling or apprefuch flave or flaves fhall have been killed, the fum of three hending 1epounds, and the fum of five pounds if taken alive, and a flaves be.lious reblue cloth ceat, with a red crofs on the right (houlder, to warded. bc paid by the churchwardens of the refpeétive parifhes where fuch flave or flaves fhall have been killed or taken; the wbole expence whercof flall be reimburfed by the receiver-general for the time being, out of fny monies in his hands unappropriated. X. And, in order to prevent any perfon from mutilat- Perfons muing or difmembering any flave or flaves, Be it further tilating fuves fined Enaéted by the authority aforefaid, That if any mafter, andimprifoned, miftrefs, owner, poffeffor, or other perfon whatfoever, fhall, at his, her, or their own will and pleafure, or by his, her, or their diredtion, or with his, her, or their knowledge, fufferance, privity, or confent, mutilate or difmember any flave or flavès, he, fhe, or they fhall be liable to be indieted for each offence in the fupreme court of judicature, or in any of the affize courts of this ifland; and, upon conviction, fhall be punifhed by finc, not exceeding one hundred pounds, and imprifonment, not exceeding twelve months, for each and every flave fo mutilated or difinembered: ; and fuch punifhment is declared to be without prejudice to any action that could or might be brought at common law, for recovery of damages for or on account of the fame: And, in very atrocious cafes, where the owner of fuch flave or flaves Thall be conviéted of fuch offence, the court before whom fuch offender fhalihavebeen tried and convicted, are hereby empowered, in cafe they fhall think it neceffary, for the future protection of fuch flave or flaves, to declare him, her, or them Mutilated frec, and difcharged from all manner of fervitude, to all flaves, in intents and purpofes whatioever: And, in all fuch cafes, certain cafes, deVoL, II, the clared free, ave or flaves Thall be conviéted of fuch offence, the court before whom fuch offender fhalihavebeen tried and convicted, are hereby empowered, in cafe they fhall think it neceffary, for the future protection of fuch flave or flaves, to declare him, her, or them Mutilated frec, and difcharged from all manner of fervitude, to all flaves, in intents and purpofes whatioever: And, in all fuch cafes, certain cafes, deVoL, II, the clared free, --- Page 212 --- HISTORY OF TH E BOOK the court are hereby empowered and authorized, if to IV. them it fhall appear neceffary, to order and direét the faid Y fine of one hundred pounds to be paid to the juftices and veftry of the parith to which the faid Mave or flaves belonged, to the ufe of the faid parith, the faid juftices and veftry, in confideration thereof, paying to fuch of the faid flave or flaves fo made frec, the fum of ten pounds per annun, for his, her, or their maintenance and fupport during life; and in cafe any flave or flaves fhall fuffer any before-defcribed mutilations, fuch flave or flaves, on his, her, or their application to any juftice of the peace, the faid juftice of the peace fhall be, and is hereby direéted, required, and empowered, on view, and certain conviction of the fact, to fend fuch Nave or flaves to the neareft workhoufe where fuch offence fhall be committed, and fuch flave or flaves fhall be there fafely kept, and carefully attended, at the expence of fuch parifh, until fuch time as there may be a legal meeting of the juftices and veftry of fuch parifh; which juftices and veftry fo met, are hereby created and appointed a council of proteétion of fuch Infices to flave or flaves: And the faid juftices and veftry, fo met, enquire fuch muti- into are hereby direéted and empowered to make further and lations, and full enquiry, upon view, into the commitment of the muprofecute the offen- tilation of fuch flave or flaves; and, if to them it fhall ders. appear proper, the faid juftices and veftry are hereby empowered and required to profecute to effcétfuch owner or owners ; the expence of which profecution hall be paid by the parifh where fuch offence fhall be committed: : Owners And in cafe the owner or owners. of fuch flave or flaves fued for fhall appear capable of paying the cofts and charges of Cofts, fuch before-mentioned profecution, the faid juftices and veftry are hereby empowered to commence fuit OF fuits againft fuch owner or owners of fuch flave or flaves, and recover all cofts and charges out of purfe, byt them laid out and expended in fuch fuit or fuits:. And the keeper or fupervifor of the workhoufe where fuch mutilated flave or Aaves flave or flaves fued for fhall appear capable of paying the cofts and charges of Cofts, fuch before-mentioned profecution, the faid juftices and veftry are hereby empowered to commence fuit OF fuits againft fuch owner or owners of fuch flave or flaves, and recover all cofts and charges out of purfe, byt them laid out and expended in fuch fuit or fuits:. And the keeper or fupervifor of the workhoufe where fuch mutilated flave or Aaves --- Page 213 --- WE ST INDIES. flaves Thall have been firft committed, is hereby direéted APPENand required, upon due notice of the firft meeting of the DIX. juftices and veftry of the parifh where the offence was committed, to produce fuch mutilated flave or flaves, for the infpection and dircétion of fuch juftices and veftry, under the penalty of twenty pounds for every. negledt, in not producing before fuch juftices and veftry fuch flave or flaves. XI. And be it further Enaéted by the authority afore- Juffices to faid, That in câfe any juftice of the peace fhall receive any iffue their war. ants to complaint or probable intelligence from any flave or other- bring mnutiwife, that any flave or flaves is or are fo mutilated, or is lated beforethen, flaves or are confined ithout fufficient fupport, it Thall and may be lawful for fuch juftice of the peace, and he is hercby empowered and required, forthwith to iflue his warrant to any conftable, ordering him immediatelyto proceed to the place where fuch flave or flaves, fo mutilated, are confined, and fuch flave or flaves to releafe and bring before fuch juftice, who, on view of the fact, is hercby authorized to fend fuch flave or flaves to the workhoufe for proteétion, and who is there to be kept, but not to be worked, until enquiry Thall be made into the faêt according to law. XII. And be it further Enaéted by the authority afore- Perfens wilfaid, Thati tifany perfon hereafter Thall wantenly, willingly, fu'ly flaves k'lling tofus or bloody-mindedly kill, or caufe to be killed, any negro fer death. or other flave, fuch perfon fo offending fhall, on conviction, be adjudged guilty of felony, without benefit of clergy, and Thall fuffer death accordingly for the faid offence: Provided always, that fuch convidtion fhall not extend to the corrupting the blood, or the forfeiture of lands or tenements, goods or chattels; : any law, cuftom, or ufage to the contrary thercof, in anywife notwithflanding. XIII. And be it further Enadted by the authority afore- Perfenseru. faid, That from and after the palling of this act, any per- elly fiaves, brating how fon punifhable. and Thall fuffer death accordingly for the faid offence: Provided always, that fuch convidtion fhall not extend to the corrupting the blood, or the forfeiture of lands or tenements, goods or chattels; : any law, cuftom, or ufage to the contrary thercof, in anywife notwithflanding. XIII. And be it further Enadted by the authority afore- Perfenseru. faid, That from and after the palling of this act, any per- elly fiaves, brating how fon punifhable. --- Page 214 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOF K fon or perfons that fhall wantonly or cruelly whip, malIV. treat, beat, bruife, wound, or fhall imprifon or keep in V confinement, without fullicient fupport, any flave or flaves, fhall be fubjeét to be indiéted for the fame in the fupreme court of judicature, or in either of the courts of affize, or courts of quarter feffions in this ifland ; and, upon being thereof legally conviéted,he, fhe, or they, fhall fuiler fuch punifhment, by fine or imprifonment, or both, as the judges or jullices of fuch courts thall think proper to infiét; any law, cuftom, or ufage to the contrary in anywife notwithilanding: : And fuch punithment is hereby declared to be without prejudice to any action at common law that could or might be brought for the recovery of damages for and on account ofthe fame, in cafe fuch flave or flaves fhall not be the property of the offender. Arbitrary XIV. And, in order to reftrainarbitrary punifhments, punifhment Be it further Enaéted by the authority aforefaid, That no reftrained. flave on any plantation or fet:lement, or in any of the workhoufes or gaols in this ifland, fhall receive more than ten lafhes at one time and for one offence,unlefs the owner, attorney, guardian, executor, or adminiftrator, or overfeer, of fuch plantation or fettlement, having fuch flave in his carc,ori fupervifor off fachsorkhoufey Gr keeperof fuch gaoh fhail be prefent; and that no fuch owner, attorney, guardian, executor, adminiftrator, or overfeer, fupervifor, or gaol-keeper, Thall, OIl any account, punifh a flave with more than thirty-nine lafhes at one time, and for one offence, nor infiét, or fuffer to be inficted, fuch laft-mentioncd punifhment, nor any other number of lafhes, in the fame day, nor until the delinquent has recovered from the effedls of any former punifhment, under the penalty of ten pounds for every offence, to be recovered againft the perfon direéting or permitting fuch punifhment. Puttingiron XV. And whercas a mifchievous praétice hath fomecollarser times prevailed of punifhing ill-difpofed flaves, and fuch otherlains onf:s, as are apt to abicond from their owners, by fixing or preinbated, cauting ame day, nor until the delinquent has recovered from the effedls of any former punifhment, under the penalty of ten pounds for every offence, to be recovered againft the perfon direéting or permitting fuch punifhment. Puttingiron XV. And whercas a mifchievous praétice hath fomecollarser times prevailed of punifhing ill-difpofed flaves, and fuch otherlains onf:s, as are apt to abicond from their owners, by fixing or preinbated, cauting --- Page 215 --- WEST INDIES. caufing to be fixcd rcund the necks of fuch flaves, an iron APPENcollar with projeéting bars or hooks, to prevent the future DIX. defertion of fuch flaves; Be it further Enaéted by the 2u- 1 thority aforefaid, That fuch practice is hereby declared to be utterly unlawful, and that n0 perfon Thail, on any pretence whatfoever, under the penaltyof fifty pounds, punifh any negro or other flave, whether his own property or otherwifc, by fixing, or caufing to be fixed, any iron or other collar round the neck of fuch flave, or by loading the body or limbs of fuch flave, for any. offence whatloever, with chains, irons, or weights, of any kind, other than fuch as are ablolutcly necefiary for fecuring the perfon of fuch flave; and all and every the juftices of the peace, within this ifland, are hercby authorized, direêted, and required, under the penalty of one hundred pounds, on information and view of fuch offence, to order fuch collar, chains, irons, or weights, to be immediately taken off from the flave or flaves wearing or bearing the fame. XVI. And whereas, from the deceafe and removal of refidence of many proprietors of flaves, and other circumftances, and from the manumifion of negro, mulatto, and other flaves, without any fuitable provifion being made for their future maintenance, many unhappy objedts, afflicted with contagious diftempers, or difabled from labour by ficknefs, old agc, and otherwile, and, having no owners, prove dangerous, or become a burthen and nuifance to the feveral towns and parifhes ofthis ifand: For remedy Jalices and whereof, Be it further Enasted by the authority aforcfaid, vettry fupport to difThat the juftices and veftrymen of the feveral towns and abied nepariches in this ifland be empowered, and they are hereby groca empowered, to lay a tax upon the inhabitants of the faid feveral towns and parithes, in the fame manner as the parochial taxes are ufually laid, for the purpofe of railing fuch a fum as they Thall judge fufficient to provide for the maintenance, clothing, medical care, and attendance, in the workhoufes or other convenient places of the faid feveral That the juftices and veftrymen of the feveral towns and abied nepariches in this ifland be empowered, and they are hereby groca empowered, to lay a tax upon the inhabitants of the faid feveral towns and parithes, in the fame manner as the parochial taxes are ufually laid, for the purpofe of railing fuch a fum as they Thall judge fufficient to provide for the maintenance, clothing, medical care, and attendance, in the workhoufes or other convenient places of the faid feveral --- Page 216 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK feveral towns and parithes of this ifland, of fuch negro, IV. mulatto, or other flaves, or other unhappy objedts as aforefaid: And the magiftrates refpectively of fuch town How fuch flaves are and parifh are hereby empowered and required, upon apdifpofed of, plication being made to them, or either ofthem, to order all fuch objedts as aforefaid to be removed and conveyed to the refpeétive workhoufes of eâch parifh, where (if a flave) the former proprietor or proprietors, owner or owners, of fuch flave lived or refided; or, if a perfon of colour made free, where the perfon or perfons who manumifed or fet free fuch perfon of colour refided before his deceafe, there to be lodged and taken care of as aforefaid : And the magifrates and veftries of the feveral towns and parilhes as aforefaid, are hereby empowered and required to make from time to time all fuch humane and falutary regulations, for the purpofes aforefaid, as to them Thall appear neceffarya and expedient. XVII. And whereas it is abfolutely neceffary, that the flaves in this ifand fhould be kept in due obedience to their owners, and in due fubordination to the white peoplein general, and, as much as in the power of the legiflature, all means and opportunities of flaves committing rebellious confpiracies, and other crimes, to the ruin and deftruétion of the white people, and others in this ifland, prevented, and that proper punifhments fhould be appointed for all crimes to be by them committed, Be it Owners further Enaéted by the authority aforefaid, That no flave, allowt muft not their fuch only excepted as are going with firewoad, grafs, fruit, flavesto provilions, oF fmall ftock and other goods, which they may travelwith- out tickets, lawfully fell, to mirket, and returning therefrom, fhall hereafter be fuffered or permitted to go out of his or her malter or owner's plantation or fettlement, or to travel from one town or place to another, unlefs fuch flave fhall have a ticket from his mafter, owner, employer, or overfeer, expreiing particularly the timeof fuch flave's fetting out, and where he Qr the is going, and the time limited for ck and other goods, which they may travelwith- out tickets, lawfully fell, to mirket, and returning therefrom, fhall hereafter be fuffered or permitted to go out of his or her malter or owner's plantation or fettlement, or to travel from one town or place to another, unlefs fuch flave fhall have a ticket from his mafter, owner, employer, or overfeer, expreiing particularly the timeof fuch flave's fetting out, and where he Qr the is going, and the time limited for --- Page 217 --- WEST INDIES. for his or her return, under a penalty not cxceeding forty APPENfhillings for every: Aave fo offending, to be recovered from DIX. the mafter, owner, employer, or overfeer, in a fummary 1 manner, before any one juftice of the peace, by warrant under peof diftrefs, complaint being made to him upon oath, unlefs nalty. the mafter, owner, employer, or overfeer, of fuch flavefhall prove, upon oath, before any juftice of the peace of the parifh or precinét where fuch mafter, owner, employer, or overfeer, may or Thall live, or happen to be, that he did give the faid flave fuch ticket as aforefaid, or that fuch flave went away without his confent ; and if fuch juftice Penalty oft fhall refufe or negleét his duty, either in caufing the pe- durys negieét of nalty to be forthwith levicd, on complaint being made to him as aforefaid, on the owner, overfeer, or any other perfon, who fhall fuffer a flave, being under his or their diredtion, to go without a ticket as aforefaid, every juftice fo offending fhall forfeit the fum of five pounds; ; any law, cuftom, or ufage, to the contrary notwithftanding. XVIII. And be it further Enaéted by the authority Slaves alaforefaid, That for the future, all flaves in this ifland fhall days. lowed hoiia be allowed the ufual number of holidays that were allowed at the ufual feafons of Chriftmas, Eafter, and Whitfuntide: Provided, That, at every fuch refpestive feafon, no two holidays fhall be allowed to follow or fucceed immediately one after the other, except at Chriftmas, when they fhall be allowed Chriftmas-day, and alfo the day immediately fucceeding; any law, cuftom, or ufage, to the contrary notwithftanding : And if any mafter, owner, guardian, or attorney, of any plantation or fettlement, or the overfeer of fuch plantation or fettlement, Thall prefume, at the feafons aforcfaid, to allow any holidays to any flave helonging ta any fuch plantation or fettlement, other than as direéted by this act to be given, every perfon fo offendings fhall forfeit the fum of five pounds. XiX. And whereas it hath been ufual and cuitomary with the planters in this ifland, to allow their flaves one day , or attorney, of any plantation or fettlement, or the overfeer of fuch plantation or fettlement, Thall prefume, at the feafons aforcfaid, to allow any holidays to any flave helonging ta any fuch plantation or fettlement, other than as direéted by this act to be given, every perfon fo offendings fhall forfeit the fum of five pounds. XiX. And whereas it hath been ufual and cuitomary with the planters in this ifland, to allow their flaves one day --- Page 218 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK dayin every fortnight to cultivate their own provifionIV. grounds (exclulive of Sundays) cxcept during the time Y ofc crop 3 but the fame not being compulfory, Be it thereSlavesa- forc Enaéted by the authority aforefaid, That the flaves Jewe:one day in every belonging to, or employed on, every plantation or fettlefortnight. ment, fhall, over and above,the holidays herein beforementioned, be allowed one dayi in every fortnight, to cultivate their own provifion-grounds, exclufive of Sundays, except during the time of crop, under the penalty of fifty pounds, to be recovered againft the overfeer or other perfon having the care of fuch flaves. Time alXX. And be it further Enaétedby the authority aforeJowed breakfaft, for faid, That every field-flave on fuch plantation or fettle- &cc. ment ihall, on work days, be allowed, according to cuftoir, half an hour for breakfaft, and two hours for dinner; and that no flaves fhall bc compelled to any manner of field-work upon the plantation beforc the hour of five in the morning, oF after the hour of feven at night, except during the time of crop, under the penalty of fifty pounds, to be recovered againft the overfcer, or other perfon having the care of fuch flaves. Penalty for XXI. And be it further Enaéted by the authority fuffering unlawful aforefaid, That if any mafter, owner, guardian, or attoraffemblies of flaves. ney, of any plantation or fettlement, fhall hereafter fuffer any ftrange flaves, exceeding twelve in number, to affemble together and beat their milicary drums, or blow thcir horns or fhells, upon any. plantation, pen, or fettlement, or in any yard or place under his, her, or their care or management, or fhall not endeavour to difperfe or prevent the fame, byimmediately giving notice thereof to the next magiftrate or commifioned officer, that a proper force may be fent to difperfe the faid flaves; every fuch mafter, owner, guardian, or attorney, Thall, for everyfuch offence, upon conviétion thereof, upon an indictment in the fupreie court of judicature or courts ofaflize, pay a fine of fifty pounds to his Majefty, his heirs and fucecffors, for and fhall not endeavour to difperfe or prevent the fame, byimmediately giving notice thereof to the next magiftrate or commifioned officer, that a proper force may be fent to difperfe the faid flaves; every fuch mafter, owner, guardian, or attorney, Thall, for everyfuch offence, upon conviétion thereof, upon an indictment in the fupreie court of judicature or courts ofaflize, pay a fine of fifty pounds to his Majefty, his heirs and fucecffors, for and --- Page 219 --- WEST INDIES. and towards the fupport of the governnent of this ifland, APPENand the contingen charges thereof: Provided neverthe- DIX. lefs, That information of fuch offence thall be made, upon 1 oath, before any of his Majefty's juitices of the peace, within the fpace of five days after the commulion of fuch offence. XXII. And be it further Enaéted by the authority Civil or aforefaid, Thatall officers, civil and military, fhall be, and military ficers tofup- ofare hercby, empowered and required, to enter into any prefs aflemblies. fuch plantation, fettlement, or other place, to difperfe all fuch unlawful afiemblics, and to fupprefs and prevent all unlawful drummings or other noife, as before mentioned ; any law, cuftom, or ufage, to the contrary notwithftanding. XXIII. And whereas it has been found by experience, that rebellions have been often concerted at negro dances, and nightly meetings of the flaves of different plantations, when fuch flaves are generally intoxicated; and as it has been found alfo, that thofe meetings tend much to injure the healths of negroès ; Be it therefore Enaéted by the Overfecrs, authority aforefaid, Thatifany overfeer, or, in his abfence, &c. fuffer who fuch any book-keeper, or other white perfon, having the care affemblies, and management of any plantation or fettlement, ihall to prifoned. be imfuffer any flaves to aflemble together, and beat their military drums, or blow their horns or fhells, every fuch overfeer, book-keeper, or other white perfon fo offending, fhall, for every fuch offence, upon conviction thereof, upon an indiétment in the fupreme court ofjudicature, or before the juftices of affize, fuffer fix months imprifonment, without bail or mainprize : Provided information is made, upon oath as aforefaid, before one of his Majefty's juftices of the peace, within five days after the commiffion of fuch offence: And provided always never- Provifo. thelefs, that nothing herein contained fhall be conftrued to prevent any mafter, owner, or proprietor, of any. plantation or fettlement, or the overfeer thercof, from granting liberty ature, or before the juftices of affize, fuffer fix months imprifonment, without bail or mainprize : Provided information is made, upon oath as aforefaid, before one of his Majefty's juftices of the peace, within five days after the commiffion of fuch offence: And provided always never- Provifo. thelefs, that nothing herein contained fhall be conftrued to prevent any mafter, owner, or proprietor, of any. plantation or fettlement, or the overfeer thercof, from granting liberty --- Page 220 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK liberty to the flaves of fuch plantation or fettlement onlys IV. for aflembling together upon fuch plantation or fettlement, and playing and diverting themfelves in any innocent amufements, fo as they do not make ufe of military drums, horns, or fhells; but that they fhall and may grant fuch liberty when and as often as they pleafe, any thing in this, or any other act, to the contrary notwithftanding: Provided, that fuch amufements are put an end to by twelve of the clock at night. Negro XXIV. And, in order to prevent riots and burials to be meetings and nightly in day-time, among negro other flaves, to the difturbance oft the public peace, and the endangering their healths, Be it further Enacted by the authority aforcfaid, That all negro burials Thall in future take place in the day-time only, fo that the fame may be ended before funfet; and if any mafter, owner, or pofieffor of flaves, his or her overfeer, or chief manager, fhall knowingly fuffer or permit the burial of any flave otherwife than as before diredted, he fhall forfeitthe fum of fifty pounds. ImprifonXXV. And be it further Enadted by the authority mentforn groes fuffer- ne- aforefaid, That if any Indian, free negro, or mulatto, fhall ing affem- hereafter fuffer any unlawful affembly of flaves at his or houfes, blies at their her houfe or fettlement, every fuch Indian, free negro, or mulatto, fhall, upon due conviétion thereof, fuffer imprifonment, not exceeding fix months; Provided neverthelefs, That information thereof fhall be given, on oath, within five days of fuch unlawful meeting. Slaves not XXVI. And be it further Enaéted the to keep.fieby authority arms. aforefaid, that all flaves who Thall hereafter be found ta have in his or their cuftody,any fire-arms, gun-powder, flugs, or bail, fuch flave, being thereof conviéted before two juftices, Thall fuffer fuch punifhment as the faid juftices fhall think proper to infliét, by whipping or hard labour in the workhoufe, not excecding the term of fix months. XXVII, And the to keep.fieby authority arms. aforefaid, that all flaves who Thall hereafter be found ta have in his or their cuftody,any fire-arms, gun-powder, flugs, or bail, fuch flave, being thereof conviéted before two juftices, Thall fuffer fuch punifhment as the faid juftices fhall think proper to infliét, by whipping or hard labour in the workhoufe, not excecding the term of fix months. XXVII, And --- Page 221 --- WEST INDIES. XXVII. And beit further Enacted by the authority APPENgforefaid, That if any flave thail offer any violence, by DIX. Ariking or otherwile, to any white perfon, fuch flave, upon due and proper proof, thall, upon conviétion, be Punifhment punifhed with death, tranfportation, or confinement to on fering faves vio- ofhard labour, not exceeding two years, or otherwife, as whites. ence to the court fhall, in their diferetion, think proper to infliét: : Provided fuch ftriking or conflict be not by command of his or their owners, overfeers, or perfons entrufted over them, or in the lawful defence of their owners perfons or goods. XXVIII. And be it further Enadted by the authority Punifhment aforefaid, That any flave or flaves, who fhall knowingly on flaves harbour or conceal any runaway flave or flaves, fhall be harbouring flaves. liable to be tried for the fame at the flave court hereinafter appointed, and on cpnviction, fuffer fuch punifhment as the juftices of the faid court Thall think proper to infliét, not extending to life or limb. XXIX. And whereas it is very dangerous to the peace Who are and fafety of this ifland, to fuffer flaves to continue out as deemedrunrunaways, and it is abfolutely neceffary to declare and aways. make known to the publick what flaves Chall be deemed fuch; Be it therefore Enaéted by the authority aforefaid, That from and after the paffing of this act, any flave or flaves who Thall be abfent from his owner or employer, without leave, for the fpace often days, and Thall be found at the diftance of eight miles from the houfe, plantation, or other fettlement, to which he, fhe, or they belonga without a ticket or other permit to pafs, exçept as before excepted, in going to and returning from market, Ohall be deemed a runaway. XXX. And be it further Enaéted by the authority Reward for aforefaid, That any perfon whatfoever, who thall appre- fecuring hend fuch flave or flaves, fhall, for every one. fo: apprehend- runaways. ed, be entitled to receive from the owner, employer, overfeer, or manager of firch flave or flaves, the fum of ten fhillings, , exçept as before excepted, in going to and returning from market, Ohall be deemed a runaway. XXX. And be it further Enaéted by the authority Reward for aforefaid, That any perfon whatfoever, who thall appre- fecuring hend fuch flave or flaves, fhall, for every one. fo: apprehend- runaways. ed, be entitled to receive from the owner, employer, overfeer, or manager of firch flave or flaves, the fum of ten fhillings, --- Page 222 --- HISTORY OF THI E BOOK Ahillings, and no more, befides mile-money, at the rate IV. of one fhilling per mile for the firlt five miles, and fixY pence per mile afterwards: Provided fuch flave or flaves had abfented him, her, or themfelves, ten days, without the privity, knowledge, or confent, of the proprictor, overfeer, or other white perfon, refiding on the plantation or fettlement to which fuch flave or flaves Thall bclong; which time of abfence of fuch flave or flaves fhall be declared on the oath of fuch proprictor, overfeer, or other white perfon, as aforefaid, ifthe partytaking up fuch flave or flaves fhall require it: Buti it is the true intent and meaning of this act, that every perfon or perfons who Thall apprehend any flave or flaves, that ufally refide in, or are employed in, any of the towns of this ifland, and that at the time are actually runaway or abfent from their owner, employer, or manager's fervice, ten days, fhall be entitled to the reward of ten fhillings, although the flave or flaves fhould not be eight miles Provifo. diftant from their employer's habitation : Provided neverthelefs, That nothing in this act contained, fhall be conftrued to extend to an allowance of the faid fum of ten fhillings and mile-money, in addition to the fum allowed to maroon negroes: for apprebending runaways : And provided alfo, That it is not hereby intended to deprive the faid maroons of their legal and eftablifhed reward of forty Mhillings for each negro. How runXXXI, And be it further Enaéted the be aways are to aforefaid, That the perfon or by authority difpofed perfons fo apprehending ef. fuch flave or flaves, fhall convey him, her, or them, to their refpeétive owner, employer, or manager, or to the workhoufe of fuch pari(h, if any workhoufe is eftablifhed there; and in cafe of there being no workhoufe, to the next gaol, in cafe the owner, employer, or manager, of fuch flave or flaves fhall refufe to pay the faid fum of ten fhillings, and mile-moncy as aforefaid, or take the oath as to the time of abfence; in which cafe, the gaol or their refpeétive owner, employer, or manager, or to the workhoufe of fuch pari(h, if any workhoufe is eftablifhed there; and in cafe of there being no workhoufe, to the next gaol, in cafe the owner, employer, or manager, of fuch flave or flaves fhall refufe to pay the faid fum of ten fhillings, and mile-moncy as aforefaid, or take the oath as to the time of abfence; in which cafe, the gaol or --- Page 223 --- WEST INDIES. or workhoufe-keeper is hereby required and ordered to APPENreceive fuch flave or flaves into his or their cuftody, and DIX. to pay the party delivering fuch flave or flaves the faid 1 - fum of ten thillings, and mile-money as aforefaid, and no more, for each flave fo delivered, under the penalty of five pounds : Provided neverthelefs, That if fuch flave or flaves is or are brought to any gaol or workhoufe by any white perfon, free negro, free mulatto, or Indian, no gaoler or workhoufe-keeper fhall pay fuch fum before fuch perfon Thall have taken 'an oath, (which oath fuch gaoler or workhoule-keeper is hereby required, under the penalty of five poundé, to file in his office and produce, whenever thereunto-required by the owner or poffeflor of fuch flave or flaves) that the flave or flaves fo apprchended was or were at the reputed diftance of eight miles from the houfe, plantation, or fettlement, to which fuch flave or flaves do belong (except as before is excepted), and that fuch flave or flaves had no ticket or other permit in writing from his mafter, miftrefs, overfeer, employer, or manager, at the time fuch flave or flaves was or were apprehended, for him, her, or them, to pafs unmolefted, and that the faid flave or flaves had been carried frft to the owner, employer, or manager, of fuch flave or flaves (provided fuch owner, employer, or mnanager, fhall be in the pari(h in which fuch flave or flaves fhall be apprehended), and that the mafter, miftrels, overfeer, or manager, had refufed to pay for thé apprchending him, her, or them, according to the intent and mcaning of this act. XXXII. And be it further Enaéted by the authority Timeoftieaforefaid, That no ticket fhall be granted to any flave or ketslimited, flaves for any time exceeding one calendar month. XXXIII. And be it further Enaéted by the 2uthority Account of aforefaid, That on the twenty- cighth day of December births and deaths muft in every year (the time of giving in as aforcfaid), or with- be given in. in thirty days after, the owncr, overfcer, or manager of every be it further Enaéted by the authority Timeoftieaforefaid, That no ticket fhall be granted to any flave or ketslimited, flaves for any time exceeding one calendar month. XXXIII. And be it further Enaéted by the 2uthority Account of aforefaid, That on the twenty- cighth day of December births and deaths muft in every year (the time of giving in as aforcfaid), or with- be given in. in thirty days after, the owncr, overfcer, or manager of every --- Page 224 --- HISTORY OF THE BoOK every plantation, pen, or fettlement, fhall givein, on oath,, IV. an account of all the births and deaths of the flaves cf fuch plantation, pen, or fettlement, for the preceding year, under the penalty of fifty pounds, to be recovered from the owner of fuch plantation, pen, or other fettlement. Overfeer to XXXIV. And be it further Enacted the payi ifhis by authority negleét. aforefaid, That, if the not giving in upon oath fuch feveral accounts thall be owing to the negleét of the overfeer or manager of fuch plantation, pen, or other fettlement, it fhall and may be lawful for the owner, proprictor, or poffeffor of fuch plantation, pen, or other fettlement, to fop and detain the penalty he or fhe fhall fuffer by this law, out of the wages of fuch overféer or manager. Surgeons to XXXV. And be it further Enaéted the givein an by authority accountof aforefaid, That the doctor or furgeon of every plantation, faverdying. pen, or other fettlement, ihall, on the twenty-cighth day of December, in every year (the time of giving in as aforefaid) or within thirty days after, give in an account, on oath, of the deaths of fuch flaves as have died in the preceding year, or during fuch time as fuch doctor or furgeonhath had the care ofthe flaves on fuch plantation, pen, or other fettlement, with the caufe offuch deaths, to the beft of bis knowledgsjudgment, and belief, under the penalty Encourage. of one hundred pounds for every negleat: And in cafe it mentforen- creafe of fhall appear, to the fatisfaction of the juftices and veftry, flaves. from the return of the owner, overfeer, or manager aforefaid, that there has been a natural encreafe in the number of flaves on any fuch plantation, pen, or other fettlement, the overfeer fhall be entitled to receive from the owner or proprietor of fuch plantation, pen, or other fettlement, the fum of three pounds for every flave born on fuch plantation, pen, of other fettlement, in the time aforefaid, and which fhall be then living, after deducting the decreafe; and the owner or proprietor of fuch plantation, pen, or other fettlement, fhall have a deduétion from the firlt of his or her publick taxes that fhall become due, of the ettlement, the overfeer fhall be entitled to receive from the owner or proprietor of fuch plantation, pen, or other fettlement, the fum of three pounds for every flave born on fuch plantation, pen, of other fettlement, in the time aforefaid, and which fhall be then living, after deducting the decreafe; and the owner or proprietor of fuch plantation, pen, or other fettlement, fhall have a deduétion from the firlt of his or her publick taxes that fhall become due, of the --- Page 225 --- WEST INDIES. the fum fo paid to the overfecr, on producing a certificate APPENof the juftices and veitry of fuch encreafe, and a reccipt DIX. oft the overfeer for the fum fo paid. - XXXVI. And, in order that further encouragement Further encouragemay be given to the encreafe and proteétion of negro ment for infants, Be it further Enaéted by the authority aforefaid, encreafe Aaves. of That èvery female flave, who fhall have fix children living, Thall be exempted from hard labour in the ficld or otherwife, and the owner or poffeffor of every fuch female flave fhall be exempted from all manner of taxes for fuch female flave, any thing in the act commonly called the poll-tax law, or any other of the tax laws of this ifland paffed, or annually to be paffed, to the contrary notwithftanding; and a deduétion fhall be made for all fuch fea male flaves from the taxes of fuch owner or poffeffor, by certificate of the juftices and veftry, at the fame time, and in manner as direéted in the cafe of an annual encreafe of the number of flaves as aforefaid ; Provided neverthelefs, That proof be given, on oath, to the fatisfaction of the faid juftices and veftry, not only that the requifite number of children, together with the mother, are living; but alfo that the mother is exempted from all manner of field or other hard labour, and is provided with the means of an ealy and comfortable maintenance. * XXXVIL. And whereas the more effeétually to con- Penalty OR ceal runaway flaves, or prevent their being apprehended, &c. free negroes, grante tickets are given by Indians, frce negroes, or free mulat- ing tickets tocs, Be it therefore Enacted by the authority aforefaid, to Aaves. That any Indian, free negro, or mulatto, granting or giving fuch ticket, with fuch intent, fhall be deemed guilty of forgery, and fhall be liable to be tried for the faid offence before the fupreme court ofjudicature, or in either of the courts of aflize in this ifland where the offence fhall be committed; and, on conviction, fhall fuffer the lofs of freedom, tranfportation, or fuch other punifhment as the court, in their diferetion, thall think proper to inflict. XXXVIII. And, mulatto, granting or giving fuch ticket, with fuch intent, fhall be deemed guilty of forgery, and fhall be liable to be tried for the faid offence before the fupreme court ofjudicature, or in either of the courts of aflize in this ifland where the offence fhall be committed; and, on conviction, fhall fuffer the lofs of freedom, tranfportation, or fuch other punifhment as the court, in their diferetion, thall think proper to inflict. XXXVIII. And, --- Page 226 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK XXXVIII. And be it further Enaéted by the authoIV. rity aforefaid, That if fuch ticket Thall be granted or Whires ) given byany white perfon, with fuch intent as aforefaid, to granting any flave or flaves, before or after his or their abfenting fuchtickets tbemfelves from their punifhable. owner, employer, overfeer, or manager, fuch white perfon hall be deemed guiltyof forgery, and fhall be liable to be tried for the fame before the fupreme court of judicature, or either of the affize courts of this ifland, where the offence fhall be committed; and, on conviction, fhall fuffer fuch punifhment as the court, in their difcretion, fhall think proper to infliét. Keepers of XXXIX. And, to the end that the owners and gaol, dcc. proto advertiie prietors of runaway flaves may have a due knowledge zunaways, where fuch flaves are confined, after their being apprehended and fent to any workboufe or gaol in this ifland, in order that fuch owners and proprietors may apply for fuch flaves; Be it further Enaéted by the authority aforefaid, That, from and after the paffing of this act, all and every the keepers of the workhoufes, or gaol-keepers, in any ofthe parifhes of this ifland, fhall, and they are hereby obliged, once in every week, to advertife in the Gazette of Saint Jago de la Vega, the Royal Gazette of Kingfton, and the Cornwall Chronicle, the heighth, names, marks, and fex, and alfo the country, where the fàme can be afcertained, of cach and every runaway flave then in their cuftody, together with the time of their being fent into cuftody, and the name or names of the owner Or owners thereof, if known, and that upon oath, under the penalty of ten pounds for every flave fo negleéted by him to be advertifed; and, for the expence of fuch advertifement, they the faid workhoufe-keepers or gaol-keepers Thall and may, and they are hereby authorized to charge the owner or proprietor of fuch runaway flaves fo advertifed, at and after the rate of one mhilling and three-pence detain them per month for cach paper, and no more; and that it fhall until their fcs, paid and may bc lawful for the keeper of the workhoufe or gaola every flave fo negleéted by him to be advertifed; and, for the expence of fuch advertifement, they the faid workhoufe-keepers or gaol-keepers Thall and may, and they are hereby authorized to charge the owner or proprietor of fuch runaway flaves fo advertifed, at and after the rate of one mhilling and three-pence detain them per month for cach paper, and no more; and that it fhall until their fcs, paid and may bc lawful for the keeper of the workhoufe or gaola --- Page 227 --- WEST INDIES. gaol-keeper to detain and keep in his or their cuftody APPENfuch runaway flave or flaves fo brought unto him or them, DIX. until the owner or owners thereof, or fome perfon on Y their behalf, properly authorized, fhall pay unto him or them what he or theyfo; paid to the perfon or perfons who apprehended and brought fuch flave or flaves into cuftody, with two thillings and fix-pence in the pound for laying out his or their money, the coft of advertifing, after the rate above mentioned, and fix-pence for every twenty-four hours fych flaye or flaves Thall have been in cuftody, for maintenance, and two-pence per day for medical care and extraordinary nourifhment where neceffary, and alfo the charges of adve ertifing above directed, and no other fees whatever ; and that the gaoler, workhoule-keeper, or fu- atteft the charges for pervifor, and no other perfon, Thall atteft, upon oath, that mile-moneys the charges in the account for mile-money, and the reward &c, for apprchending fuch flave, were actually paid to the perfon who brought fuch runaway, and that the whole of the charges in the faid account are ftriétly conformable to this law, XL. And be it further Enaéted by the authority afore- allow them, faid, That the keeper of every workhoufe or gaol in this provilions, ifland Thall, under the penalty of ten pounds for every negleét, provide and give to every flave confined in fuch workhoufe or gaol, a fufficient quantity of good and wholefome provifions daily; that is to fay, not lefs than one quart of unground Guinea or Indian corn, or three pints of the flour or meal of either, or three pints of wheat flour, or eight full-grown plantains, or eight pounds of cocoas or yams, and alfo one herring or thad, or other falted provifions equal thereto. XLI. And be it further Enaéted by the authority afore- and not faid, That no gaol-keeper in this ifland, or any perfon hire out. them adting under him as clerk or deputy, fhall, on any pretence whatfoever, work or employ any flave or flaves fent to his cuftody, upon any plantation, pen, or fettlement, Vor. II, P bclonging or yams, and alfo one herring or thad, or other falted provifions equal thereto. XLI. And be it further Enaéted by the authority afore- and not faid, That no gaol-keeper in this ifland, or any perfon hire out. them adting under him as clerk or deputy, fhall, on any pretence whatfoever, work or employ any flave or flaves fent to his cuftody, upon any plantation, pen, or fettlement, Vor. II, P bclonging --- Page 228 --- TO HISTORY OF THE BOOX belonging to or in the poffeflion of any fuch gaol-keeper, IV. nor hire or lend Tuch flave or flaves out to work for any Y other perfon or perfons, during fuch time fuch flave or flaves fhall be in his cuftody, but that all fuch flaves Thail be and remain in the common gaol of the county or parifh, in order to bei infpedted bya any perfon or perfons defiring the fame; and in cafe any gaol-keeper fhall offend herein, he fhall, for every offence, forfeit the fum of fifty pounds. Certain XLII, And be it further Enaéted the runaways, by authority how liabie aforefaid, That all flaves who fhall have been in this ifland to nifhed, be pu- for the fpace of two years, and Thall runaway, and continue abfent for a term not exceeding fix months, fhall be liable to be tried by two juftices; and, upon conviétion thereof, fuch flave or flaves fhall fuffer fuch punifhment as the faid juftices fhall think proper to infliét. Runaways XLIII. And be it further Enaéted by the authority abfentfix months,how aforefaid, That if any flave Thall run away from his owner puniAhable. or lawful poffelfor, andi be abfent for more than fix months, fuch flave, being duly conviéted thereof, fhall be fentenced to be confined to hard labour for fuch time as the court Shall determine, or be tranfported for life, according to the magnitude of the offence. Slavesguilty XLIV, And, in order to prevent the many mifchiefs of how Obeah, punifh- that may hereafter arife from the wicked art of negroes able. going under the appellation of Obeah men and women, pretending to have communication with the devil and other evil fpirits, whercby the weak and fuperftitious are deluded into a belief of their having full power to exempt them, whilft under their proteétion, from any evils that might otherwife happen ; Be it therefore Enaéted by the authority aforefaid, That, from and after the paffing oft this act, any flave who fhall pretend to any fupernatural power, in order to promote the purpofes of rebellion, fhall, upon conviction thereof, fuffer death, tranfportation, or fuch other punifhment as the court fhall think proper to direét; any uded into a belief of their having full power to exempt them, whilft under their proteétion, from any evils that might otherwife happen ; Be it therefore Enaéted by the authority aforefaid, That, from and after the paffing oft this act, any flave who fhall pretend to any fupernatural power, in order to promote the purpofes of rebellion, fhall, upon conviction thereof, fuffer death, tranfportation, or fuch other punifhment as the court fhall think proper to direét; any --- Page 229 --- WEST INDIES 21I any thing in this, or any other act, to the contrary in any- APPENwile notwithflanding. DIX. XLV. And be it further Enaéted by the authority aforefaid, That if any negro or other flave fhall mix or Slaves atprepare, with an intent to give, or caufe to be given, any tempting pailon, to to poifon or poifonous drug, or fhall actually give, or caufe fuffer death, to be given, any fuch poifon or poifonous drug, in the practice of Obeah or otherwife, although death may not enfue upon the taking thereof, the faid flave or flaves, together with their acceflaries, as well before as after the fact (being flaves) being duly conviéted thereof, Thall fuffer death, or tranfportation for life, as the court fhall determine; any thing in this, or any other act, to the contrary notwithftanding. XLVI. And whereas great number of horned cattle, Slaves pufheep, goats, horfes, mares, mules, and afles, are frequently found nifhable in if ftolen and killed by negro and other flaves, in fo fecret and poffeffion of large private a manner thatit is with the greateft dificulty they quantities of can be found out and difcovered, in fuch manner as to freth meat. convict them of fuch offence, although large quantity of beef, mutton, and the feth of other valuable animals, are found upon him, her, or them ; in order, therefore, to prevent fuch evils in future, and to punifh the perpetrators of fuch acts, agreeably to their crimes, Be it further Enacted by the authority aforefaid, That ifany negro or other flave fhall fraudulently have in his, her, or their cuftody or poffeffion, unknown to his or her mafter, owner, overfeer, or other perfon, who thall have the overlooking or employing of fuch flave, any freth beef, veal, mutton, or goat, or the Acth of horfe, mare, mule, or afs, in any quantity excecding five and not exceeding twenty pounds weight, fuch negro or other flave, upon due conviction thereof before any two magiftrates, Thall be whipped in fuch mauner as fuch magiftrates Thall direét, not exceeding thirty-nine lafhes ; and if there Thall be found in his, her, or their cuftodyor pofleflion, a larger or greater quantity than twenty P 2 pounds utton, or goat, or the Acth of horfe, mare, mule, or afs, in any quantity excecding five and not exceeding twenty pounds weight, fuch negro or other flave, upon due conviction thereof before any two magiftrates, Thall be whipped in fuch mauner as fuch magiftrates Thall direét, not exceeding thirty-nine lafhes ; and if there Thall be found in his, her, or their cuftodyor pofleflion, a larger or greater quantity than twenty P 2 pounds --- Page 230 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK pounds weight of frefh beef, veal, mutton, or goat, or the IV. fleth of horfe, mare, mule, or afs, and fuch flave thall not give a fatisfactory account how he or fhe became poffeffed of fuch meat, that then fuch negro or other flavé, upon conviétion thereof, fhall fuffer fuch punifhment as the faid two juftices fhall think proper to direét, not extending to life, or imprifonment for life, Slaves ing horned fteal- XLVII. And be it further Enaéted by thè authority cattle how aforefaid, That if any negro or other flave fhall, after the punifhed. pafling of this act, ftealany fuch horned cattle, theep, goat, horfe, mare, mule, or afs, or fhall kill anyf fitch horned cattle, fheep, goat, horfe, mare, mule, or afs, with intent to fteal the whole carcafs of any fuch horned cattle, fheep, goat, horfe, mare, mule, or afs, or any part of the flefh thereof, fuch negro or other flave fhall, on conviétion thereof, fuffer death, or fuch other punifhment as the court Thall think proper to infliét. Slavesguilty XLVIII. And whereas it is neceflary to declare how, ofcrimes how tried. and in what manner, flaves Chall be tried for the feveral crimes which they may hereafter commit, Be it Enaéted by the authority aforefaid, That from and after the pafling of this act, upon complaint made to any juftice of the peace of any felony, burglary, robbery, burning of houfes, cane-pieces, rebellious con(piracies, compafling or imagining the death of any white perfon or perfons, or any other offence whatfoever committed by any flave or flaves, that Thall fubject fuch flave or flaves to fuffer death or tranfportation, fuch juftice Thall iffue out his warrant for apprehending fuch offender or offenders, and for all perfons to be brought before him, or any other juftice of the peace, that can give evidence; and the evidence of flaves againft one another, in this and all other cafes, fhall be received; and if, upon examination, it appears probable that the flave or flaves apprehended is or are guilty, the juftice before whom fuch examination Thall be had and taken, Ohall commit him, her, or them, to prifon, and bind over ue out his warrant for apprehending fuch offender or offenders, and for all perfons to be brought before him, or any other juftice of the peace, that can give evidence; and the evidence of flaves againft one another, in this and all other cafes, fhall be received; and if, upon examination, it appears probable that the flave or flaves apprehended is or are guilty, the juftice before whom fuch examination Thall be had and taken, Ohall commit him, her, or them, to prifon, and bind over --- Page 231 --- WEST INDIES. over the witneffes to appear at a certain day, not lels than APPENten days from the day on which the complaint fhall be DIX. made, and at the place where the quarter fefions are ufually 1 held, and, where there are no quarter feffions held, at the place where the parochial bufinefs is ufually tranfaéted, and Thall certify to two other juftices of the peace the caufe of fuch commitment, and require them, by virtue of this act, to affociate themfelves to him, which faid juftices are hereby feverally rèquired to do, under the penalty oftwenty pounds for every negleét or refufal; and the faid juftices, fo affociated, fhall iffue out their warrant to fummon twelve perfons, fuch as are ufually warned and impanelled to ferve on juries (the mafter, owner, or proprictor of the flave or flaves fo complained of, or the attorney, guardian, truftee, overfeer, or book-keeper of fuch mafter, owner, or proprietor, or the perfon profecuting, his or her attorney, guardian, truftec, overfeer, or book keeper, always excepted) perfonally to be and appear before the faid juftices, at the day and place aforefaid, to be expreffed in fuch warrant, and between thc hours of cight and twelve in the forenoon, when and where the faid perfons fo warned are hereby feverally required to attend, under the penalty of five pounds S and when and wherc the faid juftices fhall caufe the faid flave or flaves fo complained of to be brought before them, and thereupon nine of the faid perfons fo fummoned as aforefid, Chail compofe a jury to try the faid flave or flaves, and fhall by the faid juftices (the charge or accufation being firft read) be fworn to try the matter before them, and to give a true verdiét according to evidence ; and fuch charge or acculation Thall be deemed valid, if fufficient in fubftance; and if the faid jurors fhall, upon hearing the evidence, unanimoufly find the faid flave or flaves guilty of the offence wherewith he, fhe, or they ftand charged, the faid juftices fhall give fentence of death, without benefit of clergy, or traniportation, or confinement to hard labour for any limited tine not exP 3 ceeding to give a true verdiét according to evidence ; and fuch charge or acculation Thall be deemed valid, if fufficient in fubftance; and if the faid jurors fhall, upon hearing the evidence, unanimoufly find the faid flave or flaves guilty of the offence wherewith he, fhe, or they ftand charged, the faid juftices fhall give fentence of death, without benefit of clergy, or traniportation, or confinement to hard labour for any limited tine not exP 3 ceeding --- Page 232 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK ceeding two years, according to the nature of the offence, IV. and fhall caufe fuch fentence to be carried into execution, and at fuch time and place as they fhall think proper, Women with child only excepted, whofe execution Thall be refpited until a reafonable time after delivery: Provided always neverthelefs, That at every court of quarter feffions held in each and every parifh or precinét within this ifland, the juftices there affembled Thall and may, after the ufual bufinefs of the faid court fhall be done, form themfelves into a court, for the purpofe of enquiring into, hearing, and determining all manner of offences for which any flave or flaves are liable to be punifhed with death, or tranfportation, or confinement to hard labour, as aforefaid, and Thall open the faid court by proclamation, declaring the fame to be a flave-court for fuch purpofe, and fhall thereupon, on the like charge in writing, and in like manner, in all other refpects, as the three juftices affociated and met as herein before mentioned are, by this act, directed to proceed in the trial of flaves for fuch offences, proceed to try, and deliver the gaol or workhoufe within the faid parifh or precinét, of all and every flave and flaves who fhall or may then be in the cuftody of the marfhal or keeper oft the workhoufe, within each and every parifh or precinét as aforefaid, and fhall forthwith caufe a jury, confifting of nine jur rS, to be called and taken from the pannel returned to the faid court of quarter feffions, and Chall caufe them to be feverally fworn, as they fhall appear, to try all and every fuch flave and flaves as Thall be brought before them, charged with any fuch offences as aforefaid, and a true verdiét give according to evidence, as in other cafes. Jurors to XLIX. And be it further Enaéted by the authority penalty. ferve under aforefaid, That all and every the jurors who fhall be returned to ferve as jurors at the quarter-(cfions, to be holden as aforefaid, are' hereby required, under the penalty of five pounds, to be and appear at the faid flave-court, fo flaves as Thall be brought before them, charged with any fuch offences as aforefaid, and a true verdiét give according to evidence, as in other cafes. Jurors to XLIX. And be it further Enaéted by the authority penalty. ferve under aforefaid, That all and every the jurors who fhall be returned to ferve as jurors at the quarter-(cfions, to be holden as aforefaid, are' hereby required, under the penalty of five pounds, to be and appear at the faid flave-court, fo --- Page 233 --- WEST INDIES. fo to be formed and holden as aforefaid, and to ferve as APPENjurors thereon as they (hall refpedtively be called : Pro- DIX. vided alfo, that nothing in this act contained Thall hinder Y or prevent the faid juitices, upon any fuch trial, where any flave or flaves fhall be condemned to die, from refpiting the execution of fuch fentence for any term not excceding thirty days, or until the pleafure of the commander in chief fhall be known, in cafe proper caufe Thall appcar to them for fo doing; ; and that if thej jury upon any fuch trial fhall apply to the faid jufticcs to fufpend the execution of any fentence until the pleafure of the commander in chief is known, the faidj juftices Thall be obliged to fufpend the fame for thirty days, except in cafes of trial of any flave or flaves convicted of aétual rebellion; in all which cafes the faid juftices fhall, if they think it expedient, order the fentence paffed on fuch flave or flaves to be carried into immediate execution. L. And be it further Enacted by the authority afore- Three juffaid, That not lels than three juitices fhall conftitute a ticesto a court. form court for the trial of any flave or flaves for any crime or offence that fhall fubject fuch flave or flaves to fuffer dcath, tranfportation, or confinement to hard labour as aforefaid; and that, upon all fuch trials, no peremptory challenges of any of the faid jurors, or any exception to the form of the indiétment, Ohall be allowed. LI. And be it further Enaéted by the authority afore- How exefaid, That in all cafes where the punifhment of death is perfurmed. cutions are inflicted, the execution Thall be performed in a publick part of the parifh and with due folemnity; and care Thall be taken by the gaoler or deputy-marthal, that the criminal is free from intoxication at the time of his trial, and from thence to and at the time of his execution, under the penalty of five pounds; and the mode of fuch execution fhall be hanging by the neck, and no other; and tbe body Thall be afterwards difpofed of in fuch manner as the court Thall dircét: And provided alfo, that where P 4 feveral the parifh and with due folemnity; and care Thall be taken by the gaoler or deputy-marthal, that the criminal is free from intoxication at the time of his trial, and from thence to and at the time of his execution, under the penalty of five pounds; and the mode of fuch execution fhall be hanging by the neck, and no other; and tbe body Thall be afterwards difpofed of in fuch manner as the court Thall dircét: And provided alfo, that where P 4 feveral --- Page 234 --- HISTORY OF THE 300k feveral flaves fhail be capitally conviéted for the fame IV. offence, one only fhall fuffer death, except in cales of murder or rebellion. Siaves ingf falfe givLII. And be it further Enaéted by the authority aforeevidence how faid, That in cafe any flave or flaves fhall and nifhed, pu- with evil intent, give falfe evidence in anytrial wilfully, had under this aét, fuch flave or flaves being thereof convidted, fhail fuffer the fame punifhment as the perfon or perfons on whofe trial fuch falfe evidence was given would, if convicted, have been liable to fuffer. How fees of LIII, And be it further Enaéted flaves dilby the authorityaforecharged'by faid, That, where any flave or flaves thall be difcharged prociama- tiona.e by proclamation, the deputy marfhal or workhoufe-keper paid, fhall be entitled to receive all fuch fees as Thall be due to him of them for fuch flave or flaves at the time of fuch difcharge, from the publick; upon application and due procfn made, in the moft folemn manner, to the aflembly, or any committee thereof, and that fuch flave or flaves, during the time they were in the cuftody of fuch deputy marfhal or workhoufe-keeper, was and were found and provided with proper and fufficient provifions equal to what is allowed by this law. Clérkofthe LIV. And be it further Enaéted the corj peace Auve to re- aforefaid, That a record thall be entered by of authority all trials, up proceedings on the trials of flaves, for any crime that fhall fubjeét any flave or flaves to fuffer death, tranfportaticn, or confinement to hard labour for the term of two years, in a book kept for that purpofe by the cierk of the peace, or his lawful deputy, of the precinct; who is hereby obliged to attend all fuch trials, and to record the proceedings within thirty days after fuch trial, under the penalty of twenty pounds for each neglect; and he fhall be entitled to receive from the churchwardens of fuch parith the fm of two pounds fifteen thillings, and no more, for attending each trial, entering up the record, and any other bufinefs incidental thereto: And further, that the deputy- for that purpofe by the cierk of the peace, or his lawful deputy, of the precinct; who is hereby obliged to attend all fuch trials, and to record the proceedings within thirty days after fuch trial, under the penalty of twenty pounds for each neglect; and he fhall be entitled to receive from the churchwardens of fuch parith the fm of two pounds fifteen thillings, and no more, for attending each trial, entering up the record, and any other bufinefs incidental thereto: And further, that the deputy- --- Page 235 --- WEST INDIES. 2iy deputy-marfhal for the faid parifh, or fome proper perfon APPENasting under him, fhall alfo be obliged to attend fuch trial, DIX. under the fame penalty of twenty pounds for each negleét; and that he Chall be entitled to receive from the churchwardens of fuch parifh forty fhillings, for attending at the trial and execution of fuch offender as fhall be condemned to die, and no more. LV. And be it further Enadted by the authority afore- Five days faid, That in all trials of any flave or flaves under this act, notice trial to of be Aufficient notice of fuch trial Thall be firft given to the given. owner, proprietor, or poffeflor of fuch flave or flaves, his, her, or their lawful attorney or attornies, or other reprefentative or reprefentatives; any law, cuftom, or ufage to the contrary notwithflanding. LVI. And bel it further Enaéted by the authorityafore- Slaves exefaid, That in all cafes where any flave or flaves fhall be tranfported, cuted, or put upon his, her, or their trial, and fhall receive fentence tob be valued. of death or tran/portation, the court, at the time of trying fuch flave or flaves, fhall alfo enquire what fum or fums of moncy fuch owner, proprietor, or employer of the faid flave or flaves ought to receive for fuch flave or flaves, and certify the fame, fo that fuch fum or fums of money do not exceed the fuin of fixty pounds for each flave fentenced as aforefaid. LVII. And be it further Enaéted by the authority Such valuation to be aforefaid, That in all cafes where any flave or flaves Thall Faid by rebe brought to trial, and Thall be valued according to the ceiver-ge- neral. direction of this act, fuch flave or flaves Thall be paid for bythe receiver- general of this ifland, out of any monies in his hands unappropriated; and the money arifing from the adtual fale of fuch flave or flaves as fhall be fo tranfported by the deputy-marihal Thall be accounted for, on oath, to the churchwardens of the parifh where the offence Thall be tried, to be by them paid over to the receivee-general, for the ufe of the publick. LVIII. And be it further Enacted by the authority Slaves returning aforefaid, from, tranf this ifland, out of any monies in his hands unappropriated; and the money arifing from the adtual fale of fuch flave or flaves as fhall be fo tranfported by the deputy-marihal Thall be accounted for, on oath, to the churchwardens of the parifh where the offence Thall be tried, to be by them paid over to the receivee-general, for the ufe of the publick. LVIII. And be it further Enacted by the authority Slaves returning aforefaid, from, tranf --- Page 236 --- 2:8 HISTORY OF T. HE BOOK aforefaid, That if any negro or other flave, who thall be IV. tranfported from this ifland, under the direétion of ) Y act, fhall wilfully return from fuch this portation tranfportation, negro fuffer death. or other flave Thall, upon conviétion, fuffer death without benefit of clergy. for Punifhment inferior LIX. And whereas there are many inferior crimes and crimes. mifdemeanours committed by flaves, which ought to be punifhed in a fummary manner, by order of the magiftrates ; Be it therefore Enaéted by the authority aforefaid, That, from and after the paffing of tbis act, it Ohall and may be lawful for any two juftices of the peace to hear and determine, in a fummary manner, all fuch crimes and mifdemeanours, giving fufficient notice to the owner or proprietor of fuch flave or flaves, or his or her attorney or attornies, or the perfon having the care of fuch flave or flaves, of the time and place of trial, and to order and direét fuch punifhment to be infliéted on them as fuch juftices, in their judgment, Thall think fit, not excceding fiftylathes or fix months confinement to hard labour; the expences of which trial Thall not exceed ten thillings to the conftable, and Chall be paid by the mafter, owner, or employer of fuch flave or flaves; and in cafe fuch mafter, owner, or employer of fuch flave or flaves fhall refufe or negledt to pay fuch expences, it fhall and may be lawful for the faidjuftices, or either of them, to iffue his or their warrant, under his or their hand and feal, direSted to any conftable, for levying the fame on the goods and chattels of fuch mafter, owner, or employer, and to fell the fame at publick outcry, for the purpofe of paying fucb expences, together with the charges attending the granting and executing fuch warrant and fale of goods and chattels, returning the overplus, if any, to the owner thereof, ProvoftLX, And whereas great advantages have arifen to the deliver marfhal run- to community from the eftablifhment of workhoufes in the aways to refpective parifhes in this ifland, for the reception of runworkhoufe- keeper, away and other flaves; And whereas there now are many fuch , for the purpofe of paying fucb expences, together with the charges attending the granting and executing fuch warrant and fale of goods and chattels, returning the overplus, if any, to the owner thereof, ProvoftLX, And whereas great advantages have arifen to the deliver marfhal run- to community from the eftablifhment of workhoufes in the aways to refpective parifhes in this ifland, for the reception of runworkhoufe- keeper, away and other flaves; And whereas there now are many fuch --- Page 237 --- WEST INDIES. fuch flaves in the poffeffion of the provoft-marthal, or his APPENlawful deputies, who might be employed in the work- DIX. houfes in this ifland to great advantage; Be it therefore 3 Enaéted by the authority aforefaid, That, from and after the pafing of this adt, it Thall and may be lawful for the governors and guardians of the refpedtive workhoufes in this ifland, if to them it fhall feem meet, to demand and receive from the provoft-marthal, or his lawful deputies, all or any of the runaway. negroes or other Daves in his or their poffeflion, or that may hereafter come into his or their cuftody or poffeflion, upon the faid governors and guardians paying unto the provoft-marthal, or his lawful deputies, the full amount of the fees and other contingent charges attending the faid runaway flaves during the time of their being committed to gaol, agreeably to this or any former adt; and the provoft-marthal and his lawful deputies Thall comply with fuch requifitions under the penalty of fifty pounds. LXI. And be it further Enaéted by the authority Runaways aforefaid, That no runaway flave fhall, on any account, to mitted be com- to be committed to gaol by any magiftrate of a parifh workhoufe. where there is any workhoufe eftablifhed, but to fuch workhoufe only. LXII. And whereas the permitting and fuffering Horfes, &co belohging to negro and other flaves to keep horfes, mares, mules, or flaves to be geldings, is attended with many and great mifchiefs to the taken and fold, up ifland in general; In order, therefore, to remedy the. fame, Be it further Enaéted by the authority aforefaid, That, from and after the pafling of this act, the mafter, owner, proprictor, attorney, guardian, executor, adminiftrator, or other perfon, in poffeflion of any plantation or pen in this ifland, having on any fuch plantation or pen any horfc, mare, mule, or gelding, the reputed property ofany flave or flaves, knowing the fame to be fuch, Chall caufe them to be taken up, and fhall produce them at the moft publick place in the parith where taken up, at fuch time as fling of this act, the mafter, owner, proprictor, attorney, guardian, executor, adminiftrator, or other perfon, in poffeflion of any plantation or pen in this ifland, having on any fuch plantation or pen any horfc, mare, mule, or gelding, the reputed property ofany flave or flaves, knowing the fame to be fuch, Chall caufe them to be taken up, and fhall produce them at the moft publick place in the parith where taken up, at fuch time as --- Page 238 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK as the juftices and veftry fhall, by advertifement in the IV. publick newfpapers, appoint for that purpofe, and that fuch horfes, mares, mules, and geldings, be then and fold and difpofed of at publick outcry: and if there any mafter, owner, proprietor, attorney, guardian, executor, adminiftrator, or other perfon as aforefaid, fhall negleét or refufe fo doing, each and every of them thall, for negleét or refufal, refpeétively, forfeit the fum of every thirty pounds, to be recovered in a fummary manner before any two juftices of the peace for the parifh or precinét where fuch negleét or refufal fhall happen, by the oath of one or more credible witnefs or witneffes; which penalty fhall be to the ufe of the perfon informing. Penalty for LXIII. And be it further Enaéted permitting by the authority flaves to aforefaid, That from and after the paffing of this keep horfes, mafter, owner, proprietor, adt, no attorney, guardian, executor, adminiftrator, or other perfon, in poffeffion of any plantation, pen, or fettlement, fhall knowingly permit or fuffer any flave or flaves to keep on fuch plantation, pen, or fettlement, anyhorfe, mare, mule, or gelding; and, in cafe of fo doing, fhall, for every offence, forfeit the fum of thirty pounds, to be recovered in manner aforefaid. Oath to be LXIV. And be it further Enaéted made that by the authority laves have aforefaid, That every mafter, owner, proprictor, no property. guardian, executor, adminiftrator, or other perfon, attorney, at the refpective times of their giving in an account of their flaves and ftock to the juftices and veftry, fhall alfo make oath, that none of the faid horfes, mares, mules, or geldings, fo given in, do belong to any negro or other llave; and that fuch perfon, fo giving in, or his, her, or their employer or employers, hath not, nor have, in his, her, or their poffeffion, to his, her, or their knowledge or belief, any horfe, mare, mule, or gelding, belonging to, or reputed to belong to, any flave or flaves; and in cafe any perfon or perfons fhall negledt or refufe fo to do, every perfon fo neglecting or refuling thall, for every offence, forfeit or other llave; and that fuch perfon, fo giving in, or his, her, or their employer or employers, hath not, nor have, in his, her, or their poffeffion, to his, her, or their knowledge or belief, any horfe, mare, mule, or gelding, belonging to, or reputed to belong to, any flave or flaves; and in cafe any perfon or perfons fhall negledt or refufe fo to do, every perfon fo neglecting or refuling thall, for every offence, forfeit --- Page 239 --- WEST INDIES. forfeit the fum of thirty pounds, to be recovered in the APPENfame fummary manner, and to be difpofed of as herein- DIX. before mentioned. Y LXV. And be it further Enacted by the authority Slaves not aforefaid, That, from and after the pafling of this act, no to purchafa negro or other flave in this ifland fhall purchafe or buy horles, &c. any horfe, mare, mule, or gelding, under the penalty of forfeiting fuch horfe, mare, mule, or gelding, and to be difpofed of as hereinbefore mentioned : And if any perfon whatfoever Thall fell or give any horfe, mare, mule, or gelding, to any negro or other flave, or to any perfon in truft for fuch negro or other flave, every fuch perfon thall, for every fuch horfe, mare, mule, or gelding, fo fold or given, forfeit the fum of thirty pounds; and every perfon who fhall purchafe, or be concerned in the purchafe of, any horfe, marc, mule, or gelding, in truft for any negro or other flave, Chall forfeit the fum of thirty pounds; which faid penalties fhall be recovered in the fame fummary manner, and difpofed of as hereinhefore mentioned; any law, cuftom, or ufage to the contrary in anywife notwithftanding, LXVI. And be it further Enaéted by the authority Penalty for aforefaid, That, in future, whenever a warrant fhall be concealing flaves agranted by one or more of his Majefty's juftices of the gainftwhom peace againft any flave, if the faid flave cannot be imme- iffued. warrants are diately taken on the faid warrant, the owner, poffeffor, attorney, guardian, or overfeer, of fuch flave, fhall be ferved with a copy of the faid warrant; and if he, fhe, or they, do not carry the faid flave before a magiftrate, to be dealt with according to law on the faid warrant ; and if it Thall be afterwards proved that the owner, poffeffor, attorney, guardian, or overfeer, of fuch flave, wilfully detained or concealed faid flave, he, fhe, or they, fhall forfeit the fum of one hundred pounds. LXVII. And whereas feveral flaves have lately found means to defert from their owners, and depart from this ifland, do not carry the faid flave before a magiftrate, to be dealt with according to law on the faid warrant ; and if it Thall be afterwards proved that the owner, poffeffor, attorney, guardian, or overfeer, of fuch flave, wilfully detained or concealed faid flave, he, fhe, or they, fhall forfeit the fum of one hundred pounds. LXVII. And whereas feveral flaves have lately found means to defert from their owners, and depart from this ifland, --- Page 240 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK ifland, to the great damage of fuch owners, in evil examIV. ple to other flaves, who may thereby be induced to attempt Y or confpire to do the fame: And whereas there is reafon to fufpeét that fuch flaves have been aided and aflifted in fuch efcape aad departure by other perfons, and there is not any adequate punifhment provided by law for fuch defertion and departure, or attempting or confpiring to defert and depart this ifland, or for perfons aiding, aflifting, or abetting, fuch deferters: For remedy whereof, Be it further Enacted by the authority aforefaid, That, from and after the pafling of this act, ifany flave Thall run awayf from Slaves tempting at- to his, her, or their owner or owners, employer or employers, depart this and go off, or confpire or attempt to go off; this ifland in inand, how punihable. any fhip, boat, canoe, or other veffel or craft whatfoever, or be aiding, abetting, or affifting, to any other flave or flaves in fuch going off this ifland, he, fhe, or they, fo running and going off; or confpiring or attempting to go off, or fo aiding, affifting, or abetting, in fuch going off, being théreof convicted, Thall fuffer death, or fuch punifhment as the faid court Thall think proper to direét. Penalty for LXVIII. And be it further Enaéted by the authority afifing flaves to go aforefaid, Thatifanyl Indian, free negro, or mulatto, fhall, off the from and after the paffing of this act, knowingly be aiding, idand, affifting, or abetting, any flave or flaves in going off this ifland, and fhall be convicted thereof, either in the fupreme court or in any of the affize courts of this ifland, fuch Indian, free negro, or mulatto, fhall be forthwith tranfported off this ifland by the provod-marfhal-genemnal, or his lawful deputy, into whofe cuftody fuch perfon or perfons fhall be committed; and if fuch perfon or perfons, fo conviéted, fentenced, and tranfported, fhall afterwards be found at large in this ifland, he, fhe, or they, being fo thereof convicted before the fupreme court of judicature or courts of aflize in this ifland, fhall fuffer death without benefit of clergy. LXIX. And this ifland by the provod-marfhal-genemnal, or his lawful deputy, into whofe cuftody fuch perfon or perfons fhall be committed; and if fuch perfon or perfons, fo conviéted, fentenced, and tranfported, fhall afterwards be found at large in this ifland, he, fhe, or they, being fo thereof convicted before the fupreme court of judicature or courts of aflize in this ifland, fhall fuffer death without benefit of clergy. LXIX. And --- Page 241 --- WEST INDIES. LXIX. And be it further Enaéted by the authority APPENaforefaid, That if any white perfon or perfons fhall know- DIX. ingly be aiding, affifting, or abetting, any flave or flaves, Y in going off this ifland, he, fhe, or they, being convieted whites Penalty for on thereof by bill, plaint, or information, in the fupreme court aiding Aaves of judicature, or courts of aflize, thall forfeit the fum of to ifland. go off the one hundred pounds for each flave; one moiety whereof fhall be to our Sovereign Lord the King, his heirs and fucceffors, for and towards the fupport of the government of this ifland, and the contingent charges thereof; and the other moiety to the party or parties at whofe fuit or complaint fuch perfon was conviéted, and thall alfo fuffer imprifonment, at the difcretion of the faid court, for any fpace of time not exceeding twelve months, without bail or mainprize. LXX. And be it further Enaéted by the authority Perfons fo aforefaid, That it fhall and may be lawful to proceed offending to be proceeded againft the perfon or perfons fo aiding, affifting, or abet- againit, ting, fuch flave or flaves in going off this ifland, whether the principal or principals be convicted or not 5 any thing in this, or any other act, law, cuftom, or ufage to the contrary notwith(landing. LXXI, And whereas the overfeers of eftates in this ifland make a frequent practice of leaving the feveral eftates under their care and management, on the refpeétive feafons allowed for negro holidays, whereby many dangerous meetings and pernicious practices are carried on 3 In order, therefore, to prevent the like for the future, Be Overfrers it Enaéted by the authority aforefaid, That if any overfeer not eftates to on leave in this ifland fhall abfent himfelf from the eftate under his holidays. care and management, on any of the particular holidays herein before mentioned to be allowed to flaves, without leave of his employer, every fuch overfeer fo offending, fhall, for every offence, forfeit the fum of five pounds, to be recovered byi information, upon oath, befpre any, juftice of the peace, in a fummary way, in the parifh where fuch offence any overfeer not eftates to on leave in this ifland fhall abfent himfelf from the eftate under his holidays. care and management, on any of the particular holidays herein before mentioned to be allowed to flaves, without leave of his employer, every fuch overfeer fo offending, fhall, for every offence, forfeit the fum of five pounds, to be recovered byi information, upon oath, befpre any, juftice of the peace, in a fummary way, in the parifh where fuch offence --- Page 242 --- HISTORY OF THE B 00 K offence fhall happen; any law, cuftom, or ufage to the IV. contrary notwithftanding. Y LXXII. And be it further Enaéted by the authority Slaves not aforefaid, That it fhall not be lawful for anyjuftice of the to be mutilated. peace, fitting on the trial of my flave or flaves, or otherwife, to fentence or order any flave to be mutilated or maimed for any offence whatfoever. Purnithment LXXIII. And be it further Enadted, That if any neon efcape fuchas from gro or other flave, who may be fentenced to be confined the work- in the workhoufe for the term of two years or a lefs time, houfe, fhall efcape from fuch confinement before the expiration of his fentence, fuch negro or other flave, being retaken, fhall, on proof of his or her identity, before two juftices of the peace, be adjudged by them to be fent back to confinement, and to receive a whipping, not exceeding fifty lafhes. Penalty for LXXIV. And be it further Enaéted by the authoriry fuffering flaves to aforefaid, That if the provoft-marihal, or any of his lawful cfcape, deputies, or any lawful conftable, or workhoufe-keeper, fhall willingly or negligently fuffer any flave or flaves to efcape, who fhall be committed to his or their cuftody for any offence under this act, fo that fuch flave or flaves Thall not be retaken within two years, fuch marfhal, conftable, or workhoufe-keeper, who Chall fuffer fuch efcape, fhall forfeit the fum of twenty pounds, without injury to the right ofthe owner to fue for the value of the fame. Slaves not LXXV. And be it further Enaéted by the authority to hunt aforefaid, That no negro or other flave fhall be allowed to with lances, tec, hunt any cattle, horfes, mares, mules, or afles, in any part of this ifland, with lances, guns, cutlaffes, or other inftruments of death, unlefs in the company of his or their mafter, overfeer, or fome other white perfon by him or them deputed, or by permiffion in writing a and if any negro or other flave fhall offend, contrary to the true intent and meaning of this act, he or they, being thereof conviéted before two juftices, fhall fuffer fuch punithment as they Chall think proper to inflict, LXXVI, And this ifland, with lances, guns, cutlaffes, or other inftruments of death, unlefs in the company of his or their mafter, overfeer, or fome other white perfon by him or them deputed, or by permiffion in writing a and if any negro or other flave fhall offend, contrary to the true intent and meaning of this act, he or they, being thereof conviéted before two juftices, fhall fuffer fuch punithment as they Chall think proper to inflict, LXXVI, And --- Page 243 --- WEST INDIES. LXXVI. And be it further Enaéted by the authority APPENaforefaid, That it Thall and may be lawful for the juftices DIX. aforefaid, and they are hereby required, to do their feveral - - - Y and refpective duties under this act when martial law thall do Juftices their to duhappen to be in force, as they might or ought to have done tyinr martial law. if martial law were not fubfifting any law, cuftom, or ufage, to the contrary thereof notwithftanding. LXXVII. And be it further Enacted by the authority Jurors, &c, aforefaid, That all jurors ferving at flave courts, and every proteéted, perfon and perfons whofe prefence may be requifite, at the examination of any flave or flaves, or upon the trial of any flave or flaves, and who fhall be required to attend by warrant under the hand and feal ofany juftice of the peace, and all and every flave and flaves who fhall be brought as witneffes, Thall be protected in their perfons from all mefne or judicial procefs whatfoever, in their going to, attending at, and returning from, fuch examinations or trial, and that fuch flaves fhall not be fubjedt to be levied on. LXXVIII. And bc it further Enacted by the autho- How peritya aforefaid, That all penalties in this act mentioned, and nalties fhall be recovered not already declared how they thall be recovered and ap- and difpofed plied, fhall, if not exceeding twenty pounds, be recovered of, in a fummary manner before any two of his Majefty's juftices of the peace, by diftrefs and fale of the offender's goods and chattels; and, if exceeding twenty pounds, to be recovered in the fupreme court of judicature of this ifland, orin either of the courts of aflize, by aétion of debt, bill, plaint, or information, wherein no effoin, protection, wager of law, or non vult ulterius profequi, fhall be entered; one moiety of which penalties fhall be to the parich where the offence is committed,and the other moiety to thei informer, or him, her, or them who fhall fue for the fame. Vor. IL, Q --- Page 244 --- HISTORY OF TI HE Boox IV. N 6 / o + + i e N - I a 3 o / o J J N S 4 --- Page 245 --- PPENDIX. WEST INDIES. N + N N a 2 6 a I 5 5 e - o - 8 a o - a a I - I L L I LE W a a o N 7 E I a o O 3 I - R --- Page 246 --- HISTORY OF THE Boor N € L - 4 C - L I a 4+ N + + 11 3 € O Bo N o I - I - Page 245 --- PPENDIX. WEST INDIES. N + N N a 2 6 a I 5 5 e - o - 8 a o - a a I - I L L I LE W a a o N 7 E I a o O 3 I - R --- Page 246 --- HISTORY OF THE Boor N € L - 4 C - L I a 4+ N + + 11 3 € O Bo N o I - I - --- Page 247 --- TENDIX, W E S T INDIES. a H oo 6 7 + E + o o 6 cO 6 - I - - - - 2 a 6 - n 9 + 6o O - 4 9 - 4 a - - S a - : --- Page 248 --- HISTORY OF T H E Boox IV e - TE 7 + N + 0 0 O + s 5 2 I 1 I h * r N --- Page 249 --- WEST INDIES. PPENDIX, N 0o a 9 7 9 5 d N O S N --- Page 250 --- TI HE H I S T O R Y, CIVIL AND COMMERCIAL, OF The Britifh Colonies in the Weft Indies. BOOK V. AGRICULTURE CHAP. I. Sngar cane.-Kuoen 10 the auciouts-Carjedana concerning its introduéion into Europe.- -Conveyedfrom Sicily to the Azores, ESc. in the 15th century, and from thence ta the Wen Indies.- Evidence to prove that Columbus himfelf carried it from the Canary Mands 1o Hifpaniola. -Summary %f P. Labat's reafoning 10 demonftrate that it was found growing /pontaneoufly in the Wef Indies. Both accounts reconciled. - Botanical name and defcriptio.-Seils befts adapted for its cultivation, and their varieties, defcribed.- -Ufe and advantage of the plongh-Ufal method %f holing and planting. - Seafon proper for planting. Blah.-Manres.- Improvements JeggeRed. BOOK N treating of the agriculture of the Weft V. Indian Iflands, the firft object that naturally excites attention is the cane which produces their --- Page 251 --- WEST INDIES. their great ftaple commodity, fugar;-a plant CHAP, which, from its commercial importance and geI. Y neral utility, we may venture to pronounce one of the moft valuable in the creation. The ancient name of the cane was Saccharum. This word was corrupted, in monkifh Latin, into Zicharum, and afterwards into Zucra. By the Spaniards it was converted into Agucar, from whence Sugar. The plant is a native of the eaft, and was probably cultivated in India and Arabia time immemorial. Thefweet-cane is mentioned twice in the Old Teftament *, as an article of merchandize; and there is a paffage in Diofcorides which feems toimply, that the art of granulating the juice by evaporation was practifed in his time; for he defcribes fugar as having the appearance of falt, and of being brittle to the teeth, Salis modo coattum ef; dentibus ut fal fragile. Lucan, enumerating the eaftern auxiliaries of Pompey, defcribes a people who ufed the canejuice as a common drink, Quique bibunt tenerd dulces ab arundine fuccos. LAFITAU conjectures, however, that the plant itfelf was unknown in Chriftendom, until the time of the Croifades. Its cultivation, and the method of expreffing and purifying the juice, as * Ifaiah, ch. xliii, V. 24. Jeremiah, ch. vi, V. 20. praétifed aftern auxiliaries of Pompey, defcribes a people who ufed the canejuice as a common drink, Quique bibunt tenerd dulces ab arundine fuccos. LAFITAU conjectures, however, that the plant itfelf was unknown in Chriftendom, until the time of the Croifades. Its cultivation, and the method of expreffing and purifying the juice, as * Ifaiah, ch. xliii, V. 24. Jeremiah, ch. vi, V. 20. praétifed --- Page 252 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK praétifed by the inhabitants of Acra and Tripoli, V. are defcribed by Albertus Aquenfis, a monkifh L writer, who obferves, that the Chriftian foldiers in the Holy Land frequently derived refrefhment and fupport, in a fcarcity of provifions, by fucking the canes * It flourifhed alfo in the Morea, and in the Iflands of Rhodes and Malta, and from thence was tranfported into Sicily; but the time is not precifely afcertained : Lafitau recites a donation of William, the fecond king of Sicily, to the monaftery of St. Bennet, of a mill for grinding fugar-canes, with all its rights, members, and appurtenances. This happened in 1166. FROM Sicily, the Spaniards are faid to have conveyed the cane to the Azores, Madeira, the Canary and Cape-de-verd Iflands, foon after they were difcovered in the 1sth century i and from fome one of thofe iflands it has been fuppofed to have found its way, at an early period, to Brafil and the Weft Indies; 66 producing a commerce (fays Lafitau) which has proved more valuable than thé mines of Peru." SUCH is the commonly-received opinion refpedting the hiftory of this valuable produétion. *The fame author, in his account of ther reign of Baldwin, relates, that the Crufaders took eleven camels, laden with fugar, fo that it muft have been made in confiderable quantities, Herrera --- Page 253 --- WEST INDIES. Herrera pofitively afferts, that the fugar-cane CHAP. was tranfplanted into Hifpaniola from the. CaI. nary Iflands, in the year 1506, by a Spaniard of the name of Aguilon (a); but in this inftance the refpectable hiftorian, however correét in general, is clearly miftaken; it appearing by the teftimony of Peter Martyr, in the third Book of his firft Decad, written during Columbus's fecond expedition, which began in 1493, and ended in 1495, that the fugar-cane was, at that period, fufficiently known in Hifpaniola. THE faét feems to have been, that Columbus himfelf carried it thither among other articles and produétions which he conveyed from Old Spain and the Canary Iflands, in his fecond voyage. Martyr's account. is as follows : Ad factus < procreandos, equas, oves, juvencas, et plura 66 alia cum fui generis mafculis: : legumina, tri66 ticum, hordeum, et reliqua ijs fimilia, non 66 folàm alimenti, verum etiam feminandig gratiâ, 66 praefeétus apparat: vites et aliarum noftratium sc arborum plantaria, quibus terra illa caret ad 46 eam important : nullas enim apud eas infulas Ce notas arbores invenère praeter pinus palmafque G et eas altiffimas, ac mira duritiei et proceritatis 66 ac reétitudinis, propter foli ubertatem ; atque 4 etiam ignotos fruétus alias plures procreantes. (a) Vol. i. P- 320. 66 Terram apparat: vites et aliarum noftratium sc arborum plantaria, quibus terra illa caret ad 46 eam important : nullas enim apud eas infulas Ce notas arbores invenère praeter pinus palmafque G et eas altiffimas, ac mira duritiei et proceritatis 66 ac reétitudinis, propter foli ubertatem ; atque 4 etiam ignotos fruétus alias plures procreantes. (a) Vol. i. P- 320. 66 Terram --- Page 254 --- HISTORYOF THE BOOK c6 Terram aiunt effe terrarum omnium quas amV. 6E biunt fidera, uberrimam." C / Although in this paffage the fugar-cane is not exprefsly enumerated, it is evident that it was not confidered by Columbus as a native of the country; for he could not poffibly have been unacquainted with this produétion, which grew in great perfeétion in Valencia, and other parts of Spain; ; yet he found, it feems, on his arrival, no trees or plants in the newly-difcovered country, of which he had any previous knowledge, excepting only the pine and the palm. That the cane was then there, appears from a fubfequent paflage; in which, fpeaking of fuch vegetable produétions as the Spaniards had fown or planted in an inclofed garden immediately after their arrival, Martyr has thefe words, which, combined with the former, are, as I conceive, decifive of the queftion.- Melones cucurbitas, cucumeres et alia id genus, in diem fextum et trigefimum carpferunt. Sed nufquam fe meliores unquam COmediffe aiebant. Hac hortenfia, toto anno habent recentia. Cannarum radices ex quarum fucco faccarum extorqueter,fed 1ON coagulatur fuceus, C1lbitales cannas intra quindecimm etiam diem emiferuu." ON the other hand, there are authors of great learning and induftry, who maintain' that the fugar-cane is a native both of thei iflands and the continent --- Page 255 --- WEST INDIES. continent of America, within the tropicks. They CHA P. affert, that it. was found growing fpontaneoufly 1 I. in many parts of the new hemifphere, when firft explored by the Spanifh invaders. P. Labat, who appears to have confidered the queftion with a laborious attention, is decidedly of this opinion (b), and he quotes, in fupport of it, among other authorities, that of Thomas Gage, an Englifhman, who went to New Spain in 1625, and of whom I have had occafion to fpeak in a former part of this work. Gage's voyage is now before me, and it is certain that he enumerates fugar-canes among the fruits and provifions fupplied the crew of his thip by the Charaibes of Guadaloupe. < Now," obferves Labat, < iti is a fact that the Spaniards had never cultivated an inch of ground in the fmaller Antilles. Their fhips commonly touched at thofe iflands indeed, for wood and water, and they left fwine in the view of fupplying with freth provifions fuch of their countrymen as might call there in future; but it were abfurd in the higheft degree to fuppofe, that they would plant fugar-canes, and put hogs afhore at the fame time to deftroy them. 66 NEITHER had the Spaniards any motive for beftowing this plant on iflands which they (8) Tom. III. C. XV, P. 20. confidered indeed, for wood and water, and they left fwine in the view of fupplying with freth provifions fuch of their countrymen as might call there in future; but it were abfurd in the higheft degree to fuppofe, that they would plant fugar-canes, and put hogs afhore at the fame time to deftroy them. 66 NEITHER had the Spaniards any motive for beftowing this plant on iflands which they (8) Tom. III. C. XV, P. 20. confidered --- Page 256 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK confidered as of no kind of importance, except V. for the purpofe that has been L mentioned; and to fuppofe that the Charaibes might have cultivated, after their departure, a produétion of which they knew nothing, betrays a total ignorance of the Indian difpofition and charaéter. c6 Bur," continues Labat, C6 we have furer teftimony, and fuch as proves, beyond all contradiétion, that the fugar-cane is the natural produétion of America. For, befides the evidence of Francis Ximenes, who, in a Treatife on American plants, printed at Mexico, afferts, that the fugar-cane grows without cultivation, and to an extraordinary fize, on the banks of the river Plate (e), we are affured by Jean de Lery, a proteftant minifter, who was chaplain, in 1556, to the Dutch garrifon in the fort of Coligny, on the river Janeiro, that he himfelf found fugarcanes in great abundance in many places on the banks of that river, and in fituations never vifited by the Portuguefe. Father Hennepen, and other voyagers, bear teftimony in like manner to the growth of the cane near the mouth of the Mififippi; and Jean de Laet to its (pontaneous produétion in the Mland of St. Vincent. It is not for the plant itfelf, therefore, but for the (c) Pifo obferves, 66 In provincia Rio de la Plata, Cannas Sacchari (ponte enafci, adolefcereque in arbori proceritatem, atque chryftalla faccharea aeftu folis exfudare, conftat," fecret --- Page 257 --- WEST INDIES. fecret of making fugar from it, that the Weft CHAP, Indies are indebted to the Spaniards and PorI. tuguefe; and thefe to the nations of the eaft." SUCH is the reafoning of Labat, which the learned Lafitau has pronounced incontrovertible; and it is greatly ftrengthened by recent difcoveries; the fugar-cane having been found in many of the iflands of the Pacifick Ocean, by our late illuftrious navigator Captain Cook, Ix thefe accounts, however, there is no contradiétion. The fugar-cane might have grown fpontaneoufly in many parts of the New World; and Columbus, unapprized of the circumftance, might likewife have carried fome of the plants to Hifpaniola, and fuch I believe was the fact. But be this as it may, the induftry with which the Spanith fettlers applied themfelves to its cultivation, affords a wonderful contraft to the manners of the prefent inhabitants; ; it appearing by the teftimony of Oviedo, that no lefs than thirty ingenios, or fugar-mills, were eftablifhed on that ifland fo early as 1535THE botanical name of the fugar-cane is Arundo Saccharifera. It is a jointed reed terminating in leaves or blades, whofe edges are finely and fharply ferrated. The body of the cane is ftrong but brittle, and when ripe of a fine ftraw colour, inclinable to yellow ; and it contains a foft pithy fubftance, which affords a copious fupply of juice ingenios, or fugar-mills, were eftablifhed on that ifland fo early as 1535THE botanical name of the fugar-cane is Arundo Saccharifera. It is a jointed reed terminating in leaves or blades, whofe edges are finely and fharply ferrated. The body of the cane is ftrong but brittle, and when ripe of a fine ftraw colour, inclinable to yellow ; and it contains a foft pithy fubftance, which affords a copious fupply of juice --- Page 258 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK juice of a fweetnefs the leaft cloying and moft V. agreeable in nature. The intermediate - diftance between each joint of the cane varies according to the nature of the foil;-in general it is from one to three inches in length, and from half an inch to an inch in diameter. The Jength of the whole cane depends likewife upon circumftances. In ftrong lands and lands richly manured, Ihave feen fome that meafured twelve fcet from the ftole to the upper joint. The general height however (the flag part excluded) is from three feet and a half to feven feet, and in very rich lands the ftole or root has been known to put forth upwards of one hundred fuckers or fhoots (d). (d) The tops of canes fometimes fhoot up in arreus, decorated at the top with a pinnacle, the glumes of which contain a whitifh duft, or rather feed; yet thefe being fowed never vegetate, as I have heardyin the Weft Indian iflands ; a circumftance which perhaps may be adduced as a proof that the cane is not the fpontaneous produétion of this part of the world. In Abyffinia and other parts of the Eaft it is eafily raifed from the feed. Vid. Bruce's Travels. Since the firft edition of this work was publifhed, Sir Jofeph Banks has fatisfied me that there are feveral varieties exifting in the çane with which we are wholly unacquainted in the Weft Indies. I have feen, in his poffefion, a dried fpecimen that was brought originally from the South Seas, which, as far as can be judged by its prefent appearance, is of a far fuperior fort to the fpecies cultivated in our iflands. Itis not only of greater length in the whole, but the diftance between the joints is nearly twice as great as in the fineft canes I ever beheld, Ir veral varieties exifting in the çane with which we are wholly unacquainted in the Weft Indies. I have feen, in his poffefion, a dried fpecimen that was brought originally from the South Seas, which, as far as can be judged by its prefent appearance, is of a far fuperior fort to the fpecies cultivated in our iflands. Itis not only of greater length in the whole, but the diftance between the joints is nearly twice as great as in the fineft canes I ever beheld, Ir --- Page 259 --- WEST INDIES. Ir may be fuppofed that a plant thus rank CHAP. and fucculent, requires a ftrong and deep foil to I. bringit to perfeétion, and, as far as my own obfervation has extended, I am of opinion that no land can be too rich for that purpofe--When bad fugar is made from fat and fertile foils, properly fituated, I am inclined to imputé the blame, rather to mifimanagement in the manufacturer than to the land. The very beft foil however that I have feen or heard of, for the produétion of fugar of the fineft quality, and in the Jargeft proportion, is the athy loam of St. Chriftopher's, of which an account has béen givén in the hiftory of that ifland. Next to that, is the foil which in Jamaica is called brick-mold; not as refembling a brick in colour, but as containing fuch a due mixture of clay and fand, as is fuppofed to render it well adapted for the ufe of the kiln. It is a deep, warm and mellow, hazel earth, eafily worked ; and though its furface foon grows dry after rain, the under ftratum retains a confiderable degree of moifture in the drieft weather:-with this advantage too, that evehin the wetteft feafon, it feldom requires trenching. Plant-canes in this foil (which are thofe of the firft growth) have been known in very fine feafons to yield two tons and a half of fugar per acre (e). After this, may be reckoned the black mold, (e) This fpecies of foil abounds very generally in the French part of Hifpaniolz-which gives that noble ifland fo Vor. II. R great --- Page 260 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK mold, of feveral varieties. The beft is the deep V. black earth of Barbadoes, Antigua, and fome other of the Windward Iflands; ; but there is a fpecies of this mold in Jamaica that is but little, if any thing, inferior to it, which abounds with limeftone and flint, on a fubftratum of foapy marle. Black mold on clay is more common, but as the mold is generally fhallow, and the clay ftiff and retentive of water, this laft fort of land requires great labour, both in ploughing and trenching, to render it profitable. Properly pulverized and manured, it becomes very produétive; and may be faid to be inexhauftible. It were endlefs to attempt a minute defcription of all the other foils which are found in thefe iflands. There is however a peculiar fort of land on the north fide of Jamaica, chiefly in the parifh of Trelawney, that cannot be paffed over unnoticed, not only on account ofits fearcity, but its value; few foils producing finer fugars, or fuch (I have been told by fugar refiners) as anfwer fo wwell in the pan an expreffion, fignifying, as I underftand it, a greater return of refined fugar than common. The land alluded to is generally of a red colour; the Thades of which however vary great a fuperiority over moft of our own fugar colonies. In Jamaica, it is confined to a few parifhes only, and in thofe parithes to particular fpots. In fome places this fort of land is rather gravelly, but this circumftance, if the feafons are favourable, is of no great difadvantage. , as I underftand it, a greater return of refined fugar than common. The land alluded to is generally of a red colour; the Thades of which however vary great a fuperiority over moft of our own fugar colonies. In Jamaica, it is confined to a few parifhes only, and in thofe parithes to particular fpots. In fome places this fort of land is rather gravelly, but this circumftance, if the feafons are favourable, is of no great difadvantage. --- Page 261 --- WEST INDIES. vary confiderably, from a deep chocolate to a CHAP. rich fcarlet; in fome places it approaches to a I. bright yellow, but it is every where remarkable, when firft turned up, for a glolly or thining furface, and if wetted, flains the fingers like paint. Ihave feleéted fpecimens which are hardly diftinguithable by the eye or the touch, from the fubftance called gamboge. Earths of various fhades of red and yellow, are found indeed in many other parts of the Weft Indies, but in none of them are eobferved the fame glofly appearance and cohefion as in the foil in queftion, which appears to me to confift of a native earth or pure loam with a mixture of clay and fand. It is eafily worked, and at the fame time fo tenacious, that a pond dug in this foil in a proper fituation, with no other bottom than its own natural texture, holds water like the ftiffeft clay. It is remarkable, however, that the fame degrec of ploughing or pulverization which is abfolutely neceffary to render ftiff and clayey lands produétive, is here not only unneceffary, but hurtful;-for though this foil is deep, it is at the fame time far from being heavy; and it is naturally dry. As therefore too much expofure to the fcorching influence of a tropical fun, deftroys its fertility, the fyftem of huibandry on fugar plantations, in which this foil abounds, is to depend chiefly on what are called ratoon R 2 canes. --- Page 262 --- HISTORY OF THE EOOK canes (f). Ratoons are the fprouts or fuckers V. that fpring from the roots, or ftoles of the canes that have been previoufly cut for fugar, and are commonly ripe in twelve months.-Canes of the firft growth, as hath been obferved, are called plant-canes. They are the immediate produce of the original plants or gems placed in the ground, and require from fifteen to feventeen months to bring them to maturity. The firft yearly returns from their roots are called firf ratoons ; the fecond year's growth,Jecond ratoons 5 and fo on, according to their age. In moft parts of the Weft Indies it is ufual to hole and plant a certain proportion of the cane land (commonly one-third) in annual fucceffion. This, in the common mode of holing the ground by the hoc, is frequently attended with great and exceffive labour to the negroes, which is faved altogether by the fyftem we are treating of. By the latter method, the planter, inftead of ftocking up his ratoons, and holing and planting the land anew, fuffers the ftoles to continue in the ground, and contents himfelf, as his cane fields become thin and impoverifhed, by fupplying the vacant fpaces with freth plants. By thefe means, and the aid of manure, the produce of fugar per acre, if not (f) So called from being rejettons or fprouts, rej'ttons, re'ttoms, rattons; or more probably from a corrupt pronunciation of the Spanifh word broténes, which has the fame fignification. apparently planting the land anew, fuffers the ftoles to continue in the ground, and contents himfelf, as his cane fields become thin and impoverifhed, by fupplying the vacant fpaces with freth plants. By thefe means, and the aid of manure, the produce of fugar per acre, if not (f) So called from being rejettons or fprouts, rej'ttons, re'ttoms, rattons; or more probably from a corrupt pronunciation of the Spanifh word broténes, which has the fame fignification. apparently --- Page 263 --- WEST INDIES. apparently equal to that from the beft plant- CHAP. canes in other foils, gives perhaps in the long- - I. run full as great returns to the owner 3 confidering the relative proportion of the labour and expence attending the different fyftems.-The common yielding of this land, on an average, is feven hogfheads of fixteen cwt. to ten acres, which are cut annually. IN the cultivation of other lands (in Jamaica efpecially) the plough has been introduced of late years, and in fome few caies to great advantage ; but it is not every foil or fituation that will admit the ufe of the plough; fome lands being much too ftoney, and others too fteep; and I am forry I have occafion to remark, that a praétice commonly prevails in Jamaica, on propertics where this auxiliary is ufed, which would exhauft the fineft lands in the world. It is that of ploughing, then crols ploughing, roundridging, and harrowing the fame lands from year to year, or at leaft every other year, without affording manure : accordingly, it is found that this method is utterly deftruétive of the ratoon, or fecond growth, and altogether ruinous. Itis indeed aftonifhing that any planter of common reading or obfervation, fhould be paffive under fo pernicious a fyftem. Some gentlemen however of late manage better: their praétice is to break up itiff and clayey land, by one or two ploughings, R 3 early --- Page 264 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK early in the fpring, and V. give it a fummer's fallow. In the autumn following, being then mellow and more eafily worked, it is holed and planted by manual labour, after the old method, which Thall be prefently defcribed. But in truth, the only advantageous fyftem of ploughing in the Weft Indies, is IO confine it to the fimple operation of holing, which may certainly be performed with much greater facility and difpatch by the plough than by the hoe ; and the relief which, in the cafe of ftiff and dry foils, is thus given to the negroes, exceeds all eftimation, in the mind of a humane and provident owner. On this fubject I fpeak from praétical knowledge. At a plantation of my own, the greateft part of the Jand which is annually planted, is neatly and fufficiently laid into cane-holes, by the labour of one able man, three boys, and cight oxen, with the common fingle-wheeled plough. The ploughfhare indeed is fomewhat wider than ufual, but this is the only difference, and the method of ploughing is the fimpleft pofible.-By returning the plough back along the furrow, the turfis alternately thrown to the right and to the left, forming a trench feven inches deep, about two feet and a half wide at the top, and one foot wide at the bottom. A fpace of eighteen or twenty inches is left between each trench, on which the mould being thrown by the fhare, the banks . The ploughfhare indeed is fomewhat wider than ufual, but this is the only difference, and the method of ploughing is the fimpleft pofible.-By returning the plough back along the furrow, the turfis alternately thrown to the right and to the left, forming a trench feven inches deep, about two feet and a half wide at the top, and one foot wide at the bottom. A fpace of eighteen or twenty inches is left between each trench, on which the mould being thrown by the fhare, the banks --- Page 265 --- WI E ST INDIES. banksare properly formed, and the holing is com- CHAP. plete. Thus the land is not exhaufted by being 1 I. too much expofed to the fun ; and in this manner a field of twenty acres is holed with one plough, and with great eale, in thirteen days. The plants are afterwards placed in the trench as in the common method, which remains to be defcribed. THE ufual mode of holing by manual labour is this:-The quantity of land intended to be planted, being cleared of weeds and other incumbrances, is divided into feveral plats of certain dimenfions, commonly from fifteen to twenty acres each; ; the ipaces between each plat or divifion are left wide enough for roads, for the conveniency of carting. Each plat is then fubdivided, by means of a line and wooden pegs, into fmall fquares of about three feet and a half. Sometimes indeed the fquares are a foot larger; but this circumftance makes but little difference. The negroes are then placed in a row in the arft line, one negro to a fquare, and dircéted to dig out with their hoes the feveral fquares, commonly to the depth of five or fix inches. The mould which is dug up being formed into a bank at the lower fide, the excavation or cane-hole feldom exceeds fifteen inches in width at the bottom, and two feet and a half at the top. The negrocs then fall back to the next line, and proceod as R4 beiure. --- Page 266 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK before. Thus the feveral fquares between each V. line are formed into a trench Y of much the fame dimenfions with that which is madebythe plough. An able negro will dig from fixty to eighty of thefe holes for his day's work of ten hours; but if the land has been previoufly ploughed and lain fallow, the fame negro will dig nearly double the number in the fame time (f). THE cane-holes or trench being now completed, whether by the plough or by the hoe, and the cuttings feleéted for planting, which are commonly the tops of the canes that have been ground for fugar (each cutting containing five or fix gems) two of them are fufficient for a canehole of the dimenfions defcribed (g). Thefe, being (f) As the negroes work at this bufinefs very unequally, according to their different degrees of bodily ftrength, it is fometimes the praétiçe to puz two negroes to a fingle but if the land has not had the previous affiftance fquare; of the plough, it commonly requires the labour of 50 or 60 able negroes for 20 days to hole 20 acres. It is reckoned a tolerable day's work for 40 negroes to hole an acre in the courfe of a day.. In Jamaica, fome gentlemen, to eafe their own flaves, havet this laborious part of the planting bufinefs performed by job work.. The ufual price for holing and planting is from eight to ten pounds currency per acre. The coft of falling and clearing heavy wood land is as much more. commonly (g) Itis a maxim with fome people te plant thin on poor lands, and thick in rich; but it is a maxim founded in error. They fuppofe that the richer the foil is, the greater number of plants it will maintain; which is true enough; but they forget own flaves, havet this laborious part of the planting bufinefs performed by job work.. The ufual price for holing and planting is from eight to ten pounds currency per acre. The coft of falling and clearing heavy wood land is as much more. commonly (g) Itis a maxim with fome people te plant thin on poor lands, and thick in rich; but it is a maxim founded in error. They fuppofe that the richer the foil is, the greater number of plants it will maintain; which is true enough; but they forget --- Page 267 --- WEST INDIES. being placed longitudinally in the bottom of the CHAP. hole, are covered with mould about two inches I. deep; the reft of the bank being intended for 1 future ufe. In twelve or fourteen days the young fprouts begin to appear, and, as foon as they rife a few inches above the ground, they are, or ought to be, carefully cleared of weeds, and furnifhed with an addition of mould from the banks. This is ufually performed by the hand. At the end of four or five months, the banks are wholly levelled, and the fpaces between the rows carefully hoe-ploughed. Frequent cleanings, forget that the plant itfelf will, in fuch foils, put forth fhoots in abundance; moft of which, if the lands are not over planted, will come to perfection : whereas from thick planting in rich mould the fhoots choke and deftroy each other. On the other hand, in foils where the canes will not ftock (viz. put out frefh fhoots) the overfeer muft fupply the greater number of plants in the firft inftance, ort the produce will be little or nothing. To what has been faid in the text concerning the method of holing, it may not be improper to add the following particulars :A fquare acre contains 43,560 feet; therefore, to know the exaét number of holes which an acre will: admit, the rule is, to multiply the length of each hole by the breadth, as thus: Suppofe you line four feet one way, and three feet the other, thenfour multiplied by three, makes twelve fquare feet, and 43,560 divided by 12, gives 3,630 holes. Thefe are large holes, and if the land is dry and ftiff, an able negro will not be able to dig more than 60 fuch in his day's work. It will require, therefore, in fuch land, juft 60 negroes to hole an acre in a day. The richer the land is, the wider you line, of courfe the fewer holes to an acre; 5 four fcet by four feet gives 2,722 holes. , makes twelve fquare feet, and 43,560 divided by 12, gives 3,630 holes. Thefe are large holes, and if the land is dry and ftiff, an able negro will not be able to dig more than 60 fuch in his day's work. It will require, therefore, in fuch land, juft 60 negroes to hole an acre in a day. The richer the land is, the wider you line, of courfe the fewer holes to an acre; 5 four fcet by four feet gives 2,722 holes. --- Page 268 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK ings, while the canes are young, are indeed fo V. cffentially neceffary, that no other merit in an overfeer can compenfate for the want ofa attention in this particular.-A careful manager will remove at the fame time, all the lateral fhoots or fuckers that fpring up after the canes begin to joint, as they feldom come to maturity, and draw nourifhment from the original plants. THE propereft feafon, generally fpeaking, for planting, is unqueftionably in the interval between Auguft and the beginning of November. By having the advantage of the autumnal feafons, the young canes become fufficiently luxuriant to fhade the ground before the dry weather fets in. Thus the roots are kept cool and the earth moift. By this means too, they are ripe for the mill in the beginning of the fecond year, fo as to enable the overfeer or manager to finilh his crop (except as to the few canes which are referved to furnith cuttings or tops for planting) by the latter end of May. Canes planted in and after November lofe the advantage of the autumnal rains, and it often happens that dry weather in the beginning of the enfuing year retards their vegetation, until the vernal feafons, or May rains, fet in; when they fprout both at the roots and the joints; fo that by the time they are cut, the field is loaded with unripe fuckers, inftead of fugar-canes. A January plant, however, commonly turns out well; but canes planted very late --- Page 269 --- WEST INDIES. late in the fpring, though they have the benefit CHAP. of the May rains, feldom anfwer expeétation 5 I. for they generally come in unfeafonably, and throw the enfuing crops out of regular rotation. They are therefore frequently cut before they are ripe; or, if the autumnal feafons fet in early, are cut in wet weather, which has probably occafioned them to fpring afreth; in either cafe the effeét is the fame : the juice is unconcocted, and all the fap being in motion, the root is deprived of its natural nourifhment, to the great injury of the ratoon. The chief objection to a fall plant is this; that the canes become rank and top heavy, at a period when violent rains and high winds are expected, and are therefore frequently lodged before they are fit to cut. The obfervation, when applied to canes planted in rich and new lands, is juft; and on this account, fome gentlemen have introduced the following fyftem: They plant in Auguft and September, clean the young fprouts, and give them mould occafionally, until the beginning of January, when they cut the young plants clofe to the ground with knives, and level the bank; (preading the remainder of the mould over the roots; which foon afterwards fend out a number of vigorous and luxuriant fhoots all of an equal growth, Itis alledged, that by this means the cane is not too rankin the ftormy months, and neverthelefs comes to perfeétion in good time the fuccecding Ipring. ON young fprouts, and give them mould occafionally, until the beginning of January, when they cut the young plants clofe to the ground with knives, and level the bank; (preading the remainder of the mould over the roots; which foon afterwards fend out a number of vigorous and luxuriant fhoots all of an equal growth, Itis alledged, that by this means the cane is not too rankin the ftormy months, and neverthelefs comes to perfeétion in good time the fuccecding Ipring. ON --- Page 270 --- HISTORY OF TH] E BOOK Ox the whole, it is a ftriking and juft remark V. of Colonel Martin, that there is not a greater error in the fyftem of planting, than to make fugar, or to plant canes, in improper feafons of the year; for by mifmanagement of this kind every fucceeding crop is put out of regular order. A plantation, he obferves, ought to be confidered as a well-conftruéted machine, compounded of various wheels turning different ways, yet all contributing to the great end propofed; but if any one part runs too faft, or too flow, in proportion to the reft, the main purpofe is defeated. It is in vain, continues he, to plead in excufe the want of hands or cattle; becaufe thefe wants muft either be fupplied, or the planter muft contraét his views, and proportion them to his ability 5 for the attempt to do more than can be attained, will lead into perpetual diforder, and terminate in poverty. UNFORTUNATELY, however, neither prudence in the management, nor favourable foils, nor feafonable weather, will at all times exempt the planter from misfortunes. The fugar-cane is fubject to a difeafe which no forefight can obviate, and for which human wifdom has hitherto, I fear, attempted in vain to find a remedy.-This calamity is called the blaf; it is the aphis of Linnaeus, and is diftinguilhed into two kinds, the black and the yellow 5 of which the --- Page 271 --- WEST INDIES. the latter is the moft deftruétive. It confifts of CH A P. myriads of little infects, invifible to the naked I. eye, whofe proper food is the juice of the Cane ; in fearch of which they wound the tender blades, and confequently deftroy the veffels. Hence the circulation being impeded, the growth of the plant is checked, until it withers or dies in proportion to the degree of the ravage (k). HITHERTO, I have faid nothing of a veryimportant branch in the fugar-planting, I mean the method of manuring the lands. The neceffity of giving even the beft foil occafional affiftance Îs univerfally admitted, and the ufual way of doing it in the Weft Indies is now to be defcribed. The manure generally ufed is a compoft formed, Ift. OF the coal and vegetable alhes, drawn from the fires of the boiling and ftill-houfes. 2dly. FECULENCES difcharged from the ftillhoufe, mixed up with rubbith of buildings, white-lime, 8cc. 3dly. REFUSE, or field-trafh, (i. e.) the de- (h) In fome of the Windward Iflands, the cane, in very dry weather, is liable to be deftroyed alfo by a fpecies of grub called the borer. This calamity. is fortunately unknown, at leaft to any extent, in Jamaica; and never having feen it, I can give no certain defcription of it. I conceive the infeét to be the eruca minima e rubro fufea of Sloane. In Tobago they have another deftruétive infect called the Tumper Fly. cayed (h) In fome of the Windward Iflands, the cane, in very dry weather, is liable to be deftroyed alfo by a fpecies of grub called the borer. This calamity. is fortunately unknown, at leaft to any extent, in Jamaica; and never having feen it, I can give no certain defcription of it. I conceive the infeét to be the eruca minima e rubro fufea of Sloane. In Tobago they have another deftruétive infect called the Tumper Fly. cayed --- Page 272 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK cayed leaves and ftems ofthe canes ; fo called in V. contradiftinétion to L cane-trafh, referved for fuel, and hereafter to be defcribed. 4thly. DuNG, obtained from the horfe and mule ftables, and from moveable pens, or fmall inclofures made by pofts and rails, occafionally fhifted upon the lands intended to be planted, and into which the cattle are turned at night. sthly. Goop mould, colleéted from gullies, and other wafle places, and thrown into the cattle-pens. THE firft, (i. e.) afhes, is commonly fuppofed to be a manure of itfelf, well adapted for cold and ftiff clays; and in fome parts of Jamaica, it is the practice, in the fall of the year, to carry it out unmixed, in cart loads, to the land where it is intended to be ufed. Itis left there (or in fome fpot adjoining) in large heaps, until the land is holed; after which a bafket full, containing commonly from fifteen to twenty pounds, is thrown into each cane-hole, and mixed with the mould at the time the plants are put into the ground. It may be doubted, however, whether afhes, applied in this manner, are of much advantage: I have been told, that if the land is opened five years afterwards, they will be found undiffolved (k): At other times, wain loads of (k) On wet lands, not eafily trenched, athes may be ufeful in abforbing fuperfluous moifture, and may therefore fometimes prove a good top drefling. theo --- Page 273 --- WEST INDIES. the compoft, or dunghill before-mentioned, are CHAP. carried out and ufed in nearly the fame manner as I. the afhes. Bur the chief dependence of the Jamaica planterin manuring his lands, is on the moveable pens, or occafional inclofures before defcribed; not fo much for the quantity of dung colleéted by means ofthofe inclofures, as for the advantage ofthe urine from the cattie (the beft of all manures), and the labour which is faved by this fyftem. I believe, indeed, there are a great many overfeers who give their land no aid of any kind, other than that of thifting the cattle from onc pen to another, on the fpot intended for planting, during three or four months before it is ploughed or holed (4). WHAT (1) This, however, is by no means fufficient on plantations that have been much worn and exhaufted by cultivation, and perhaps there is no branch in the planting bufinefs wherein attention and fyftematick arrangement, as faving both time and labour, are more neceffary than in colledting and preparing large quantities of dung from the fources and materials before defcribed. In fpreading the manure thus colleéted, the cominon allowance in the Windward Iflands, (where this part of hufbandry is beft underftood) is a fquare foot of dung to each cane-hole; fo that by knowing the number of holes in an acre of land, and the number of fquare feet in a dung-heap, the manure may be proportioned to the ground. Nothing is more eafy than to afcertain the number of fquare feet in a dung-heap. Multiply the length by the breadth, and the produce by the height. Thus, 30 feet, the length, multiplied by 30 feet, the breadth, gives 900 feet, which ry is beft underftood) is a fquare foot of dung to each cane-hole; fo that by knowing the number of holes in an acre of land, and the number of fquare feet in a dung-heap, the manure may be proportioned to the ground. Nothing is more eafy than to afcertain the number of fquare feet in a dung-heap. Multiply the length by the breadth, and the produce by the height. Thus, 30 feet, the length, multiplied by 30 feet, the breadth, gives 900 feet, which --- Page 274 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOX WHAT has hitherto been faid, however, reV. lates folely to the method of Y preparing lands for plant-canes. Thofe who truft chiefly to ratoons, find it as neceffary to give their cane-fields attention and affiftance from the time the canes are cut,asit was before they were planted. It is the advice of Colonel Martin, fo foon as the canes are carried to the mill, to cut off, by a fharp hoc, all the heads of the cane-ftools, three inches below the furface of the Joil, and then fill up the hole with fine mould; by which means, he thinks that all the fprouts rifing from below, will derive more nutriment, and grow more equally and vigoroufly than otherwife. I know not that this advice is adopted in any of the fugar iflands. It is the praétice, however, in many parts of Jamaica, to fpread baikets full of dung round the ftools, fo foon after the canes have been cut as circumflances will admit, and the ground has been refrefhed by rains: In dry and fcorching weather it would be labour loft. The young fprouts are, at the fame time, cleared of weeds; and the dung which is fpread round them, being covered with cane-trafh that its virtues may not be exhaled by the fun, is found at the end of three which being again multiplied by four feet (the height) gives 3,600 feet, the full eontents. This explanation is added for the ufe of the plain praétical planter, who perhaps has had no great opportunity of ftudying arithmetical calculation. --- Page 275 --- WEST INDIES. three or four months, to be foaked into and in- CHAP, corporated with the mould. At this period the I. ) ratoons are again well cleaned, and the fpaces between the ranks effeétually hoe-ploughed ; after which very fittle care is thought requifite until the canes are fit for cutting; the ancient praétice of trafing ratoons (i. e.) ftripping them of their outward leaves, being of late very generally and juftly expleded. SUCH is the general fyftem of preparing and manuring the lands in Jamaica. I have been told, that more attention is paid to this branch of hufbandry, in fome of the iflands to Windward; but I fufpect that there is, in all of them, very great room for improvement, by means of ajudicious rotation of crops, and artificial affiftance. Why, for inftance, are not the manures of lime and fea-fand, which abound in thefe iflands, and have been found fo exceedingly beneficialin Great Britain, brought into ufe? Limeftone alone, even without burning, (the expence of O which might perhaps be an objection) has been found to anfwer in cold, heavy, and moift lands; no other trouble being requifite than merely to fpread it over the ground, and break it into fmall pieces by fledge-hammers. Of this, the quantities are inexhauftible. Marle, is another manure of vaft and general utility in Great Britain. It enriches the pooreft land, opens the ftiffeft, VoL. II. S and fe? Limeftone alone, even without burning, (the expence of O which might perhaps be an objection) has been found to anfwer in cold, heavy, and moift lands; no other trouble being requifite than merely to fpread it over the ground, and break it into fmall pieces by fledge-hammers. Of this, the quantities are inexhauftible. Marle, is another manure of vaft and general utility in Great Britain. It enriches the pooreft land, opens the ftiffeft, VoL. II. S and --- Page 276 --- a58 HISTORY OF THE BOOK and fwectens and correéts the moft rank. Lands v. have been raifed by the ufe of this manure, from Y two Mhillings per acre, to a guinea, annual rent. Now there 1S no country under the fun, wherein a foft unctuous marle more abounds than in Jamaica. To the queftion, zwhy no trial has yet been made of#? no better anfwer, I believe, can be given, than that the planters in general have no leifure for experiments, and that ibis difficult to make agents and fervants (who have every thing to rifk and nothing to gain) walk out of the fure and beaten track of daily praétice. Every man's experience confirms this obfervation. BUT it is not my province to propofe fyftems, but to record facts;to defcribe things as they are, rather than as I conceive they onght to be; and it is now time to conduét the reader from 'the field into the boiling-houfe, and convert the farmer into the manufaéturer. --- Page 277 --- WEST INDIES. CHA P. II, the health o Crop-time feafon f and fefivity. -Mills forg grinding the canes-Ofthe cane-juice, andits component parts-Procefs for obtaining raw or mufcovado figar-Melalfes, Cautal its difpofal.- Procefs of making clayed Jugar.-Of rum.- Still-houfes and Rills-Ciferns, and their ingredients.- Windward Iand procefs. Yamaica method of double difillation.-Due quantity of rum from a given quantity %f fweets, afcertained andBated. o Txs time of crop in the fugar iflands, is the CHAP. feafon of gladnefs and feftivity to man and beaft. II. So palatable, falutary, and nourithing is thejuice - of the canc, that évery individual of the animal creation, drinking freely ofit, derives health and vigour from its ufe. The meagre and fickly among the negroes exhibit a furprifing alteration" in a few weeks after the mill is fet in action. The labouring horfes, oxen, and mules, though almoft conftantly at work during this feafon, yet, being indulged with plenty of the green tops of this noble plant, and fome of the fcummings from the boiling-houfe, improve more than at any other period of the year, Even the pigs and poultry O S2 fatten ufe. The meagre and fickly among the negroes exhibit a furprifing alteration" in a few weeks after the mill is fet in action. The labouring horfes, oxen, and mules, though almoft conftantly at work during this feafon, yet, being indulged with plenty of the green tops of this noble plant, and fome of the fcummings from the boiling-houfe, improve more than at any other period of the year, Even the pigs and poultry O S2 fatten --- Page 278 --- a6o HISTORY OF THE BOOK fatten on the refufe. In fhort, on a well-reguV. lated plantation, under a humane and benevolent L direétor, there is fuch an appearance during croptimesof health, plenty and bufy cheerfulnefs, as to foften, in a great meafufe, the hardihips of" flavery, and induce a fpeétator to hope, when the miferies of life arê reprefented as infupportable, that they are fometimes exaggerated through the medium of fancy (a). o THE (a) 6 He" (fays honeft old Slare the phyfician) a that 66 undertakes to argue againft fwvcets in general, takes upon o 64 him a very difticult tafk, for nature feems to have recom66 mended this tafte to all forts of creatures; the birds of the ce air, the beafts of the field, many reptiles and Alies feem too 66 be pleafed and delighted withthe fpecifick relifh of all 44 fweets, and to diftafte its contrary. Now the figar-cane, fr or fugar, I hold for the top and higheft ftandard of vege6 table fweets." Sugar is obtainable in fome degree from moft vegetables, and Dr. Ruth of Philidelphia, among the many advantages attending the ufe of it in diet, enumerates the following: 6 ift. Sugar affords,the greateft quantity of nourifhment in a given quantity of matter of any fubftance in nature. Ufed alone, it has fattened horfes and cattle in St. Domingo for a period of feveral months, during the time that the exportation of fugar and the importation of grain were fufpended, from the want of fhips. EE 2dly. The plentiful ufe of fugar in diet is one of the beft preventatives that ever has been difcovered of the difeafes which are produced by worms. Nature feeus to have implanted a love for this aliment in all children; as ifit were on purpofe to defend them from thofe difeafes. 6 3dly. The Domingo for a period of feveral months, during the time that the exportation of fugar and the importation of grain were fufpended, from the want of fhips. EE 2dly. The plentiful ufe of fugar in diet is one of the beft preventatives that ever has been difcovered of the difeafes which are produced by worms. Nature feeus to have implanted a love for this aliment in all children; as ifit were on purpofe to defend them from thofe difeafes. 6 3dly. The --- Page 279 --- WEST INDIES. 26r THE great obftacle at"this feafon to the pro- CHAP. grefs of fuch of the plfhters as are not happily Il. Y - furnifhed with the means of grinding their.canes by water, is the frequent failure or infufliciency of thejr mills ; for though a fugar-mill, whether e worked by water, wind, or cattle, is a very fimple contrivance; great force is neverthelefs requifiteto make it overcome the refiftance which it neceffarily meets with, It confifts principally ofthree 66 3dly. The plague has never been known in any country where fugar compofes a material part of thg dieb of the inhabitants." N. B. Dr. Rufh quotes this laft obfervation from Sir John Pringle, and adds his own opinion, that the frequency of malignant fevers of all kinds has been leffened by the ufe of fugar. e 4thly. In diforders of the bresft, fugar is the bafis of many agreeable remedies; and it is ufeful in weakneffès and acrid defluxions upon other parts of the body. The celebrated Dr. Franklin had taken large quantities of Mack-behry jam forthe pain of the ftone, and found benefit from it, but difcovered, at length, that the medicinal part of thegam refided wholly in the fugar. From half a pint of a fyrup prepared by'b boiling brown fugar in water, anid taken juf before he went to bed, he declared that he often found the fame relief that he did from a dofe of opium. 46 It has been faid that fugar injures the teeth, but this opinion does not deferve a ferious refleétion." Amer,Philof. Tranf. vol. 3Mr. Hughes, the hiftorian of Barbadoes, obferves, that there is a faponaceous quality in cane-juice capable of refolving vifcid concretions, to which he attributes, in a great meafure, the furpriding quick recovery of thofe fickly negroes who drink freely ofit. S 3 upright opium. 46 It has been faid that fugar injures the teeth, but this opinion does not deferve a ferious refleétion." Amer,Philof. Tranf. vol. 3Mr. Hughes, the hiftorian of Barbadoes, obferves, that there is a faponaceous quality in cane-juice capable of refolving vifcid concretions, to which he attributes, in a great meafure, the furpriding quick recovery of thofe fickly negroes who drink freely ofit. S 3 upright --- Page 280 --- 26z HISTORY OF THE BOOK upright iron-plated rofters, or cylinders, from V. thinty to forty inches in length, and from twenty to twenty-five inchesin diameter; and the middle one, to which the moving power is applied, turns the other two by means of cogs. Betwegn thefe rollers, the canes (being previoufly cut fhort, and tied into bundles) are twice compreffed; for having paffed through the firft and fecond rollers, they are turned round the middle one by a circular piece of frame-work, or fcreen, called in Jamaica the Dumb-returner, and forced back o through the fecond and third; an operation which fqueezes them completely dry, and fometimes even reduces them to powder. The cane5 juce is received in a leaden bed, and thence conveyedinto a veffel called the Receiver. The refufe, or macerated rind of the cane, (which is called cane-trafh, in contradiftinétion to fieldtrafh defcribed in the preceding chapter) ferves for fuel to . boil the liquor (b). THE jujce from the mill ordinarily contains eight (B) Since the firft edition of this work was publifhed, I have obtained the elevation and plan of a fugar-mill (feveral of whichhave been ereéted within thefe few yearsin Jamaica) afterca model originally defigned by Edward Woollery, Ef. furveyor ofthe publick works in thatifland; and I now prefent my readets with an engravingthereof- -Therelative proportions in the fize ofthe different rollers or cylinders, vary from Mr. Woollery's firft defign; but the great improvement, (B) Since the firft edition of this work was publifhed, I have obtained the elevation and plan of a fugar-mill (feveral of whichhave been ereéted within thefe few yearsin Jamaica) afterca model originally defigned by Edward Woollery, Ef. furveyor ofthe publick works in thatifland; and I now prefent my readets with an engravingthereof- -Therelative proportions in the fize ofthe different rollers or cylinders, vary from Mr. Woollery's firft defign; but the great improvement, --- Page 281 --- - - : - & & $ --- Page 282 --- John! Cmpiren) --- Page 283 --- W EST INDIES. cight parts of pure water, one part of fugar, and CHAP. one part made of grofs oil and mucilaginous gum, II. with a portion of effential oil. The proportions are taken at a medium; ; for fome juice has been fo rich as to make a hogfhead of fugar from thirteen hundred gallons, and fome fo watery as to require more than double that quantity.- By a hog/head I mean fixteen hundred wcight. The richer the jujice is, the more frgp it is found from redundant oil and gum; 3 fo that an exact analyfis of any one quantity ofjuice, would convey very little knowledge of-the contents of any other quantity (c). THE ment; the addition to the middle roller of a lantern-whecl, with trundlesfor waliowers, was purely his own. Thefe act as fo many friétion-whecis, and their utility and importance are beft demonftratedby their effeét. A cattle or mule-mill on the old model was thought to perform exceedingly well ifit paffed fufficient canes in an hour to yield from 300 to 350 gallons of juice.-The common return of a mill on Mr. Woollery's conftruétion is from 4 to 50o gallons.-I have authority to fay, that one of thefe mills in particular, wich is worked with ten' mules, produces hourly 5oo gallons ; at this rategallowing four hours out of the twenty-four for lofs oftime, the return per diem is 10,000 gallons; being equalt to 36 hogtheads of fugar of 16 cwt. for every week during the crop, exclufive of Sundays.-Few water-mills can exceed this. The iron-work of the mill in queftion, as well as of moft of thofe whichohave been made on Mr. Woollery's "model, was prepared at the foundery of Mr. Thomas Gould- e ing, of the Bank Side, Southwark, to whom Iowe itin juftice to declare, that his work is executed with fuch truth and accuracy, as refledt the higheft credit on his manufactory, (c) A pound of fugar from a gallon of raw liquor, is S+ reckoned this. The iron-work of the mill in queftion, as well as of moft of thofe whichohave been made on Mr. Woollery's "model, was prepared at the foundery of Mr. Thomas Gould- e ing, of the Bank Side, Southwark, to whom Iowe itin juftice to declare, that his work is executed with fuch truth and accuracy, as refledt the higheft credit on his manufactory, (c) A pound of fugar from a gallon of raw liquor, is S+ reckoned --- Page 284 --- HISTORY OF THE EO 0 K THE above component parts are natural-to, V. and are found in, all cane-juice; befides which, the following matters are ufually contained in it. Some of the bands or green tops, which ferve to tie the canes in bundles, are frequently ground in, and yield a raw acid juice exceedingly difpofed to ferment, and render the whole liguor four. Some pieces of the trath or ligneous part ofethe canc; fome dirt; and laftly, a fubftance of fome importance, which, as Sit has no name, I will call the cruf. The cruft is a thin black coat of matter that furrounds the cane between the joints, beginning at each joint and gradually growing thinner the farther from the joint upwards, till the upper part between the joints appears entirely free from it, and refumes its bright yellow colour. It is frequently thick enough to be fcaled offby the point of a penknife. It is a fine black powder, that mixes with the clammy exudations perfpired from the cane, and is moft probably produced by animalcula. As the fairnefs of the fugar is one of the marks ofits ggodnefs, a fmall quantity of fuch a fubftance muft confiderably prejudice the commodity. THE procefs for obtaining the fugar is thus conduéted. Thej juice or liquor runs from the receiver to the boiling-houfe, along a wooden reckoned in Jamaica very good yielding. Sugar, chemically analyled,) yields phlegm, acid, oil, and fpongy glolly charcoal. gutter --- Page 285 --- WEST INDIES. 26; gutter lined with lead. In the boiling-houfe it CHAP, is received (according to the modern improved II. fyftem which almoft univerfally prevails in Jamaica) into one of the copper pans or cauldrons called clarifiers. Of thefe, there are commonly three ; and their dimenfions are generally determined by the power of fupplying them with liquor, There are water-mills that will grind with great eafe canes fufficient for thirty hogf heads of fugar in a week. On plantations thus happily provided, the means of quick boiling are indifpenfibly requifite, or the cane-liquor will unavoidably become tainted before it can be expofed to the fire. The pureft cane-juice will not remain twenty minutes in the receiver without fermenting (d). Clarifiers, therefore, are fometimes feen of one thoufand gallons each. But as powers of the extent defcribed are uncommon, I Thall rather confine myfelf to fuch properties as fall (4) As cane-juice is fo very liable to ferment, it is neceflary alfo that the canes fhoukl be ground as foon as poffible after they are cut, and great care taken to throw afide thofe which are tainted, w hich may afterward be ground for the ftill-houfe. Perhaps it is not an extravagant hope that the time will come, when the falt of the cane which we call fugar, will be made to chryftallize, by the aétion of fire on the juice of the cane, in as pure and tranfparenta form, as the falt of deawater is frequently made to do in thefe climates, by the action of the fun's rays. The brown colour of mufcovado fugar, feems thofe which are tainted, w hich may afterward be ground for the ftill-houfe. Perhaps it is not an extravagant hope that the time will come, when the falt of the cane which we call fugar, will be made to chryftallize, by the aétion of fire on the juice of the cane, in as pure and tranfparenta form, as the falt of deawater is frequently made to do in thefe climates, by the action of the fun's rays. The brown colour of mufcovado fugar, feems --- Page 286 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK fall within the reack of dailyo obfervation : to pianV. tations, for inftance, that make on a medium y during crop-time, from fifteen to twenty hogfheads of fugar a week. On fuch - eftates, three clarifiers of three or four hundred gallons each, are fufficient. With pans of this fize, the liquor, when clarified, may be drawn off at once, and there is leifure tp cleanfe the veffels every time they are ufed. Each clarifier is provided either with a fyphon or cock for drawing off the liquor. It has a flat bottom, and is hung to a feparate fire, each,chimney having an iron flider, which being fhut, the fire goes out for want of air. Thefe circumftances are indifpenfible, and the advantages of them will prefently be fhewn (e). THE feems to me to be derived chiefly from the effeét of fire, operating on the gummy parts or mucilage of the raw juice; to deftroy or feparate which, in the firft clarifier, is theogreat defideratum. If this could be accomplifhed, the more watery particles might afterward be evaporated without injuring the colour of the effential falt, which would then ftrike into chryftals nearly tranfparent. (e) The clarifiers are commonly placed in the middle or at one end of the boiling houfe. If at one end, the boiler called the teache is placed at the other, and feveral boilers (generally three) are ranged between them. The teache is ordinarily from 70 to 1OO gallons, and the boilers between the clarifiers and teache diminifh in fize from the firft to the laft? Where the clarifiers are in the middle, there is ufually a fet of three boilers of each fide, which conftitute in effect a double boiling-houfe, On very large eftates this arrange2 ment --- Page 287 --- WEST INDIES. THE ftream then from the receiver having CHAP. filled the clarifier with freth liquor, and the fire II. being lighted, the temper, which is commonly 1 Briftol white-lime in powder, is ftirred intoit., One great intention of this is to neutralize the fuperabundant acid, and which to get properly rid of, is the great difficulty in fugar-making. This-is generally effeéted by the Alkali or lime ; part of which, at the fame time, becomes the bafis of the fugar. The quantity neceffary for this purpofe, muft of courfe vary with the quality both of the lime and of the cane-liquor.- Some planters allow a pint of Briftol lime to every hundred gallons of liquor; but this proportion I believe is generally found too large. The lime is perceptible in the fugar both to the fmell and tafte, and precipitates in the copper pans a black infoluble calx, which fcorches the bottom of the veffels, and is not detached without difficulty. I conceive therefore that little more than half the quantity mentioned above, is a better medium proportion, and, in order that lels ofit may be precipitated to the bottom, an inconveniency attending the ufe of dry lime, Mr. Boufie's method of diffolving it in boiling water, ment is found ufeful and neceffary. The objeétion to fo great a number is the expence of fuel, to obviate which in fome degree, the three boilers on each fide of the clarifiers are comnonly hung to one firc. previous more than half the quantity mentioned above, is a better medium proportion, and, in order that lels ofit may be precipitated to the bottom, an inconveniency attending the ufe of dry lime, Mr. Boufie's method of diffolving it in boiling water, ment is found ufeful and neceffary. The objeétion to fo great a number is the expence of fuel, to obviate which in fome degree, the three boilers on each fide of the clarifiers are comnonly hung to one firc. previous --- Page 288 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK previous to mixing it with the cane-juice, appears V. to me to be highly judicious (f). As the fire encreafes in force, and the liquor agrows hot, a fcum is thrown up, which is formed of the mucilage or gummy matter of the cane, with fome of the oil; and fuch impurities as the mucilage is capable of entangling. The heat is now fuffered gradually to encreafe, until it rifes (f) This gentleman (Mr. Boufie) to whom the affembly of Jamaica gave 6- 1,0co for his improvements in the art of fugar-boiling, in a paper diftributed by him among the members, recommends the ufe of a vegetable alkali, or afhes of wood calcinated, fuch as pimento-tree, dumb-cane, ferntree, cafhew, or logwood, as affording a better temper than quick-lime; but he was afterwards fenfible that fugar formed on the bafis of fixed alkaline falts never ftands the fea, unlefs fome earth is joined with the-falts. Such earth as approaches neareft to that which is the obafis of allum, would perhaps be moft proper. As fugar on a vegetable alkaline bafis, is generally as much fuperior in colour, as that on lime is in grain; how far a judicious mixture of vegetable alkaline falts and lime, might prove 2 better temper than either lime or alkaline falts alone, Îs an enquiry that ought to be purfued. If there were no redundant acid in cane-liquor, lime and any other alkali would be hurtful, as may be fhewn by adding a few grains of lime or alkali to a clear folution of refined fugar: a precipitation will enfue. In fome parts of Jamaica, where the cane-liquor was exceedingly rich, Mr. Boufie made very good fugar without a particle of temper, I have faid, that too much temper is perceptible in the fugar, both to the fmell and tafte; it might be added, and alo to the Fght. It tinges the liquor firft yellow, and if in excefs turns it to a dark red. Too much temper likewife prevents the melaffes from feparating from the fugar when it is potted or put into the hogfhcad. to of Jamaica, where the cane-liquor was exceedingly rich, Mr. Boufie made very good fugar without a particle of temper, I have faid, that too much temper is perceptible in the fugar, both to the fmell and tafte; it might be added, and alo to the Fght. It tinges the liquor firft yellow, and if in excefs turns it to a dark red. Too much temper likewife prevents the melaffes from feparating from the fugar when it is potted or put into the hogfhcad. to --- Page 289 --- WEST INDIES. to within a few degrees of the heat of boiling CHAP. water. The liquor muft by no means be fuffered II. ) to boil: it is known to be fufficiently heated when the fcum begins to rife into blifters, which break into white froth, and appear in general in about forty minutes. The damper is then applied, and the fire extinguifhed; after which, the liquor is fuffered to remain a full hour, if circumftances will admit, undifturbed; during this interval great part of the feculencies and impurities will attract each other, and rife in the fcum. The liquor is now carefully drawn of, either by a fyphon, which draws up a pure defecated ftream through the feum, or by means of a cock at the bottom. In either cafe the fcum finks down unbroken as the liquor flows, its tenacity preventing any admixture. The liquor is received into a gutter or channel, which conveys it to the'évaporating boiler, commonly called the grand copper, and, 'if originally produced from good and untainted canes, will now appear almoft, if not perfectly, tranfparent (g-) THE advantage of clarifying the liquor in this manner, inftead of forcing an immediate ebullition, as praétifed formerly, is vifible to the (g) The merit ofintroducing into Jamaica the clarifers at prefent in ufe, with fyphons and dampers, was claimed by Mr. Samuel Sainthill, and an exclufive patent, to fecure his claim, was granted to him in 1778 by an act of the affembly. moft --- Page 290 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK moft inattentive obferver. The labour which V. it faves in fcumming is wonderful. Y Neither car. fcumming properly cleanfe the fubject; ; for when the liquor boils violently, the whole body ofit circulates with fuch rapidity, as to carry down again the very impurities that had come up to 6 the furface, and with a lefs violent heat would have ftaid there. IN the grand, or evaporating, copper, which fhould be large enough to receive the net contents of one of the clarifiers, the liquor is fuffered tô boil; and as the fcum rifes, it is continually taken off by large fcummers, until the liquor grows finer and fomewhat thicker. This labour is continued until, from the fcumming and evaporation, the fubject is fufficiently reduced in quantity to be contained in the next or fecond copper, into which it is then laded. The liquor is now nearly ofthe colour of Madeira wine. In the fecond copper the boiling and fcumming are continued; and if the fubject is not fo clean as is expeéted, lime-water is thrown into it. This addition is intended not merely to give more temper, but alfo. to dilute the liquor, which fometimes thickens too faft to permit the feculencies to run togetherand rife in the fcum. Liquor is faid to have a good appearance in the fecond copper, when the froth in boiling arifes in large bubbles, and is but little difcoloured. When, from and fcumming are continued; and if the fubject is not fo clean as is expeéted, lime-water is thrown into it. This addition is intended not merely to give more temper, but alfo. to dilute the liquor, which fometimes thickens too faft to permit the feculencies to run togetherand rife in the fcum. Liquor is faid to have a good appearance in the fecond copper, when the froth in boiling arifes in large bubbles, and is but little difcoloured. When, from --- Page 291 --- WEST INBIES. from fuch fcumming and evaporation, the liquor CHAP. is again fufficiently reduced to be contained in II. the third copper, it is laded into it, and fo on to 1 the laft copper, which is called the teache. This arrangement fuppofes four boilers or coppers, exclufive of. the three clarifiers. In the teache the fubject is ftill further evaporated, till it isjudged fufficiently boiled to be removed from the fire: This operation is ufually called Ariking ; i. e. lading the liquor, now exceedingly thick, into the cooler. THE cooler, of which there are commonly fix, is a Thallow wooden veffel, about eleven inches deep, feven, feet in length, ard from five to fix feet wide. A cooler of this fize holds a hogfhead of fugar. Here the fugar grains; ; i. e. as it cools, it runs into a coarfe irregular mafs of femiformed cryftals, feparating itfelf from the melaffes. From the cooler it is carried to the curing-houfe, where the melaffes drains from it (h). BuT, before we follow it into the curinghoufe, it may be proper to notice the rule for (h) It may be proper in this place to obferve, that, in order to obtain a large-grained fugar, it muft be fuffered tos cool Roly and gradually. If the coolers are too fhallow, the grain is injured in a furprifing manner. Any perfon may be convinced of this, by pouring fome of the hot fyrup, when fit for ftriking, into a pewter plate. He will imnediately find it will have a very fmall grain. judging --- Page 292 --- HISTORY OF THE EOOK judging when the fubject is fufficiently evapoV. rated for Ariking, or become fit for being laded Y from the teache to the cooler. . Many of the negro boilers guels folely by the eye (which by long habit they do with great accuracy) judging by the appearance of the grain on the back of the ladle; but the praétice moft in ufe is to judge by what is called the toguch; i. e. taking up with the thumb a fmall portion of the hot liquor from the ladle 5 and, as the heat diminifhes, drawing with the forefinger the liquid into a thread. This thread will fuddenly break, and fhrink from the thumb to the fufpended finger, in different lengths, according as the liquor is more or lefs boiled. The proper boiling height for ftrong mufcovado fugar, is generally determined by a thread of a quarter of an inch long. It is evident that certainty in this experiment can be attained only by long habit, and that no verbal precepts will furnifh any degree of fkill in a matter depending wholly on conftant practice (i). INow (i) It is probable that from this praétice of trying.by the touch (tadtio) the veffel called the teache derives its name. A method more certain and fcientifick was recommended fome years ago to the publick, by my learned friend John Proculus Baker, Efquire, Barrifter at Law, in the Ifland of Jamaica, in a Treatife publifhed by him, in 1775, intituled, An EJay on the Art of making Mufcovado Sngar. It is as follows : 6 Provide a finall thin pane of clear crown glafs, fet 6 in a frame, which I would call a tryer; on this drop two or 66 three derives its name. A method more certain and fcientifick was recommended fome years ago to the publick, by my learned friend John Proculus Baker, Efquire, Barrifter at Law, in the Ifland of Jamaica, in a Treatife publifhed by him, in 1775, intituled, An EJay on the Art of making Mufcovado Sngar. It is as follows : 6 Provide a finall thin pane of clear crown glafs, fet 6 in a frame, which I would call a tryer; on this drop two or 66 three --- Page 293 --- WEST INDIES. ixow return to the curing-houfe, which is a CHA P. large airy building, provided with a capacious II. melafles ciftern, the fides of which are floped and Y lined with terras, or boards. Over this ciftern there is a frame of maffy joift-work without boarding. On the joifts of this frame, empty hogheads, without headings, are ranged. In the bottoms of thefe hog(heads eight or ten holes are bored, through each of which the ftalk ofa plantain leaf is thruft, fix or eight inches below 4 three drops of the fubjeét, one on the other, and carry your 66 tryer out of the boiling-houfe into the air, Obferve your 6 fubjedt, and more particularly whether it grains freely, and k whether a fmall edge of melaffes feparates at the bottom. 66 Iam well fatisfied that a little experience will enable you to k judge what appearance the whole fkip will put On, when 66 cold, by this fpecimen, which is alfo cold. This method is 66 ufed by chemifts, to try evaporated folutions of all other 66 falts, it may feem, therefore, fomewhat ftrange, it has not d been long adopted in thc boiling-houfe."- 1 cannot mention Mr. Baker's Treatife, without obferving, that I am confiderably indebted, to it in the courfe of this chapter, having adopted (with fome fmall variation, founded on late improvements) his account of the procefs of boiling fugar. But the inhabitants of the fugar illands are under ftill greater obligations to Mr. Baker; ;-for it appears to me, that the prefent improved fyftem of clarifying the cane-liquor, by means of veflels bung to feparate fires, and provided with dampers to prevent ebullition, was firit fuggefted to Mr. Sainthill (who three years afterwards claimed the merit of thei invention) by the treatife in queftion : a performance thaf, for ufeful knowledge, lucid order, and elegance, both in arrangement and compolition, would have done honour to the firft writer of the age. VoL. II, T the ent improved fyftem of clarifying the cane-liquor, by means of veflels bung to feparate fires, and provided with dampers to prevent ebullition, was firit fuggefted to Mr. Sainthill (who three years afterwards claimed the merit of thei invention) by the treatife in queftion : a performance thaf, for ufeful knowledge, lucid order, and elegance, both in arrangement and compolition, would have done honour to the firft writer of the age. VoL. II, T the --- Page 294 --- HISTORY OF TNE BOOK the joifts, and is long enough to ftand upright V. above the top of the hogfhead. Into thefe hogf heads the mais from the cooler is put, which is called potting ; and the melaffes drains through the fpungy ftalk and drops into the ciftern, from whence it is occafionally taken for diftillation. The fugar in about three weeks grows tolerably dry and fair. It is then faid to be cured, and the procefs is finifhed (k). SUGAR, thus obtained, is called mufcovado, and is the raw material from whence the Britith fugar-bakers chiefly make their loaf, or refined lump. There is another fort, which was formerly much approved in Great Britain for domeftick purpofes, and was generally known by the name of Lifbon fugar. It is fair, but of a foft texture, and in the Weft Indies is called clayed fugar; the procefs is conduéted as follows : A QUANTITY of fugar from the cooler is put into conical pots or pans, called by the French formes, with the points downwards, having a hole about half an inch in diameter at the bottom, for the melaffes to drain through, but which at firft is clofed with a plug. When the fugar in thefe pots is cool, and become a fixed body, which is difcoverable by the middle of the top falling in (generally about twelve hours from the (k) Thecuring-heufefhouldi be clofe and warm-as warmth contributes to free the fugar from the melaffes. firit --- Page 295 --- W E ST INDIES. firft potting of the hot fugar) the plug is taken CHAP. out, and the pot placed over a large jar, intended II. Y to receive the fyrup or melaffes that drains from it. In this ftate it is left as long as the melaffes continues to drop, which it will do from twelve to twenty-four hours, when a ftratum of clay is fpread on the fugar; and moiftened with water; which oozing imperceptibly through the pores of the clay, unites intimately with; and dilutes the melaffes, confequently more of it comes away than from fugar cured in the hogthead; and the fugar of courfe becomes fo much the whiter and purer. The procefs, according to Sloane, was firft difcovered in Brafil, by accident ; 66 a hen," fays he, < having her feet dirty; going over a pot 66 of fugar, it was found under her tread to be s6 whiter than elfewhere." The reafon afligned why this procefs is not univerfally adopted in the Britilh fugar iflands, is this, that the water which dilutes and carries away the melaffes, diffolves and carries with it fo much of the fugar, that the difference in quality does not pay for the difference in quantity. The French planters probably think otherwife, upwards of four hundred of the plantations of St. Domingo having the neceffàry apparatus for claying, and actually carrying on the fyftem (4). OF (I) The lofs in weight by claying is about one third; thus a por of 6olbs. is reduced to 40 lbs. but if the melaffes whieh T 2 is olves and carries with it fo much of the fugar, that the difference in quality does not pay for the difference in quantity. The French planters probably think otherwife, upwards of four hundred of the plantations of St. Domingo having the neceffàry apparatus for claying, and actually carrying on the fyftem (4). OF (I) The lofs in weight by claying is about one third; thus a por of 6olbs. is reduced to 40 lbs. but if the melaffes whieh T 2 is --- Page 296 --- HISTORY OF THE B OOK V. ,OF R U M. HAVING now furnifhed the reader with the beft account Iam able to give of the art of making fugar from the cane-juice, I Chall proceed to a fubfequent procefs, to which this invaluable plant hath given birth : H mean that of extracting from it, by fermentation and diftillation, one of the pureft, moft fragrant, and falutary fpirits in the world; a procefs of far greater curiofity than the former, and of almoft equal importance in point of value, confidering that the fpirit procured by its means, is obtained from the very dregs and feculencies ofthe plant. THE ftill-houfes on the fugar-plantations in the Britifh Weft Indies, vary greatly in point of fize and expence, according to the fancy of the proprietor, or the magnitude of the property. In general, however, they are built in a fubftantial manner of ftone, and are commonly equal in extent to both the boiling and curing-houfes together. Large ftills, by which I mean fuch as is drawn off in this pradtice be reboiled, it will give near 40 per cent. of fugar; fo that the real lofs is little more than onefixth; but the diftillery.in that cafe will fuffer for want ofthe melaffes, and on the whole I believe that the ufage of the Englith planters in fhipping Mufeovado fugar, and diftilling the melaffes, is more generally profitable than the fyftem of clnying, contain --- Page 297 --- WEST INDIES. contain from one to three thoufand gallons, have CHAP. this advantage over fmall ones; that they are II. purchafed at firftat a lels proportionate expence. A ftill of two thoufand gallons, with freight and charges, will coft but little more than one of one thoufand five hundred gallons, and is befides worked with but little more fuel. But as it is not every proprietor that has the means of employing ftills of that magnitude, I Chall confider fuch as are fitting for a plantation making, commanibus annis, two hundred hogtheads of fugar of fixteen hundred weight, and proceed to defcribe, according to the beft of my obfervation and experience, the mode of conduéting fuch an apparatus on fuch a property, in making rum to the greateft advantage. For a plantation of that defcription, I conceive that two copper ftills, the one of one thoufand two hundred, and the other of fix hundred gallons, wine meafure, with proportionate pewter worms, are fofficient. The fize of the tanks (or tubs) for containing the cold water in which the worms are immerfed, muft depend on circumftances: if the advantage can be obtained of a running ftream, the water may be kept abundantly cool in a veffel barely large enough to contain the worm If the plantation has no other dependence than that of pond-water, a fone tank is infinitely fuperior to a tub, as being T 3 longer gallons, wine meafure, with proportionate pewter worms, are fofficient. The fize of the tanks (or tubs) for containing the cold water in which the worms are immerfed, muft depend on circumftances: if the advantage can be obtained of a running ftream, the water may be kept abundantly cool in a veffel barely large enough to contain the worm If the plantation has no other dependence than that of pond-water, a fone tank is infinitely fuperior to a tub, as being T 3 longer --- Page 298 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK longer in heating, and if it can be made to V. tain from twenty to thirty thoufand congallons, the worms of both the ftills may be placed in the fame body of water, and kept cool enough for condenfing the fpirit, by occafional fupplies of frefh water. FoR working thefe ftills, it is neceffary to provide, firft, a dunder-ciftern, ofat leaft three thoufand gallons ; fecondly, a ciftern for the fcummings ; laftly, twelve fermenting vats or cifterns, each of them of the contents of the largeft ftill, viz. one thoufand two hundred gallons. In Jamaica, cifterns are made of plank, fixed in clay; and are univer'ally preferred to vats, or moveable veffels, for the purpofe of fermenting. They are not fo eafily affeéted by the changes of the weather, nor fo liable to leak as vats, and they laft much longer. But in the Britith diftilleries, fermenting cifterns are, I believe, unknown. To complete the apparatus, it is neceffary to add two or more copper pumps for conveying the liquor from the cifterns, and pumping up the dunder, and alfo butts or other veffels for fecuring the fpirit when obtained ; and it is ufual to build a rum-ftore adjoining the ftill-houfe. THE ingredients, or materials, that fet the various apparatus I have defcribed into action, confift of, ift. MELASSES, or treacle drained from the fugar, as already defcribed. 2dly. --- Page 299 --- WEST INDIES. 2dly. ScUMMINGS ofthe hot cane-juice, from CHAP. the boiling-houfe, or fometimes raw-cane liquor, II. from canes expreffed for the purpofe. 3dly. LEES, OT, as it is called in Jamaica, dunder (m). 4thly. WATER. THE ufe of dunder in the making of rum, anfwers the purpofe of yeaft in the fermentation of flour. It is the lees or feculencies of former diftillations ; and fome few planters preferve it for ufe, from one crop to another ; but this is a bad praétice. Some fermented liquor, therefore, compofed of fweets and water alone, ought to be diftilled in the firft inftance, that frefh dunder may. be obtained, It is a diffolvent menftruum, and certainly occafions the fweets with which it is combined, whether melaffes or fcummings, to yield a far greater proportion of fpirit than can be obtained without its affiftance. The water which is added, aéts in fome degree in the fame manner by dilution. IN the Windward Iflands the procefs, according to Colonel Martin, is conduéted as follows: SCUMMINGS, one-third. LEES, or dunder, one-third. WATER, one-third. (m) From redundar, Spanifh-the fame as redundans in Latin. T 4 WHEN is combined, whether melaffes or fcummings, to yield a far greater proportion of fpirit than can be obtained without its affiftance. The water which is added, aéts in fome degree in the fame manner by dilution. IN the Windward Iflands the procefs, according to Colonel Martin, is conduéted as follows: SCUMMINGS, one-third. LEES, or dunder, one-third. WATER, one-third. (m) From redundar, Spanifh-the fame as redundans in Latin. T 4 WHEN --- Page 300 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK WHEN thefe ingredients are well mixed in V. the fermenting cifterns, and are Y pretty cool, the fermentation will rife, in twenty-four hours, to a proper height for admitting the firft charge of melaffes, of which fix gallons (n) for every hundred gallons of the fermenting liquor, is the general proportion to be given at twice, viz. 3 per cent. at the firlt charge, and the other 3 per cent. a day or two afterwards, when the'liquor is in a high ftate of fermentation; the heat of which, however, fhould not in general be fuffered to exceed from ninety to ninety-four degrees on Fahrenheit's thermometer (0). WHEN the fermentation falls by cafy degrees from the fifth to the feventh or cighth day (p), fo as then to grow fine, and throw up flowly a few clear beads or air globules, it is ripe for dif tillation; and the liquor or wafh being conveyed into the largeft ftill, which muft not be filled higher than within eight or ten inches of the brim, left the head fhould fly, a fteady and regular fire muft be kept up until it boils, after (n) This quantity of mclaffies, added to a third of fcummings, gives 113 per cent. of fweets, fix gallons of feummings being reckoned equal to one gallon of melafles. (0) The infulion of hot water will raife, and of cold water abate the fermentation. (p) When the liquor is firft fet at the beginning ofthe crop (the houfe bcing cold, and the cifterns not faturated) it wili not bc fit for diftillation underten or twelve days. which up until it boils, after (n) This quantity of mclaffies, added to a third of fcummings, gives 113 per cent. of fweets, fix gallons of feummings being reckoned equal to one gallon of melafles. (0) The infulion of hot water will raife, and of cold water abate the fermentation. (p) When the liquor is firft fet at the beginning ofthe crop (the houfe bcing cold, and the cifterns not faturated) it wili not bc fit for diftillation underten or twelve days. which --- Page 301 --- WEST INDIES. which a little fuel will ferve. In about two hours CHAP. the vapour or fpirit being condenfed by the amII. bient fluid, will force its way through the worm - in the fhape of a ftream, as clear and tranfparent as cryftal; and it is fuffered to run until it is no longer inflammable, THE fpirit which is thus obtained goes by the appellation of low-zines. To make it rum of the Jamaica proof, it undergoes a fecond diftillation, of which I thall prefently fpeak; but previoufly thereto, I Chall point out fome little variation between the praétice of the Jamaica diftillers and thofe of the Windward Iflands, obfervable in the firit procefs. This confifts chiefly in a more copious ufe of dunder (9). The following (g) As the ue of dunder is to diffolve the tenacity ofthe faccharine matter, it fhould be proportioned not only to the quantity, but alfo to the nature of the fweets. Thus, when the fweets in the fermenting ciftern confift of melaffes alone, as generally happens after the bufinefs of fugar-boiling is finifhed, when no fcummings are to be had, a greater proportion of dunder is neceffary; 3 becaufe melaffes is a body of greater tenacity than cane-liquor, and is rendered fo vifcous and indurated by the aétion of the fire, as to be unfit for fermentation without the moft powerfil faline and acid flimulators. For the fame reafon, at the beginning of the crop, when no melaffes is to be had, and the fweets confift of cane-juice or fcummings alone, very little dunder is neceffary. In fuch cafe I fhould not recommend above 20 per cent. at the utmoft. Dunder, in a large quantity, certainly injures the) Ravour, although it may encreafe the quantity of the fpirit. We: are informed by Dr. Shaw, that the diftillers in England add flimulators. For the fame reafon, at the beginning of the crop, when no melaffes is to be had, and the fweets confift of cane-juice or fcummings alone, very little dunder is neceffary. In fuch cafe I fhould not recommend above 20 per cent. at the utmoft. Dunder, in a large quantity, certainly injures the) Ravour, although it may encreafe the quantity of the fpirit. We: are informed by Dr. Shaw, that the diftillers in England add --- Page 302 --- 38z HISTORY OF THE BOOK lowing being a. very general, and, I believe, an V. improved method, in Jamaica, of compounding the feveral ingredients, viz. Dunder add many things to the fermenting liquor, or wafh, in order to augment the vinofity of the fpirit, or give it a particular favour. He obfervés, that a little tartar, nitre, or common falt, is fometimes thrown in at the beginning of the operation, or in their ftead a little of the vegetable or finer mineral acid. Thefe are thought to be of great ufe in the fermenting of folutions of treacle, honey, and the like fweet and rich vegetable juices, which contain a fmall proportion of acid. I have heard, that a fimilaropra@ice prevails among the diftillers in St. Chriftopher's; fome of whom confider an addition of fea-water to the fermenting liquor (in what proportion I cannot fay): as a real and great improvement. Shaw recommends the juice of Seville oranges, lemons, and tamarinds, or other very acid fruits, and, above all other things, an aqueous folution of tartar; but I conceive that dunder alone anfwers every purpofe. He likewife recommends to the diftiller to introduce into the fermenting ciftern a few gallons of the reétified fpirit, which he fays will come back, with a large: addition to the quantity offpirit that would otherwife have arifen from the diftillation.-As I have tried none ofthefe experiments, I can fay nothing in their favour ofmy own knowledge; but I believe that a fmali quantity of vegetable afhes, thrown into the rum-ftill, will be found ferviceable. The alkaline falts are fuppofed to attenuate the fpirit and keep back the grofs and fetid oil, which the diftillers call thefaints; : but if ufed in too great a quantity, they may keep back alfo a proportion of the fine effential oil, on which the favour of the rum wholly depends. Perhaps the moft important objeêt of attention, in the making rum of a good flavour, is cleanlingfs; forall adventitious or foreign fubftances deftroy or change the peculiar flavour of the fpirit. In truth, it fhould be a conftant rule with the manager or diftiller to fee that fetid oil, which the diftillers call thefaints; : but if ufed in too great a quantity, they may keep back alfo a proportion of the fine effential oil, on which the favour of the rum wholly depends. Perhaps the moft important objeêt of attention, in the making rum of a good flavour, is cleanlingfs; forall adventitious or foreign fubftances deftroy or change the peculiar flavour of the fpirit. In truth, it fhould be a conftant rule with the manager or diftiller to fee that --- Page 303 --- W E S T INDIES. Dunder one half, or - 5o gallons CHAP. Melaffes - 6 gallons II. Sweets 12 Scummings 36 gallons L 42 / per cent. (equal to 6 gallons gallons, more of melaffes) Water 8 gallons 1OO gallons, OF this mixture (or waf, as it is fometimes called) one thoufand two hundred gallons ought to produce three hundred gallons of low-wines; and the ftill may be twiçe charged and drawn off in one day, The method of adding all the melaffes at once, which is done foon after the fermentation commences, renders the procefs fafe and expeditious; whereas by charging the melaffes at different, times, the fermentation is checked, and the procefs delayed. LET us now complete the procefs according to the Jamaica method. The low-wines obtained as above, are drawn off into a butt or veffel, and, as opportunity ferves, are conveyed into the fecond fill of fix hundred gallons, to undergo a further diftillation. The fteam begins to run in about one hour and a half, and will give, in the courfe of the day, two hundred and twenty galthat the cifterns are calded, and even cleanfed with ftrong lime-water, each time they are ufed ; not merely on account ofthe rui, but alfo becaufe it has frequently happened thac the vapour of a foul ciftern has inftantiy killed the firft perfon that has entered it without due preçaution. lons, --- Page 304 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK Jons, or two puncheons, of oil-proof rum, i.e. V. of fpirit in which olive oil will fink ; and thus the manufaéture, if it may be fo called, is complete. There will remain in the ftill a confiderable quantity of weaker fpirit, commonly about feventy gallons, which is returned to the lowwine butt. Thus two hundred and twenty gallons of proof rum are, in fact, made from five hundred and thirty gallons oflow-wines; orabout onc hundred and thirteen of rum from one thoufand twohundred of wafh (r). By means of the apparatus and procefs which I have thus defcribed, the Jamaica diftiller may fill weekly, working only by day-light (a neceffary precaution in this employment) and at a fmall expence of labour and fuel, twelve puncheons of rum, containing each one hundred and ten gallons of the Jamaica ftandard. The proportion of the whole rum to the crop of fugar, is commonly eftimated in Jamaica as three to four. Thus a plantation of the above defcription is fuppofed to fupply annually one hundred and fifty puncheons of rum of one hundred and (r) Proof fpirit of any kind weighs feven pounds twelve ounces per gallon. According to the Englith hydroftatical table, the cubic inch of proof fpirit weighs 9 p. wt. 19-73 gr. troy, or 8.62dr. avoirdupois. But it has been found that a cubic inch of good brandy is TO grains heavier in winter than in fummer, and that 32 gallons of fpirirs in winter will make 33 in fummer. ten one hundred and fifty puncheons of rum of one hundred and (r) Proof fpirit of any kind weighs feven pounds twelve ounces per gallon. According to the Englith hydroftatical table, the cubic inch of proof fpirit weighs 9 p. wt. 19-73 gr. troy, or 8.62dr. avoirdupois. But it has been found that a cubic inch of good brandy is TO grains heavier in winter than in fummer, and that 32 gallons of fpirirs in winter will make 33 in fummer. ten --- Page 305 --- WEST INDIES. ten gallons each ; or eighty-two gallons of Ja- CHAP. maica proof to each hog(head of fugars-and II. this return I do believe is fometimes fairly made from canes planted in rich and moift lands; but on a general eftimate, Ithink it too great an allowance, and that two hundred gallons ofrum to three hogfheads of fugar, which is in the proportion of about two-thirds rum to the crop of fugar, is nearer the truth (s). THE (s) This will be better underftood by attending to the following particulars :-The general fupply of fcummings to the ftill-houfe is feven gallons out of every IOO gallons of cane-liquor. Suppofing, therefore, that 2,000 gallons of cane-juice is required for each hogfhead of fugar of 16 cwt. the fcummings, on a plantation making 200 hogfheads per annum, will be 28,000 gallons, equal to - 4,666 gallons of melafles. Add the melaffes from the curing-houfe, which, if the fugar is of a good quality, will feldom exceed fixty gallons 12,000 per hogthead Total of fweets 16,666 galions. This, diftilled at and after the rate of 121 per cent. fweets in the fermenting ciftern, will give 34,720 gallons of low-wines, which ought to produce 14,412 gallons of good proof rum, or 131 puncheons of IIO gallons each. When a greater proportion than this Îs made, one or other of thefe circumftances muft exift, either the fugar difcharges an unufual quantity of melaffes, or the boiling-houfe is defrauded of the cane-liquor by improper fcumming. This latter circumftance frequently happens. It fhould alfo be obferved, that iti is the praétice oflate, with many planters, to raife the proof of rum; thus gaining in ftrength --- Page 306 --- z86 HISTORY OF THE BOOK THE reader will pleafe to recolleét, that It V. this, and the preceding chapter, the obfervations which I have made, both concerning the cultivation ofthe fugar-cane in the field, and the fubfequent proceffes of the boiling houfe and diftillery, have been drawn chiefly from the praétice of Jamaica. Some felection was neceffary, and I could refer to no mode of conduéting a fugar plantation, with fuch propriety as to that with which I am myfelf practically acquainted.- My next enquiries will relate to the particulars of the firft coft of this fpecies of property, to the current expences attending it, and to the returns which may be reafonably expeéted from a capital thus employed; and here again my eftimates will refer chiefly to Jamaica. That there is a confiderable variation in fome of the Windward Iflands, I have no doubt. In St. Chriftopher's, for inftance, fome of the lands are certainly more valuable than the very beft in Jamaica; but, on the other hand, Jamaica is exempted from the duty of 41 per cent. and has other advantages, which probably make the fcale even, ftrength of fpirit, what is loft in quantity: and there are managers who make it a rule to return the fcummings tot the clarifiers, inftead of fending them to the ftill-houfe, This laitmentioned praétice reduces the crop of rum more than onethird ; but is fuppofed to yield in fugar more than is loft in rum ; and if the price of fugar is very high, and that of rum very low, it may be prudent to adopt this method. 41 per cent. and has other advantages, which probably make the fcale even, ftrength of fpirit, what is loft in quantity: and there are managers who make it a rule to return the fcummings tot the clarifiers, inftead of fending them to the ftill-houfe, This laitmentioned praétice reduces the crop of rum more than onethird ; but is fuppofed to yield in fugar more than is loft in rum ; and if the price of fugar is very high, and that of rum very low, it may be prudent to adopt this method. --- Page 307 --- WEST INDIES CHA A P. III. Capital neceffary in the fettlement Or purchafe of a Ingar plantation of a given extent.-The lands, buildings, and Rock Jeparately confidered.-Particulars andcof.-Grofs returns from the property. -Annual Difburfements. - Net profts.-Varions contingent charges not taken into the account.- Diference not commonly attended 10, in the mode of efimating the profits ef an Englifh efate, and one in the Wef Indien.-Iafarance of Wep India eflates in time of war, and other occafional deductions.-The quefion, ahy the cultivation of the Sugar Mands has encreafed, under fo many difcouragements, confidered and difcufed. AsUGAR plantation confifts of three great CHAP. parts; the Lands, the Buildings, and the Stock: : III. but before I proceed to difcriminate their rela- 2 tive proportions and value, it may be proper to obferve, that the bufinefs of fugar planting is a fort of adventure in which the man that engages, muft engage deeply.-There is no medium, and very feldom the poffibility of retreat. A Britith country gentleman, who is content to jog on without rifk on the moderate profits of his own moderate farm, will ftartle to hear that it --- Page 308 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK it requires a capital of no lefs than thirty thouV. fand pounds fterling to embark in this employment with a fair profpeét of advantage, To elucidate this pofition, it muft be underftood that the annual contingencies of a fimall or moderate plantation, are very nearly equal to thofe of an eftate ofthree times the magnitude. A property, for inftance, producing annually one hundred hogfheads of fagar of fixteen cwt. has occafion for fimilar white fervants, and for buildings and utenfils of nearly the fame extent and number as a plantation yielding from two to three hundred fuch hogfheads, with rum in proportion. In fpeaking of capital, I mean either money, or a folid well-eftablifhed credit ; for there is this effential difference attending loans obtained on landed eftates in Great Britain, and thofe which are advanced on the credit of Weft Indian plantations, that an Englith mortgage is a marketable fecurity, which a Weft Indian mortgage is not. In England, if a mortgagee calls for his money, other perfons are ready to advance it: now this feldom happens in regard to property in the Weft Indies. The credit obtained by the fugar-planter is commonly given by men in trade, on the profpeét of fpeedy returns and confiderable advantage; but as men in trade feldom find it convenient to place their money out of their reach for any length of time, the credit which they plantations, that an Englith mortgage is a marketable fecurity, which a Weft Indian mortgage is not. In England, if a mortgagee calls for his money, other perfons are ready to advance it: now this feldom happens in regard to property in the Weft Indies. The credit obtained by the fugar-planter is commonly given by men in trade, on the profpeét of fpeedy returns and confiderable advantage; but as men in trade feldom find it convenient to place their money out of their reach for any length of time, the credit which they --- Page 309 --- WEST INDIES. they give is oftentimes fuddenly withdrawn, and CHAP. the ill-fated planter compelled, on this account, III. to fell his property at much lefs than halfits firft coft. The credit therefore of which I fpeak; confidered as a capital; muft not only be extenfive, but permanent: HAVING premifed thus much, the application of which will hereafter be feen, I fhall employ imy prefent enquiries in afcertaining the fair and well-eftablifhed prices at which a fugar eftate may at this time be purchafed or created; and the profits which may honeftly and reafonably be expeéted from a given capital fo employed 3 founding my eftimate on a plantation producing, one year with another, two hundred hogtheads of fugar of fixteen cwt. and one hundred and thirty puncheons of rum of one hundred and ten gallons each : an eftate of lefs magnitude, I conceive, for the reafons before given, to be comparatively a lofing concern. Afterwards I thall endeavour to account for the eagernefs which has been fhewn by many perfons to adventure in this line of cultivation.--I begin then with the L A N D S. ON a furvey of the general run of the fugar eftates in Jamaica, it is found that the land in canes commonly conftitutes one-third of the VoL. II. U plantation; --- Page 310 --- 2go HISTORY OF THE BOOK plantation another third is appropriated to pafV. turage and the cultivation of provifions, fuch as plantains (a hearty and wholefome food) eddoes, yams, potatoes, caffada, corn, and other vegetable efculents peculiar to the country and climate; and which, with falted fith, fupplied the negroes weekly, and fmall ftock, as pigs and poultry, of their own raifing, make their chief fupport, and in general it is ample. The remaining third is referved in native woods, for the purpofe of furnithing timbers for repairing the various buildings, and fupplying fire-wood for the boiling and diftiling-houfes, in addition to the cane-traih, and for burning lime and bricks.-As therefore a plantation yielding, on an average, two hundred hogfheads of fugar annually, requires, as I conceive, not lefs than three hundred acres to be planted in canes, the whole extent of fuch a property muft be reckoned at nine hundred acres. Lam perfuaded that the fugar plantations in Jamaica making thofe returns, commonly exceed, rather than fall fhort of, this eftimate ; not, as hath been ignorantly afferted, from a fond and avaricious propenfity in the proprietors to engrofs more land than is neceffary; but becaufe, from the nature of the foil, and rugged furface of the country, the lands vary greatly in quality, and it is feldom that even three hundred acres of foil in contiguity, fit for the production of lugar, can be. fugar plantations in Jamaica making thofe returns, commonly exceed, rather than fall fhort of, this eftimate ; not, as hath been ignorantly afferted, from a fond and avaricious propenfity in the proprietors to engrofs more land than is neceffary; but becaufe, from the nature of the foil, and rugged furface of the country, the lands vary greatly in quality, and it is feldom that even three hundred acres of foil in contiguity, fit for the production of lugar, can be. --- Page 311 --- WEST INDIES. be procured. A purchafer therefore muft take CHAP. the bad with the good. Neverthelefs, as it is III. my intention to give as precife an idea as I can of the profits to be made in the fugar-planting bufinefs, under the mof favourable circumfances, I will allow nothing for a dead capital vefted in unproduétive woodland, but fix on fix hundred acres, as fufficient for all the purpofes that have been mentioned: ; appropriating one-half of the whole, inftead of one-third, to the culture of the cane. THE price of woodland in Jamaica depends chiefly on its fituation, In feafonable parts of the country, and in the vicinity of the fea, Iconceive it would be difficult to purchafe a quantity of a fugar land fufficient for a good eftate, unlefs at a very high price. On thé north fide, in a fertile and feafonable parifh, I have lately known a traét of cight hundred acres, with a fine river running through it, fell for ten pounds currency per acres but it was at the diftance of, ten miles from the fea; and the purchafer had a new and difficult road to make for three miles of the way. Such another territory, without the inconveniencies to which this was fubject, would, as lands fell in Jamaica, be well worth, and eafily obtain, fourteen pounds currency, or ten pounds fterling per acre. Six hundred acres at this price is 6.8 8,400 currency. The coft of clearing onehalf, and planting it in canes, including four U2 clcanings, --- Page 312 --- zg2 HISTORY OF THE sOOK cleanings, would be 6.12 currency per acre; or V. 6-3,600. Clearing and planting IOO acres in provifions, would be 6-7 an acre, or L.7 700; the fame for clearing and planting IOO acres in: Guiney grafs. Inclofing and fencing the whole would coft, on a moderate eftimate, 6-700 more.. Total 6.14,100 currency, being equal to E. 10,071 fterling. BUILDINGS. THE buildings which will be found neceffary on a plantation ofthe magnitude defcribed are, ift. A water-mill, (if water can be Jamaica Currency, obtained) the coft of which, confidering that a great extent of ftone guttering is commonly requifite, may be ftated, on a very low eftimate, at E. 1,000 fterling. In cafe no water-mill can be erected, I do not conceive that a fingle mill, whether worked by cattle, mules, or wind, is fufficient to take off the cropin due time, a moft important object, on which the future fucceis of the plantation depends. Iallow therefore for a wind-mill and one cattle-mill, or for two cattle-mills without a wind-mill, a fum equal tO the coft of a water-miil, or 1,400 2d. A terling. In cafe no water-mill can be erected, I do not conceive that a fingle mill, whether worked by cattle, mules, or wind, is fufficient to take off the cropin due time, a moft important object, on which the future fucceis of the plantation depends. Iallow therefore for a wind-mill and one cattle-mill, or for two cattle-mills without a wind-mill, a fum equal tO the coft of a water-miil, or 1,400 2d. A --- Page 313 --- WEST INDIES. 2d. A boiling-houfe, 45 by 22 feet, Jamaica CHAP. Currency. IIL. to contain 3 copper clarifiers, of 350 gallons each, and 4 other pans or boilers, including the coft of the fame, and other utenfils 1,000 3d. A curing-houfe, adjoining to the boiling-houfe, calculated to hold one half thé crop, with ftrong joifts of folid timbers inftead of a floor, having a terraffed or boarded platform underneath, leading to a melafles ciftern, lined with terras, fufficient to contain 6,000 gallons 4th. A diftilling-houfe, 70 feet by 30; the diftillery part to contain 2 ftills of1,200 and 600 gallons, with worms proportionate: alfo a ftone tank or ciftern, to hold 30,000 gallons of water; the fermenting part to contain two, or more, vats, or cifterns, for the dunder and fkimmings: alfo I2 cifterns of folid plank fixéd in the earth, of 1,200 gallons each, with copper pumps, and other neceffary apparatus : together alfo with a rum ftore under the fame roof 1,600 sth, Adwelling-houfe for the overfeer U 3 6th, Two --- Page 314 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK 6th. Two trafh-houfes, each I20 feet Jamaica V. by 30; the foundation ftone, the Currency, fides open, the roof fupported by ftonc pillars, and covered by fhingles, 6.3 300 each 7th. A holpital for the fick negroes, containing alfo a room for lying-in women, a room for confining diforderly negroes, a fhop for the doctor, and one or more ftore rooms for fecuring the plantation utenfils and provifions 8th. A mule ftable, for 60 mules, with a corn-loft above 9th. Shops for the different tradefmen, viz. carpenters, coopers, wheelwright, and fmith zoth. Sheds for the waggons, wains, carts, &cc. Add extra expences, fuch as the coft of the wains, utenfils for the fmith's fhop, houfehold furniture, &c. &c. - The total is 6-5.000 fterling, being equal to - currency 7,000 STOCK, for 60 mules, with a corn-loft above 9th. Shops for the different tradefmen, viz. carpenters, coopers, wheelwright, and fmith zoth. Sheds for the waggons, wains, carts, &cc. Add extra expences, fuch as the coft of the wains, utenfils for the fmith's fhop, houfehold furniture, &c. &c. - The total is 6-5.000 fterling, being equal to - currency 7,000 STOCK, --- Page 315 --- WEST INDIES. STOCK. CHAP. III. THE ftock on a plantation of the magnitude 1 defcribed, cannot prudently confift of lefs than two hundred and fifty negroes, eighty fteers, and fixty mules. It is not fufficient to object, that two hundred hog(heads of fugar have been produced by the labour of a lefs number of negroes than is here allowed. Iam treating of an eftate which produces that quantity On a medium; confequently, as, from droughts and unfavourable feafons, the crops will fometimes fall fhort of, at other times they mult greatly exceed the numbers prefcribed; ; and under thefe circumftances, I do not believe a plantation will eafily be named that poffeffes (or employs, in job work and otherwife) a lefs number of negroes annually. If fuch an eftate there is, I hefitate not to pronounce that it is in improvident hands; for what management can be worfe than that which, by over-working the negroes, facrifices the capital for the fake ofa temporary augmented income P-The coft of the ftock, therefore, may be ftated as follows: Jamaica Currency, 250 Negroes, at 6.70 each - 17,500 80 Steers, at f.15 1,200 60 Mules, at 6.28 1,680 Totalin currency (equal to 6-14557 fterling) f.20,380 U. 4 LEr --- Page 316 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK LET us now bring the whole into one point V. of view. Jamaica Currency. LANDS, 14,100 BUILDINGS, 7,000 STOCK, 20,38a Total În Currency - 41,480 Which is only 6-520 fhort of 6.42,000 Jamaica currency, or 6.30,000 fterling, the fum firft mentioned; and I am further of opinion, that if the Qwner of fuch a property were to fell it by appraifement, the valuation would amount to nearly the fum expended. It would therefore be more advifeable, undoubtedly, to purchafe a plantation ready fettled, rather than attempt ta create a new one from uncleared lands; ; inafmuch as the labour and rifk of the undertaking would be thereby avoided ;-but, however this may be, it muft be confidered as a fixed and well-eftablifhed fact, that a fugar plantation of the extent and returns which have been fuppofed, whether acquired by purchafe, or by the rifk and labour of clearing the lands, will unavoidably coft (the neceffary buildings and ftock included) 6.30,000 fterling, before any adequate intereft can be received from the capital. THE produce of fuch a plantation has been, ftated of the undertaking would be thereby avoided ;-but, however this may be, it muft be confidered as a fixed and well-eftablifhed fact, that a fugar plantation of the extent and returns which have been fuppofed, whether acquired by purchafe, or by the rifk and labour of clearing the lands, will unavoidably coft (the neceffary buildings and ftock included) 6.30,000 fterling, before any adequate intereft can be received from the capital. THE produce of fuch a plantation has been, ftated --- Page 317 --- WEST INDIES. ftated at 200 hog/heads of fugar, of 16 cwt. and CHAP, 130 puncheons of rum, of IIO gallons, commu- III. mibus annis; the value of which, according to the 1 average prices at the London market for ten years previous to 1791, may be reckoned as follows: Sterling, 200 Hogtheads of fugar, at 6.15 fterling per hogthead 3,000 130 Puncheons of rum, at 6.10 fterling per puncheon 1,300 Grofs Returns f.4300 But the reader is not to imagine that all this, or even the fugar alone, is fo much clear profit, The annual difburfements are firft to be deduéted, and very heavy they are 5 nor is any opinion more erroneous than that which fuppofes they are provided for by the rum. If fuch indeed were the fact, the capital would yield precifely an annual intereft of ten per cent.: but a reference to the feveral items, which I have particularized in a note (a), will demonftrate the fallacy of this toQ (JANNUAL SUPPLIES from Great Britain and Ireland. ift. NEGRO CLOTHING; viz. 450o Yards of Oznaburgh cloth, or German linen. 65o Yards of blue bays, or pennifones, for a warm frock for each negro, 350 Yards --- Page 318 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK too common mode of calculation. They amount, V. at a very moderate eflimate, Y (including freight, charges, and merchants commiffions, and adding a proportional part of the coft of many expenfive articles, fuch as coppers, ftills, wain-tyre, gratingbars, 350 Yards of friped linfeys for the women. 25o Yards of coarfe check for fhirts for the boilers, tradefmen, domefticks, and children. 3 Dozen of coarfe blankets forlying-in women, and fick negroes. 18 Dozen of coarfe hats. 2d. TOOLS For the carpenters and coopers, to the amount of 6.25 fterling, including 2 or 3 dozen of falling axes. 3d. MISCELLANEOUS ARTICLES, 160,000 Nails of differeut fizes. 2,500 Puncheon rivets. 6 Cattle chains. Dozen of hoes, Dozen of bills. 20 Dozen of fmall clafp knives for the negroes, + Dozen of ox bows. 50 Bundles of iron hoops, 2 Sets of puncheon trufs hoops. 2 Sets of hogfhead ditto. 80 Gallons of train oil for lamps. 2 Barrels of tar. 2 Boxes of fhort tobacco pipes for the negroes. z80 Bundles of wood hoops. 2 Sheets of lead, 61 Large copper ladles 6) Ditto fkimmers 3 for the bollers, $Dozen ets. 6 Cattle chains. Dozen of hoes, Dozen of bills. 20 Dozen of fmall clafp knives for the negroes, + Dozen of ox bows. 50 Bundles of iron hoops, 2 Sets of puncheon trufs hoops. 2 Sets of hogfhead ditto. 80 Gallons of train oil for lamps. 2 Barrels of tar. 2 Boxes of fhort tobacco pipes for the negroes. z80 Bundles of wood hoops. 2 Sheets of lead, 61 Large copper ladles 6) Ditto fkimmers 3 for the bollers, $Dozen --- Page 319 --- WEST INDIES. bars, &c. which would perhaps be wanted once in CHAP. five years) to the fum of E 850 fterling. To this III. fum are to be added the following very heavy ) CHARGES within the Hland; viz. Currency. Overfeer's or manager's falary Diftiller's ditto Two other white fervants, f.60 each - 120 A white carpenter's wages IOO Maintenance of five white fervants, exclufive of their allowance of falted provifions, 6.40 each Medical care of the negroes, (at 6s. per anum for each negro) and extra cafes, which are paid for feparately IOO Millwright's, 81 Dozen of fmall iron pots for the negroes: 2 Puncheons of Briftol lime for temper. 4 Grindftones. PROFISIONS, 8sc. chiefy from Ireland, 80 Barrels of herrings, or falted cod equal thereto, 6 Barrels of falted beef. 2 Barrels of falted pork. 4 Firkins of falted butter, 2 Boxes of foap. 2 Boxes of candles. s Hogfheads of falt, 6) Barrels of Aour. 6 Kegs of peale. glugs of groatt. --- Page 320 --- 3ce HISTORY OF THE BOOK Millwrighr's,copperimith's,plumber's, Currency, V. and fmith's bills, annually Colonial taxes, publick and parochial - 200 Annual fupply of mules and fteers Wharfage and ftoreage of goods landed and fhipped IOQ American ftaves and heading, for hogfheads and puncheons A variety. of fmall occalional fupplies of different kinds, fuppofed Equal to f.1,300 fterling; being in Currency 6.1,840 THE total amount, therefore, of the annual contingent charges of all kinds, is 6.2,150 fterling, which is. precifely one-half the grofs returns; leaving the other moiety, or 6.2,159 fterling, and no more, clear profit to the planter, being feven per cent. on his capital, and 6.50 over, without charging, however, a fhilling for making good the decreafe of the negroes, or for the wear and tear of the buildings, or making any allowance for dead capital, and fuppofing too, that the proprietor refides on the fpot ; forifheis ab. fent, he is fubject, in Jamaica, to an annual tax of fix pounds per cent. on the grofs value of his fugar and rum, for legal commifions to hisagent, With thefe, and other drawbacks (to fay nothing of the devaftations which are fometimes OCcafioned for making good the decreafe of the negroes, or for the wear and tear of the buildings, or making any allowance for dead capital, and fuppofing too, that the proprietor refides on the fpot ; forifheis ab. fent, he is fubject, in Jamaica, to an annual tax of fix pounds per cent. on the grofs value of his fugar and rum, for legal commifions to hisagent, With thefe, and other drawbacks (to fay nothing of the devaftations which are fometimes OCcafioned --- Page 321 --- WEST INDIES. 30: fioned by fires and hurricanes, deftroying in a few CHAP. hours the labour ofycars) it is not wonderful that III. the profits fhould frequently dwindle to nothing; or rather that a fuger eftate, with all its boafted advantages, fhould fometimes prove a mill-ftone about the neck of its unfortunate proprietor, which is dragging him to deftruétion (b)! ADMITTING even that his prudence, or good fortune, may be fuch as to exempt him from moft of the loffes and calamities that have been enumerated, it muft neverthelefs be remembered, that the fugar planter is at once both landlord and tenant on his property. In contrafting the profits of a Weft Indian plantation with thofe of a landed eftate in Great Britain, this circumflance is commonly overlooked; yet nothing is more certain than that an Englith proprietor, in Alating the income which he receives from his capital, includes not in his eftimate the profits made by his tenants. Thefe conftitute a diftinét object, and are ufually reckoned equal to the clear annual rent which is paid to the proprietor. Thus a farm in England, producing an income of 34 per cent. to the owner, is in fact proportionably equal to a fugar plantation yielding, (b) In Jamaica, the ufual mode of calculating, in a general way, the average profits of a fugar eftate, is to allow f-10 fterlingper annum for every negro,young and old, employed in this line of cultivation. double --- Page 322 --- 30z HISTORY OF THÉ EOOK double the profit to the planter; and poffeffes V. befides all that ftability, certainty and Y fecirrity, the want of which is the great drawback Oh the latter. An Englith genitleman, when either EXtreme of dry or wet weather injures the crop oh his lands, has no other concern in the calamity than fuch as the mere feclings of humanity may diétate. Nor is he under the difagrecable neceffity in time of wâr, of paying large premiums for infuring his eftate from capture by a forcign enemy. This is another tax, which the unfortunate Weft Indian, refident in Great Britain, muft add to his expences 5 or fubmit to the difagreeable alternative of pafling many an uneafy day and fleeplefs night, in dreadful anxiety for the fate of his poffeffions, and the future fubfiftence of his family s-haraffed, perhaps, at the fame time, by creditors whofe importunity increafes as their fecurity becomes endangered. Bur there is a queftion, naturally arifing from the premifes, to which it is proper that I fhould, in this place, give an anfwer; and it is this: Seeing that a capital is wanted which few men can command, and confidering withal, that the returns are in general but fmall, and at beft uncertain, how has it happened that the fugar 1 iflands have been fo rapidly fettled, and many a great eftate purchafed in the mother-country, from the profits that have accrued from their cultivation ? It Bur there is a queftion, naturally arifing from the premifes, to which it is proper that I fhould, in this place, give an anfwer; and it is this: Seeing that a capital is wanted which few men can command, and confidering withal, that the returns are in general but fmall, and at beft uncertain, how has it happened that the fugar 1 iflands have been fo rapidly fettled, and many a great eftate purchafed in the mother-country, from the profits that have accrued from their cultivation ? It --- Page 323 --- WEST INDIES. Tt were to be withed that thofe who make fuch CHAP. enquiries would enquire, on the other hand, how IHI. many unhappy perfons have been totally and irre- 1 trievably ruined, by adventuring in the cultivation of thefe iflands, without poffeffing any adequate means to fupport themin fuch great undertakings? On the failure of fome of thefe unfortunate men, vaft eftates have indeed been raifed by perfons who have had money at command : men there are who, refledting on the advantages to be derived from this circumftance, behold a fugar planter ftruggling in diftrefs, with the fame emotions as are felt by the Cornifh peafants in contemplating a fhipwreck on the coaft, and haften with equal rapacioufnefs to participate in the fpoil. Like them too, they fometimes hold out falfe lights to lead the unwary adventurer to deftruétion; more efpecially ifhe has any thing confiderable of his own to fet out with. Money is advanced, and encouragement given, to a certain point ; but a fkilful practitioner well knows where to ftop : he is aware what very large fums muft be expended in the purchafe of the freehold, and in the firft operations of clearing and planting the lands, and ereéting the buildings, beforeany return can be made. One-third of the money thus expended, he has perhaps furnifhed; but the time foon arrives when --- Page 324 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK when a further advance is requifite to give life V. and aétivity to the fyftem, by the addition ofthe negroes and the ftock. Now then is the moment for oppreffion, aided bythe letter of the law; and the procefs of office, to reap a golden harveft. If the property anfwers expeétation, and the lands promife great returns, the fagacious creditor, inftead of giving further aid, or leaving his too confident debtor to make the beft of his way by his own exertions, pleads a fudden and unexpeéted emergency; $ and infifts on immediate re-payment of the fum already lent. The law, on this occafion, is far from being chargeable with delay; and avarice is inexorable. A fale is hurried on, and no bidders appear but the creditor himfelf. Ready money is required in payment, and every one fees that a further fum will be wanting to make the eftate produétive. Few therefore have the means, who have even the wilh, efficacioufly to affift the devoted viétim. Thus, the creditor gets the eftate at his own price, commonly for his firft advance, while the miferable debtor has reafon to thank his ftars if, confoling himfelfwith only the lofs of his own original capital, and his labour for a feries of years, he efcapes a prifon for life. THAT this is no creation ofthe fancy, nor even an exaggerated picture, the records of the courts of , who have even the wilh, efficacioufly to affift the devoted viétim. Thus, the creditor gets the eftate at his own price, commonly for his firft advance, while the miferable debtor has reafon to thank his ftars if, confoling himfelfwith only the lofs of his own original capital, and his labour for a feries of years, he efcapes a prifon for life. THAT this is no creation ofthe fancy, nor even an exaggerated picture, the records of the courts of --- Page 325 --- WEST INDIES. of law, in all or moft of our iflands (Jamaica CHAP. efpecially) and the recollection of every inhabi- III. Y tant, furnifh inconteftable proof. At the fame time it cannot juftly be denied that there are creditors, efpecially among the Britifh merchants, of a very different charaéter from thofe that have been defcribed, who, having advanced their money to refident planters, not in the view of deriving undue advantages from their labours and neceffities, but folely on the fair and honourable ground of reciprocal benefit, have been compelled, much againft theiri inclination, to become planters themfelves; being obliged to receive unprofitable Weft Indian eftates in payment, or lofe their money altogether. I have known plantations transferred in this manner, which are a burthen inftead of a benefit to the holder; and are. kept up folely in the hope that favourable crops, and an advance in the prices ofWeft Indian produce, may, fome time or other, invite purchafers. Thus oppreffion in one clafs of creditors, and grofs injuftice towards another, contribute equally to keep up cultivation in a-country, where, if the rifques and loffes are great, the gains are fometimes commenfurate; for fugar eftates there are, undoubtedly, from which, inftead of the returns that I have eftimated as the average intereft on the capital, double that profit has been obtained. Iti isindeed true, that fuch inftances are extremely VoL. II, X rare 3 --- Page 326 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK rare; but perhaps to that very circumftance, V. which to a philofopher, in his Y fpeculating clofet, would feem fufficient to deter a wife man from adventuring in this line of cultivation, it is chiefly owing that fo much money has been expended in it : I mean the fluétuating nature of its returns. The quality of fugar varies occafionally to fo great a degree as to create a difference in its marketable value of upwards of ten thillings fterling in the hundred weight, the whole of which is clear profit, the duties and charges being precifely the fame on Mufcovado fugar, of whatever quality. Thus fine fugar has been known to yicld a clear profit to the planter of no lefs than 6.1,500 fterling om 200 hogfheads of the ufual magnitude, beyond what the fame number, where the commodity is inferior in quality, would have obtained at the fame market. To àver that this difference is imputable wholly to foil and feafons in the Weft Indies, of to the ftaté of the Britifh market, is to contradiét common obfervation and experience. Much, undoubtedly, depends on fkill in the manufacture $ and, the procefs being apparently fimple, the beholder (from a propenfity natural to the bufy and inquifitive part of mankind) fcels an almoft irrefiftible propenfity to engage in it. In this, therefore, as in all other enterprifès, whofe fuccefs depends in any degree on human fagacity and prudence, though perhaps not Britifh market, is to contradiét common obfervation and experience. Much, undoubtedly, depends on fkill in the manufacture $ and, the procefs being apparently fimple, the beholder (from a propenfity natural to the bufy and inquifitive part of mankind) fcels an almoft irrefiftible propenfity to engage in it. In this, therefore, as in all other enterprifès, whofe fuccefs depends in any degree on human fagacity and prudence, though perhaps not --- Page 327 --- WEST INDIES. not more than one man in fifty comcs away CHAP. fortunate, every fanguine adventurer takes for III. - Y granted that he fhall be that one. Thus his fyftem of life becomes a courfe of experiments, and, if ruin fhould be the confequence of his rafhnefs, he imputes his misfortunes to any caufe, rather than to his own want of capacity or forefight. THAT the reafons thus given, are the only ones that can be adduced in anfwer to the queftion that has been ftated, I prefume not to affirm. Other caufes, of more powerful efficacy, may perhaps be affigned by men of wider views and better information. The facts however which I have detailed, are too ftriking and notorious to be controverted or concealed. HAVING now, I believe, fufficiently treated of the growth, cultivation, and manufaéture of fugar, &c. and pointed out with a minutenefs (tedious perhaps but) fuited, as I conceive, to the importance of the fubject, the firft coft, and current contingencies attending the eftablithment and profitable maintenance ofa fugar plantation, together with the rifque and gains eventually arifing from this fpecies of property, I fhall proceed, in the following chapter, to furnifh my readers with fuch information as I have been able to collect concerning the minor ftaples, Xz elpecially --- Page 328 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK efpecially thofe impertant ones of cotton, indige, V. coffee, cacao, pimento, and ginger, which, with fugar and rum, principally conftitute the bulky freight that gives employment to an extent of fhipping, nearly equal to the whole commercial tonnage of England at the beginning of the prefent century. --- Page 329 --- WEST INDIES. C H A P. IV. Of the minor Staple Commodities; viz. COTTON, its growth and various fpecies-Mode of cultivation, and rijques attending it.-Import %f this article into Great Britain, and profits accruing from the manufabtures produced by i,-INDIGO, its cultivation and manufaElure.- - Opulence ofthe frf Indigoplanters in Jamaica, and refettions concerning the decline of this branch of cultivation in that fand-COFFEX, whether that ofthe Wef Indies equal to tbe Mocha P- Situation and Joil. Exorbitant duty to which it was fubjest in Great Britain-Approued method ef cultivating the plant and curing the berry.- Efimate of the annual expences and returns ofa Coffee plantation. Caçao, GINGER, ARNOTTO, ALOES, and PIMENTO; brief account efeach, COT TTO N, TxAr beautiful vegetable wool, or fubftance CHA P. called cotton, is the fpontaneous production of IV. three parts of the earth. It is found growing 1 naturally in all the tropical regions of Afia, Africa, and America; ; and may juftly be comprehended among the moft valuable gifts of a bountiful Creator, fuperintending and providing for the neceffities of man. X 3 THE , ARNOTTO, ALOES, and PIMENTO; brief account efeach, COT TTO N, TxAr beautiful vegetable wool, or fubftance CHA P. called cotton, is the fpontaneous production of IV. three parts of the earth. It is found growing 1 naturally in all the tropical regions of Afia, Africa, and America; ; and may juftly be comprehended among the moft valuable gifts of a bountiful Creator, fuperintending and providing for the neceffities of man. X 3 THE --- Page 330 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK THE cotton-wool, which is manufaétured into V. cloth (for there is a fpecies in the Weft Y Indies, called filk or wild cotton, unfit for the loom) confifts of two diftinét kinds, known to the planters by the names of GREEN-SEED COTTON, and SHRUE COTTON; and thefe again have fubordinate marks of difference, with which the cultivator ought to be well acquainted if he means to apply his labours to the greateft advantage. GREEN-SEED cotton is of two fpecies ; of one of which the wool is fo firmly attached to the feed, that no method has hitherto been found of feparating them, except by the hand; an operation fo' tedious and troublefome, that the value of the commodity is not proportionate to the pains that are, requifite in preparing it for market. This fort therefore is at prefent cultivated principally for fupplying wick for the lamps that are ufed in fugar-boiling, and for domeftick purpofes; ; but the ftaple being exceedingly good, and its colour perfeétly white, it would doubtlefs be a valuable acquifition to the muflin manufactorys could means be found of detaching it eafily from the feed. THE other fort has larger feeds, of a duiler green than the former, and the wool is not of cqual finenefs; though much finer than the cotton-wool in general cultivation; and it is eafily feparated from the feed by the common mcthod, --- Page 331 --- WEST INDIES. method, hereafter to be defcribed. I have been CHAP. told that this fpecies of the green-feed cotton is IV. not fufficiently known to the planters in general, (being ufually confounded with the former) or that probably it would be in high eftimation. BOTH the fpecies above-mentioned, though they produce pods at an early ftage, when they are mere fhrubs, will, if fuffered to fpread, grow into trees of confiderable magnitude, and yield annual crops, according to the feafon, without any kind of cultivation. The bloffoms put forth in fucceffion from Qétober to January, and the pods begin to open fit for gathering from February to Junc. I come.now to the SHRUB COTTON, properly fo called. The fhrub itfelf very 'nearly refembles an European Corinth bufh, and may be fubdivided into feveral varieties, all of which however very nearly refemble each other (a). Thefe varieties (fuch of (a) The flowers are compofed of five large yellow leaves, each ftained at the bottom with a purple fpot. They are beautiful, but devoid of fragrance. The piftil is frong and large, furrounded ata and near the top with a yellow farinaceous duft, which, when ripe, falls into the matrix of the piftil. This Îs likewife furrounded, when the petals qf the flowers drop, with a capfular pod, fupported by three triangular green leaves deeply, jagged at their ends. The inclofed pod opens, when ripe, into three or four partitions, difcovering the cotton in as many white locks as there are partitions in the pod. In thefe locks are interfperfed the feeds, which are çommonly fmall and black. X4 4 them inaceous duft, which, when ripe, falls into the matrix of the piftil. This Îs likewife furrounded, when the petals qf the flowers drop, with a capfular pod, fupported by three triangular green leaves deeply, jagged at their ends. The inclofed pod opens, when ripe, into three or four partitions, difcovering the cotton in as many white locks as there are partitions in the pod. In thefe locks are interfperfed the feeds, which are çommonly fmall and black. X4 4 them --- Page 332 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK them at leaft as have come to my knowledge) V. are, ) Ift, THE Common Jamaica ; the feeds of which are oblong, perfeétly fmooth, and have no beard at the fmaller end. The ftaple is coarfe, but ftrong. Its greateft defect is, that the feeds are fo brittle it is fcarce poflible to render it perfeétly clean ; on which account it is the loweftpriced cotton at the Britifh market. Such however is the obftinacy of habit, that few of the Britifh cotton planters give themfelves the trouble to feleét a better fort, or feem indeed to wilh for it. 2d, Brown Bearded.-This is generally cultivated with the fpecies laft-mentioned, but the ftaple is fomewhat finer, and the pods, though fewer in number, produce a greater quantity of wool. The fhrub gives likewife a better ratoon. It is therefore the intereft of the cotton planter to cultivate it feparately. The only difadvantage attending it is, that it is not fo eafily detached from the feed as the other, and therefore a negro will clear a few pounds lefs in his day's work. 3d, Nankeen-This differs but little in the feeds or otherwife from the fpecies laft-mentioned, except in the colour of the wool, which is that of the cloth called Nankeen. It is not fo much in demand as the white. 4th, French or Small-feed, with a whitifh beard. This --- Page 333 --- WEST INDIES This is the cotton in general cultivation in Hif- CHAP. paniola. Its ftaple is finer, and its produce IV. equal to either of the three fpecies laft-men- 1 tioned, as the fhrub is fuppofed to bear a greater number of pods than the Jamaica, or the Brown Bearded, but is lels hardy than either. 5th, Kidney Cotton, fo called from the feeds being conglomerated or adhering firmly to each other in the pod. In all the other forts they are feparated. It is likewife called Chain Cotton, and, I believe, is the true Cotton of Brafil.- The ftaple is good, the pod large, and the produce confiderable. A fingle negro may clear with eafe fixty-five pounds in a day, befides which, it leaves the feeds behind unbroken, and comes perfeétly clèan from the rollers. It is therefore improvident, in the higheft degree, to mix this fpecies with any other. ON the whole, the moft profitable forts for general cultivation feem to be, the fecond of the Green-feed, the French or Small-feed, and the Brafilian. The mode of culture is the fame with all the different fpecies, and there is this advantage attending them all, that they will flourifh in the drieft and moft rocky foils, providedfuch lands have not been exhaufted by former cultivation. Drynefs, both in refpect of the foil and atmofphere, is indeed effentially neceffary in all its ftages; foriftheland is moift, the plant expends itfelf in brariches and leaves, and if the rains are heavy, the Brafilian. The mode of culture is the fame with all the different fpecies, and there is this advantage attending them all, that they will flourifh in the drieft and moft rocky foils, providedfuch lands have not been exhaufted by former cultivation. Drynefs, both in refpect of the foil and atmofphere, is indeed effentially neceffary in all its ftages; foriftheland is moift, the plant expends itfelf in brariches and leaves, and if the rains are heavy, --- Page 334 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK heavy, either when the plant is in bloffom, or V. when the pods are beginning to unfold, the crop 1 L is loft. Perhaps, however, thefe obfervations apply more immediately to the French cotton than to any other. THE plant is raifed from the feed, the land requiring no other preparation than to be cleared of its native incumbrances; and the feafon for putting the feed into the ground is from May to September, both months inclufive. This is ufually done in ranks or rows, leaving a fpace between each, of fix or cight feet, the holes in each row being commonly four feet apart.--It is the praétice to put cight or ten of the feeds into each hole, becaufe fome of them are commonly devoured by a grub or worm, and others rot in the ground. The young fprouts make their appearance in about a fortnight, but they are of flow growth for the firft fix wecks, at which period it is neceffary to clean the ground and draw the fupernumerary plants, leaving two or three only of the ftrongeft in each hole. : One plant alone would be fufficient to leave, if there was any certainty of its coming to maturity; but many of the tender fprouts are devoured by the grub. At the age of three cr four months, the plants are cleaned a fecond time; and both the item and branches pruned, or, as it is called, topp'd; an inch (or more if the plants are luxu8 riant) --- Page 335 --- WEST INDIES. riant) being broke off from the end of each CHAP, fhoot; which is done in order to make the ftems IV. throw out a greater number of lateral branches. 1 This operation, if the growth be over luxuriant, is fometimes performed a fecond, and even a third time. At the end of five months, the plant begins to bloffom and put forth its beautiful yellow flowers, and in two months more, the pod is formed. From the feventh to the tenth month the pods ripen in fucceflion; when they burft open in three partitions, difplaying their white and gloffy down to the fight. The wool is now gathered, the feeds being enveloped in it; from which it is afterwards extricated by a machine refembling a turner's lathe. It is called a gint, and is compofed of two finall rollers placed clofe and parallel to each other in a frame, and turned in oppofite direétions by different wheels, which are moved by the foot (b). The cotton being put by the hand to thefe rollers as they move round, readily paffes between them, leaving the feeds, which are too large for the interfpace behind. The wool is afterwards hand-picked, that it may be properly cleared of decayed leaves, broken feeds, and wool which has been ftained and damaged in the pod (c). It is then packed into (b) Itis a very llight and fimple inftrument, and cofts only from two to three guineas. (e) The cotton manufaétory of England, fince the year 1780, the hand to thefe rollers as they move round, readily paffes between them, leaving the feeds, which are too large for the interfpace behind. The wool is afterwards hand-picked, that it may be properly cleared of decayed leaves, broken feeds, and wool which has been ftained and damaged in the pod (c). It is then packed into (b) Itis a very llight and fimple inftrument, and cofts only from two to three guineas. (e) The cotton manufaétory of England, fince the year 1780, --- Page 336 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK into bags of about two hundred pounds weight, V. and fent to market. THE fineft grained and moft perfeétly cleaned cotton, which is brought to the Englith market, is, I believe, that of the Dutch plantations of Berbice, Demarara, and Surinam, and of the ifland of Cayenne ; but before the year 1780 England had no fine manufactories. In the latter end of that year, however, cotton wool of all kinds found a ready fale at the following prices: S. d. Berbice 2 I per lb. Demarara I II to 25. 1d. Surinam 2 - Cayenne 2 - St. Domingo I IO Tobago I 9 Jamaica - - I 7 Since that time the prices have indeed varied, but the relative value has continued nearly the fame; that is, the difference of price between the cotton of Berbice and that of Jamaica has been from 25 to 30 per cent. in favour of the former ; a circumftance which alone fhould con1;80, hath made a rapid improvement, owing to the large fpinning machines which are worked by water. Thefe require the cleaneft cotton, as the fmalleft particle of a broken fced breaks the thread in this mode of fpinning. vince --- Page 337 --- WEST INDIES. vince the moft bigotted planter of the Briti(h CHAP. Weft Indies that, if he wifhes to turn his labours IV. to account, the choice of a better fpecies of cot1 ton, at leaft of a fort more eafily cleaned than that in general cultivation, is indifpenfably requifite. ISHALL now bring into one point of view the feveral particulars attending the firft coft and fettlement of a plantation in this fort of hufbandry, and the returns which may reafonably be expected from a fmall capital thus employed. I fix on a fmall capital; becaufe I conceive that a cotton plantation may be eftablithed on a more moderate fund than any other; and it is for the intereft of the community that men of fmall fortunes fhould be inftruéted how to employ their time and labours to the beft advantage; fince it is to fuch men chiefly that the Weft Indies are to look for fafety in the hour of danger. Iris prefumed that land proper for the growth of cotton, fituated near the fea, may be purchafed, in many parts of the Weft Indies (Jamaica efpecially), at 6-5 Jamaica currency per acre; and as it is prudent, in moft cafes, to change the foil after the third crop, by replanting frelh land (d),1 1 will allot fifty acres for the firft purchafe, (d) Ifthe land is extraordinary good, four and even five annual crops are fometimes gathered from the fame original plants; after which, inftead of replanting, it is not uncommon near the fea, may be purchafed, in many parts of the Weft Indies (Jamaica efpecially), at 6-5 Jamaica currency per acre; and as it is prudent, in moft cafes, to change the foil after the third crop, by replanting frelh land (d),1 1 will allot fifty acres for the firft purchafe, (d) Ifthe land is extraordinary good, four and even five annual crops are fometimes gathered from the fame original plants; after which, inftead of replanting, it is not uncommon --- Page 338 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK purchafe, in order that the planter may have V. room for that purpofe. Suppofing therefore that one half only is planted in cotton at the fame time, the capital will be invefted as follows: : Coft of fifty âcres ofland, at 6-5 E. S. d. currency per acre Expence of cleaning, fencing, and planting 25 acres, at 6-7 per acre 175 a Purchafe of twelve negroes, at 6-70 each 1,265 - One year's intereft, at 6 per cent. 75 18 - One year's maintenance, clothing, and medical care of the negroes Total expenditure in Jamaica currency (equal to 6.1,040 fterling) 1,460 18 common to cut the cotton bufhes down to within three or four inches of the ground, and mould the ftems in the May rains, and treat them afterwards in the fàme mannér as plants. Some labour is undoubtedly faved by this praétice, but, in nine cafes out of ten, it will be found more profitable to refort to freth land, every third or fourth year. I confider, at the fame time, land to be frefh enough which has lain fallow, or been ufed in a different line of culture for three or four years together, the great intention of changing the land being to get rid of that peculiar fort of grub or worm which preys on the cotton-plants. THE --- Page 339 --- WEST INDIES. THE returns are now to be confidered : CHAP. In Jamaica it is commonly reckoned that one 1V. acre of cotton will yield annually I5o pounds - 1 weight, and in fome years nearly twice as much ; but I am afraid that, on an average of any confiderable number of fucceffive crops, even the former is too great an allowance, By accounts which I have procured from the Bahama iflands, it appears, that in 1785, 1786, and 1787 (all which years were confidered as favourable), the produce of the cotton-lands, on an average, did not exceed one hundred and twelve pounds per acre; ; viz. In 1785 - - 2,4767 of - 2ubo7Cwt. 3,030 acres produced. 3,000 Cotton: 4380. THE price in the Bahamas and Jamaica was the fame, viz. 15. 3d. fterling per pound.- Allowing thérefore the average produce per acre to be one hundred weight, the returns are thefe; viz. Sterling25 cwt. at IS. 3d. fterlingper pound -175 Deduét incidental expences, as materials for bagging, colonial taxes, &c. (e) Remains in fterling moncy Which (e)' The maintenance, &c. of the negroes, after the firft year, is not charged, beçaufe it is conceived, that the land in cotton not being futhicient to find them in full employment, they average produce per acre to be one hundred weight, the returns are thefe; viz. Sterling25 cwt. at IS. 3d. fterlingper pound -175 Deduét incidental expences, as materials for bagging, colonial taxes, &c. (e) Remains in fterling moncy Which (e)' The maintenance, &c. of the negroes, after the firft year, is not charged, beçaufe it is conceived, that the land in cotton not being futhicient to find them in full employment, they --- Page 340 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK Which gives an intereft of upwards of fourteen V. per cent: on the capital; arifing too from the Y loweft-priced cotton. If the fame calculation be applied to cotton-wool, of two thillings per pound value (the prefent price of the cotton-wool of St. Domingo) the profit on the capital is" twenty-four per cent. FROM this difplay, the rapid progrefs which the Dutch and French planters have made in the culture of this commodity, cannot be thought extraordinary; but there remain fome circumftances, of a lefs favourable nature, to be taken into the account. Of all the produétions to which labour is applied, the cotton-plant is perhaps the moft precarious. In its firft ftage, it is attacked by the grub; it is devoured by caterpillars in the fecond; it is fometimes withered by the blaft; and rains frequently deftroy it both in the bloffom and the pod. The Bahama iflands afforded a melancholy inftance of the uncertainty of this produétion in 1788; no lefs than 280 tons, on a moderate eftimate, having been devoured by the worm, between September and March, in that year. After this the reader will hardly fufpect me of having rated the averthey may raife corn and other articles on the remaining twenty-five acres, more than fufficient to pay for their clothing and fupport. Itis ufual even to raife corn, potatues, &c. between the ranks ofthe cotton buihes. age --- Page 341 --- WEST INDIES. age produce of this plant, for a feries of years, CHAP. too low * IV. WITH every difadvantage, however, the de- 1 mand for cotton-wool, for the Britith manufactories, encreafes with fuch rapidity, that it cannot be doubted the cultivation of it, with the cautions recommended, will be found highly profitable; the Britith dominions not fupplying, at prefent, much more than one-fourth part of the home demand. If, after a careful felection and trials of the different fpecies of the feeds already in our poffeffion, the cotton-wool of the Britifh Weft Indies Thall ftill be found inferior to that of the Dutch, no difficulty can occur in obtaining from them a better fort. It is evident that the French cotton lofes its fuperiority in our iflands, by being fown promilcuoufly with an inferior fpecies. ISHALL conclude the fubject, with prefenting to my readers the following tables, drawn from authentick fources; which cannot fail to furnith abundant encouragement for fpeculation and adventure. *It has been fuggefted, that the ravages of the worin or grub might be prevented by raifing the plant from fips or layers. VoL. II. Y An --- Page 342 --- $22 HISTORY OF THE BOOK V. An Acconnt of foreign Cotton-wool imported inte the Britifls Wef Indies, in Britifh Ships. Years. lbs. 1,135,750 1,398,500 1,346,386 1,158,000. An Account of Foreign Cotton-wool imported into the Britifh Wep Indies, under the Freeport A8. Years. lbs. 2,169,000 1,573,280 1,962,500 1,943,000. An Account of Cotton-zwoul, Britifl and Foreign, imported from the Britifk W'ef Indies into Great Britain. Years. lbs. 6,893-959 8,204,611 7,830,73+ 9:396,921. An ,500 1,346,386 1,158,000. An Account of Foreign Cotton-wool imported into the Britifh Wep Indies, under the Freeport A8. Years. lbs. 2,169,000 1,573,280 1,962,500 1,943,000. An Account of Cotton-zwoul, Britifl and Foreign, imported from the Britifk W'ef Indies into Great Britain. Years. lbs. 6,893-959 8,204,611 7,830,73+ 9:396,921. An --- Page 343 --- WEST INDIES. CHAP. An Account of Cotton-wool imported into Great IV. Britain,from all Parts. Years. lbs. SuppofedValuei in Manufactures. 1784 - 11,280,338 - 6-3.950,000 fterling. 1785 - 17.992,888 - 6,000,000 1786 - 19,151,867 6,500,000 1787 - 22,600,000* 7,500,000. Machinery efablifhed in Great Britain (1787).for the Cotton Mamfactory. 143 Water Mills, which coft - 6.715,000 20,500 Hand-mills, or jennies, for fpinning the ihute, for the twifted yarn fpun by the water-mills, (including buildings and auxiliary machinery) - 285,000 Total 6.1,000,000 Of the following growths; viz. Britith fugar iflands 6,600,000 French and Spanifh fettlements 6,000,000 Dutch fettlements 1,700,000 Portuguefe fettlements - a 2,500,000 Eaft Indies - 100,000 Smyrna or Turkey - 5,700,000 22,600,000, Y 2 THE --- Page 344 --- HISTORY OF THE DOOK THE water-mills work 286,000 fpindles, V. and the jennies 1,665,100-Total of fpindles L 1,951,100. i And it has been afferted, that a pound of raw cotton-wool from Demarara, has been fpun into 356 hanks, each hank being 840 yards; fo that the thread would have extended 169 miles, ON the whole, it is computed that not lefs than three hundred and fifty thoufand people in Great Britain find full employment in the cotton manufactory. In point of importance, therefore, even the produce and manufaéture of the great ftaple commodity of this kingdom, wwool, does not exceed it in a two-fold proportion. According to the information of a very able and diligent enquirer, there are from ten to twelve millions of fheep in England. The value of their wool may, one year with another, amount to 6-3,000,000; the expence of manufaéturing this is probably 6-9,000,000, and the total value 6-12,000,000. I N D I G O. THE Plant which yields the valuable commodity called Indigo (probably fo named from India, where it was firft known to be manufactured) a two-fold proportion. According to the information of a very able and diligent enquirer, there are from ten to twelve millions of fheep in England. The value of their wool may, one year with another, amount to 6-3,000,000; the expence of manufaéturing this is probably 6-9,000,000, and the total value 6-12,000,000. I N D I G O. THE Plant which yields the valuable commodity called Indigo (probably fo named from India, where it was firft known to be manufactured) --- Page 345 --- WEST INDIES. 32; tured *) grows pontaneoufly in all the Weft CHAP. Iadies. In the Britifh Sugar Iflands, they reckon IV. v three diftinét fpecies: the Wild, Guatimala, and French. The firft is faid to be the hardieft, and the dye extracted from it is fuppofed to be of the beft quality, both in colour and clofenefs of grain; but one of the other two fpecies-is commonly preferred by the planter, as yielding a greater return ; and of thofe, the French furpaffes the Guatimala in quantity; 3 but yields to it in finenels of grain and beauty of colour (F). THArthe richeft foil produces the moft luxuriant plant, and that good feafons accelerate its growth, cannot, I think, be doubted; but, obferving its long tap-root, and fpontaneous growth, in almoft every dry-and barren favannah, I am convinced it will thrive on foils that are fit for a L'Abbé Raynal by a grofs miftake afferts, that the plant itfelf was originally carried to the Weft Indies from the Eaft. It was found growing ipontaneoufly in all parts of St. Domingo, by Columbus himfelf, on the firft difcovery ofthe Weft. Indies; and was indigenous alfo in Mexico, and other parts of the continent, as appears from the teftimony of Pet. Martyr and all the early Spanith writers, not one of whom does it feem that L'Abbé Raynal ever read. (f) The wild indigo (indigefera argentea) has fhort crooked pods and black feeds : the Guatimala is diftinguifhed bythe rednefs of the ftalk, and the colour of the feeds, which is green. This is the indigofera di/perma of Linnaeus. The French is a fhort buthy plant, with roundifh leaves. It has long crooked pods, and its feeds are yellow.. The French call it Indigofranc. Itis the indigofera tinéloria of Linnaeus. Y 3 nothing --- Page 346 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK nothing elfe. The longeft dry weather will not V. totally kill it; though much water will have that effect, if fuffered to remain long on the plant. THE cultivation and manufaéture are conduéted in the following manner : THE land being properly cleared of weeds, &c. is hoed into fmall trenches of two or three inches in depth, and twelve or fourteen inches afunder; in the bottom of which, the feeds are ftrewed by the hand, and covered lightly with mould; but as the plants fhoot, the ficld muft be frequently weeded and kept conflantly clean, until they rife and fpread fufficiently to cover the ground. A buthel of feed is fufficient for four or five acres of land. In the Weft Indies, the beft feafon for planting is fuppofed to be the month of March, but the plant will flourifh at any other period; and, if fown in new land, will come to full bloffom (and it is then in perfection) in about three calendar months. In the fouthern provinces of America, the feafon for planting depends greatly on the nature ofthe fpring, which varies much in thofe countries. If the plants appear above ground by the firft day of March, they will be fit for cutting about the twentieth of Auguft; and are fometimes equal to the beft in the Weft Indies. THERE is this difference, however, between the two countries; that in the Weft Indies, in fcafonable full bloffom (and it is then in perfection) in about three calendar months. In the fouthern provinces of America, the feafon for planting depends greatly on the nature ofthe fpring, which varies much in thofe countries. If the plants appear above ground by the firft day of March, they will be fit for cutting about the twentieth of Auguft; and are fometimes equal to the beft in the Weft Indies. THERE is this difference, however, between the two countries; that in the Weft Indies, in fcafonable --- Page 347 --- WEST INDIES. fcafonable fituations, they have fometimes four CHAP. cuttings in the year from the fame roots, where- Y IV. as in North America they have never more than two, and not often more than one. The plant is a child of the fun, and can be cultivated, I doubt, with great advantage, no where but within the tropicks (g). BUT that fun which thus improves and invigorates the plant, propagates at the fame time an infeét deftruétive to it, This is a fpecies of grub or worm, which becomes a fly, and preys on the leaves, and never fails, in the Weft Indies, to difappoint the plafiter'sexpedations the fecond year upon the fame, land : the only remedy is to change the foil everyyear. The want of due attention to this important circumftance, has probably been one of the caufes that fa many perfons have failed of late years in their attempts to revive the culture of this valuable commodity. IF this deftruétive peft be happily prevented, or greatly mitigated, the produce per acre of the firft cutting, will be about cighty pounds weight of what the French call pigeon's-weck 5 or about fixty pounds of a quality equal to the Guatimala. The produce in North America is fometimes (g) The ratoons, or fubfequent growths from the fame plants, ripen in fix or eight weeks; ; but the produce diminifhes faft after the fecond cutting, fo that it is ablolutely neceffary to fow the feeds anew every year. Y 4 nearly --- Page 348 --- HISTORY OF THE EOOK nearly as much; but when Fahrenheit's thermoV. meter falls to 60°, the returns there are very uncertain, both in quality and quantity; a greater heat being abfolutely neceffary both for vegetation and maceration. The yielding for the fubfequent cuttings fomewhat diminithes; but in Jamaica and St. Domingo, if the land is new, about 300 lbs. per acre ofthe fecond quality,may be expeéted annually, from all the cuttings together, and four negroes are fufficient to carry on the cultivation of five acres, befides doing other occafional work, fufficient to reimburfe the expences of their maintenance and clothing. THE procefs for obtaining the dye is generally conduéted in two cifterns, which are placed like two fleps, the one afcending to the other. The higheft (which is alfo the longeft) is called the Reeper; and its dimenfions are about fixteen feet fquare, and two feet and a halfin depth. There is an aperture near the bottom fordifcharging the fluid into the fecond, which is called the battery, and is commonly about twelve feet fquare, and fourand a half in depth. Cifterns of thefe dimenfions, are proper for about feven acres of the plant : but if ftone work cannot ealily be erected for want of materials, vats of ftrong timber, well fecured from leakage, will anfwer as well (h). THE (h) There is alfo required a lime-vat, fix by cight fcet fquare, and four feet deep; and it may be proper to obferve, that the tap or plug hole ought to be placed at leatt eight inches fourand a half in depth. Cifterns of thefe dimenfions, are proper for about feven acres of the plant : but if ftone work cannot ealily be erected for want of materials, vats of ftrong timber, well fecured from leakage, will anfwer as well (h). THE (h) There is alfo required a lime-vat, fix by cight fcet fquare, and four feet deep; and it may be proper to obferve, that the tap or plug hole ought to be placed at leatt eight inches --- Page 349 --- WEST INDIES. THE plants are cut with reap-hooks or fickles, CHAP, a few inches above the root (i), and placed by Y IV. firata in the fteeper, until it is about three parts full. They are then ftrongly preffed down by boards or planks, which are wedged or loaded, to prevent the plants from buoying up 5 and as much water is admitted as the weed will imbibe, until it is covered four or five inches deep, and in this ftate it is left to ferment, until the pulp is extraéted: but the utmoft attention and nice management are now required; for, if the fluid is drawn off too foon, much of the pulp is left behind; and if the fermentation is too long continued, the tender tops of the weeds occafion putrefaction, bywhich all the dye is deftroyed. To obtain a certain knowledge therefore of the proper degree of fermentation, has hitherto inches from the bottom, to leave fufficient room for the lime to fubfide, before the lime-water is drawn off into the battery. (i) Some perfons are of opinion that the plants fhould not be cut nearer the ground than fix inches, and that a few branches fhould be left on the ftem.-This praétice, they fay, will draw up the fap better, and produce a more luxuriant ratoon than when a naked ftalk only is left. Duringthe firft cutting it is ufual to leave fome of the moft flourifhing ftalks for feed, which ought not to be gathered until it is well hardened in the pod.-It generally requires ten bufhels of the pod to produce a fingle bufhel of clean dry feed fit for fowing. It may alfo be obferved, that many indigo planters have a notion that the plant yields the greateft quantity of the dye, when cut at the full of the moon.-Of this fact I can affert nothing of my own knowledge. been --- Page 350 --- HISTORY OF THE BOO K been the grand defideratum of the cultivator. V. Repeated experiments for this purpofe, were made fome years ago in the ifland of Hilpaniola, under the fanétion and encouragement of the Chamber of Agriculture, and inftructions (which were faid to be praétifed with great fuccels by Meffrs, Dangdale and Mongon, indigo planters in that ifland) were publifhed by authority, to this effect: 65: AFTER the Indigo has been fteeped in the ciftern eight or nine hours, draw off a little of the water, and with a pen dipped intoit, make a few ftrokes upon white paper. The firft will probably bel high coloured, in which cafe theindigo is not fufficiently fermented; this operation is to be repeated every quarter of an hour, until it lofes its colour; when it is arrived at the true point of fermentation." Ir is aftonithing that an experiment fo fimple in itfelf, if it anfwers, fhould have been for fo many years unknown to the indigo planters in general; and 1 confefs, that, although I have had no opportunity of giving it a trial, I am myfelf fomewhat doubtful ofits efficacy. The following method, which I give on the authority of Mr. Lediard, is, I conceive, attended with much greater certainty : 6 LETA fimall hole be made in the ftceper, fix or eight inches from the bottom, exclufive of the opening imple in itfelf, if it anfwers, fhould have been for fo many years unknown to the indigo planters in general; and 1 confefs, that, although I have had no opportunity of giving it a trial, I am myfelf fomewhat doubtful ofits efficacy. The following method, which I give on the authority of Mr. Lediard, is, I conceive, attended with much greater certainty : 6 LETA fimall hole be made in the ftceper, fix or eight inches from the bottom, exclufive of the opening --- Page 351 --- WEST INDIES opening or aperture for drawing off the impreg- CHAP, nated water; let this hole likewife be ftopped 1 IV. with a plug, yet not fo firmly but that a fmall ftream may be permitted to ooZe through it. After the plants have been fteeped fome hours, the fluid oozing out will appear beautifully green; and at the lower edge of the ciftern, from whence it drops into the battery, it will turn of a copperith colour. This copperifh hue, as the fermentation continues, will gradually afcend upwards to the plug, and when that circumftance is perceived, it is proper to ftop the fermentation. <: DURING the progrefs of this part of the bufinefs, particular attention fhould be paid to the fmell of the liquor which weeps from the aperture ; for fhould it difcover any fournefs, it will be neceflary to let the fermented liquor run immediately into the battery, and lime water of fufficient ftrength muft be added to it, until it has loft its fournefs As it is running off, it will appear green, mixed with a bright yellow, or ftraw colour, but in the battery it will be of a moft beautiful green." THE tincture being thus difcharged into the battery, it is there churned or agitated, until the dye begins to granulate, or float in little flakes on the water. This was formerly done in Jamaica with manual labour, by means of paddles, and, --- Page 352 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK and, in the French' ifands, by buckets or cylinV. ders fixed to long poles;-but far more convenient machines are now conftruéted,in which the levers are worked by a cog-wheel, and kept in motion by a horfe or a mule. When the fluid has, by fuch means, been well churned for the fpace of fifteen or twenty minutes, and, being tried in a cup or plate, appears curdled or COagulated, a ftrong impregnation of lime-water is gradually added, not only to promote a feparation, but likewife to fix the colour and preferve it from putrefaétion. But the planters (as Brown obferves) c muft carefully diftinguith the different ftages of this part of the operation alfo, and attentively examine the appearance and COlour as the work advances, for the grain paffes gradually from a greenifh to a fine purple, which is the proper colour when the liquor is fufficiently worked; too fimall a degree of agitation leaving the indigo green and coarle; ; while too vigorous an aétion brings it to be almoft black." THE liquor being properly and fufficiently worked, and the pulp granulated, it is left undifturbed until the flakes or Roculae fettle at the bottom, when the incumbent water is drawn off, and the indigo diftributed into fmall linen bags to drain, after which it is carefully put into little fquare boxes or moulds, and fuffered to dry is fufficiently worked; too fimall a degree of agitation leaving the indigo green and coarle; ; while too vigorous an aétion brings it to be almoft black." THE liquor being properly and fufficiently worked, and the pulp granulated, it is left undifturbed until the flakes or Roculae fettle at the bottom, when the incumbent water is drawn off, and the indigo diftributed into fmall linen bags to drain, after which it is carefully put into little fquare boxes or moulds, and fuffered to dry --- Page 353 --- WEST INDIES. dry gradually in the fhade; and this finithes CHAP. IV. the manufaéture*. To what has been faid above of the nature of the plant, fuiting itfelf to every foil, and producing four cuttings in the year, if we add the cheapnefs of the buildings, apparatus and labour, and the great value of the commodity, there will feem but little caufe for wonder at the fplendid accounts which are tranfmitted down to us concerning the great opulence of the firft Indigo planters. Allowing the produce of an acreto be * The following obfervations of Dr. Roxburgh of Bengal, concerning the firft procefs, feem to have been made with great accuracy : 66 When the indigo plant is committed to cold waterin the fteeping vat, the following appearances take place: in a few hours a flight motion begins to fhew itfelf throughout the body of liquor-the bulk encreafes confiderably, with fomeadditional heat; air bubbles are generated, fome of which remain on the furface, and gradually colleéti into patches of froth-a thin violet or copper coloured pellicle or cream makes its appearance between the patches of froth, and foon after, the thin film which forms the covering of the bubbles compofing the froth begins to be deeply tinged with a fine blue : the liquor from the beginning will have been acquiring a green colour, and now it will appear, when viewed falling from one veffel to another, of a bright yellowifh green, and will readily pafs the clofeft filter until the aétion ofthe air makes it turbid, a proof that the bafe of the colouri is now perfeatlyd diffolved in the watery. menftruum. This is the time for letting off the vat-the fermentation however continues, and large quantities of froth are formed. The fmell now becomes very offenfive," &c. &c. Bancroft on Permanent Colours, Appendix, 432. goolbs. --- Page 354 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK 300 lbs. and the produce no more than 45. fterV. ling per pound, the grofs profits of acres Y twenty will be 6.1,200, produced by the labour of only fixteen negroes, and on a capital in land and buildings, fcarce deferving confideration. SUCH, without doubt, will be the reader's firft reflections. Unhappily, however, the golden hopes which fpeculations like thefe have raifed in the minds of thoufands, have vanifhed on actual experiment, like the vifions of the morning, I think I have myfelf, in the courfe of eighteen years refidence in the WeftIndies, known at leaft twenty perfons commence Indigo planters, not one of whom has left a trace by which I can how point out where his plantation was fituated, except perhaps the remains of a ruined ciftern covered by weeds, and defiled by reptiles. Many of them too were men of knowledge, forefight, and property. That they failed is certain, but of the caufes of their failure, I confefs I can give no fatisfactory account. I was told that difappointment trod clofe at their heels at every ftep. At one time the fermentation was too long continued ; at another, the liquor was drawn off too foon. Now the pulp was not duly granulated, and now it was worked too much. To thefe inconveniences, for which praétice would doubtlefs have found a remedy, were added others of a much greater magnitude: the mortality of the negroes . That they failed is certain, but of the caufes of their failure, I confefs I can give no fatisfactory account. I was told that difappointment trod clofe at their heels at every ftep. At one time the fermentation was too long continued ; at another, the liquor was drawn off too foon. Now the pulp was not duly granulated, and now it was worked too much. To thefe inconveniences, for which praétice would doubtlefs have found a remedy, were added others of a much greater magnitude: the mortality of the negroes --- Page 355 --- WEST INDIES. negroes from the vapour of the fermented liquor; CHAP. (an alarming circumftance, that, as I am inform- IV. 1 ed both by the French and Englith planters, conftantly attends the procefs) the failure of the feafons, and the ravages of the worm.-Thefe, or fome of thefe evils, drove them at length to other purfuits, where induftry might find a furer recompence. THEIR hiftory, however, furnifhes a new illuftration to a very trite but important remark, that a manufacture once deftroyed, fcarce ever takes root again in the fame country. Of the caufes from which the general culture and manufacture of Indigo, was relinquifhed in Jamaica, enough has been faid by other writers : yet the fame arguments which induced the Britifh Government to burthen this commodity with dutics under which it funk, are ftill urged in the cafe of other colonial products, and will continue to be urged, until the fame fate attends many of them as attendéd Indigo. Of the monftrous folly and impolicy of loading with high dutice an article fo effentially neceffary to the Britifh woollen manufactory, (putting colonial confiderations out of the queftion) the Mother Country is, I believe, at length fufficiently convinced, the quantity of Indigo annually imported into Great Britain, from ail parts of the workd, being, I believe, one million and a half of pounds, of which be urged, until the fame fate attends many of them as attendéd Indigo. Of the monftrous folly and impolicy of loading with high dutice an article fo effentially neceffary to the Britifh woollen manufactory, (putting colonial confiderations out of the queftion) the Mother Country is, I believe, at length fufficiently convinced, the quantity of Indigo annually imported into Great Britain, from ail parts of the workd, being, I believe, one million and a half of pounds, of which --- Page 356 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK which five parts in feven are purchafed with V. ready money of ftrangers and rivals (k) (k) Soon after the fecond edition ofthis work was printed, my learned friend, Dr. Edward Bancroft, F. R. S. favoured the publick with his 66 Experimental Refearches 6 the Philofophy of Permanent Colours," a work concerning of infinite refearch and merit; in an Appendix to which, he gives an abftradt of a botanical defcription, by Dr. Roxburgh of Bengal, of a new fpecies of nerium (rofe bay) found in the Eaft Indies, the leaves of which yield excellent indigo. This account however is chiefly interefting to the planters of the Weft Indies, as containing fome experiments and which lead to an improved method of extraéting the common opinions indigo by means of a boiling proce/s; for it being found that the leaves of the nerium would not yield their colour except to boiling water, it was judged by: analogy that the fcalding procefs might be advantageoufly applied alfo to the common indigo plant, and the refult has exceeded expedtation : c 66 the fcalding procefs (obferves Dr. Roxburgh) I have by 6 always, on a fmall fcale, made from the common 66 plant, better indigo than I could by fermentation, and indigo in G one fourth of the time; and what is alfo of great 66 portance, without the fmalleft degree of the im66 effluvia which attends the manufaéture of indigo pernicious fera 66 mentation ; and moreover, the twigs apd leaves themfelves by 66 of the indigo plant burn fiercely, afrer having been well 4 dried, and will carry on the operation without 6 any great addition of other fuel." requiring In another place Dr. Roxburgh obferves, 6 that the <6 Hindoos throughout the northern provinces or circars 44 make all their indigo by means of hot water, and 46 cipitate with a cold infufion of the bark of the pre66 tree, yet, notwithftanding the inferiority of this bark jambalong as an 4 aftringent, when its effeêts are compared with thofeoflime66 water, I have always found their indigo to be of a e6 excellent quality, and very light; a cubic inch weighing very 6s only . Roxburgh obferves, 6 that the <6 Hindoos throughout the northern provinces or circars 44 make all their indigo by means of hot water, and 46 cipitate with a cold infufion of the bark of the pre66 tree, yet, notwithftanding the inferiority of this bark jambalong as an 4 aftringent, when its effeêts are compared with thofeoflime66 water, I have always found their indigo to be of a e6 excellent quality, and very light; a cubic inch weighing very 6s only --- Page 357 --- WESTINDIES. COFFE: E. SO many treatifes have been written on the CHAP. hiftory of coffee; its introduction into the Weft IV. Indies has been fo fully traced by fome writers, 1 and its properties fo ably inveftigated by others, (abové all, by my learned friend Dr. Benjamin Mofeley) as hardly to leave me the poffibility of offering any thing new on thofe fubjects. The few obfervations therefore which I Thail prefent to my readers concerning this berry, will relate principally to its culture ; and thefe being chiefly founded on actual experience, may perhaps afford fome ufeful information. THE et only about IIO grains, and being of a blue violet colour. 46 The fuperior quality ofthis indigo muft alone be imputed 6 to the nature of the procefs by which the colour, or 6 rather bafe of the colour, is extraéted from the plant; for 66 their apparatus is very inconvenient." < Befides the fuperior quality of the indigo obtained by e the fcalding procefs, the quantity is generally increafed by ce it; moreover the health of the labourer in this way is not 6 endangered, as in the fermenting procefs, by conftant and < copious exhalations of putrid miafma : the heat employed e expels moft of the fixed air during the fcalding, which 66 renders a very fmall degree of agitation, and very little ofthe 6 precipitant neceffary. The operation can alfo be performed 66 two or three times a day upon a large fcale; and laftly, the 4 indigo itfelf dries quickly without acquiring any bad fmell, 66 or putrid unwholefome tendency." Surely thefe obfervations deferve ther moft ferious attention of thep planters in the Britifh Weft-Indies ! VoL. II. 7. --- Page 358 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK THE admirers of coffee have long lamented v. the inferiority of the Weft Indian to that of Y Mocha. That many of the complaints with which the publick are amufed on this fubject, arife from affeétation, I have not a doubt. At the fame time, it muft be admitted that the charge is not entirely without foundation, inafmuch as the Weft Indian coffee is frequently drank within twelve months after it has been gathered from the tree 3 and that the flavour improves by age, there is not a coffee planter in the WeftIndies fo bigotted to his own poffeffions, as wholly to deny. BUr the notion that the coffee itfelf is naturally inferior to that of the Eaft, as being the produdtion of a coarfer and lefs valuable fpecies of the tree, needs no other refutation than the circumftance related by the celebrated gardener, Mr. Miller, 66 that from plants brought from the S6 Weft Indies, and raifed in Englith hot-houfes, 66 coffee berries have been produced, which, at a se proper age, were found to furpafs the very beft < Mocha that could be procured in Great Bri66 tain." It is evident therefore that the whole difference depends on the foil and climate, mode of curing, and age. Ir appears, on the authority of Le Roque and other writers, that the Arabian coffee is produced in a very dry climate; and flourithes moft on 66 that from plants brought from the S6 Weft Indies, and raifed in Englith hot-houfes, 66 coffee berries have been produced, which, at a se proper age, were found to furpafs the very beft < Mocha that could be procured in Great Bri66 tain." It is evident therefore that the whole difference depends on the foil and climate, mode of curing, and age. Ir appears, on the authority of Le Roque and other writers, that the Arabian coffee is produced in a very dry climate; and flourithes moft on --- Page 359 --- WEST INDIES. on a fandy foil, or on mountainous flopes, which CHAP. give an eafy conveyance to the rains. The proIV. priety of choofing fimilar fituations in the Weft Y Indies (if a fmall berry, beft fuited for the Englith market, is expeéted) is juftified by the experience of every coffee planter. A. RICH deep foil, frequently meliorated by fhowers, will produce a luxuriant tree, and a great crop; but the beans, which are large, and of a dingy green, prove, for many years, rank and vapid. It is fingular, however, that the North Americans prefer this fort to any other, and, as they have hitherto been the beft cuftomers at the Weft Indian markets, the planters naturally enough have applied their labours to that cultivation which turned to the beft account. HAPPILY for the coffee planters of the Britifh Weft Indies, the Englifh market, by a prudent conceffion of Government in 1783, was rendered more open to them. Before that period, the duties and excife on the importation and confumption of Britilh plantation coffee in Great Britain were no lefs than 480 per cent. on its then marketable value. Under fuch exactions, its cultivation in our fugar iflands muft (but for the American market) have fhared the fame fate as that of Indigo. The great and important re: duétion of one fhilling a pound from the excife duties, created an immediate and wonderful Z 2 change; --- Page 360 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK change ; and while it promoted the intereft of V. the planter, it even augmented the reveriue of the ftate; more than double the quantity of coffee having been brought to entry in 1784 than was entered in the yeaf preceding; increafing the fum total of the duties (though reduced two-thirds) from 6:2,869. IOS. 1ofd.tof-7,200 15. gd.; an important proof, among others, how frequently heavy taxation defeats its own purpofe ! As the Britifh demand has thus increafed, fo, on the other hand, the American has declined, having, as I conceive, been transferred in a great meafure to the forcign iflands. It is now therefore become the intereft of the planter to change his fyftem, by fuiting the nature of his commodity to the tafte of his new cuftomers. THis, it is true, is not within the power of every man, whofe plantation is already fettled, to accomplifh ; but affuredly it is a very important object to fuch perfons as may have it ih contemplation to adventure in this line of cultivation (in a country, where every fpecies of foil, and choice of fituation, may be found) to know beforehand how to employ their money and labour to the greateft advantage. -COFFEE indeed will thrive in every foil in the WVeft Indies; a cold ftiff clay, and a fhallow mould on a hot marle, excepted. In both which, the already fettled, to accomplifh ; but affuredly it is a very important object to fuch perfons as may have it ih contemplation to adventure in this line of cultivation (in a country, where every fpecies of foil, and choice of fituation, may be found) to know beforehand how to employ their money and labour to the greateft advantage. -COFFEE indeed will thrive in every foil in the WVeft Indies; a cold ftiff clay, and a fhallow mould on a hot marle, excepted. In both which, the --- Page 361 --- WEST INDIES. the leaves turn yellow, and the trees perifh, or CHAR. produce nothing; but the beft and higheft-fla- IV. / voured fruit is unqueftionably the growth of either a warm gravelly mould, a fandy loam, or the dry red hills which are found in almoft every ifland of the Weft Indies, Jamaica efpecially. Frequent (howers of rain, however, are friendly to its growth, but if water remains long about the roots, the tree will decay and perith, Ir the land be freth and naturally good, coffee plants may be fet out at all feafons of the year, even in dry weather, and they will thrive in any fituation, provided it be fcreened from the north winds, which often deftroy the bloffom; and fometimes, in the after part of the year when thofe winds prevail moft, entirely ftrip the tree of both fruit and leaves; blafting in a moment all the hopes of the planter, THE ufual mode of planting is, to line out the land into fquares of cight fect; ; in other words, to fow the feeds, or fet out the young plants, cight feet diftant from each other on all fides, which gives fix hundred and eighty trees to each acre ; and, where young plants are eafily procured, they are preferred to berries, The plants which are intended to be fet out are generally eleéted of about two, feet in height. They are cut off ten inches above the furface of the ground, and care is taken to dig them up. with the roots as entire Z 3 as --- Page 362 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK as poffible. The holes in which they are fet, are V. made large enough to hold the lower part of the Y ftem and all the roots ; and the upper fibres are buried about two inches under the furface. But, although cight feet be the ufual diftance of fetting out the plants in all foils, it is frequently found, in rich lands, that the trees, as they grow to maturity, become, from their luxuriance, fo clofely intermingled together, as to impede the free paflage oft theair: In fuch cafes it is thought advifeable to cut down every fecond row, within ten or twelve inches of the ground, and by well moulding the ftumps, they will furnifh a fucceffion ofl healthy young trees, while the rows which are left will bear much better for the room which is given them. Old plantations (or walks as they are called) cut down in this manner, not dug up and replanted, will give a tolerable crop the fecond year; and the operation may be frequently repeated. IN the cultivation of a young walk, the general and moft approved fyftem is to keep the trees perfectly clear of fuckers, and to rear one ftem only from one root. If, therefore, a healthy fhoot fprings near the ground, all the original plant is cut off clofe above it, by which means, when the plant is moulded, the root becomes well covered. At the height of five or fix feet, which the plants generally attain the third year, the will give a tolerable crop the fecond year; and the operation may be frequently repeated. IN the cultivation of a young walk, the general and moft approved fyftem is to keep the trees perfectly clear of fuckers, and to rear one ftem only from one root. If, therefore, a healthy fhoot fprings near the ground, all the original plant is cut off clofe above it, by which means, when the plant is moulded, the root becomes well covered. At the height of five or fix feet, which the plants generally attain the third year, the --- Page 363 --- WEST INDIES. the trees are topped. At this height, a fingle CHAP. IV. ftem gives from thirty-fix to forty-two bearing 1 branches, and the pruning required annually, is to leave nothing but thofe branches. FROM what has been faid concerning the effect of a difference of feafons, it muft be difficult to fix on the average produce of a coffee plantation by the acre. In rich and fpungy foils a fingle tree has been known to yield from fix to cight pounds of coffee : I mean when pulped and dried, In a different fituation, a pound and a quarter from each tree, on an average, is great yielding; but then the coffee is infinitely better in point of flavour. The following is, I believe, on a medium, as accurate a calculation as the fubject will admit. Coffee trees raifed from old trees, in lands neither very poor nor very rich, bear the fecond year from the new growth 300 pounds weight per acre, 500 pounds the third year, and from 6 to 700 pounds the fourth. If the trees are raifed from young plants, no produce is to be expeéted until the third year from the planting when they will yield very little; the fourth year, about 700 pounds. The average annual produce per acre after that period, if the walk is properly attended to, may be reckoned at 750 pounds: and one negro is well able to take proper care of an acre and a half. Z 4 We --- Page 364 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK We are now come to the moft important buV. finefs of the coffee planter, i. e. the gathering in his crop, and the mode of curing it for market. The praétice in Arabia, according to Le Roque, is as follows : When the planters perceive that the fruit is come to maturity, they ipread cloths under the trees, which they fhake from time to time, and the ripe fruit drops off. The berries thus colleéted are afterwards fpread upon mats, and expofed to the fun with the pulp on the berries, until they are perfeétly dry,.which requirés a confiderable time; after which, the beans are extricated from its outward incumbrance by the preffure of. a large and heavy ftone roller, when they are again dried in the fun; for the planters confider, that, unlefs coffee be thoroughly dry, there is danger of its. heating. It is then winnowed with a large fan, and packed far fale." Ir cannot be denied that this fimple method muft be infinitely fuperior to any other for preferving the genuine flavour of the berry; 5 but it may well be doubted whether the additional price which the planter might obtain at the Britifh market for coffee thus gathered and prepared, would be adequate ta the.value of. the time and Jabour which fo tedious a method would neceffarily require. The ufual praétice in the.Britifl, Weft Indies is as folloys:- As nowed with a large fan, and packed far fale." Ir cannot be denied that this fimple method muft be infinitely fuperior to any other for preferving the genuine flavour of the berry; 5 but it may well be doubted whether the additional price which the planter might obtain at the Britifh market for coffee thus gathered and prepared, would be adequate ta the.value of. the time and Jabour which fo tedious a method would neceffarily require. The ufual praétice in the.Britifl, Weft Indies is as folloys:- As --- Page 365 --- WEST INDIES. As foon as the berries acquire the colour of a CHAP, black red on the trees, they are fuppofed to be 1 IV. fufficiently ripe for picking. The negroes employed in this bufinefs are provided each with a canvas bag, with a hoop in the mouth to keep it open. It is' hung about the neck of the picker, who empties it occafionally into a baiket, and if he be induftrious, he may pick three bufhels in the day. But it is not very provident to urge him on too faft, as probably a great deal of unripe fruit will in that cafe be mixed with the ripe. The ufual praétice is to pick the trees at three different ftages of ripenefs. One hundred bufhels in the pulp, freth from the tree, will give about one thoufand pounds weight of merchantable coffee. THERE are two methods in ufe of curing or drying the bean : The one is, to fpread the freth coffee in the fun, in layers about five inches deep, on a floping terras, or platform of boards ; with the puip on the berry, which in a few days ferments and difchargesitfelfin: a ftrong acidulousmoiflure, and in this ftate the coffee is left, until it is perfeétly dry, which, if the weather is favourable, it will be in about three weeks. The hufks are afterwards feparated from the feeds by a grinding mill hereafter to be defcribed, or frequently by pounding them with peftles in troughs or large waoden mortars. Çoffee thus cured, weighs four --- Page 366 --- HISTORY OF THÉ BOOK four per cent. heavier than if cured without the V. pulp. THE other mode is to remove the pulp immediately as it comes from the tree, This is done by means of a pulping mill, confifting of a horizontal fluted roller, about eighteen inches long, and eight inches in diameter. This roller is turned by a crank or handle, and aéts againft a moveable breaft-board, which being fitted clofe to the grooves of the roller, prevents the berries from paffing whole. The mill is fed by a floping trough, and the aperture of the trough, from which the berries drop into the mill, is regulated by a vertical fliding board. By this fimple machine a negro will pulp a bufhel in a minute, The pulp, and the bean (in its parchment fkin) fall promifcuoufly together. The whole is then wafhed in wire fieves, to feparate the pulp from the feeds, and thefe are immediately fpread open to the fun to dry. THERE prevails great difference of opinion among the coffee planters on the fubject of thefe two different methods of curing raw coffee. The latter is perhaps the moft profitable, as being more expeditious; but I have no doubt that the former would give the beft flavoured coffec, provided the fermentation, which always takes place when the raw fruit is placed in heaps on the platform, could be prevented, which might cafily ieves, to feparate the pulp from the feeds, and thefe are immediately fpread open to the fun to dry. THERE prevails great difference of opinion among the coffee planters on the fubject of thefe two different methods of curing raw coffee. The latter is perhaps the moft profitable, as being more expeditious; but I have no doubt that the former would give the beft flavoured coffec, provided the fermentation, which always takes place when the raw fruit is placed in heaps on the platform, could be prevented, which might cafily --- Page 367 --- WEST INDIES. enfily be done at the expence of a little more CHAP. room. The blue dingy green, which to the Ame- IV. - Y rican is the teft of good coffee, is confidered by the London dealer as a proof that it has not been fufficiently cured. From both methods, however, the coffee may prove very good with the powerful affiftance ofi its great improver, age. HITHERTO, I have defcribed the pulping mill only. There yet remains the operation of grinding off the parchment fkin, or membrane which immediately envelopes the bean, and is Jeft after the pulp is removed. It is done by a machine which will alfo feparate, at the fame time, the dried pulp (if the former mode of curing has been adopted) much more expeditioufly than the peftle and mortar. THE grinding mill confifts of a perpendicular axis, furrounded at fome diftance by a circular trough, into which the coffee is thrown, and about a foot above the level of the furface of the trough, there are commonly four horizontal arms or fweeps, tenanted into the axis, and ftretching fome feet beyond the trough, and on them are four rollers, fitted to run in the trough on the arms being turned round with the axis, which is done by mules yoked to the extremity. The rollers, which are generally of confiderable weight, moving round in the trough, bruife the fkins of the ccffee, fo as to render them feparable by the fan, --- Page 368 --- HISTORY OF TH E BOOK fan, though there is always a proportion left unV. touched. When it appears fufficiently bruifed, it is taken out of the trough and put to the fan, which clears the coffee from the chaff, and the feeds remaining unground are feparated by fieves and returned to the mill; which will clear 1500 pounds of coffee in a day. THERE is ftill another mode of curing coffee, both with and without the pulp, and that is by means of ftoves. But it is praétifed by very few planters; it requiring an expenfive apparatus in the firft place, and in the fecond, it is faid that the fmoke of the fire gives a difagreeable fmell and tafte to the berry. I know not if this affertion be true: it is certain, however, that nothing imbibes the fmell or tafte of any thing near it, fooner than coffee. For the fame reafon it is a matter of great confequence that proper care fhould be taken, in fhipping it for Europe, that it be not put into parts of the fhip where it may receive the effluvia of other freight. < Coffee berries (fays Dr. Mofe+ ley) are remarkably difpofed to imbibe exhalations from other bodies, and thereby acquire an adventitious and difagreeable flavour, Rum, placed near to coffee, will in a fhort time fo.impregnate the berries, as to injure the tafte in a high degree,and it is related by Mr. Miller, that afcw ould be taken, in fhipping it for Europe, that it be not put into parts of the fhip where it may receive the effluvia of other freight. < Coffee berries (fays Dr. Mofe+ ley) are remarkably difpofed to imbibe exhalations from other bodies, and thereby acquire an adventitious and difagreeable flavour, Rum, placed near to coffee, will in a fhort time fo.impregnate the berries, as to injure the tafte in a high degree,and it is related by Mr. Miller, that afcw --- Page 369 --- WEST INDIES. à few bags of pepper on board a thip from India, CHAP: fome years fince, fpoiled a whole cargo of coffee." - IV. 1 THE few preceding obfervations are all that occur to me concerning the mode of cultivating, and preparing for market, this far-famed berry. I thall conclude the fubject by offering a fhort eftimate of the expences and returns attending its culture, which I conceive tends more to the ofinduftry, and of courfe to the encouragement increafe of white population in the Weft Indian iflands, than that of any other of their ftaple commodities ; its produce being more equal and certain than that ofany plant in cultivation, and its average profits more confiderablein proportion to the capital employed. Ir will be urged, perhaps, that if fuch were the fact, its culture would haye been more general in the Britih Weft Indies. This objeétion has been anticipated and anfwered by what has been related of the heavy excife duties on this commodity in Great Britain previous to 1783To fay (as is commonly faid in the cale of. all duties on goods imported) that they fall on the confumer, and not on the planter, proves nothing; for if the price, in confequence of the duties, becomes fo high as that the confumer ceafes to purchafe, the effect is equally ruinous to the cultivator, as if they fell immediately on himfelf. Nothing --- Page 370 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK Nothing more clearly demonftrates that the culV. tivation of this article was greatly affected by the Britifh duties, than the comparative quantities imported into France and England ; the whole annual import into Great Britain, on an average of five years (1783 to 1787), not exceeding five million fix hundred thoufand pounds weight ; whereas the ifland of Hifpaniola alone has produced an annual fupply of feventy million of pounds and upwards. Ir is likewife apparent, that fince the reduction of the duties in 1783, the cultivation of coffee in the. Britifh Weft Indies, in Jamaica efpecially, has made a more rapid progrefs than in thirty years preceding. Yet, (as Dr. Mofeley has obferved) even the prefent duty of fixpence per pound is too high to admit the general ufe of this fragrant beverage among all claffes of people. What then muft be thought of the former exaction of three times that duty, which continued for fifty-one years? So little has the fcience of colonial commerce been underftood oF adverted to! Efimate --- Page 371 --- WEST INDIES. C HAP. IV. Efimate of the Expence and Return of a Coffee Plantation in the mountains of Jamaica, fourteen miles from the Jeas calculated in the currency of that ifand, being forty per cent. worfe than Rerling 3 viz. Firft Coft of 300 acres of mountain land, of which one-half is referved for provifions and pafturage, at 6-3 per E. acre 9oo Ditto, of IOO negroes, at 6-70 per head 7,000 Ditto, of 20 mules, at 6.28 Buildings and utenfils, mills, and negro tools 2,000 Expence of maintaining the negroes the firft year, before provifions can be raifed (exclufive of other annual expences charged below) 6-5 each 10,960 Compound intereft for three years, before any return can be expeéted, at 6 per cent. 2,093 Carried over a 6-13,053 6-70 per head 7,000 Ditto, of 20 mules, at 6.28 Buildings and utenfils, mills, and negro tools 2,000 Expence of maintaining the negroes the firft year, before provifions can be raifed (exclufive of other annual expences charged below) 6-5 each 10,960 Compound intereft for three years, before any return can be expeéted, at 6 per cent. 2,093 Carried over a 6-13,053 --- Page 372 --- HISTORY OF THE 3OOK Brought over 6.13,053 V. ANNUAL EXPENCES; viz, White overfeer and maintenance, 6.200 One other white fervant Medicalattendance on the negroes 25 Negro-f fupplies, viz. clothing, tools, falted filh, and other provifions, exclufive of the produce of their own grounds 200 Colonial taxes IOO Total for three years, before any return can be expeéted - - 1,785 Compound intereft, as it arifes in the feveral years 2,006 Total Expence 6-151059 Returns the fourth year, at 6.4 per cat. being the average price ef Colfee for five years previons to 1792 5 viz. From 150 acres of young coffee may be 6. expected the fourth year 45,000 lbs. 1,800 Deduét annual charges for the fourth year 6-595 Sacks and faddles Clear prefit (being equal to 6.7. per ceitt. on the capital) 14-7E.116s Returns --- Page 373 --- WEST INDIES. Returns thefiftl andfubfequent years; viz. CHAP. IV. 150 acres, yiclding 750 Ibs. per acre, K. 112,500 lbs. at 6.4 Deduet annual charges, as before L-595 Sacks and faddles Repairs of mills, 8cc. IOO Clear profit (being cqual to 243 per? ceit. on the capital) 6-31725 +141 It ought to have been obferved in the firft edition of this work, that I am indebted for the eftimates in this and the two preccding pages, to my worthy friend SAMUEL VAUGHAN, Efq. of St. James's parifh Jamaica, Member of the Affembly of that ifland, who has direéted his attention to the cultivation of Coffee with great afliduity and fuccefs. He has fince favoured me with the following interefting obfervations, which I have great pleafure in laying before the publick: OBSERVATIONS concerning the cultivation of COFFEE in St. Domingo; and its probable increafe in Jamaica, if the Slave Trade fhall not be abolifhed by A&t of Parliament. THE French part of St. Domingo, in 1770, exported only five millions of pounds of coffee, but in 1784, a bounty of 40 livres per ton having been allowed to flave veffels arriving from Voi. II. Aa Africa, interefting obfervations, which I have great pleafure in laying before the publick: OBSERVATIONS concerning the cultivation of COFFEE in St. Domingo; and its probable increafe in Jamaica, if the Slave Trade fhall not be abolifhed by A&t of Parliament. THE French part of St. Domingo, in 1770, exported only five millions of pounds of coffee, but in 1784, a bounty of 40 livres per ton having been allowed to flave veffels arriving from Voi. II. Aa Africa, --- Page 374 --- HISTORY OF THE 20OK Africa, and in 1786, a further bounty of 20G V. livres per head on flaves imported, the import of negroes increafed annually from 12 and 15,000 to 25 and 30,000; and the effe€t in that colony of this augmentation of African labourers was a very rapid progrefs in every fpecies of cultivation ; but that of coffee almoft éxceeds belief; for the export of this article in 1789 had increafed to above 76 millions of pounds, which, valued at the prefent price (90 Thillings per cwt.), is equal to 6-3,420,000 fterling! Of this enlarged export, no lefs than 25 millions of pounds (worth 6. 1,250,000 fterling) were produced between the years 1786 and 1789; and it was fuppofed that the crop of 1792 (ift the troubles had not intervened) would have been 80 millions, fo little had the depreciation at market, from the additional quantity brought to fale, affeéted the cultivation. It feems probable, that the exceffive price of the Mocha and Eaftern coffee had formerly the effect ofa prohibition of the ufe of this beverage among the middling and lower claffes of people in Europe ; for the quantity raifed in this fingle ifland of St. Domingo was fo great, the increafe of its cultivation fo rapid, and the price ofWeft Indian coffee, though 2 S. 34 d. per lb. lefs than that of Mocha, ftill continuing, at the time ofthe greateft export, at a profitable height for the cultivator ; that it is difficult to account for thefe facts, but by --- Page 375 --- WEST INDIES. 1 fuppofing the confumers to be augmented by CHAP. new and numerous people. On this fuppofition, IV. it is impoffible to forefee the extent to which the 1 - cultivation of this article in the Weft Indies may be carried. It is not enough to fay, it will equal that of fugar, nor is it likely, as in the cafe of fugar, to be checked by importation from the Eaft, inafmuch as it has rifen to its prefent wonderful importance in the Weft Indics, notwithftanding the rivalry of both the Eaft Indies and the Levant:-The diminution of the quantity of coffee produced in St. Domingo (upwards of one thoufand coffee plantations having beendeftroyed) will moft certainly be felt in a remarkable manner for fome years to come : many perfons from thence are of opinion, that the exportation will be reduced at leaft one half (that is, forty millions of pounds) fuppofing even that the prefent rebellion was to terminate without further devaftation. The export from the whole Britifh Colonies in 1787 did not amount to four millions of pounds; and therefore, excepting by new cultivation, they cannot fupply the deficiency occafioned by the troubles in St. Domingo, nor is the reft of the Weft Indies able to make it up; for fince thefe troubles, the price has augmented near onefourth, viz. from 705. to 90s. This advance of price will, if not (as in former times) checked by additional duties, be a premium to all Weft Aaz India Britifh Colonies in 1787 did not amount to four millions of pounds; and therefore, excepting by new cultivation, they cannot fupply the deficiency occafioned by the troubles in St. Domingo, nor is the reft of the Weft Indies able to make it up; for fince thefe troubles, the price has augmented near onefourth, viz. from 705. to 90s. This advance of price will, if not (as in former times) checked by additional duties, be a premium to all Weft Aaz India --- Page 376 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK India Iflands where theré are mountains ; and, as V. cultivation cannot be carried on - in St. Domingo, for fome time, to its former extent, for various reafons, it is likely to be a premium of fome degree of permanency. Let us now turn to Jamaica: the export of coffee from thence, before 1783, never exceeded 850,000 pounds, hotwithftanding the fevéral meafures that were taken by the Affembly to encourage its cultivation. The reduétion took place in 1783, of the excife, to 6sd. per pound, and this feems to have had an immediate influence 3 for at the fourth year from this event, when we fhould naturally expeét the firftappearance of an effect, there was a confiderable increafe of export; and in three years more, the produce was nearly trebled, it exceeding 21 millions. In this fituation we ftood when the difturbances took place at St. Domingo: it is now fixteen months fince the commencement of that rebellion, and by the returns juft made from the feveral parifhes, it appears, that 21,0II negroes are employed in the cultivation of coffee in Jamaica. I will fuppofe, however, that onefourth of thefe may be engaged in other objedts connected with coffee, ftill there will remain 15-759 negroes employed folely in raifing of this article: who, according to common calculation, when the plants are all at full growth (viz. in 1797) fhould make a return of about fixteen millions --- Page 377 --- WEST INDIES. millions ofpounds ; that is above eighteen times CHAP. as much as was produced before 1783,and feven IV. times as much as was produced laft year. It may 1 be added, that the lowlands of Jamaica are already fettled, the highlands, generally fpeaking, are improper for fugar, but proper for coffee; they are new, they are equal to near two thirds of Jamaica: the ifland is now well interfected with roads, &c. &c. In fhort, the country is prepared, and the time is proper for it. FROM all thefe cirçumftances, taken together, it is reafonable to conclude, that if labourers hall continué to be procured from Africa at moderate prices, and every advantage be made of the prefent moment, we Thall eftablith in Jamaica a moft èxtenfive cultivation of coffee, which, as an export ftaple, will be of the utmoft confequence to Great Britain, perhaps, exceeding in value the ftaple of fugar. But this new and important commerce is entirely dependent. on a continued importation of labourers. The increafe of the cultivation of coffee to the extent here fuggefted is, in the prefent times, of peculiar confequence in two other points of view: Firft, it will augment the number of that middle clafs of Whites who, though not rich enough to live in a diftant country, are fufficiently opulent and independent to fupport their families in comfort and competence in a refidence on their own Aa3 eftates; fugar. But this new and important commerce is entirely dependent. on a continued importation of labourers. The increafe of the cultivation of coffee to the extent here fuggefted is, in the prefent times, of peculiar confequence in two other points of view: Firft, it will augment the number of that middle clafs of Whites who, though not rich enough to live in a diftant country, are fufficiently opulent and independent to fupport their families in comfort and competence in a refidence on their own Aa3 eftates; --- Page 378 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK eftates; fecondly, mountain fettlements in geV. neral increafe in Negro population, more Y being healthy than the lowlands. The firft circumftance will add to our fecurity, fo neceffary at prefent, and which, at all periods, we have in vain attempted, by other means, to effeét. The fecond opens a profpeét of an abolition of the Slave Trade, and that at no diftant period of time, by natural caufes, which will gradually take place without giving reafon for complaint to any body of men, Jamaica, 1793. HAVING thus copioufly treated of the cultivation of thofe produêts which chiefly give value and importance to the Britith colonies in the Weft Indies, and contribute, in a very eminent degree, to the wealth, commerce, and navigation of the parent ftate, it is the leis neceffary for me to dwell at great length on minor ftaples S yet thefe cannot be wholly overlooked in a comprehenfive furvey of the tropical kingdom; neither indeed are they to be confidered as unimportant, except by comparifon with thofe rich and profitable commodities of which fo much has been faid in this and the preceding chapters. The remaining --- Page 379 --- WEST INDIES. remaining claffes, of which I Thall briefly CHAP. treat, are cacao, ginger, arnotto, aloes, and IV. piemento. As my obfervations will be few, ) they will be chiefly praétical and commercial; a fyftematical defcription of each being to be found in- Sloane, Brown, Hughes, and other writers. C A' C A O. THE cacao or chocolate nut, a produétion equally delicate, wholefome and nutritive, is a native of South America, and is faid to have been originally conveyed to Hifpaniola from fome of the provinces of New Spain; where, befides affording to the natives an article of nourifhment, it ferved the purpofe of money: 3 and was ufed by them as a medium in barter; one hundred and fifty of the nuts being confidered of much the fame value as a royal by the Spaniards. From this circumftance it feems probable, that if the ancient inhabitants of South America were emigrants from Europe or Afia, they muft have detached themfelves at an early period, before metals were converted into coins, or from fome fociety which had made but moderate advances in civilization. AMONG the Spaniards, with whom the cacao ftill forms a confiderable article of commerce, its cultivation is conduéted in the following manner. Aa4 Having and fifty of the nuts being confidered of much the fame value as a royal by the Spaniards. From this circumftance it feems probable, that if the ancient inhabitants of South America were emigrants from Europe or Afia, they muft have detached themfelves at an early period, before metals were converted into coins, or from fome fociety which had made but moderate advances in civilization. AMONG the Spaniards, with whom the cacao ftill forms a confiderable article of commerce, its cultivation is conduéted in the following manner. Aa4 Having --- Page 380 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK Having chofen a fpot of level land (a deep black V. mould is preferred) fheltered round with a thick wood, fo as to be well icreened from the wind, efpecially the north, and caufed it to be cleared from all manner of ftumps and weeds, the planter digs a number of holes at eighteen or twenty fcet diftance, each hole being about a foot in length and width, and fix or cight inches deep. In the mean time, having feleéted the largeft and faireft pods of the cacao when full ripe, he takes out the grains and puts them into a veffel of water. Such of them as fwim are rejeéted 2 the others, being wafhed clean from the pulp and fkinned, are fuffered to remain in the water till they-begin to fprout, at which time they are fit for planting, The owner then takes the banana, or fome othér large leaves, and places one leaf within the circumference of each hole, fo as to line it round; leaving however the fides of the leaf fome inches above the ground, after which he rubs in the mould, very lightly, till the hole is filled. He then feleéts three nuts for each hole, and plants them triangularly, by making a fmall opening for each with his finger, about two inches deep, into which he puts the nuts, with that end downwards from which the fprout iffues, and having lightly covered them with mould, he folds over the leaf, and places a fmall ftone on the top to prevent its opening. In this --- Page 381 --- WEST INDIES. this manner he plants his whole walk, or orchard. CHAP, At the end of eight or ten days, the plants will ) IV. generally be found to rife above the earth. The leaves are then opened, that their growth may not be impeded; but, in order to fhelter them from the fun, other leaves or branches are placed round the hole; for which purpofe thofe of the palm kind are generally chofen (for having a ftrong ftem, they are eafily fixed in the earth) and they are changed as often as they decay, for the fpace of five or fix months. It is alfo thought advifable to plant fome other tree (the erythrina or bean-tree is generally chofen for this purpofe) to the fouth-weft of the cacao plant, which may grow up with it, and ferve it for fhelters-forit muft always be remembered, that young cacao trees will flourifh only in the fhade. Ip all the three nuts placed in each hole (pring up, it is thought neceffary, when the plants are eightcen or twenty inches high, to cut one of them down. The other two, if they fpread different ways, are fometimes fuffered to remain; but it feldom happens that all the nuts, or even more than one of them, will take root, which is the reafon of planting three in a hole. THE fifth year the tree begins to bear, and the cighth attains its full perfeétion : it then produces in general two crops offruitin the year, yielding at çach, from ten to twenty pounds weight, the plants are eightcen or twenty inches high, to cut one of them down. The other two, if they fpread different ways, are fometimes fuffered to remain; but it feldom happens that all the nuts, or even more than one of them, will take root, which is the reafon of planting three in a hole. THE fifth year the tree begins to bear, and the cighth attains its full perfeétion : it then produces in general two crops offruitin the year, yielding at çach, from ten to twenty pounds weight, --- Page 382 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK weight, according to the foil and feafons; and it V. will fometimes continue bearing for Y twenty years; but the fame delicacy of ftamina which marks. its infancy, is vifible in all the ftages of its growth. It is obnoxious to blights, and fhrinks from the firft appearance of drought. It has. happened that the greateft part of a whole plantation of cacao trees have perifhed in a fingle night, without any vifible caufe. Circumftances of this nature, in early times, gave rife to many fuperftitious notions concerning this tree, and, among others, the appearance of a comet was always confidered as fatal to the cacao planta-. tions. In fpite however of the influence of comets, and notwithflanding the care and precaution that are requifite in the firft eftablifhment of a cacaa plantation, it is certain that the cultivation of this plant was both extenfive and fuccefsful in the Britifh fugar iflands, for many years after they had become fubject to the Britifh government. Blome, who publifhed a fhort account of Jamaica in 1672, fpeaks of cacao as being at that time one of the chief articles of export : 66 there are, fays he, in this ifland, at this time, about fixty cacao walks (plantations) and many more now planting." At prefent I believe there is not a fingle cacao plantation from one end of Jamaica to the other. A few fcattered trees, here and --- Page 383 --- WEST INDIES. and there, are all that remain of thofe flourifhing CH. A P. and beautiful groves which were once the pride Y IV. and boaft of the country. They have withered, with the indigo manufaéture, under the heavy hand of minifterial exaétion. The excife on cacao, when madeinto cakes, rofe to no lefs than twelve pounds twelve thillings per cwt. exclufive of eleven fhillings and eleven pence halfpenny, paid at the cuftom-houfe; amounting together to upwards of four hundred and eighty per cent. on its marketable value ! Ir is to be hoped that the error of impofing fuch heavy impofitions on our own colonial growths, is at length become fufficiently manifeft. AFTER all, there is reafon to apprehend that our fugar iflands can never again enter into competition with the Spanifh Americans in the cultivation of the article of which I treat. At prefent the only cacao plantations of any account, in our colonies, are in Grenada and Dominica; and the quantity annually exported from both thofe iflands cannot, I believe, be eftimated on an average. at more than four thoufand bags of one hundred weight each, which may be worth, at the London market, between ten and eleven thoufand pounds fterling (). (f) The cacao tree, both in fize and thape, fomewhat refembles a young blackheart cherry. The flower is of a faffron colour, ent the only cacao plantations of any account, in our colonies, are in Grenada and Dominica; and the quantity annually exported from both thofe iflands cannot, I believe, be eftimated on an average. at more than four thoufand bags of one hundred weight each, which may be worth, at the London market, between ten and eleven thoufand pounds fterling (). (f) The cacao tree, both in fize and thape, fomewhat refembles a young blackheart cherry. The flower is of a faffron colour, --- Page 384 --- HISTORY OF THE GI N G E R. BOOK THIS grateful aromatick root had a very v. early introduétion into Hifpaniola, and I fhould not have fuppofed it an exotick, but that Acofta, relates it was conveyed from the Eaft Indies tq New Spain, by a perfon named Francifco de Mendoza. lF colour, extremely beautiful, and the pods, which in a green ftate are much like a cucumber, proceed immediately from all parts of the body and larger branches. As they ripen, they change their colour, and tura to a fine bluith red, aimoft purple, with pink coloured veins. This is the common fort; but there is a larger fpecies, which produces pods of a delicate yellow or lemon colour, Each pod may contain from twenty to thirty nuts or kernels, not unlike almonds, which are again inclofed in a white pulpy fubftance, foft and fweet, and immediately enveloped in a parçhment fhell. Thefe nuts, being firft fimply dried in the fun, are packed for market, and require very little preparation, after removing the fhell, to be made into goad chocolate, The cakes which are generally ufed under this name in England, appear to me to be compofed of not mare than onehalf genuine cacao; the remainder I take to be four, and Cefile Jaap. Confidered mnedicinally, chocolate is faid to be too heavy for weak and relaxed ftomachs; but in the Weft Indies, experience abundantly demonftrates that it is in the higheft degree balfamick and reftorative-Colonel Montague James of Jamaica, who was the firft white perfon born after the conqueft of the ifland by the Englifh, lived to the great age of one hundred and four, and for the laft thirty years of his life ufed fcarce any other food than chocolate. --- Page 385 --- WEST INDIES. IF fuch,was the fact, the Spanich Americans CHAP. muft have entertained very high expeétations of IV. profit from its culture, and carried it to a great extent in a very fhort fpace of time; it appearing from the fame author, that no lefs than 22,053 cwt. were exported by them to Old Spain in the year 1547. GINGER is difinguithed into two forts, the black and the white; but the difference arifes wholly from the mode of curing; the formerl being rendered fit for prefervation by means of boiling water, the latter by infolation; and, as it is found neceffary to felect the faireft and foundeft roots for expofure to the fun, white ginger is commonly one-third dearer than black in the market. Ix the cultivation of this root no greater fkill or care is required than in the propagation of potatoes in Great Britain, and itis planted much in the fame manner; but is fit for digging only once a year, unlefs for the purpofe of preferving it in fyrup. In that cafe, it muft be taken up at the end of three or four months, while its fibres are tender, and full of fap. Ginger thus prepared makes an admirable fweetmeat; 5 but it is too well known to require defcription. Ir feems to me that this commodity is growing greatly out of ufe in Europe, and its cultivation in the Weft Indies decreafes in confequence. The average quantity exported annually from the Britifh , unlefs for the purpofe of preferving it in fyrup. In that cafe, it muft be taken up at the end of three or four months, while its fibres are tender, and full of fap. Ginger thus prepared makes an admirable fweetmeat; 5 but it is too well known to require defcription. Ir feems to me that this commodity is growing greatly out of ufe in Europe, and its cultivation in the Weft Indies decreafes in confequence. The average quantity exported annually from the Britifh --- Page 386 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK Britifh iflands may be ftated at ten thoufand bags V, of one cwt. of which 6000 are the Y produce of Barbadoes, and the remainder (except a very finall part from Dominica) is raifed in Jamaica. Its medium price at the London market, is forty fhillings the hundred weight (g). A RI NATTO THIS produétion is indigenous, and was called by one clafs of Indians roucou, and by another achiotte. Of its prefent name I know not the derivation. Its botanical name is bixa orellana. It is a Chrub which rifes to the height of feven or eight feet, and produces oblong hairy pods, fomewhat refembling thofe of a chefnut. Within thefe are thirty or forty irregularly figured feeds, which are enveloped in a pulp of a bright red colour, and unpleafant finell, in appearance like the fort of paint called red lead when mixed up with oil; and as paint it was ufed by fome tribes of the Indians, in the fame manner as woad by the ancient Britons. OF the cultivation of this plant I know nothing, becaufe moft ofthe arnatto, thipped at prefent from our own iflands, is I believe gathered (g) Jamaica alone, in 1738, exported 20,933 bags, of one cwt each, and 8864 lbs. in cafks.--An acre of frefh land, with favourable feafons, will yield about 14olbs. annually. from --- Page 387 --- WEST INDIES. from trees growing fpontaneouily. The method CHAP. of extracting the pulp, and preparing it for 3 IV. market, is fimply by boiling the feeds in clear water, till they are perfeétly extricated; after which the feeds,are taken out, and the water left undifturbed for the pulp to fubfide. It is then drawn off, and the fediment diftributed into fhallow veffels, and dried gradually in the Thade. ARNATTO thus prepared is mixed up by the Spanifh Americans with their chocolate; to which it gives (in their opinion) an elegant tinéture, and great medicinal virtue. They fuppole that it ftrengthens the ftomach, ftops fluxes,and abates febrile fymptoms 5 but its principal confumption, I believe, is among painters and dyers *. I am informed that it is fometimes ufed by the, Dutch farmers, to give a richnefs of colour to their butter, and very finall quantities of it are faid to be applied in the fame manner in Englith dairies. On the whole, however, it is an objeét of no great commercial importance, and the demand for it is not fufficient to encourage much attention to its cultivation. * The liquid fold in London by the name of 46 Scott's nankeen dye,"is faid to be arnatto, diffolved in water by means of pot-ath. Bancroft's Philofophy of Colours, nefs of colour to their butter, and very finall quantities of it are faid to be applied in the fame manner in Englith dairies. On the whole, however, it is an objeét of no great commercial importance, and the demand for it is not fufficient to encourage much attention to its cultivation. * The liquid fold in London by the name of 46 Scott's nankeen dye,"is faid to be arnatto, diffolved in water by means of pot-ath. Bancroft's Philofophy of Colours, --- Page 388 --- HISTORY OF THE A L O E S. BOOK THE moft valuable fpecies of aloes is that of the V. ifland of Socotora in the Eaft Indies, the introduétion of which in our Weft Indian colonies, has hitherto been unaccountably negleéted. The fpecies called the hepatick, is the only fort known to our planters, and even ofthis, the cultivation in the Britifh dominions is, I believe, at prefent, wholly confined to the ifland of Barbadoes, where it is faid to have been originally introduced from Bermudas. It is propagated by fuckers, and will thrive in foils the moft dry and barren. The mode of extraéting and preparing the juice is as follows: THE plant is pulled up by the roots, and carefully cleanfed from the earth, or other impurities. Itisthen fliced, and cut in pieces, into fmallhandbafkets or nets. Thefe nets or baikets are put into large iron boilers or cauldrons with water, and boiled for ten minutes, when they are taken out, and freth parcels fupplied, till the liquor is ftrong and black. Ar this period the liquor is thrown through a ftrainer into a deep vat, narrow at bottom, where it is left to cool, and to depofit its feculent parts. Next day the clear liquor is drawn offby a cock, and again committed to the large iron veffel. At --- Page 389 --- WEST INDIES At firft it is boiled brifkly, but towards the end CHAP. the evaporation is flow, and requires conftant IV. Y firring to prevent burning. When it becomes of the confiftence of honey, it is poured into gourds, or calabaihes, for fale, and hardens by age. PIEMENTO, or ALLSPICE. I CLOSE my catalogue with one of the moft elegant produétions in nature; a produétion which rivals the moft valuable fpecies of the Eaft, combining the Aavour and properties ofi many of thofe fpices; and forming (as its popular name denotes) an admirable fubftitute, and fuccedaneum for them all. THE piemento trees grow pontaneoufly, and in great abundance, in many parts of Jamaica, but more particularly on hilly fituations near the fea, on the northern fide ofthat ifland; where they form the moft delicious groves that can poffibly be imagined ; flling the air with fragrance, and giving reality, though in a very diftant part of the globe, to our great poet's defcription of thofe balmy gales which convey to the delighted voyager < Sabean odours from the fpicy fhore Of Araby the bleft. Chear'd with the grateful fmell, old occan fmiles." Vor. II. B b THIS near the fea, on the northern fide ofthat ifland; where they form the moft delicious groves that can poffibly be imagined ; flling the air with fragrance, and giving reality, though in a very diftant part of the globe, to our great poet's defcription of thofe balmy gales which convey to the delighted voyager < Sabean odours from the fpicy fhore Of Araby the bleft. Chear'd with the grateful fmell, old occan fmiles." Vor. II. B b THIS --- Page 390 --- HISTORY OF THE 30OK THIS tree is purely a child of nature, and feems V. to mock all the labours of man, in his endeavours - to extend or improve"its growth : not one attempt in fifty to propagate the young plants, or toraifethem from the feeds,inpartsof the country where it is not found growing (pontancoufly,having fucceeded. The ufual method of forming a new piemento plantation, (inJamaicait is called a zwalk) is nothing more than to appropriate a piece of wood land, in the neighbourhood of a plantation already exifting, or in a country where the fcattered trees are found in a native ftate, the woods of which being fallen, the trees are fuffered to remain on the ground, till they become rotten and perith. In the courfe oft twelve months after the firft feafon, abundance of young piemento plants will be found growing vigoroufly in all parts of the land, being, without doubt, produced from ripe berries fcattered there by the birds, while the fallen trees, &c. afford them both fhelter and fhade. At the end of two years, it will be proper to give the land a thorough cleanfing, leaving fuch only of the piemento trees as have a good appearance, which will then foon form fuch groves as thofe I have defcribed, and, except perhaps for the firft four or five years, require very little attention afterwards. I DO not believe there is, in all the vegetable creation, a tree of greater beauty than a young piemento. --- Page 391 --- WEST INDIES. piemento. The trunk, which is of a grey colour, CHAP. finooth and fhining, and altogether free of bark, IV. rifes to the height of fifteen or twenty feet. It 1 then branches out on all fides, richly clothed with leaves ofa deep green, fomewhat like thofe of the bay-tree; and thefe, in the months of July and Auguft,are beautifully contrafted and relieved by an exuberance of white flowers. It is remarkable, that the leavesare equally fragrant with the fruit, and I am told, yield in diftillation a delicate odoriferous oil, which is very commonly ufed, in the medicinal difpenfaries of Europe, for oil of cloves. SooN after the trees are in bloffom, the berries become fit for gathering the fruit not being fuffered to ripen oni the tree, as the pulp in that ftate, being moift and glutinous, is difficult to cure,and, when dry, becomes black and taftelefs, It is impoffible however to prevent fome of the ripe berries from mixing with thereft; but if the proportion of them be great, the price of the commodity is confiderably injured. Iris gathered by the hand ;-one labourer on the tree, employed in gathering the fmallbranches, will give employment to three below (who are generally womene and children) in picking the berries ; and an induftrious picker will fill a bag of 7olbs. in the day. It is then fpread on a terrace, and expofed to the fun for about feven B b 2 days, from mixing with thereft; but if the proportion of them be great, the price of the commodity is confiderably injured. Iris gathered by the hand ;-one labourer on the tree, employed in gathering the fmallbranches, will give employment to three below (who are generally womene and children) in picking the berries ; and an induftrious picker will fill a bag of 7olbs. in the day. It is then fpread on a terrace, and expofed to the fun for about feven B b 2 days, --- Page 392 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK days, in the courfe of which it lofes its green V. colour, and becomes of a reddifh brown, and when perfeétly dry itis fit for market. THE returns from a piemento walk in a favourable feafon are prodigious. A fingle tree has been known to yield golbs. of the raw fruit, or one cwt. of the dried fpice; there being commonly a lofs in weight of one-third in curing; but this, like many other of the minor productions, is exceedingly uncertain, and perhaps a very plenteous crop occurs but once in five years. The price in the Britifh market, as may be fuppofed, fiuctuates accordingly, but I believe its average, for fome years paft, may be put at ten-pence the pound, including the duty, which is three-pence. THIS, though certainly a much greater price than the commodity bore in former years, gives however fo little profit to the owner, compared with that of fome other produétions, that the growth of piemento decreafes every year 5 many beautiful walks being daily cut dowp, and the land appropriated to the cultivation of fugar. Its annual export from Jamaica (the only one of our colonies which produces piemento) is about fix thoufand bags of one hundred and twelve pounds each. --- Page 393 --- WEST INDIES. IHAVE now finifhed all that I propofed CHAP. Weft Indian and agriIV. to offer on produétions Y culture. The fubject is naturally dry and forbidding, and having wearied myfelf, I have no doubt that I have exhaufted thej patience ofothers. Let it not be forgotten, however, that I have had to conduét my readers through a path-not ftrewed with rofes, but-perplexed with briars, and hitherto almoft untrodden. In fuch a purfuit, I may perhaps be content to give up all pretenfions to the happy talent of blending pleafure with inftruction, fatisfied with the homely praife of being ufeful to the moft ufeful part of the community' * * To the prodnétions ofthe Britilh Weft Indies, imported into Great Britain, might be added turmerick, cinnamon and cloves. Plantations of each are eftablifhed; but they are yet in their infancy. Enough however has been produced of each of thofe commodities, and the quality fuch, as to demonitrate that they can be raifed in our fugar ifands, in as great plenty and perfeation as in any part ofthe world. Bb 3 the moft ufeful part of the community' * * To the prodnétions ofthe Britilh Weft Indies, imported into Great Britain, might be added turmerick, cinnamon and cloves. Plantations of each are eftablifhed; but they are yet in their infancy. Enough however has been produced of each of thofe commodities, and the quality fuch, as to demonitrate that they can be raifed in our fugar ifands, in as great plenty and perfeation as in any part ofthe world. Bb 3 --- Page 394 --- HISTORY OF THE APPENDIX TO BOOK V. CONTAINING Some Account of the Cultivation of tbe CLOVE TREE,In the Rarid ef Dominica, by William Urban Buic, Ef.of tbat Hand; from a Memoir prefented by bim in 1796 to the Lords ofthe Committee ff Councilfor tbe Afairs ef Trade and Plantations. BOOK Asour the month of July 1789, a friend of mine in V. Cayenne fent me, as a prefent, a clove tree about fix 1 inches high, having fix or eight leaves, and accompanied with a printed paper refpeéting the cultivation of it. It was required by my friend's paper, that the tree fhould be planted in a rich foil, and in a moift and cool fituation, and in the fhade of fome trees round it. It was alfo obferved, by my friend, that the tree would thrive beft, ifit were planted obetween four plantain trees. The continent of Cayenne being free from hurricanes, and the ifland of Dominica being, on the contrary, expofed to them, I thought that the plantain trees were of too tender a nature to afford a fufficient fhade ; becaufe with the leaft guft of wind they might fall on the clove tree and deftroyit: in confequence, I feleéted one of the richeft fpots on my eftate, being a rich black foil, where I had fixteen thoufand coffee trees growing moft luxuriantly; between four of thofe coffee trees I planted my clove tree with great care ; I furrounded it with fticks to prevent it from being trod upon ; the coffee trees ferved as a fhade, and myintention was, when the clove tree fhould extend of wind they might fall on the clove tree and deftroyit: in confequence, I feleéted one of the richeft fpots on my eftate, being a rich black foil, where I had fixteen thoufand coffee trees growing moft luxuriantly; between four of thofe coffee trees I planted my clove tree with great care ; I furrounded it with fticks to prevent it from being trod upon ; the coffee trees ferved as a fhade, and myintention was, when the clove tree fhould extend --- Page 395 --- WEST INDIES. extend itfelf, to lop or cut down the coffec tree neareft APPENit. care was taken of this plant; it DIX. to Every poflible and time I went on my eftate I 3 was kept clean, every it would be to vifited it; knowing of what confequence ifI could o the publick in general, and to me in particular, bring this experiment to fuccced. lt may be eafily fuppofed with what anxiety I viewed the growth of the plant ; but, alas! what was my grief, when I found the lofing its old leaves, as new clove tree hardly vegetating, and, in the long fpace of near ones (prung at the top; fix months, not gaining an inch in height: little difappointed fuccefs I in my hopes, 1 informedmy friend of the other had had, and intreated his affiftance in procuring trees, if poffible. In the month of December. 1789, two more trees were fent to me. From my firft difappointment, I wifhed to plant thefe new trees nearer to my houfe, andi in a place that would be convenient for watching and promoting their growth. My dwelling-houfe is. fituated on a hill, to the eaftward, which hilli is compofed foil; at the foot of this bill, and on the of a ftiff, red-clay to obtain a flat of about eaft fide, is fituated my garden; hill one hundred and twenty feet fquare, one part ofthat has been dug and levciled, which in fome parts has made a bank of nearly eleven feet high; the ground was fpread in order to fill up the inequalities of the furface: : over, be obferved how poor fome part of that it will readily on that fide, where eleven furface muft be, particularly I the above feet were cut from the hill. Here, planted mentioned two trees, but, at the fame time, took care to them as far as I could from that fide of the hill, place which had been pared down, as I had obferved its foil I therefore dug two hol :0 at about was a ftiff, red-clays from each other, of about eighteen inches twelve feet the fubftratum to diameter, and two feet deep; finding be of a yellow, ftrong, "'grayelly nature, I filled up thefe two holes with fome good mould, and in each ofthem I planted a clove tree; they grew faft and with luxuriance; Bb 4 which ide of the hill, place which had been pared down, as I had obferved its foil I therefore dug two hol :0 at about was a ftiff, red-clays from each other, of about eighteen inches twelve feet the fubftratum to diameter, and two feet deep; finding be of a yellow, ftrong, "'grayelly nature, I filled up thefe two holes with fome good mould, and in each ofthem I planted a clove tree; they grew faft and with luxuriance; Bb 4 which --- Page 396 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK which induced me to tranfplant the firft clove trce I had V. received into the fame garden, obferving the fame treatY ment; but whilft that tree was growing to my fatisfaction, an infect deftroyed the top of it, and occafioned its death, In the month of November 1791, being at Martinico, I vilited the different gardens in and about the town of Saint Pierre: as i was walking in the garden belonging to the Dominican friars, I remarked feveral young clove trees, each in a feparate bafket; they were the property of a gardener from Cayenne, and were to be difpofed of. I purchafed the whole of them, confifting of fourteen trees: after colleéting, from the generofity of my friends, different other plants, I returned to Dominica, rich with my new acquifition of clove trees, and determined to try different foils. Holes were dug in feveral parts of my garden, from twelve to fourteen feet diftance, and of about the fame dimenfions as thofe mentioned before: on. examining the foil, I found fome of a ftiff gravelly nature; in other parts, the fubftratum was of a yellow fandy kind; ; in fome holes, after taking out about fix inches of the furface, I found a fiff red-clay; mixing fome black mould with the different earths taken out of thefe holes, I filled them up, and planted in them ten out of the fourteen trees, referving four trees for that part of the garden nearer the foot of the hill, where ten or eleven feet had been cut from the furface ; there I dug no more than was neceflary to plant my trees: : the ground was a clofe, compaôt, Aiff, red-clay. In order to make an experiment, I mixed no mould, dung, fand, or other foil, with delign to open the pores of the clay, but planted thefe laft four trees in that clay, without the affiftance of any thing whatever; abandoning their fate to nature, being refolved to run the rifk of lofing them, for the purpofe of afcertaining, whether the clove tree required a rich foil or not. At the moment I now write, (OStober 1793:) twenty-threc months have elapfed, fince the planting an experiment, I mixed no mould, dung, fand, or other foil, with delign to open the pores of the clay, but planted thefe laft four trees in that clay, without the affiftance of any thing whatever; abandoning their fate to nature, being refolved to run the rifk of lofing them, for the purpofe of afcertaining, whether the clove tree required a rich foil or not. At the moment I now write, (OStober 1793:) twenty-threc months have elapfed, fince the planting --- Page 397 --- W E ST INDIES. planting of thefe laft fourteen trees; and it is with fatis- APPENfaction I can affert, that the four trees, which were DIX. planted in the clay, have grown, with at leaft as much, 1 if not more luxuriance, than the other ten: they are from five to fix feet high, growing with vigour, fully furnifhed with branches at the bottom, and terminating in a point at the top, like a pyramid : out of thofe fourteen trees, fix of them were planted in a row, in the Aatteft part of the garden; the ground, with which the holes had been filled up having funk a little below the furface, a hollow round three of thefe trees was formed, and the water, not having a fufficient current, colleéted round them: : one tree died; the other two appearing to be in a declining ftate, I raifed them above fix inches, that they might be rather abovethe furface of the ground. Although thefe trees were planted with the others in November 1791, one of the two declining treesi is not above fix inches high, and the other twelve inches, whilft the other trees are three feet in height; this is a fufficient proof, that the clove tree requires a dry fituation, and dreads a fpringy damp foil; though a certain degree of moifture will promote its growth. In the month of January 1793, with much trouble and expence, (I fay trouble, becaufe the exportation from the French iflands is prohibited), I procured two boxes of mother of cloves * : the berries were packed, fome in fand, others in loofe earth : upon receiving them, I ordered beds to be prepared in my garden, and in different parts ofmy eftate, for the conveniency of tranfplanting, and of faving diftance, when the nurferies fhould be fit for that purpofe. I planted thefe feeds at about fix inches diftance, covering them with about one inch of earth. I had been previoufly told, that the clove tree, when young, requires to be fheltered from the fun; but refleéting on thel latitudes of Cayenne, and of the Moluccas, which are under the fourth and fifth degrees, the one north, the other Berries of the clove tree ripe and ft for vegetation, fouth, faving diftance, when the nurferies fhould be fit for that purpofe. I planted thefe feeds at about fix inches diftance, covering them with about one inch of earth. I had been previoufly told, that the clove tree, when young, requires to be fheltered from the fun; but refleéting on thel latitudes of Cayenne, and of the Moluccas, which are under the fourth and fifth degrees, the one north, the other Berries of the clove tree ripe and ft for vegetation, fouth, --- Page 398 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK fouth, and the latitude of Dominica, which is betwéen V. the fifteenth and fixteenth degrees north, I knew thatten degrees would make a material difference in the climate, particularly on Montpellier eftate, which is fituated on an elevated fituation, and about three miles diftant from the fea. I thought, that ifI could rear thofe feeds without the affiftance of any fhade, they would, from their infancy, be inured to the fun and air, would be more hardy, and confequently, would bear tranfplanting with lefs rifk and danger; but in this I was deceived. The mother of clove, on its firft vifible vegetation, appears like a fmall, ftraight, red dart; wheni it comes to two inches high, two fmall red leaves are feen on its top; on the firft appearance of thefe leaves, when hardly perceptible to the naked eye, I found, that on the fun thining with any degree of heat, the plants drooped and perifbed; whereby many feeds were loft: : I therefore caufed fmall frames to be ereéted over all the beds, about three feet bigh from the ground, and I fpread on them plantain leaves, in order to fhade the young plants : I kept fupplying thofe leaves for near nine months; after which time I fuffered the leaves to decay gradually, that the fun might be armitted to the plants, as they acquired ftrength ; and in the fpace of twelve months, they were ft to be tranfplanted. Out of fix thoufand mother of cloves, I faved from fifteen to fixteen hundred trees, which I began to tranfplant in January 1794, in the open field, at fixteen feet diftance, They are growing very luxuriantly: I have loft but few, and none but fuch as were in places, where the water colleéted. They are now fifteen months old, from the day they were tranfplanted, and moft of them are between three and four feet high, apparently very healthy. The ground, wherein they are planted, had been under coffee for forty years; the coffee trees had decayed, which I tried in vain to replace, but they would not grow. Being difappointed, I turned it into a pafture, which, from negleét, was covered with gyava bufhes, a plant very but few, and none but fuch as were in places, where the water colleéted. They are now fifteen months old, from the day they were tranfplanted, and moft of them are between three and four feet high, apparently very healthy. The ground, wherein they are planted, had been under coffee for forty years; the coffee trees had decayed, which I tried in vain to replace, but they would not grow. Being difappointed, I turned it into a pafture, which, from negleét, was covered with gyava bufhes, a plant very --- Page 399 --- W E ST INDIES. to any foil; I then refolved to clearit, APPENvery prejudicial clove trees in it. This pafture ground, DIX. and plant my is of a compact, ftrong, gravelly foil; in ) on the whole, it is of a clayey nature; 3 but the trees grow fome parts well in both. has been very exaét in his defeription As Abbé Raynal the fame from his hiftory. of the clove, I thall adopt in a 6 Thefowers of the clove tree are difpofed corymibus s terminalis; they bave each ef them a long quadrifd 4 calix, aubich bears as many petals, and a great number inclefed at the bottom ofthis calix, < efAamina; ; the pinil, suitb a < becomes along with it an oviform fruit,) filed up < fingle kernel, and knowun by the name of mother ofclove; befare the unfolding efthe petals e tbis Jame calix, gathered is tbe clove as faldi in the a and the fecundation ef tbe pifil, wben it bas acc fhops. The clove is fit to be gathered 6 quired a reddifh caf, and a certain degree dffrmnghi" December The two clové trees, which I planted in appeared with clove buds, on or about the 2oth 1789, fome of the cloves were fit to be gathered January and 17955 following ; and fuch of the cloves as in May June the of obtaining the were left on the trees for purpole of mother of cloves, for feeds, acquired a proper degree maturity, in July and Auguft: fo that allowing thofe two trees to be about one year old, when they came to me, from the feeds, which I planted, Ijudge they were of that age; I think the clove tree becomes produ@tive, in the courfe of little more than fix years, inftead of nine years, as mentioned by Abbé Raynal. clove trees that are I have this year (1795) but two bearing; in the year 1796, I fhall have twenty-four more; ; and in the year 1799, I fhall have from fifteen to fixteen hundred trees, in a ftate of produétion. Such of the trees, as are fituated in Aat grounds, I fhall leave to their natural growth, by which more profit will be got, and thady walks obtained, an objeêt of confideration in a warm climate; and thole trees that are placed on a declivity, that are I have this year (1795) but two bearing; in the year 1796, I fhall have twenty-four more; ; and in the year 1799, I fhall have from fifteen to fixteen hundred trees, in a ftate of produétion. Such of the trees, as are fituated in Aat grounds, I fhall leave to their natural growth, by which more profit will be got, and thady walks obtained, an objeêt of confideration in a warm climate; and thole trees that are placed on a declivity, --- Page 400 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK vity, I thall top at eight or nine feet, for the convenience V. of gathering. Having few cloves to gather this year, (1795), they were picked with the hand. :In the Moluccas, the planters either fpread cloths on the ground, or fweep the ground clean under and about the trees,and with the afliftance of reeds they caufe the cloves to fall down; after which they expofe them, for a few days, to fmoke upon hurdles, which are covered with largeleaves; and this fumigation is followed by drying the cloves in the fun. In order to afcertain the beft mode of rendering the cloves merchantab'e,I tried feveral ways of deficcating them when gathered. The firft, that I cured, in the fhade, andi in a warm room, were a fortnight before they appeared dry; and on breaking them with the nail, the ball, which is on the top of the clove, I found in the infide to be mouldy; ; ànd on chewing the clove, they had a muflytafte: I from thefe circumftances found, that this mode of curing the cloves would not anfwer. The fecond gathering of cloves, I deficcated entirely by the heat,of the fun. When dried, they appeared of a blacker hue than the Eaft India cloves, but, of a fronger and more pungent tafte. The third trial, after gathering the cloves, on a very rainy day, I put them in a ftove which I had conftruéted for that purpofe, and left for two nights and a day: the heat was rather ftrong, and the rainy weather having prevented me from going to town, hindered me from getting a thermometer to afcertain the degree of heat of the ftove. At the end of the fecond night, I took the cloves from the ftove, and completed the deficcation by the fun; which operation, when perfeéted, gave the cloves a brownifh hue, a good pungent tafte, but not fo ftrong a Aavour, as thofe that had been deficcated by the fun only. The fourth deficcation was neverthelefs done in the fame way; but, having got a thermometer, I obferved this certain the degree of heat of the ftove. At the end of the fecond night, I took the cloves from the ftove, and completed the deficcation by the fun; which operation, when perfeéted, gave the cloves a brownifh hue, a good pungent tafte, but not fo ftrong a Aavour, as thofe that had been deficcated by the fun only. The fourth deficcation was neverthelefs done in the fame way; but, having got a thermometer, I obferved this --- Page 401 --- 38r WEST INDIES. cloves in the APPENthis difference: : After purting my green ftove, I took care that the heat was more moderate than DIX. that of the third trial; 5 I left the cloves in the ftove for ) only one night, and halfa day, until they were faded, and had acquired a brown colour. I hung my thermometer in the ftove, and found the heat to vary from 120 to 130 degrees : this done, I took out the thermometer, and let the heat decreafe to the ufual degree of my eftate, which was, on that day, feventy-fix degrees ; after this, from one o'clock to two, I expoled the thermometer to the funs the day was fair; and the thermometer getting up to 128 degrees, this fhewed the heat of the ftove to be nearly equal to that ofthe fun. After taking the cloves out of the ftove, the reft of the deficcation was done by the fun. Ifound thefe cloves, when perfedly dry, to be ofa brownith hue, not fo ftrong in tafte as thofe deficcated by the fun only, but ftronger than thofe that had been, for two nights and a day, expofed in the ftove to a greater heat than thefe laft. Having fet afide the firft curing by the fhade, I have numbered the cloves that underwent the three laft deficcations, No. I, 2, and 3: the perfons, to whofe judgment thefe fpecimens will be fubmitted, will decide on the beft quality amongft the three forts 5 all of which are far fuperior in their ftrength, and pungency, to thofe that come from the Eaft Indies, and appear to me to contain a great deal more eflential oil: for, when expofed to heat, on prefling the nail on a clove, the effential oil is perceived to come out ofit; which is not the cafe with the Eaft India cloves, at leaft fuch as I have bought, in this ifland, for the purpofe of comparing them with mine. In curing the clove, I find it indifpenfable to have a ftove, for the following reafons: After gathering cloves, I perceived that if they were not, within a fhort time after fuch gathering, faded, either by the heat of the fun, or by that of a ftove, that the greateft part ofthe cloves, on being dried afterwards, acquired a light brownifh hue, ft India cloves, at leaft fuch as I have bought, in this ifland, for the purpofe of comparing them with mine. In curing the clove, I find it indifpenfable to have a ftove, for the following reafons: After gathering cloves, I perceived that if they were not, within a fhort time after fuch gathering, faded, either by the heat of the fun, or by that of a ftove, that the greateft part ofthe cloves, on being dried afterwards, acquired a light brownifh hue, --- Page 402 --- HISTORY OF THE EOQK hue,loft their firmnefs, ftrength, or pungency; 3 and many v. appeared as damaged cloves, and, as the weather is exceedingly variable in this part of the world, and the air, in general, damp, particularly in the country, it will be abfolutely neceffary to have a ftove heated to the degree before mentioned, and to leave the cloves in it till they are faded, I mean, until theyhave acquired a brown hue 5 after which, the reft of the deficcation may be done at eafe, by the heat of the fun, or by expofure in a dry airy room. The annual produétion of a clove tree in the Molucca Iflands, according to Abbé Raynal's account, is about three pounds for each tree. There, they are topped, at from eight to nine feet, for the conveniency of gathering; but, in Cayenne, where they are left without toppings and where there are clove trees larger than our orange trees,itis reported, they produce from forty to fifty pounds each tree. The two trees, which, under my management, have produced cloves this year, on the Montpellier eftate, have netted me four pounds and a half of cured cloves, befides two pounds, at leaft, of cloves, which I have left on the trees, to obtain mother of cloves, for the multiplication of that fpice; ; and befides this, Ihave about half a pound of cloves, which having fallen on the ground before their degree of maturity, have been dried, and are very good for domeftic ufe: thefe laft are ftrong, but finall; fo that thefe two trees have produced more than feven pounds of cloves. As this is the firft time oftheir produstion, and they are young, it may be reafonably expeéted, that when older, they will acquire more ftrength, and more branches; and confequently, will be a great deal more produétive. To of cloves, which having fallen on the ground before their degree of maturity, have been dried, and are very good for domeftic ufe: thefe laft are ftrong, but finall; fo that thefe two trees have produced more than feven pounds of cloves. As this is the firft time oftheir produstion, and they are young, it may be reafonably expeéted, that when older, they will acquire more ftrength, and more branches; and confequently, will be a great deal more produétive. To --- Page 403 --- WEST INDIES. APPENDIX. To the preceding Extraat it is thought necefary to addtbe 1 follonving Letter to tbe Earlof Liverpool. Soho Square, Auguft II, 1796. MY LORD, I BEG leave to acquaint your Lord(hip, that I have read with attention the paper on the fuccefsful culture of the clove tree in Dominica, which your Lordfhip did me the honour of referring to me, and am of opinion, that it ought to be printed for the information of His Majefty's fubjects in the Weft Indies, and other intertropical colonies. Mr. Buée is, as far as I know, the firit perfon, who has obferved, that the pimento tree profpers beft in thofe fteril foils where trees whofe wood is of a hard texture abound, and that fugar cannot be cultivated to advantage in fuch places 5 alfo, on the other hand, that where trees whofe wood is foft, are naturally found, pimento trees rarely are met with, and fugar plantations will fucceed ; on fuch feril foils he has tried clove trees, and found them congenial to its nature. Thefe obfervations open to the cultivators of hot climates a new fource of wealth, which will not probably be confined to the growth of cloves; other fpices may alfo profper bett in the barren foils of the Weft Indies, as lavender, thyme, and other aromatic plants, are known to do in thofe of Europe. I have the honour of fending to your Lordfhip, with this, a paper containing famples of cloves received by me from Mr. Buée fome months ago: Numbers f and 2, mentioned byhim p. 19,(381.)are mixed; No.3 3, his beft fort, are feparate, Your Lordfhip may, if you think fit, order a comparifon to be made, by fome dealers in fpice, between thefe and the cloves we ufually receive from the Dutch: O --- Page 404 --- HISTORY, &c. BOOK Dutch : I fhall only add, that when I applied fori informaV. tion on the fame fubjedt to an eminent wholefale dealer in that article, the only anfwer I obtained, was, that he thought me grievoufly deceived, in fuppofing the cloves to be the produce of the Weft Indies, he being abfolutely certain they came from the Eaft. I have the honour to be, With infinite regard and efteem, Your Lordfhip's obedient humble fervant, JOS. BANKS. EARL OF LIVERPOOL. END OF THE FIFTH BOOK. I applied fori informaV. tion on the fame fubjedt to an eminent wholefale dealer in that article, the only anfwer I obtained, was, that he thought me grievoufly deceived, in fuppofing the cloves to be the produce of the Weft Indies, he being abfolutely certain they came from the Eaft. I have the honour to be, With infinite regard and efteem, Your Lordfhip's obedient humble fervant, JOS. BANKS. EARL OF LIVERPOOL. END OF THE FIFTH BOOK. --- Page 405 --- T H E H I ST O 2 R Y, CI/IL AND COMMERCIAL, OF The Britith Colonies in the Weft Indies. BOOK VI. GOVERNMENT AND COMMERCE. * * CIA P. I. Colonial Bdabi@nets--Ofvis Captain General or Chief Governor; his Powzrs and Privileges.- Some Refastions On the ufual Choice of Perfons for this high Ofce-Lisusonawt General, Lieutenant Governor, and Preidout-Cfthe Council, their Ofice and Functions.- Origin oftheir Clain to a Share in the Legifature.-lts. Necelity, Propriety, and Legality confidered. - Some Correc. tions in the Conflitution of this Body propofed. THE Britifh eftablifhments in the Weft CHAP. Indies are commonly termcd king's governI. ments, in contradiftinétion to the proprietary and charter governments which were known in North America; and, from what has been ftated in foine preceding parts of this work, the reader Von. II. Cc muft --- Page 406 --- HISTORY OF.THE BOOK muft have obferved, how very nearly their inVI. ternal conftitutions conform to that of the mo1 ther-country. Their different orders of judicature are exaétly like thofe of England, and their legiflatures, in general, refpectively confift ofthree diftinét branches; i. e. a governor, reprefenting the crown, a council or upper houfe, and a body of delegates reprefenting the people at large. The two firft are neceflarily imperfeét, becaufe they are not independent; but the members of the laftare more: fairly and equally chofen by their conftituents, than thofe of the Britith Houfe of Commons by the people of Great Britain. Of the powers and privileges claimed and exercifed by thefe feveral branches refpeétively, in their own little fyftem, and whence derived, I fhall now briefly treat. And firft of the GO 2 VER N O R. EVERY chief governor in the Britifh Weft Indies is appointed by letters patent under the great feal of Great Britain. He receives through courtefy the title of Excellency, and is vefted with the following powers : FIRST, as captain-general and commander in chief, he has the actual command of all the land forces within his government (except only when a general officer is employed on the ftaff) and he commiffions all officers of the militia. He appoints all now briefly treat. And firft of the GO 2 VER N O R. EVERY chief governor in the Britifh Weft Indies is appointed by letters patent under the great feal of Great Britain. He receives through courtefy the title of Excellency, and is vefted with the following powers : FIRST, as captain-general and commander in chief, he has the actual command of all the land forces within his government (except only when a general officer is employed on the ftaff) and he commiffions all officers of the militia. He appoints --- Page 407 --- WEST INDIES. points't the judges of all the different courts of CHAP. in all I. common law, and even thefe gentlemen, Y the iflands, I believe (Jamaica excepted(a)) hold their feats during the governor's good pleafure. He nominates and fuperfedes at will, the cuftodes of the feveral parithes,juftices of the peace, and other fubordinate civil officers; and although in refpect to fome ofthe above appointments and dilmiffions, he is direéted to afk the advice of his council, this direétion is of little avail, inafmuch as the members of this body are themfelves liable to be fufpended by the governor, on the moft frivolous pretences, or even without any caufe affigned; a circumftance, by the way, which not unfrequently happens ; and having thus reduced the board under a number limited by his inftructions, he can fill up the vacancies infanter, with fuch perfons as will bc properly obedient. He has authority, with the advice of his council, to fummon general affemblies; ; he appoints the place oftheir meeting, and when met, he poffeffes (a) By an aét paffed in Jamaica in 1781, intituled, K An act to make the places of the judges, &c. more permanent and reipectable,' 1) it is declared, that no judge Ahall be removed but by the king's pleafure, fignified under his majefty's fign manual. It is provided however that the governor, with the confent of five of his council, may/ls/pend, untilt the king's pleafure be known, accounting to bis majefty for, and delivering to the party fufpendeda a copy of bis reafons in writing for fuch fufpention. This provifo feems to me to render this act in 3 great meafure nugatory. Cc a negative --- Page 408 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK a negative voice in the legiflature, for withouë VI. his confent, no bill paffes into a law; ; and he may, from time to time, as he alone thall judge needful, adjourn, prorogue, and diffolve all fuch general affemblies. He has the difpofal of all fuch civil employments as the crown does not difpofe of; and with refpeét to fuch offices as are ufually filled up by the Britith government, if vacancies happen, the governor appoints pro tempore, and the perfons fo appointed are entitled to all the emoluments, until they are fuperfeded at home, and until the perfons nominated to fuperfede them, arrive in the colony. The governor claims the privilege alfo, in extraordinary cafes, and has been known frequently to exercife it, of fufpending fuch civil officers even as act immediately under the king'sauthority, or by commiflion from the boards of treafury and admiralty, in high and lucrative employments, as the attorney and advocate-general, the colleétors of the cuftoms, &c. and of nominating other perfons to act in their room, ountil the king's pleafure fhall be known therein. To all which is added authority, when he fhall judge any offender in criminal matters a fit object of mercy, to extend the king's gracious pardon towards him, except only in cafes of murder and high treafon; and even in thefe cafes, the governor is permitted to reprieve until the fignification of the royal pleafure. SECONDLY, advocate-general, the colleétors of the cuftoms, &c. and of nominating other perfons to act in their room, ountil the king's pleafure fhall be known therein. To all which is added authority, when he fhall judge any offender in criminal matters a fit object of mercy, to extend the king's gracious pardon towards him, except only in cafes of murder and high treafon; and even in thefe cafes, the governor is permitted to reprieve until the fignification of the royal pleafure. SECONDLY, --- Page 409 --- WEST INDIES. SECONDLY, the governor has the cuftody of CHAP. the great feal, and, in moft of the colonies, preI. In- - Y fides folely in the high court of Chancery. deed, in fome of the Windward Hlands, as we have feen, the council fit as judges in the court of Chancery with the governor: : Procefs however is iffued by the governor alone, and tefted in his name ; and in general the governor exercifes within his jurifdiction, the fame extenfive powers as are poffeffed by the Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain. THIRDLY, the governor is Ordinary, and collates to all vacant church benefices. He hath alfo the power of granting probate of wills, and adminiftration of the effects of perfons dying inteftate. He grants licences for marriages, and licences for fchools, &cc. and is fole judge in all matters relating to the confiftorial or ecclefiaftical law. FOURTHLY, the governor prefides in the court of Error, of which he and the council are judges, to hear and determine all appeals, in the nature of writs of error, from the fuperior courts ofcommon law. FIFTHLY, the, governor is alfo vice-admiral within the extent of his government. As fuch, he is entitled to the rights ofjetfan, Rotfam, 8cc. and in time of war, he iffues his warrant to the Cc3 judge --- Page 410 --- HISTORY OF THE B OOK judgeofthe court ofvice-admiralty, to grant comVI. miflions to privateers (b). LASTLY, a colony-governor, befides various emoluments arifing from fees, fines, forfeitures, and efcheats, has an honourable annual provifion fettled upon him by act of affembly, for the whole term of his adminiftration in the colony. For, in order that he may not be tempted to proftitute the dignity of bis ftation by improper condefcenfions to leading men in the affembly, he is reftrained by his inftruétions from accepting any falary, unlefs the fame be fettled upon him by law, within the fpace of one year after his entrance into the government, and exprefsly made irrevocable during the whole term of bis refidence in the adminiftration. And this, in my opinion, is a wife and moft neceffary reftriction. ARMED with fuch various authoritics, and poffeffing fuch tranfcendent pre-eminence and privi- (U) It may not be improper to obferve in this place, that the court of vice-admiralty ini the Colonies, by the iv. of fGeo. 11I. chap. 1S,is invefted with a concurrent jurifdiation with the courts of record, in cafes of forfeitures and penalties incurred by the breach of any aét of parliament relating to the trade and revenues of the Britifh colonies in America; and in profecutions in this court, all queftions, as well of faét as of law, are decided by the judge alone, without the intervention ofa jury. The, judge is nominated by the crown. The colonifts complain with great reafon of this law, asa direét violation and infringement of their beft and deareft conftitutional rights. leges with the courts of record, in cafes of forfeitures and penalties incurred by the breach of any aét of parliament relating to the trade and revenues of the Britifh colonies in America; and in profecutions in this court, all queftions, as well of faét as of law, are decided by the judge alone, without the intervention ofa jury. The, judge is nominated by the crown. The colonifts complain with great reafon of this law, asa direét violation and infringement of their beft and deareft conftitutional rights. leges --- Page 411 --- WEST INDIES, leges as I have defcribed, it is not to be expeéted, CHAP. from the common fallibility of human nature, I. that every colony-governor (placed at fo great a diftance from the mother-country) fhould, on every occafion, bear his faculties meekly. Great caution is therefore undoubtedly neceffary, on the part of a Britilh minifter,in the choice of perfons for a truft of fo great weight and dignity; the powers with which our plantation-governors are invefted being more extenfive than thofe which the laws of England allow to the fovereign himfelf. It is however a melancholy truth, that party merit, and conneétions, are commonly the moft forcible recommendations with which a candidate for a diftant government can prefent himfelf; and that perfons equally devoid of charaéter, ability, and fortune, have fometimes been fent to prefide in our moft important fettlements, as if juftice and publick virtue were beft adminiftered and promoted by men moft diftinguithed forignorance and profligacy, and that they would prove the beft proteétors of other people's fortunes, who by vice and profufion had diflipated their own! In nominating to an office which is a conftituent part of the legiflature, which has power to controul the adminiftration of executive juftice, and, in moft cafes, has the (ole exercife of the vaft and extenfive jurifdiétion appertaining to a Cc4 court --- Page 412 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK court of equity, it might be fuppofed that a VI. prudent minifter, among other qualifications in 1 the perfon feleéted, would confider that fome little knowledge of the laws and conftitution of England is indi(penfably fequifite. It is remarkable, however, that the military profefions (which certainly are not eminent for fuch kind of knowledge) are Tound to fupply moft of the gentlemen who are elevated to this high ftation. It were unjuft, at the fame time, not to allow that fome of thefe have acquitted themfelves in the civil department with extraordinary reputation and honour. Both the late Sir William Trelawney, and Sir Bafil Keith, who fucceflively adminiftered the government of Jamaica, were educated from early youth in the navy 5 yet poffffing found judgments and upright intentions, their çonduét as governors gave abundant fatisfaction to the people of the colony, without incurring the difapprobation of the crown; and their names will be remembered there with reverence, fo long as worthy governors Ohall be numbered among the benefactors of mankind (e). Bu (c) Soon after the above w'as written, the inhabitants of Jamaica had the misfortune to lofe, in an untimely grave, their highly-valued and moft lamented governor, Thomas Earl of Efingham, who was appointed captain-general of that ifland in the beginning of 1790, and died in his government in Oétober 1791. This nobleman was educated in the bation of the crown; and their names will be remembered there with reverence, fo long as worthy governors Ohall be numbered among the benefactors of mankind (e). Bu (c) Soon after the above w'as written, the inhabitants of Jamaica had the misfortune to lofe, in an untimely grave, their highly-valued and moft lamented governor, Thomas Earl of Efingham, who was appointed captain-general of that ifland in the beginning of 1790, and died in his government in Oétober 1791. This nobleman was educated in the --- Page 413 --- WEST.INDIES But thefe are rare inftances; and it muft generally CHAP. be admitted, that the appointment to higl civil I. offices the army; and, with the franknefs and firmnefs of the foldier, pofTefed very extraordinary talents for civil employment.-His merit as Chancellor furpaffed all that the warmeft of his friends had prediéted. He difplayed a calmnefs of temper, and a clearnefs of conception, which the captious and fubtle perplexities of forenfick argument could not difturb or elude. His mind was ftrong, quick, penetrating, found, and decifive; but the prominent feature of his charaéter, which difplayed itfelf in all cafes and on every occafion, was a1 manly and unfhaken intrepidity. He neither courted nor dreaded any man living ; proceeding ftraight forward in the plain path of his duty, without fear, favour, or affeétion. -At his firft entrance into the government, his manners were thought ungracious; but his talents and virtues were foon happily experienced, and he then became the moft popular of all governors. The Roman people difplayed not greater affiétion at the death of Germanicus, than wasmmanifefted by the inhabitants of Jamaica for the lofs of Lord Effingham. The affembly voted a magnificent funeral for the remains of his Lordfip, as they had for thofe of the Countefs of Effingham, who died a fhort time before him. They likewife ordered a monument to be ereéted to perpetuate the memory of their virtues, and the author of this work had the honour of drawing upthe infcription thereon; which is as foilows: To the Memory of THOMAS, Earl of EFFINGHAM, Baron Howard, Captain-General and Chief Governor of this Inand, in the years 1790 and 1791; And of KATHARINE his Wife. The latter, departed this life on the r3th day of Oétober, 1791, In --- Page 414 --- 394 e HISTORY.OF THE BOOK offices of men whofe education and paft purfuits VI. have not given them opportunities of acquiring much acquaintance with the principles of our limited government, is a very dangerous experiIn a voyage undertaken for the benefit of her health, in His Majefty's fhip Diana: The former, on the igth of the following month, The third week after the melancholy return of the Diana with the remains of his beloved Confort, whom he feemed unwilling to furvive, And with whom he was depofited an the fame grave. Thus, united in their lives by the moft tender and exalred ties,- He-the fond and indulgent Hufb.and, She-the cheerful and abedient WifeIn their deaths they were not divided! To perpetuate the remembrance of fo illuftrious a pattern of conjugal affeétion : To manifeft the publick fente of the many publick and private virtues of their refpeéted Governor $ And to record, for the benefit of pofterity, The clearnefs of that fagacity, The extent of that knowledge, And the purity and firmnefs of that integrity, which rendered his adminiftration the boaft and fecurity of a grateful people, The ASSEMBLY of JAMAICA, having caufed the remains of this noble and lamented Pair to be interred with funeral honours at the publick expence, the whole Houfe attending each proceffion as Mourners, As a farther teftimony of merited efteem Infcribe this Monument. ment. of pofterity, The clearnefs of that fagacity, The extent of that knowledge, And the purity and firmnefs of that integrity, which rendered his adminiftration the boaft and fecurity of a grateful people, The ASSEMBLY of JAMAICA, having caufed the remains of this noble and lamented Pair to be interred with funeral honours at the publick expence, the whole Houfe attending each proceffion as Mourners, As a farther teftimony of merited efteem Infcribe this Monument. ment. --- Page 415 --- WEST INDIES. ment. Perfons of this clafs, with the pureftin- CHAP. tentions, are eafily mifled by felfith and interefted I. Y men, whom the confcioufnefs of their own deficiencies compels them to confiult.-Even while aétuated by honeft and laudable motives, they may violate irreparably the firft principles of law and a free conftitution, by eftablifhing fatal precedents which noi integrityofintentione can fanétify, Mr. Stokes, the late chiefjuftice of Georgia, relates, that a governor of a province in North America (at that time a Britifh colony) ordered the provoft-marthal to hang up a conviét fome days before the time appointed by his fentence, and a rule of court for his execution. c He meant well, fays Stokes, but, being a military man, conceived that as he had power to reprieve after fentence, he had power to execute alfo when he pleafed; ; and the criminal was aétually hanged as the governor ordered, nor could his excellency be a perfuaded, that, by this very act, he was himfelf committing felony." AN anecdote not lefs curious than the former is related by the fame author of another military governor, who, it feems, took it into his head to fufpend a gentleman from his feat in the council, for no other reafon than marrying his daughter without his çonfent. Ir may be faid, perhaps, that in thefe cafes the mifchief to the publick, exclufive of" the precedent, --- Page 416 --- HISTORY OF THE E. BOOK dent, was not very great. I could produce, howVI. ever, many an inftance, in the conduet of Y governors, in which fomething more would appear, I am afraid, than mere folly, and the ignorant mifapplication of authority. But the tafk is invidious, and I willingly decline it. LIEUTENANT GENERAL, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, AND PRESIDENT. IN: a government comprehendingleveraliflands, as that of the Leeward Charaibean Iflands, there is commonly appointed, together with the captain-general or chief governor, a lieutenant-general, who is next in fucceffion. He is ufually lieutenant-governor likewife of one of the iflands included within the general government, each of which, in the abfence of the captain-general from that particular ifland, has its affairs adminiftered by a licutenant-gorernor, or the prefident of the council, moft commonly the latter, as it is not often that the licutenant-governor is on the fpot; this appointment, in fact, being nothing more than the grant of a penfion of 200/. a year, which is paid by the crown. In Jamaica it is feldom that a lieutenant-governor is appointed during the refidence on the ifland of a captain-general,'there being no eftablifhment or provifion for fuch an officer holding a dormant commiffion $ who orernor, or the prefident of the council, moft commonly the latter, as it is not often that the licutenant-governor is on the fpot; this appointment, in fact, being nothing more than the grant of a penfion of 200/. a year, which is paid by the crown. In Jamaica it is feldom that a lieutenant-governor is appointed during the refidence on the ifland of a captain-general,'there being no eftablifhment or provifion for fuch an officer holding a dormant commiffion $ who --- Page 417 --- WEST INDIES. who has therefore neither power nor profit. He CHAP. entitled even to a I. is not, as lieutenant-governor, - feat in the council. On the refignation, or abfenceonleave,of the captain-general,a lieutenantgovernor, if not prefent, is frequently fent over, who then fucceeds to the fupreme command, and receives the full emoluments of the government (4). MR. (a)' The following inftance of minifterial ceconomy may amufe, but cannot furprife, my readers in the colonies.- About the year 1767, when the Marquis of Lanfdowne, then Earl of Shelburne, was Secretary of State, an application was made to his lordfhip by fome gentlemen of Jamaica, then refiding in England, for a provifion for a lieutenant-governor, who fhould refide within the ifland at the fame time with the captain-general. The reafon affigned was, to prevent a devolution of the government to the pre. fident of the council. Lord Shelburne had no other objection to the meafure than an unwillingne(s to faddle either the mother-countty or the colony with additional expence.--But finding, among other emoluments ofthe çaptain-general, that he derived about 1000 1. fterlingper annum from the command ofa fortification at Port Royal, called Fort Charles, and conceiving the other apppointments of the chief governor to be faficiently liberal, his lordfhip ftipulated with the next governor, Sir William Trelawney, that he fhould refign Fort Charles to licutenant-governor Dalling, on condition of refidence. Thus werethe wifhes of the gentlemen gratified, and a provifion made for a lieutenant-govemory without expence either to Great Britain or Jamaica; and, confidering withal that Sir William Trelawney was the minifter's friend, the conduét of Lord Shelburne in the bufinefs was highly commendable, and bore the features of honour.-But mark the refult. ftipulated with the next governor, Sir William Trelawney, that he fhould refign Fort Charles to licutenant-governor Dalling, on condition of refidence. Thus werethe wifhes of the gentlemen gratified, and a provifion made for a lieutenant-govemory without expence either to Great Britain or Jamaica; and, confidering withal that Sir William Trelawney was the minifter's friend, the conduét of Lord Shelburne in the bufinefs was highly commendable, and bore the features of honour.-But mark the refult. --- Page 418 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK MR. LoNG is of opinion that 3 prefident of VI. the council, taking upon him the government 1 on the demife or abfence of a governor or lieutenant-governor, cannot legally diffolve the houfe of affembly, nor iffue writs for calling a new one 5 becaufe he has no exprefs commiffion from the Sovereign under the great feal of Great Britain, giving authority for that purpole. THE COUNCIL. THE members of this board are feverally appointed by the Royal mandamus, direéted to the governor, and counterfigned by the fecretary of ftate, and the names of the feveral members for the time being are inferted in the governor's inftruétions. In Jamaica tlieir full complement is twvelve : in fome of the fmaller iflands ten, and in cafe of as many vacancies, by death, abfence, fult. In the adminiftration of Lord George Germain, General Dalling, by the demife of Sir William Trelawney, fucceeded to the chief command : and the new minifter, confidering 1000l per amnum no defpicable objeét, inftead of continuing Fort Charles as a provifion for a lieutenant governor, feized on it for his own ufe, and foon after affigned its profits over to one of his dependants, who has enjoyed it ever fince, Thus the Ifland fuffers the fame inconveniency it complained of before, with the burthen of providing 1000/. a year for a perfon who neither refides within the ifland, nor has any other connection with it; for the fort is generally commanded by his deputy's deputy, with whofe very name, it is probable, the principal himfelf is uhacquainted. or --- Page 419 --- WEST INDIES. er fufpenfion, as reduce the board under Jeven, CHAP. the governor or commander in chiefisimpowered I. to fill up to that number, but no further. Their 1 privileges, powers, and offices, are thefe: FIRST. They are by courtely feverally addreffed, in the colonies, Honourable ssthey take precedency next to the commander in chief; and, on the death or abfence of the governor, lieutenant-genetal,andlieutenant-govemor the eldeft member of the council fucceeds to the government, under the title of Prefident. SECONDLY. They are a council of ftate, the governor or commander in chief prefiding in 'perfon, to whom they ftand in the fame relation as the privy-council in Great Britain does to the Sovereign. But although every plantation-governor is direéted by his inftruétions to advife with his council on moft occafions, I do not know that, in his executive capacity, he is abfolutely bound to abide by their advice. I conceive that he is competent to act, in moft cafes, not only wvithout, but even againf their concurrence : he may, it is true, by fo doing, incur the king's difpleafure ; but his proceedings are neverthelefs efficient and legal within the colony. D THIRDLY. They are named, in every commiffion of the peace, as juftices throughout the colony to which they belong. FOURTHLY. afions, I do not know that, in his executive capacity, he is abfolutely bound to abide by their advice. I conceive that he is competent to act, in moft cafes, not only wvithout, but even againf their concurrence : he may, it is true, by fo doing, incur the king's difpleafure ; but his proceedings are neverthelefs efficient and legal within the colony. D THIRDLY. They are named, in every commiffion of the peace, as juftices throughout the colony to which they belong. FOURTHLY. --- Page 420 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK FOURTHLY. The council, together with the VI. commander in chief, fit as judges in the court of error or court of appeal in civil caufes from the courts of record; and in fome of the iflands two or more of the members fit with the governor in tbe court of chancery, as affiftant commiffioners of the great feal, as I have elfewhere related ; appeals from chancery therefore lie not before them, but are, by the king's order, avoked before his majefty himfelfin council. FIFTHLY. The council is a conftituent part of the legiflature ; their confent being neceffary in the enaéting of laws. In this capacity of legif. lators, they fit as the upper houfe, and in moft of" the colonies, diftinét from the governor; claim privilege of parliament, order the attendance of perfons, and the produétion ofpapers and records, and commit for contempts; enter protefts on their journals after the manner of the houfe of peers, and have their chaplain, clerk, ufher of the black rod, &c. &cc. Ir has been thought ftrange that one and the fame body of men fhould act in two fuch different capacities and funétions, as a privy-council fworn to fecrecy and fidelity, and an upper houfe of legiflature ; 6 the admitting fuch a diftinétion, a fays a late governor, may be fuppofed even to free them from all obligations of the oath they take as --- Page 421 --- WEST INDIES. as counfellors: becaufe their duty to the people, CHAP. as legiflators, may feem to oblige them very J. 1 frequently to fupport opinions repugnant to a governor's fchemes (e)." Bur to this it may be anfwered, that if the governor's fchernes are, in the opinion of the council, repugnant to the true interefts of the people, their oppofition to fuch fchemes cannot be deemed a violation of their oath of fidelity $ aeither does it neceffarily follow that they thereby divulge what they have fworn to keep fecret. IT appears to me, that the people at largé refiding within the colonies, have much more caufe of apprebenfion than their governors, from the exiftence and exercife oflegiflative authority, in fo unftable a body as the board in queftion : For although its individual members ought to be, and I believe indeed commonly are, men of weight and property in their refpeétive countries, yet a territorial qualification is not indifpenfably. neceffary to their appointment, as in the cafe of members chofen into the affembly. Perfons therefore may be, and I am afraid in former times havve been, nominated to the council, who have no natural concern in the welfare of the colony, no community of intereits with its inhabitants, and who çonfider themfelves wholly at (e) This opinion of Governor Lyttelton is quoted more at largein the Hiftory of Jamaica by Mr. Long, vol.i i. p-156. Voi. II. D d the ffary to their appointment, as in the cafe of members chofen into the affembly. Perfons therefore may be, and I am afraid in former times havve been, nominated to the council, who have no natural concern in the welfare of the colony, no community of intereits with its inhabitants, and who çonfider themfelves wholly at (e) This opinion of Governor Lyttelton is quoted more at largein the Hiftory of Jamaica by Mr. Long, vol.i i. p-156. Voi. II. D d the --- Page 422 --- HISTORY OF TIE BOOK the governor's difpofal, and bound to fupport all VI. his meafures, however incompatible with the general good. Again : From the power which the governors affume of arbitrarily inflicting the rod of fufpenfion, the board has not ftability fufficient to infure refpect to its refolutions. It has neither flrength nor independency. Such of the members therefore as have property in the country, may perhaps fometimes find themfelves in a more difagreeable predicament than even thofe who have none ; for they may be compelled to vote as a governor Thall dictate, in fupport, poffibly, of meafures ruinous to the community in which all their.concerns: are centered,or be expofed to the affront of publick degradation; to the confequent malignant mifconftruétions of the yulgar; and perhaps to the contempt of their own minds, in having accepted a ftation which fubjects them to cenfure, for honeftly difcharging the duties of it. I DO not indeed know that many great evils have atually been felt by the çolonifts at large, from the inefficiency and inftability of this body. However, as it is the excellency of the Britifh government, not merely to corrcét exiftingabufes, but alfo to obviate and prevent (as far as human forcfight will permit) fuch as may poflibly or probably happen ; manyintelligent perfons have been led to controvert the claim of the council altogether --- Page 423 --- WEST INDIES. together to a participation in the legidature. CHAP. They deny that this claim derives any juft fupI. port either from analogy to the conftitution of the parent ftate, from the royal delegation, or from any law of fufficient comprehenfion and efficacy to warrant fuch a pretenfion in a body fo confituted. THE principal arguments which have been advanced in fupport of this opinion, are to this effect. THE peers of Great Britain are hereditary members of the legiflature, and fit in parliament for the fupport of their own great interefts and inherent dignity, and as an intermediate body between the crown and the people. In civil procefs their perfons are facred, and in criminal, they are tried by their own order. Neither can their privileges be taken from them but in extraordinary cafes, and then only by the fentence of the wholehoufe, as a court ofthe higheft - jurifdiction, or by an act of the whole legiflature. The fovereign, it is true, can create as many new peers as he pleafes, but having once raifed a fubject to this high dignity, his privileges thenceforward, as a peer of parliament, are his own; 5 founded, not on royal conceffions, but on the ancient fundamental conftitution of the realm. Thus, the houfeoflords forms a feparate branch of the legiflature, diftinct from, and entirely independent of, Ddz the diction, or by an act of the whole legiflature. The fovereign, it is true, can create as many new peers as he pleafes, but having once raifed a fubject to this high dignity, his privileges thenceforward, as a peer of parliament, are his own; 5 founded, not on royal conceffions, but on the ancient fundamental conftitution of the realm. Thus, the houfeoflords forms a feparate branch of the legiflature, diftinct from, and entirely independent of, Ddz the --- Page 424 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK the crown on the one hand, and the commons on VI. the other. Now, in all thefe refpeéts, it is maintained, that a colonial council has no conformity or fimilitude with, and therefore could not originally have been intended to form a feparate eftate, and fupply in the colonies the place of, the houfe of peers in Great Britain. Ir is contended further, that the power of the crown is not ofitfelf fufficiently extenfiveto conftitute fuch a legiflative branch, or feparate eftate in the colonies. The king, it is true, has a negative in legiflation, but the king has no right to propole a law to, or to alter a law propofed by, the lords oF commons. His power is the power of rejecting, and nothing more ; which therefore is pot fo properly a legiflative power, as a negative on the legiflation of the other branches ; a o mere defenfive privilege to enable him to withftand the encroachments of the legiflature, and preferve the government entire. As the king cannot confer on others what he poffeffes not himfclf, nothing lefs than a folemn and precifely declaratory law, propofed by the reprefentatives of the people, and confirmed by the crown, could, itis pretended, have given the fhadow of authority to a colonial or provincial council to form themfelves into a diftinet legiflative citate. It follows, that their claim to legiflative powers, thus unfupported, is ufurpation and tyranny. THESE --- Page 425 --- WI EST INDIES. THESE arguments, or arguments to the fame CHAP, effect, are urged with great ability in Mr. Long's y I. Hiftory of Jamaica. I Thall not attempt to controvert them by elaborate difcuflion, but content myfelfwith briefly ftating the origin, asit isinfal, (according to my conception) of the pretenfions of this branch to a diftinét fhare in colonial legiflation. If it be Abewn that the exercife of thefe pretenfions may, on feveral occafions, be abfolutely neceflary to the welfare and fafety of the community ; a very few words will fufficeon the queftion of their conftitutional legality. THAT it was originally intended to eftablifh in any of the colonial governments three diftinét independent legillative powers adting on the fpot, in the view of forming conftitutions on the mrdel of England, I do not however'believe; becaufe, while the crown retains its neceffary and conftitutional right of difannulling all acts of the provincial legiflatures, and while the privilege of giving a negative is likewife exercifed by its governors in the colonies, independent of the council, there are four diftinét eftates, inftead of three, The cafe feems to have been, that there being no orderofhereditary nobility in the plantations, out of which to conflitute a dignified and efficient intermediate body, like the peers of Engiand and Ireland, a legiflative authority was at an early period entrufted to the governors and their council, Dds adling atures, and while the privilege of giving a negative is likewife exercifed by its governors in the colonies, independent of the council, there are four diftinét eftates, inftead of three, The cafe feems to have been, that there being no orderofhereditary nobility in the plantations, out of which to conflitute a dignified and efficient intermediate body, like the peers of Engiand and Ireland, a legiflative authority was at an early period entrufted to the governors and their council, Dds adling --- Page 426 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK ading conjointly, : and forming a middle branch beVI. tween the crown on the one hand, and the reY prelentatives of the people on the other, The prefence and concurrence of the governor were probably thought advifeable, in the view that the interefts of the crown might generally preponderate; while by felecting the members of the council from nien of the firft confequence in each colony, it was perhaps conceived that a falutary check was contrived againft thofe abufes to which power, in the beft hands, is fometimes liable ; and on this plan the colonies poffeffed the femblance, at leaft, of an Englith legiflative conftitution (f). THAT fuch was the firft intention in the formation ofall or moft of the king's governments in the plantations (imperfect as the fyftem confeffedly is, from the inftability of the council) appears from the inftance of Barbadoes, where this arrangement ftill exifts; the governor and çouncil, in matters ofl legiflation, conftituting, not two feparate and diftinét bodies, independent of each other, but one conftituent branch only, fitting and deliberating together,-And fuch too, for fome years, was the praétice of Jamaiça, and 0) Fvery governor is exprefsly inftruéted to tranfmit from time to time t his Majefty the names of fuch of the prinçipal inhabitants as are bett qualified to fupply vacancies in the council, and it is rarely that any perfon is appointed who is not previoufly recommended bythe governor. Il believe --- Page 427 --- WEST INDIES. I believe of all or moft of the reft of the royal CHAI P. governments; but as it fometimes became necefI. fary to rejeét popular bills, the governor, to divert the difpleafure of the affembly from himfelfto the council, declined by degrees attending on fuch occafions ; leaving it to the board to fettle matters with the affembly as they could, without hisinterference. The council concurred, readily enough, in the governor's views, becaufe his abfence removing a reftraint, gave them the femblance of a diftinét independent eftate ; and the crown, perceiving the utility and advantage of the meafure, confirmed and eftablifhed the practice by degrees in moft of the royal governments throughout the Britifh plantations. If the people's reprefentatives had confidered this exclufive interpofition of the council as an innovation, then wastheir time to have oppofed it; but it has not appeared to me that the affembly of any one colony, at any one period, denied a right in the council to negative bills in the firft inftance, without the governor's confent or participation. Now the right in the council to reject bills altogether in the firft inftance, neceffarily comprehends the privilege of offering amendments to particular claufes, (money bills are always, and very properly, excepted) the exercife of which privilege is in truth nothing more than an offer of compromife between the council and affembly. D d 4 The affembly of any one colony, at any one period, denied a right in the council to negative bills in the firft inftance, without the governor's confent or participation. Now the right in the council to reject bills altogether in the firft inftance, neceffarily comprehends the privilege of offering amendments to particular claufes, (money bills are always, and very properly, excepted) the exercife of which privilege is in truth nothing more than an offer of compromife between the council and affembly. D d 4 The --- Page 428 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK The former may fay, <e we propofe fuch and fuch VI. amendments; or we V adopt them, ufe our power of rejedtion."' 9* And this I take to be the plain origin and actual rife of the privileges enjoyed, I believe, by the council-board in every Britifh colony in the Weft Indies (Barbadoes excepted) of deliberating apart from the governor on all bills fent up by the affembly; ofpropofing amendments to fuch bills, and of rejeéting altogether, and without any participation with the governor, fuch of them as they difapprove. Further than this, I do not know that the legiflative authority of the council extends, and I have no hefitation in pronouncing the exercife of fuch an authority, when enforced freely and independently, a moft neceffary and ufeful expedient, tending to prevent violent and mifchievous difputes between the delegates of the people, and the reprefentative of the crown. Its origin may have been illegitimate 3 but its adoption in the colonies for a century at leaft, and recognition by the crown, have given it fuch a prefcriptive eftablifhment, as I conceive conftitutes law (g). (g) In truth the colonies gained a very important acquifition by this feparation of the governor and council from each other in matters of legiflation, for, obtaining by this means the femblance ofthree diftiné eftates, it enabled them the more eafily to fecure the privilege which they claimed, that their laws fhould be immediately in force as foon as confented to by the governor, without waiting for the royal confirmation. AFTER --- Page 429 --- WEST INDIES. which have been CHAP. AFTER all, the objeétions I. conftitution of this body, made to the prefent and from its want of fufficient ftability arifing and ferious independence, are of an important nature. Men are very unfit for legiflators, whofe deliberations are liable to be biaffed by external influence. If, on fome occafions, and improper of good, on others they may they are inftruments infruments of great evil. Yet I amwilling prove this inconvenience might find to hope that even would take its remedy, if the colonial affemblies the fubjeét into ferious and temperate confideration. Were it required by law that no perfon fhould be appointed of the council who was not of a landed eftate within the colony to poffeffed fome given value, as an indifpenfable qualificafo that the private interefts of the members tion, be blended with thofe of every other cimight and were the terrors of fufpenfion, which, tizen, but by a thread, like the fword of Damocles, hangs removed from them, they would become a refpectable and moft ufeful body (k). At the fame time, (h) There arifes, however, fome difficultyi in confidering at this point. While the council are liable to be fufpended I rethe will of an arbitrary and capricious feven governor members (and being member an inftance in Jamaica, of frivolous their fufpended in one day; on a very pretence) are even authority is very lightly regarded, infult. and fometimes,they On the other hand, if treated with contempt and they might, in their legillative they were appointedfor lifes capacitfs (h) There arifes, however, fome difficultyi in confidering at this point. While the council are liable to be fufpended I rethe will of an arbitrary and capricious feven governor members (and being member an inftance in Jamaica, of frivolous their fufpended in one day; on a very pretence) are even authority is very lightly regarded, infult. and fometimes,they On the other hand, if treated with contempt and they might, in their legillative they were appointedfor lifes capacitfs --- Page 430 --- HISTORY OF THE 30OK time, it will behoove the reprefentatives ofthe VI. people, in an elpecial manner, to keep in their Y own hands, undiminifhed and unimpaired, as a facred depofit, the great and exclufive privilege of granting or withholding the fupplies. If the council, independent of the governor and the people, Chall once poffefs themfelves ofthe fmalleft fhare in this moft important of all popular rights, they will become from that moment, a ftanding fenate, and an infolent ariftocracy. capacity, become formidable both to the king's reprefentative and the people. They might obftruet the fupplies for no better reafon than to get a new governor. I am of opinion, therefore, that they fhould ftill be amoveable, but, in order to give them greater weight than they poffefs at prefent, they fhould be amovable only by the king's exprefs order, in confequence of a joint addrefs from the commander in chief and the houfe of affembly. Their prefent conftitution certainly requires fome correction and amendment i the more fo, as in fome of the colonies they have fet up pretenfions of a very wide and extraordinary nature. They have, at different times, claimed and exercifed the power of arbitrarily imprifoning for contempt, and formerly even for fines laid by their own authority. They have claimed a right of originating publick bills at their board, and even of amending money bills paffed by the affembly. They have alfo claimed the right of appropriating the publick revenue, &c. &c. All thefe, and other pretenfions, are equally inconfiftent with their original appointment of a council of afans, to the governor, and with the tenure by which they at prefent exift, and ought to be conftantly and firmly refifted by the people's reprefentatives. --- Page 431 --- WEST INDIES 41E CH A P. II(a). Houfes of Afomity-Prasgatiue denied to be in the Crown of eftablifting in the Colonies Confitutions lefs free than that of Great Britain.-Mof ef the Britifh Wef Indian Hhands fettled by Emigrants from the Mother Country-Royal Proclamations and Charters, Confirmations only of ancient Rigits-Barbudboanudaratior: Mands, originally made Counties Palatine. Their local Legifatures how confituted, and the Extent of their Furifdiction pointed out.-Their Allegiance 10, and Dependance 01, the Crowon ofGreat Britain how fecured.- Conflitutional Extent of Parliamentary Authority over them. Ix treating of the affemblies, or popular branch CHAP. in the local fyftem of colonial adminiftration, I 11. fhall firft attempt to inveftigate the origin of the (a) In this chapter, the nature and neceffary uniformity pf: my work, compel me to tread over a field wherein the footiteps of a great many preceding writers are ftill vifibie. I prefume not therefore to fancy that I can produce manv new arguments myfelf, or give additional weight to thofe which have been advanced by others, on fubjeêts fo well underftood, and fo frequeptly and freely canvaffed during the late unhappy difputés with America. My aim will be anfwered, if, inftead of originality and novelty, I am found to poffefs perfpicuity and precifion. Happily, the great rights of mankind are fufficiently apparent, without the aid pflogical deduction, and abftraéted hypothefis. O claim felf, or give additional weight to thofe which have been advanced by others, on fubjeêts fo well underftood, and fo frequeptly and freely canvaffed during the late unhappy difputés with America. My aim will be anfwered, if, inftead of originality and novelty, I am found to poffefs perfpicuity and precifion. Happily, the great rights of mankind are fufficiently apparent, without the aid pflogical deduction, and abftraéted hypothefis. O claim --- Page 432 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK claim of the colonifts to legiflate for themfelves, VI. by means of thole affemblies, and to difplay the - principles on which this claim was confirmed by the mother-country. Afterwards, I fhall enquire by what means their allegiance to the crown of Great Britain, and profitable fubordination to the Britifh parliament, are fecured and maintained. FROM the arguments that have been urged in the latter part of the preceding chapter, concerning a prerogative in the crown to inveft the COlonial council-boards with fome fhare oflegiflative authority, I truft it will not follow that the Englith conftitution has at any time lodged in the king the ftill greater prerogative of eftablifhing in the Britith dependencies, fuch a form and fyftem of government as his Majefty fhall think beft. It is furely one thing to fay, that the crown may introduce into the plantations fuch checks and controuls as are congenial to thofe inftitutions by which freedom is beft fecured in the mother-country, and another to aver that the crown may withhold from the colonies the enjoyment of freedom altogether. Neverthelefs, were the maxim well founded, that the prerogative of the crown in arranging the fyftem of colonial eftablifhments is unlimited, no conclufion could be drawn from it that would impeach, in the fmalleft degree, the claim of the Britifh colonifts in --- Page 433 --- WEST INDIES. in America to a Britith conftitution; as the fovereign, reprefenting the whole inafimuch CHAP. has repeatedly recognized in the firlt fettlers nation, II. ) their pofterity, by various folemn and mations, charters, and treaties, the grants, fame proclaprivileges, and immunities, which liberties, and enjoyed by their fellow are poffeffed Great Britain. fubjedsremaining in I DO not, indeed, know that thofe clamations, charters, and treaties, grants, prowere neceffary to freedom'; for if; as I prefuame effentially I have fulfcieatlydemonftrated on a former even a conquered ftate, retaining its occafion(8), ancient inhabitants, no fooner becomes ceded to Great Britain, than it is aflimilated toits imbibes the fpirit-of its free government, and this, as I contend, is the law of conftitution; 3-if quires but little England, it refubjects, whether argument to prove that Englith fettling in countries which valour has annexed to the Britith their emigrating for the purpofe of dominion, or on Vacant or dereliét forming plantations folongas lands, are entitled %f right, they preferve their allegiance, to at an equal degree of national leaft adopted aliens and protedtion, with of our poffeffions in America vanquifhed enemies. Some (Jamaica in and the Weft Indies bbtained particular, as we. have feen) were by the forces of the ftate; the indivi- (6) Book III. c. 2, duals dominion, or on Vacant or dereliét forming plantations folongas lands, are entitled %f right, they preferve their allegiance, to at an equal degree of national leaft adopted aliens and protedtion, with of our poffeffions in America vanquifhed enemies. Some (Jamaica in and the Weft Indies bbtained particular, as we. have feen) were by the forces of the ftate; the indivi- (6) Book III. c. 2, duals --- Page 434 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK duals of which became proprietors of the couhtry VI. which they had conquered. Other countries; as Barbadoes and Antigua, were found vacant and unoccupied, and were made valuable appendages to Great Britain, by the enterprifing fpirit and at the fole expence ofa few private adventures. Even where the lands were forcibly taken from the ancient Indian inhabitants, though nothing can fanétify injuftice, yet the Englith title is unimpeachable by any other European power; and the Englith nation has received the benefit of the enterprize. Shall it then (to ufe an excellent and unanfwerable argument of Mr. Long on this fubject (g) fhall it be affirmed, € that if Englith forces conquer, or Englith € adventurers poffefs € themfelves of diftant lands, and thereby extend € the empire, and add to the trade and opulence € of England ; the Englifhmen fo poffefling and € planting fuch territory, ought, in confideration of the great fervices thereby effected to their € nation, to be treated worfe than aliens, to for- € feit all the rights of Englifh fubjeéts,and be left € to the mercy of an abfolute and arbitrary form € of government?" Nothing furely can equal the abfurdity of fo favage a doétrine (d)! CONSIDERING (c) Hift. Jamaica. (d) 6 Let us confider (fays Mr. Locke): a conqueror in a lawful war, and fee what power he gets, and over whom. 4 Firit, he gets no Fower by his conqueft over thofe that conqueied it all the rights of Englifh fubjeéts,and be left € to the mercy of an abfolute and arbitrary form € of government?" Nothing furely can equal the abfurdity of fo favage a doétrine (d)! CONSIDERING (c) Hift. Jamaica. (d) 6 Let us confider (fays Mr. Locke): a conqueror in a lawful war, and fee what power he gets, and over whom. 4 Firit, he gets no Fower by his conqueft over thofe that conqueied --- Page 435 --- WEST INDIES. CONSIDERING therefore the further of this point as fuperfluous, I difcuffion CHAP, clufion which come to the con- II. neceffarily refults from the premifes, - conquered with him. They that fuffer by the but fought on his fide cannot as they were conqueft, before. And muft at leaft be as much freemen terms, and on condition to moft fhare commonly, with they ferve upon a part of the fpoil, and other their leader, and enjoy quering fword : or, at leaft, have advantages a that attend the contry beftowed upon them. And the part ofthe fubdued counnot, I hope, to be flaves by conqueft, conquering and people are only to fhew they are facrifices to their wear their laurels We are told by fome, that the leader's triumph. in the Norman conqueft, and that Englifh monarchy is founded a title to abfolute dominion our princes have thereby hiftory it appears otherwife) ; which, if it were true (as by to make war on this ifland, and that William had a right could reach no farther than to yet the his dominion by conquelt were then inhabitants of this Saxons and Britons, that came with him, and helped to country. The Normans that them, are freemen, and no conquer, and all defcended from give what dominion it will." fubjeéts by conqueft ; let that So far Mr. Locke-His friend and Mollyneux, of Dublin, in his Treatife of the correfpondent Mr. being bound by Englifh adts of cafe ofIreland's argument, and illuftrates it as follows. parliament, 6c repeats the fame ferves) that Hen. II. had a to Suppofing (he obhe had been oppofed therein right invade Ireland, and that the ancient race of the Irifh that by the inhabitants, it was only gation; the Englith and could fuffer by this fubjuquered with him, retained Britons, all the that came over and conof free-born fubjects; they, and freedoms and immunities in reafon lofe thefe for being their defcendants, could not fo, the ftate of both fuccefsful and viltorious; for flavifh." conquerors and conquered fhall be equally and ed therein right invade Ireland, and that the ancient race of the Irifh that by the inhabitants, it was only gation; the Englith and could fuffer by this fubjuquered with him, retained Britons, all the that came over and conof free-born fubjects; they, and freedoms and immunities in reafon lofe thefe for being their defcendants, could not fo, the ftate of both fuccefsful and viltorious; for flavifh." conquerors and conquered fhall be equally and --- Page 436 --- 416. HISTORY OF THE BOOK and it appears to me to be clear and uncontroVI. vertible, that the royal proclamations and charters 1 which guaranteed and confirmed to the firft planters, emigrating to America and the Weft Indies, all the liberties, franchifes, and immunities of free denizens remaining within the kingdom, were, and were meant to be, declaratory omly of ancient rights ; not creative of new privileges. They were nothing more than royal recognitions, expreffive of a reciprocal relation between the fovereign and his fubjects, notwithftanding their removal, conveying the confent of the king, as head and reprefentative of the Englifh ftate, to their emigration ; and affuring them, exprefsly, or by evident implication, fo long as they preferved their allegiance, the full and undifturbed enjoyment of thofe inherent rights, which no climate nor compact can take away or diminifh. SucH, I conceive, was the ground on which the firft Englith colonifts claimed, amongft other rights, the great and important one of affenting to all laws by which they were to be bound ; or, to fpeak fomewhat more fuitably to the actual fituation ofthe people of England, ofbeing bound by fuch laws only, as in their operation, fhould extend to, and bind tke governors equally with the governed; theframers eqtally zvith all the ref of the --- Page 437 --- WEST INDIES. the kingdom (e): and hence, the eftablifhment CHAP. in all the Britifh provinces of North America, and II. - Y iflands of the Weft Indies, of affemblies, or houfes of reprefentatives, which, being freely chofen by the people, forming a part of, and living among the people, and occafionally to be refolved into the general mals, muft neceffarily participate, with a tenderintereft, in every thing that concerns the people. PERHAPS, inftead of confirming to the colonifts this liberal fyftem of felf-government, it was, or might have been contended on the part of the crown, that the permiffion of returning reprefentatives to the Britith parliament, was all that on their own principles, they could pretend to claim; and the examples of Durham and Chefter might have been adduced in fupport of this argument. Thofe counties being countics pa- (e) By the principles of the Britifh conftitution, every man fhould be reprefented; ; but the deviation from a rule too nice for praétice is fafely borne, becaufe the intereft ofevery particular member of parliament fands as a pledge, that no individual in the kingdom can be opprefed. In other words, the great fecurity which the people of Great Britain have, that their reprefentatives fhall not abufe their truft, is, that they cannot impofe 072 others achat they are nict 1o feel themfelses. * Ifan aet ofparliament was made (fays judge Hobart) conftituting a man a judge in his own caufe, it would be void by the law of nature."' See an excellent fpeech of George Johnftone, Efquire, in the Parliamentary Debates for 1775, wherein this argument is enforced. VoL. II. Ee latine, , that their reprefentatives fhall not abufe their truft, is, that they cannot impofe 072 others achat they are nict 1o feel themfelses. * Ifan aet ofparliament was made (fays judge Hobart) conftituting a man a judge in his own caufe, it would be void by the law of nature."' See an excellent fpeech of George Johnftone, Efquire, in the Parliamentary Debates for 1775, wherein this argument is enforced. VoL. II. Ee latine, --- Page 438 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK latine, had complained, that, 6c for lack of knights. VI. and burgeffes, they were touched and grieved with Y o aéts and ftatutes made within the court of parliament;" and they pleaded that all acts and ftatutes fo made, Gc were derogatory unto their moft ancient jurifdiétions, liberties and privileges." Their plea was allowed, and parliamentary reprefentation granted them. Itis obfervable too, that Barbadoes and the Charaibean Iflands, as well as fome provinces of North America, were at firft created into counties palatine, exprefsly after the model of Durham. But the king and parliament probably thought, what all who duly confider the fubjeét muft no2 think, that a parliamentary union with a kingdom three thoufand miles diftant, was impraéticable to any good purpofe. It is moft certain, that the Britifh parliament, from firft to laft, confented that the king fhould govern his fubjeéts in America (fo far at leaft as related to their own internal concerns) as hegoverned his fubjeéts in Ireland, by parliaments of their own. Nor, if the eleétion of reprefentatives is c6. an original right, vefted in, and infeparable from the freehold," as it hath been pronounced by the higheft authority (); and if the impracticability of the coloniftsbeing adequately reprefented in the Britich legifature be i)Lord Chief Juftice Holt. admitted, --- Page 439 --- WEST INDIES. admitted, could fuch a confent be withheld from them on any principle of reafon and CHAP, lefs indeed it be reafonable juftice; ; un- II. that the and juft to contend, colonifts, as having, from their remote fituation, need of greater protedion than their fellow-fubjects at home, are on that account titled tolef. enPROVINCIAL (it matters not by Deta-mtbomredielili@iabis what name thus eftablifhed and theyare called) being that in their formation, recognized, we thall find mode of extent ofjurifdiction within proceeding, and have conftantly their own circle, they as copied, and are required to nearlyas circumflances will permit, the copy, of the parliament of Great Britain. example holders are. affembled in each The freeipedtively by the king's writ; town or parifh retaken by an officer of the their fuffrages are eleéted are afterwards crown, and the perfons clamation, to meet commanded, by royal proplace in thej together at a certain time and and ordinances proclamation named, to frame ftatutes forthe publick the oaths of fafety. When met, each of them; allegiance, and &c, are adminiftered unto a fpeaker being chofen and approved, the feffion king's reprefentative. opens by a fpeech from the The as a grand provincial affemblythen proceed, and to correét fuch inqueft, to hear grievances, nizable before publick abufes as are not inferior tribunals. --They commit cogEcz for and ordinances proclamation named, to frame ftatutes forthe publick the oaths of fafety. When met, each of them; allegiance, and &c, are adminiftered unto a fpeaker being chofen and approved, the feffion king's reprefentative. opens by a fpeech from the The as a grand provincial affemblythen proceed, and to correét fuch inqueft, to hear grievances, nizable before publick abufes as are not inferior tribunals. --They commit cogEcz for --- Page 440 --- HISTORY OF FHE BOOK for contempts, and the courts of law have refufed, VI. after folemn argument, to difcharge perlons coi> 1 mitted by the fpeaker's warrant. - They examine and controul the accounts of the publick treafurers-they vote fuch fupplies, lay fuch taxes, and frame fuch laws, ftatutes, and ordinances,as thee exigencies ofthe province or colony require.- Jointly with the governor and council, they excrcife the higheft acts of legiflation; for their penallaws, which the judges are fworn to execute, extend even to life; many perfons having fuffered death under laws paffed in the colonies, even before they had received the royal affent. On the whole, fubject to the reftriction that their trade-laws are not repugnant to thote of Great Britain, there are no concerns of a local and provincial nature, to which the authority of the colonial laws does not extend (8). THIS (g) The following account of the proceedings of the legiflature of Jamaica in 1766, while it illuftrates this part of my fubjedt, cannot fail to prove highly interefting to every inhabitant of the Britifi colonies. Tol his honour ROGER HoPE ELLETSON, Efquire, his majefty's Licutenant Governor and commander in chief, in and overthis his majefty's ifland of Jnmaica, &c. &c. 6 May it pleafe your Honour, € We, his majefty's moft dutiful and layal fubjedts, the callimbly of Jamnica,thoroughlyconvinceilofyour honour's I 6 readinefs cannot fail to prove highly interefting to every inhabitant of the Britifi colonies. Tol his honour ROGER HoPE ELLETSON, Efquire, his majefty's Licutenant Governor and commander in chief, in and overthis his majefty's ifland of Jnmaica, &c. &c. 6 May it pleafe your Honour, € We, his majefty's moft dutiful and layal fubjedts, the callimbly of Jamnica,thoroughlyconvinceilofyour honour's I 6 readinefs --- Page 441 --- WEST INDIES. THIS reftriétion was intended probably as an CHAP. auxiliary to other means for preferving the unity Il. of readinefs to hear, and inclination to redrefs, as much as in you lies, every grievance that may affedt any of his majefty's € fubjeôts, beg leave to reprefent to you one which calls aloud for immediate relief, it being in itfelf of the moft dangerous € and alarming nature, and having already given birth to fuch € confufions and diftraétions in this unhappy country, as have 6 not at any time before been known in it. € Our anceflors, fir, who fettled this Britifh colony, were € Englifhmen, and brought with them a right to the laws of 6 England: as their inheritance, which they did not, nor could forieit by fertling here. Ever fince civil government was firft 6 eftablifhed among us, which was very foon after the reftora6 tion of king Charles the Second, we have enjoyed in this 6, colony a conftitution and form of government as nearly re- € fembling that of our mother-country as it was perhaps pof- € fible to make it; our lives, our liberties, and our properties, . fecured to us by the fame laws, have ever been determined € and adjudged by fimilar jurifdictions, and fuch monies as have been neceffary for the fupport of his majefty's govern6 meht here, have, as in England, ever been raifed upon the ( people with their own confent given by their reprefentatives 6 in affembly ; our courts of juftice, where life, liberty, and € property are adjudged, are governed by the fame laws, and 4 ftand in the fame degrees of fubordination to one another, 4 as the courts which they refpeétively ftand for, do in Eng- "land; $ our houfe of affembly, as reprefenting the whole body 6 of our people, does and ever did hold the fame rank in the A fyftem of our conftitution, as the houfe of commons does in 6 that of our mother-country; here, as in England, our re- € prefentatives in affembly are the grand inqueft of our com4 munity; they havethe power, and it is their duty to enquire cintothe corruptions of office, the abufes of government, and sebe ill adminiftration of juftice, and for that purpofe it is Ee 3 *that does and ever did hold the fame rank in the A fyftem of our conftitution, as the houfe of commons does in 6 that of our mother-country; here, as in England, our re- € prefentatives in affembly are the grand inqueft of our com4 munity; they havethe power, and it is their duty to enquire cintothe corruptions of office, the abufes of government, and sebe ill adminiftration of juftice, and for that purpofe it is Ee 3 *that --- Page 442 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK oftheempire, and maintaining the foperintending VI. and controuling power of the mother-country in -1 matters € that this body has herc, as in our mother-country, ever enjoyed a fuperiority over all the courts ofjuftice, and a power 6 of examining their conduét; and all judges, magiftrates, and € publick officers, have ever been amenable to the affembly, 6 and their conduét liable to its infpedtion and here, as in England, we owe it to the wholefome and frequent exertions of fuch a power in the reprefentative body of the people, that we are at this day a free people; without it we can have no fecurity or defence againft the corruption of € judges, and the abufes which may happen in every depart6 ment of adminiftration. < Itis againft a moft flagrant, unprovoked, and unprece- € dented attack and violation which Mr. Lyttelton, our late E chancellor, made upon this indubitable right of the people, 6 that we now refort to your honour for redrefs. 6 In December 1764, Pierce Cooke and Lachlan M*Neil, 6 two men who had been committed by the affembly for 6 breach of privilege, and were in cuftody of Edward Bolt, the meffenger oftheb houfe, by virtue oft fthe fpeaker's warrant, € did, in contempt of the pow er and jurifdiétion of the houfe, € apply in the firft inftance to Mr. Lyttelton as chancellor, for Writs of Habeas Corpus upon the ftatute of the thirtyfirft of Charles the Second, and upon the return of the faid € writs, he did, in a court of Chancery which he called for € that purpofe, releafe the prifoners, and declare as follows: 6 That it did not appear to him from the words of any act 66 of parliament, or of any aét of the governor, council, and 46 aflembly of this ifand, or of his majefty's commiflion or 66 inftruétions to his excellency as governor of this ifland, or 6t by any other means whatfoever, that the commitment of ee the faid Pierce Cooke into the cuftody of the faid Edward 6e Bolt is legal; and his excellency the chancelior was there66 fore pleafed to order, adjudge, and decree, and it is hereby 6 ordered, adjudged, and decrced, That the faid Pierce 66 Cooke and 46 aflembly of this ifand, or of his majefty's commiflion or 66 inftruétions to his excellency as governor of this ifland, or 6t by any other means whatfoever, that the commitment of ee the faid Pierce Cooke into the cuftody of the faid Edward 6e Bolt is legal; and his excellency the chancelior was there66 fore pleafed to order, adjudge, and decree, and it is hereby 6 ordered, adjudged, and decrced, That the faid Pierce 66 Cooke --- Page 443 --- WEST INDIES. matters oftrade ; but it inplies alfo a reciprocal CHAP. or obligation on the part of the Bri- 11. engagement tifh 46 Cooke be, by the authority of this court, releafed and 46 difcharged from the cuftody ofthe faid Edward Bolt; ; and 66 did alfo make the fame declaration and order as to the faid 4s Lachlan M-Neil," which orders and declarations of his, € he did moft irregularly call decrees, and order them to be . enrolled among the records oft the court of Chancery. € It is evident from the opinions of the ableft Jawyers in the € England, ever fince the paffing of that ftatute, from opi- € nions and declarations of judges, the uniform determina- € tions of all the courts in England, and the conftant decla4 rations and praétice of the houfe of commons, that the faid € ftatute was not, nor conld be, intended to extend to com4 mitments by either houfe of parliament, and that the houfe 6 of commons is the only proper judge ofits own privileges * and commitments; this determination of Mr. Lyttelton's & tends, therefore, manifeftly to degrade the reprefentatives € ofthe poople, in the fyfem of our conftitution, from that € rank and authority which is held by the like body in our € mother-country, and if fuffered to remain, would fubvert S thef fandamentals ofthat fyftem, by giving the court of chanof the: affembly, and € ceryap powert to controul the proceedings deunconfitutional € by reducing them to a dangerous and € pendance upon governors, would leave the people without that proteétion againft arbitrary power, which nothing but a free andi independent affembly can give them. € Every court of juftice, from the meaneft quarter feffion up to the two houfes of parliament, has a power of comno act of - mitting for contempt, and this power requires parliament to confer it, it being incident to the inftitution of every court of juftice, and neceffary for its exiftence, forit would be impofible to fupport any authority with6 outi it. in the fame degrees 4 The courts of juftice here, ftanding * of fubordination to one another, as they refpectively do in 4 England; commitments by the inferior, may be, and freEe 4 6 quently , has a power of comno act of - mitting for contempt, and this power requires parliament to confer it, it being incident to the inftitution of every court of juftice, and neceffary for its exiftence, forit would be impofible to fupport any authority with6 outi it. in the fame degrees 4 The courts of juftice here, ftanding * of fubordination to one another, as they refpectively do in 4 England; commitments by the inferior, may be, and freEe 4 6 quently --- Page 444 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK tilh parliament, not to interpofe its authority in VI. matters to which the colonial affemblies are fufficiently € quently are, examined and determined by the € fuperior courts; and as commitments by the houfe of commons cannot be, € nor ever were, difcharged by any of the infcrior courts, fo € this extraordinary aet of Mr. Lyttelton ftands in our country without a precedent, fuch a thing having never before his time been attempted. 6 The pow er of commitment by the houfe of commons is 6 their's by the common law, as well as their privileges, of € which they are the only competent judges, for they judge € ofthefe matters by the law and ufage of parliament, which is part of the connon law. 4 Asall the inferior courts here enjoy and exercife the fame 6 powers with thofe they ftand for in England, it is furely € rcafonable and juft that the reprefentatives ofthe people here, called by the fame authority, and conftituted for the fame 6 ends, fhould alfo enjoy the fame powers with thofe of Great € Britain, € We beg leave to reprefent further to your honour, that € by the thirty-firf claufe of an act of the governor, council, € and affembly of this ifland, intituled, d An act for granting a revenue to his majefty, his heirs, and fucceffors, for the fupport of the government of this ifland, and for reviving 6 and perpetuating the aêts and laws thereof," which has 6 received the royal approbation, it is declared, * That all fuch laws and ftatutes of England as have been at any time 6 efteemed, introduced, ufed, accepted, or received as laws € in this ifland, fhall and are hereby declared to be and con- € tinue laws of this his majefty's ifland of Jamaica for ever;" . and that the affemblies of Jamaica, as appears by their mi- € nutes, confidering it their duty to affimilate their proceed6 ings to thofe ofthe houfe of commons, have conftantly governed themfelves in cafes of commitment, and in the exer- € cife oftheir jurifdiation, by the law and ufage of parliament, 6 which being undoubtedly part of the law of England, the 6 ufe are hereby declared to be and con- € tinue laws of this his majefty's ifland of Jamaica for ever;" . and that the affemblies of Jamaica, as appears by their mi- € nutes, confidering it their duty to affimilate their proceed6 ings to thofe ofthe houfe of commons, have conftantly governed themfelves in cafes of commitment, and in the exer- € cife oftheir jurifdiation, by the law and ufage of parliament, 6 which being undoubtedly part of the law of England, the 6 ufe --- Page 445 --- WEST INDIES. competent. With powers fo extenfive CHAP. ficiently affemblies muft neceffarily II. and efficient, thefe be 6 ufe and benefit thereof was confirmed to them by virtue of of doubt. . the above aêt beyond a poffibility € This: arbitrary meafure of Mr. Lyttelton, fo totally unpre- € cedented either in England or here, fo repugnant to reafon, fo evidently fubverfive ofour rights, € to juftice, and law, and therefore, we doubt not, be € liberties, and properties, will deferves to be; and as it 6 confidered by your honour as it odious adminiftration with the moft € marks that gentleman's ofit will diftinguifh 6 colours, fo, wetruft, that the deftruétion € and adorn your's. honour's juftice and love € Iti is in fuli confidence of your behalf of our- € of liberty, that we this day, in the name and before 6 felves, and of all the good people in this colony, lay the ill and injuftice of the afore- € your honour confequences befeech as the only means of 6 faid determination, and you, they have raifed 4 quieting the difturbance and apprehenfions in the minds of his majefty's moft loyal and faithful fubjeéts, 4to give orders that the fame be vacated, and the enrolment 6 thereof cancelled from the records oft the court of Chancery, in fuch a way, that no traces may remain of fo wickedand € dangerous a precedent' from the houfe of affembly The preceding application the lieutenant- governor to the having been fubmitted by council for their advice, the board addreffed him as follows: 6 May it pleafe your Honour, and fubjeéts, the 6 We, his majefty's moft dutiful loyal mefcouncil of Jamaica, have, agreeably to your honour's laying before usthe addrefs of the houfe ofaffembly to fage, honour, taken into our ferious confideration the fubyour thereof: we have alfo examined and confidered je@t-matter of the court a the proceedings now in the office of the regifter and the determination of his excellency the of Chancery, 6 late fubjeéts, the 6 We, his majefty's moft dutiful loyal mefcouncil of Jamaica, have, agreeably to your honour's laying before usthe addrefs of the houfe ofaffembly to fage, honour, taken into our ferious confideration the fubyour thereof: we have alfo examined and confidered je@t-matter of the court a the proceedings now in the office of the regifter and the determination of his excellency the of Chancery, 6 late --- Page 446 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK be fovercign and fupreme within their own jurifVI. didtion ; unobftruéted by, and independent of all € Iate chancellor, touching the releafe of Pierce Cooke and Lachlan M*Niel, from a commitment of theaffembly. Al6 though we have the moft favourable opinion of the late chancellor's intention in that decifion, yet finding that no € chancellor or judge in this ifland, ever before took upon € himfelf to make any determination upon a warrant or comf mitment of either branch of the legillature, it is with concern we obferve, that fuch proceeding ofthe late chancellor fin fo new, in fo delicate a cafe, by difcharging the faid 6 Picrce Cooke and Lachlan M-Neil from the commitment 6 of the houfe of affembly, was unprecedented and irregular. Iti is alfo with forrow of heart we have feen and felt this € his majefty'scolony, ever fince that determination, labouring 6 under a variety of diftreffes, flowing chiefly from the apprehenfions of his majefty's fubjects, that the eitablifhing a € precedent of this nature in the court of Chancery, might lay a foundation for chancellors and judges of inferior 6 courts to interfere in, and to take upon them to determine 6 ont the privileges of the legiflative bodies of this ifland. 6 Permit us therefore to recommend it to your honour, as 6 the only expedient which we conceive will be effeétual toquiet the minds ofthe people, to unite the feveralbranches of the legiflature, and to reftore peace and tranquillity ta € this country, that you will be pleafed to caufe the faid deter: € mination made by the late chancellor, whereby the faid Pierce Cooke and Lachlan MNiel were difcharged from € their commitment, and all their proceedings thereon, to be 6 brought before you, and in the prefence of the council and 6 affembly, that you will be pleafed to caufe the regifter of € the faid court of Chancery to enter a vacatur on the faid € determination, or otherwife reverfe it in the moft effeétual manner, fo that the fame may not be made ufe of as a pre6 cedent in future.' On receiving this addrefs, the licutenant-governor came into charged from € their commitment, and all their proceedings thereon, to be 6 brought before you, and in the prefence of the council and 6 affembly, that you will be pleafed to caufe the regifter of € the faid court of Chancery to enter a vacatur on the faid € determination, or otherwife reverfe it in the moft effeétual manner, fo that the fame may not be made ufe of as a pre6 cedent in future.' On receiving this addrefs, the licutenant-governor came into --- Page 447 --- WEST INDIES. ail controul from without ; for nothing can be CHAP. more: abfurd than to fuppofe, that a people can be 1 11. fubject into council, and having commanded the attendance of the Affembly in the council-chamber, was pleafed to make the following fpeech: 6 Gentlemen of the Council, Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen € of the Affembly. € In confequence ofthe addreffes 1 have received from each € ofy your bodies, I now meet you here, and as the determina- € tion upon record in the office of the regifter of the court of : chancery, appears to have been irregular and unprecedented, € wherebythe minds ofthe people havel been greatly difquieted, € and many diftreffes and evils have arifen to this country ; 6 and having nothing fo much at heart, as the fupporting the $ honour and dignity of the crown, and promoting the peace S and happinefs of the people, I have, agreeably to your re- € quefis, taken, as chançellor, fuch order therein, that the faid € proceedings, and the entry upon record thereof, are vacated, $: annulled, and made void, to all intents and purpofes what- * foever; and for your further fatisfaction herein, I have 6 ordered the regifter to attend forthwith in the council- € chamber with the faid proceeding, and the book of fr records in which the fame are entered, and that he do, in 5 prefence, of the three branches of the legiflature of this € ifland, enter a vacaturi in the margentof the faid feveral pro- € ceedings, and the entries of the fame in the faid book of f records, and that he do in your prefence draw crofs lines over the faid proceedings and the entries thereof, in the € ufual form and manner. € This meafure, adopted upon your united recommen- € dation, cannot, Iam perfuaded, fail of producing everyl happy f confequence, by reftoring and firmly eftablifhing that har- € mony and unanimity fo earneftly wifhed for, and fo effen6 tially neceffary to his majefty's fervice, and the welfare of this community." The he do in your prefence draw crofs lines over the faid proceedings and the entries thereof, in the € ufual form and manner. € This meafure, adopted upon your united recommen- € dation, cannot, Iam perfuaded, fail of producing everyl happy f confequence, by reftoring and firmly eftablifhing that har- € mony and unanimity fo earneftly wifhed for, and fo effen6 tially neceffary to his majefty's fervice, and the welfare of this community." The --- Page 448 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK fubjedt to two different legiflatures, exerciling at 1 VI. the fame time equal powers, yet not communicating with each other, nor, from their fituation, capable of being privy to each other's proccedings. The regifter of the court of.chancery attending, being called in, and having produced the records, and read the feveral proceedings in the faid addrefs mentioned, he did then,by the command, and in the prefence of bis honour, and in the prefence of the council and affembly, enter a vacatur in the margin of the faid feveral proceedings, and draw crofs lines over the faid proceedings and the entries thereof, and cancelled the feveral papers relating thereto. It wasafter a long and arduous fruggle, that the people of Jamaica obtained this great viétory 5 no lefs than five different affem blies having been called, and abruptly diffolved, becaufe they refufed to raife the fupplies, unlels fatisfaétion was given them in this bufineis. At length, on a change of minifters in Great Britain, the Goveraor (Mr. Lyttelton) defired to be recalled, and the lieutenant-governor was direéted to comply with their wifhes, in the manner we have feen. The author of this work was oneof a fmall minority in the houfe of affembly that fupported the adminifiration of Mr. Lyttelton, whofe abilities and virtues were acknouledged even by bis enemies; yet is he free to confels, that, being prefent when the proceedings in chancery were folemnly annulled and vacated in the manner related, in the prefence of a thoufand fpeétators, he could not but participate in the general triumph and enthufiafm which prevailed on that occa-; fion amongf all ranks of people. The towns were fplendidly illuminated, the fhipping in the ports were dreffed in their gayeft colours, and fuch, joyand fatisfaétion appeared in every countenance, as we may imagine were difplayed by the Englth Barons on receiving magna charta from the reluétant hand of king Joln. Ir in the manner related, in the prefence of a thoufand fpeétators, he could not but participate in the general triumph and enthufiafm which prevailed on that occa-; fion amongf all ranks of people. The towns were fplendidly illuminated, the fhipping in the ports were dreffed in their gayeft colours, and fuch, joyand fatisfaétion appeared in every countenance, as we may imagine were difplayed by the Englth Barons on receiving magna charta from the reluétant hand of king Joln. Ir --- Page 449 --- WEST INDIES. Ir has, I know, been urged, that the principles CHA P. I have thus laid down, and the rights which I II. have allotted to the inhabitants of the Britifh ) colonies, tend immediately to fovereign and national empire, diftinét from, and independent of, the government of the parent ftate. It will be found, however, that the dependency oft the colonies on, and their allegiance to, the crown of Great Britain, and alfo their proper fubordination to the Britith parliament, are fecured by fufficient ties, regulations, and reftraints; fome of which feem at firft inconfiftent even with the premifès I have ftated. Thus, as to'the fupremacy of the crown: among various other prerogatives, the king referves to himfelf, not onlythe nomination of the feveral governors, the members of the council, and moft of the publick offices of all defcriptions (h), but he poffefles alfo. at the fame time, as we have feen, the right of difallowingand rejedting all laws and ftatutes of the colonial affemblies, even after they had received the affent and approbation of his own lieutenant in the colony. Hence, the affirmative voice of the people in their (A)This is fpoken of thofe colonies which are called king's governments ; for, before thel late civil war, the governor, in a proprictary government, was named by the proprietor, fabjedtto the reftrictions contained in 7 and 8 W.III. C. 22.5.6 6. and in two oft the charter provinces of North America, all the officers, except thofe of the admiralty and cuftoms, were chofen by the people, reprefentatives --- Page 450 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK reprefentatives is oppofed by three negatives ; the VI. firft in the council, the fecond in the governor, and the third in the crown; which poffeffes likewife the power of punifhing the two former branches by difmiflion, ift they prefuime to act in oppofition to the royal pleafure. NoR is the regal authority lefs efficient and extenfive over the executive power within the colonies, than over the legiflative. The governor, as I have fhewn, is commonly chancellor by his office; but whether affifted by his council, or preliding folely in this high department, an appeal lies to the king in council, in the nature of a writ of error, from every decree that he makes ; and the like liberty ofappeal is allowed from the judgment or fentence ofthe governori in council, fitting as a court of error (i). The reafon affigned in law authorities for allowing fuch appeals is this:- That without them, the rules and praétice of law in the colonies might by degrees infenfibly deviate (i) Itis neceffary however in either court, Firft, That in cafes of property the matter in difpute fhould be to the value of 5-500 fterling, to be afcertained by affidavit. Secondly, That the appeal be made within fourteen days after judgment in the court of error, and within one month after the determination of the court of chancery, by giving fecurity for the profecution ofit; and it is required by the lords of appeal in England, that the party appealing muft proceed within twelve months after the appeal is allowed in the plantations, or the appeal is difmiffed of courfe. A caufe cannot be tranfmitted for difficulty, but muft be determined one way or other. from ling, to be afcertained by affidavit. Secondly, That the appeal be made within fourteen days after judgment in the court of error, and within one month after the determination of the court of chancery, by giving fecurity for the profecution ofit; and it is required by the lords of appeal in England, that the party appealing muft proceed within twelve months after the appeal is allowed in the plantations, or the appeal is difmiffed of courfe. A caufe cannot be tranfmitted for difficulty, but muft be determined one way or other. from --- Page 451 --- WI E ST INDIES. 43E from thofe of the mother-country,to the diminu- CHAP. tion ofher fuperioity (k). 11. AGAIN: the king, as fupreme head of the ) empire, has the fole prerogative of making peace and war, treaties, leagués, and alliances with foreign ftates; and the colonifts are as fully bound by, and fubject to, the confequences thereof, as the inhabitants within the realm. So far is readily admitted ; but another claim of the crown, fuppofed to refult from the prerogative laft mentioned,-I mean, that of regulating all the COlonial military eftablithments both by fea and land, quartering troops in fuch towns and places ine the plantations as the king fees beft, augmenting them at pleafure, and retaining them in the colonies at all times and at all feafons, as well in peace as in war, not only without, but againft the confent oftheir affemblies, muft be admitted with fome limitation. IT is indeed afferted in all our law books, that the fole fupreme command and government of all the forces by fea and land, and of all forts and places in all parts of the Britifh dominions, ever was, conftitutionally and legally, the undoubted and exclufive prerogative of the crown; but, againft the abufes which might poffibly refult from the exercife of a power thus extenfive and diétatorial, the fubjects refiding within the realm (k) Vaughan's Reports 402. Show. Parl. C.33have --- Page 452 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK have this fecurity, that their reprefentatives reVI. tain in their own hands the means of fupporting Y all the Britith forces, both maritime and military. Thus, though the king has the prerogative of commanding armies and equipping fleets, yet without the concurrence of parliament he cannot maintain them. He can declare war, but without the affiftance of parliament he cannot carry it on. The royal prerogative in thefe refpeéts is aptly compared by De Lolme to a Thip completely equipped, but which the parliament, by drawing off the water, can at pleafure leave aground. Ir feems therefore naturally and neceffarily to follow, that if the inhabitants of the colonies are entitled to the fame rights, and to have equal fecurities for thofe rights, as are enjoyed by their fellow fubjeéts in Great Britain, there muft exift fome reftraint againft the exorbitance and abufe of the power contended for in the prefent cafe. It is to little purpofe to tell the colonifts, when groaning under the preffure of military government, that no military force, however legally raifed and maintained, can be lawfully employed to violate their rights; as whoever holds the fword will decide upon the queftion of law (1). To (1) It is obfervable, that this claim in the crown was admitted to be a grievance by the commiflioners appointed, in April 1778, for reftoring peace in America. In a letter from . It is to little purpofe to tell the colonifts, when groaning under the preffure of military government, that no military force, however legally raifed and maintained, can be lawfully employed to violate their rights; as whoever holds the fword will decide upon the queftion of law (1). To (1) It is obfervable, that this claim in the crown was admitted to be a grievance by the commiflioners appointed, in April 1778, for reftoring peace in America. In a letter from --- Page 453 --- WEST INDIES. little may our remaining colo- CH A P. To as purpofe of Great Britain II. nies be told, that the parliament - will never fuffer a precedent ofarbitrary power to be eftablithed in any part of the Britifh domiwill probably infift, that the Britifh nions. They for themparliament is not competent to judge in the firft inftance. They may contend at leaft in of feeling that thofe who feel, or are danger beft determine when it may be oppreffion, can its to refift its attack, or to guard againft proper approach. Ir cannot however be denied, that if parliament fhould be apprifed that the juft authority of the crown over the colonies has degenerated into tyranny,itis not only their right, but their duty even, on their own account ; for it to interpofe, has been well and cloquently faid, that whénever the liberties of Great Britain Thall be devoted, it her diffolution will not begin in the is probable will like the coldnefs of centre : Ihe feel fubjeÉlions death, creeping upon her from her extremities. HAVING thus pointed out fome remarkable inflances of colonial fubordination to the king, O Meffieurs Eden and Johnftone, three from the earl ofCarlifle, to the prefident of the congrefs, of the faid commiffioners, they declare a difpofition to dated the 9th of June 1778, that no concur in fuch an arrangement as fhould provide ftates of military force fhould be kept up in the different North America, without the confent of the general congrefs or particular affemblies. as VoL. II. F f --- Page 454 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK as the fovcreign head and fupreme executive in VI.. the government of Great Britain and its domiY nions, I Thall proceed to another enquiry, of no lefs importance (and to which indeed fome of the laft obfervations naturally lead) and that is, how far the joint authority and colleétive power of king, lords, and commons, conftitutionally extend, and, on the principles of a free government, ought to be exercifed in fupporting the unity of the empire, and preferving that fubordination and dependence which the colonifts, as fellow fubjeéts with the inhabitants of the kingdom, owe to Great Britain and its government, in return for proteâtion received. Ir is a maxim maintained by political writers, that in all focieties there muft exift fomewhere an abfolute and defpotick jurifdiction, unlimited and irrevocable. 66 This abfolute and defpotick power (fays Judge Blackftone) is, by the Britith conftitution, entrufked to parliament: t: ButIconceive that the learned judge has not expreffed himfelfon this occafion with his ufual accuracy $ inafmuch as all 66 entrufled" authority is neceffarily accountable, and therefore not G abfolute and defpotick." The truth is, that this defpotick and unlimited power is referved by the people in their own hands (not to be reforted to indeed but in the laft extremity) and it never was the intention of any fociety of free agents, from the creation of , entrufked to parliament: t: ButIconceive that the learned judge has not expreffed himfelfon this occafion with his ufual accuracy $ inafmuch as all 66 entrufled" authority is neceffarily accountable, and therefore not G abfolute and defpotick." The truth is, that this defpotick and unlimited power is referved by the people in their own hands (not to be reforted to indeed but in the laft extremity) and it never was the intention of any fociety of free agents, from the creation of --- Page 455 --- WEST INDIES. of the world to this day, to delegate to any man, CHAP, or body of men, an abfolute and defpotick au- II. thority in all cafes over thém. Such a delegaY tion indeed, if everit had been made, would have manifefted infanity in the agents, and, on that account alone, muft have been void from the beginning. As the legiflative power of Great Britain thereforeis fupreme onlyin a relative fenfe, èven within the realm, where the people themfelves participate in its authority, much lefs can it be faid to be fupreme, in al! cafes whatfoever, over the COlonies. It has indeed been folemnly declared by parliament irfelf, that parliament has fuch a power: - but if parliament had not the power before, certainly theirown declaration could not inveft'them with it. CONSIDERING the conftituent branches of the Britilh legifature feparately, it will be difficult to point out any juft authority whatever, exifting either in the peers or the reprefentatives of the people over the colonies. We have fcen that the firft fettlers in moft of the Britifh plantations, were a part ofthe Englith people, in every refpect equal to them, and poffeffed of every right and privilege at the time oftheir emigration, which the people of England were poffeffed of, and irrefragably to that great right of confenting to all laws by which they were to be governed. Ff2 The --- Page 456 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK The people of England therefore, or their repreVI. fentatives, having no rights, powers, or privileges V to beftow on the emigrants, which the latter were not already poffeffed of equally with themfelves, had no claim to their allegiance, or any pretence to exercife authority over them. As to the Englith peers, they are poffeffed of very eminent privileges ; from none of which however can they communicate any advantage to the colonies. They are a court of juftice in the dernier refort for all appeals from the people of Great Britain; but they act in no fuch capacity for the inhabitants of the colonies; the houfe of peers having never heard or determined caufes in appeal from the plantations, in which it ever was, and is their duty to ferve the fubjects within the realm. THUS, incapable from their fituation of being admitted to a participation with the people and peers of Great Britain in the Britifh legiflature, the colonifts have legiflatures of their own, which are fubject to the king of Great Britain, as to their own proper head. The perfon, who, by the laws of Great Britain, is king of Great Britain, is their king; but they owe no allegiance to the lords and commons; to whom they are not fubjeéts, butfellow fubjects with them to the fame fovereign. JUSTLY confidering, neverthelefs, the protection and peers of Great Britain in the Britifh legiflature, the colonifts have legiflatures of their own, which are fubject to the king of Great Britain, as to their own proper head. The perfon, who, by the laws of Great Britain, is king of Great Britain, is their king; but they owe no allegiance to the lords and commons; to whom they are not fubjeéts, butfellow fubjects with them to the fame fovereign. JUSTLY confidering, neverthelefs, the protection --- Page 457 --- WEST INDIES. receive in the name of the fove- CHAP. tion which they II. the Bate, and that the colo1 reign, as aforded by of the various nies are parts of one great empire, branches of which the king in parliament, is arand regulating all intercourfe biter, controuling nations, they readily admit that they with foreign the Britih legiflature in the degree ftand towards of fubordination, which implies every authority in the latter, effential to the prefervation of the whole; and to the maintenance of the relation beand her colonies. 66 We tween a mother-country the Americans) but parts of a wuhole, are (faid fomeand therefore there muft exifl a power and the conneétion in where, to prefide preferve This is lodged in the Britith due order. power parliament," In all matters therefore, to which the local jurifdiction of any one particular colony the fuperintending controul of is not competent, Great Britain is neceffarily admitted; 3 and they likewife admit that each and all the colonies owe contribution for proteétion (m). To The natureand extent of the fubordination here con- (m) underftood, and is well explained, in tended for, was clearly the cafe of Ireland, by Davenant, in a treatife publifhed by him foon after the revolution.-His words are thefe : 64 The inhabitants of Ireland, from ancient conceffions, have a privilege perhaps above the Roman colonies, namely, themfelves by their own fuffrages, within their own to tax but this is no more than what is claimed by feveral limits; of France, which neverthelefs account themfelves provinces fubardinate to the fovereign power of the whole ftate. 4e There Ff3 clearly the cafe of Ireland, by Davenant, in a treatife publifhed by him foon after the revolution.-His words are thefe : 64 The inhabitants of Ireland, from ancient conceffions, have a privilege perhaps above the Roman colonies, namely, themfelves by their own fuffrages, within their own to tax but this is no more than what is claimed by feveral limits; of France, which neverthelefs account themfelves provinces fubardinate to the fovereign power of the whole ftate. 4e There Ff3 --- Page 458 --- HISTORY OF THE 3OOK To afcertain the various contingencies and VI. circumftances wherein, on the principles ftated, Y the Britith legiflature has, and has not, a right to interpofe, is perhaps impofible; becaufe circumftances may occur to render its interpolition neceffary, which cannot be forefeen. ( But al64 thoughitmaybee difficult(fays governor Pownall) €6 to draw the line of limitation, yet fome fuch < line there certainly muft be, and I think thofe 66 are not to be heard who affirm, that no line 46 can be drawn between the fupreme authority < of parliament, and no authority at all." NEVERTHELESS, it were not difficult to point out many cafes, and to imagine others, wherein the authority of parliament has been, and may 46 There is a part of empire not communicable, and which mnuft refide fovereignly fomewhere; for there would be fuch a perpetual clathing of power and jurifdictions, as wereinconfiflent with the very being of communities, unlefs this laft refort wcre fomewhere lodged. Now this incommunicable power we take to be the fupreme judgment of what is beft and moft expedient for the whole ; and in all reafon of government, this ought to be there trufted and lodged from whence proteétion is expeéted. 66 That Ireland fhould judge of what is beft for itfelf, this is jufta and fair; but in determinations that are to reach the whole, as, namely, what is moft expedient for England and Ireland both, there, without all doubt, the fupreme judgment ought to reft in the kiug. lords, and commons of England, by whofe arms and treafure Ireland ever was, and muft always be defended."-Vide Davenant's Works, publifhed by Sir Charles Whitworth, vol. ii. P. 247. again ould judge of what is beft for itfelf, this is jufta and fair; but in determinations that are to reach the whole, as, namely, what is moft expedient for England and Ireland both, there, without all doubt, the fupreme judgment ought to reft in the kiug. lords, and commons of England, by whofe arms and treafure Ireland ever was, and muft always be defended."-Vide Davenant's Works, publifhed by Sir Charles Whitworth, vol. ii. P. 247. again --- Page 459 --- WI EST INDIES. exerted, in regard to the CHAP. again be, conflitutionally II. colonies, without abolifhing every reftriétion on Y the part of governors, and extinguifhing every right on the part of the governed (n). Previoufly excluding, (n) Such is the general fyftem of the laws for regulating the commerce of the colonies; and I will now add fome inftances of parliamentary interference, on other occafions, which I conceive to be confiftent with the principles I have laid down. Thus, when the firft princes of the Stewart familyaffeêted to confider the plantations as their owndemefnes, with a view of making them a fource of revenue tothemfelves, the commons oppofed and defeated a claim which, if it had been eftablifhed, might have rendered the king independent of the Britifh parliament. (See the Journals of 1624 and 1625, and Vaughan's Reports, 402.) Nobody doubts the propriety of the commons' interpofition on this oceafion. Again, we have feeni in the Hiftory of Barbadoes, a great minifter (the Earl of Clarendon) impeached, by the houfe of commons, among other things, for introducing an arbitrary goverament into the plantations. It was never alledged, that the houfe in this bufinefs exceeded the limits of its and conftitutional funétions. Soon after the revolution, proper fome laws were paffed by one or two of the provincial affemblies, which were fuppofed to weaken the chain that holds the colonies dependent on the mother-country. This gave occafion to a claufe in the 7 and 8 of W. III. C. 22, which declares, es that all laws (meaning the laws for regulating trade) which are any ways repugnant to the laws of England, Ohali be deemed null and void." This, though a ftrong, was certainly a juftifiable exertion of Englith fupremacy. By the 6 Anne, C. 30, a general poft-office is eftablifhed in the colonies. This may be deemed an internal regulation; but, as Dr. Franklin obferved, it was a regulation which one colony could not make for another; and as the revenue which it raifed was confidered in the nature of a Ff4 quantum repugnant to the laws of England, Ohali be deemed null and void." This, though a ftrong, was certainly a juftifiable exertion of Englith fupremacy. By the 6 Anne, C. 30, a general poft-office is eftablifhed in the colonies. This may be deemed an internal regulation; but, as Dr. Franklin obferved, it was a regulation which one colony could not make for another; and as the revenue which it raifed was confidered in the nature of a Ff4 quantum --- Page 460 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK excluding, however, every idea of its interpoVI. fition in the concerns of internal and Y legiflation, all other matters to which the colonial affemblies quantum meruit, a reward for fervice (a fervice too which the colonifts were not bound to accept, for a man might, if he had thought proper, have fent his letters as before by a private meflenger) the aét was fubmitted to. Afterthis, fomne laws were paffed, which were thought to bear hard upon the rights of the colonifts. By the gth Geo. II.c. 7. in confequence of fome petitions from different bodies of Englith merchants, complaining that the colonial laws afforded but an inadequate remedy for the recovery of debts; it is enaôted, 46 that lands, houfes, negroes, and other 6e hereditaments, and all real eftate whatever, fhould be 66 liable to, and chargeable with, all debts, due either e to the king, or any of his fubjeéts, and be affets for the 66 fatisfaétion thereof." And by the 24th Geo, II. C. 53. 66 the governors and affemblies of the refpeétive provinces 6 are reftrained from paffing any aêt, order, refolution, or 66 vote, whereby paper bills, or bills of credit fhall be in6c creafed or iffued." As both thefe laws were paffed in favour of Englith merchants, who had advanced money for the ufe of the colonifts, it was thought dithonourable to objedt to the regulations which they eftablifhed, The laws were therefore fubmitted to, but not without murmurs on the part of the provincial legiflatures, who confidered them as infringing their liberties. Their fubmiffion to them, though on very laudable principles, was afterwards quotedagainft them, and affigned as the beft of all poffible reafons for requiring unconditional fubmiffion on all other occafions. From what has been faid above, and what will hereafter be ftated on the fubjeét of the commercial; fyftem, the reader will be enabled to form fome idea of the boundary contended for, between a conftitutional, fuperintending, controuling powerin the Britilh parliament, and a fyftem of perfeét unqualified tyranny, the power 9f binding the colonies in all cafes whatfiever, are ft of all poffible reafons for requiring unconditional fubmiffion on all other occafions. From what has been faid above, and what will hereafter be ftated on the fubjeét of the commercial; fyftem, the reader will be enabled to form fome idea of the boundary contended for, between a conftitutional, fuperintending, controuling powerin the Britilh parliament, and a fyftem of perfeét unqualified tyranny, the power 9f binding the colonies in all cafes whatfiever, are --- Page 461 --- WEST INDIES. competent ; for, to the reafons CHAP. are fufficiently be Il. already ftated for this abfolute exclufion, may added, the utter impofibility that two different legiflatures can, at all times, and in the fame moment, enforce their authority on the fame objeêt, in as much as they may happen to differ in opinion, and in that dilemma, this confequence muft follow 5 either the Britifh muft yield to the provincial, or prevail over it in points, for which, from the praétical or conftitutional unfitnefs of the former, the latter was formed. Such inconfiftency would render government at once oppreffive and ridiculous (o). IfGreat Britain had no right to interfere with the in- (0) of the colonies, fhe could have had no pofternal legillation for the of revenue; yet, it fible right to tax them fhe would purpofe have had a right to tax them, does not follow, that authority to make laws for even if fhe had pofleffed juft Lord their internal government. 46 Taxation (faid Chatham) 6 is no part of the governing or legifative power. Taxes are 6 a voluntary gift and grant of the commons alone. In legifs lation, the three eftates of the realm are alike concerned : 461 but the concurrence of the peers and the crown to a tax, s is only neceffary to clothe it in the form of a law. The 66 gift and grant is of the commons alone." It is unneceffary to fay more concerning the right of parliamentary taxation of the colonies, becaufe parliament itfelf (when indeed it was tool late) has formally relinquifhed the claim. By the 18 Geo. III. C. 12. the king and parliament of Great Britain declare, that from thenceforth they will not impofe any duty, tax, &c. payable in any of the king's colonies, provinces, and plantations in North America and the Weft Indies, except for the regulation of commerce: the produce whereof is always to be aprlied to the ufe ofthe colonyin which it is levied. BUT, colonies, becaufe parliament itfelf (when indeed it was tool late) has formally relinquifhed the claim. By the 18 Geo. III. C. 12. the king and parliament of Great Britain declare, that from thenceforth they will not impofe any duty, tax, &c. payable in any of the king's colonies, provinces, and plantations in North America and the Weft Indies, except for the regulation of commerce: the produce whereof is always to be aprlied to the ufe ofthe colonyin which it is levied. BUT, --- Page 462 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK : Bur,in a government of which freedom is the VI. bafis, and of which it is thel boaft thatit Y promotes, equally and impartially, the happinefs of all its fubjeéts, it might be fuppofed that no other authority over its dependencies could be neceffary, than that which effeétually provides, that every addition totheir wealth and greatnefs fhould contribute, at the fame time, to the augmentation of its own riches and power. And fuch, before the late unfortunate divifions, was the commercial fyftem adopted by Great Britain, and fubmitted to by her American colonies. To difcriminate the feveral parts, properties, and effeéts of this great arrangement of reftriction and monopoly. 3 to fhew that it fecured every degree of authority in the parent over the child, which is confiftent with the happinefs and freedom of mankind, (the ends of all juft government); and finallythat it might have anfwered, in the fulleft degree, even the objeéts of revenue and contribution, if Great Britain had happily confined her pretenfions to the limitsoriginalyprefcnbeld by herfelffor thefe purpofes it would be neceffary to enter into a large and comprehenfive difcuffion, to which the defign of my work does not extend. How far the Britifh fugar iflands conftituted a part of, and were comprized in, the general fyftem, I fhall endeavour to point out in the fubfequent chapters. --- Page 463 --- WEST INDIES. CHAP. IlI. Principles on which the Nations of Europe fettled Colonies in dinrica-Commacid Regulations of Great Britain.-Remarks 072 the AEs of Navigation.-Admipion %f. foreign-built Vefels eventually beugficial-Exports, from Great Britain 10 the Sugar Ifands, and their Value.-The fame from Ireland.-Wines from Madeira and thee Azores-Other Prefits.-Sumary ofthe wholg. Imports from the Weft Indies to Great Britain and Irelands and their Value according to the London Prices-Amomnt of Britifh Capitalvehed in the Sugar Iflands. - Shipping and Seamen.- General Obfervations. -Appendix. THE eftablifhment of colonies in America by CHAP. the nations of Europe (fays Montefquieu) was III. contrived, not in the view of building cities and 1 extending empires ; but for the purpofe of carrying on trade to greater adyantage than could be done with rival ftates. Commercial monopoly therefore, and with great reafon, is the leading principle of colonial intercourfe. THIS account, with fome little qualification, may be admitted ; and a very flight enquiry will demonftrate that it applies as pointedly to the Englif, ment of colonies in America by CHAP. the nations of Europe (fays Montefquieu) was III. contrived, not in the view of building cities and 1 extending empires ; but for the purpofe of carrying on trade to greater adyantage than could be done with rival ftates. Commercial monopoly therefore, and with great reafon, is the leading principle of colonial intercourfe. THIS account, with fome little qualification, may be admitted ; and a very flight enquiry will demonftrate that it applies as pointedly to the Englif, --- Page 464 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK Englifh, as to any other nation. The means VI. indeed which Great Britain has adopted for - retaining to herfelf the full benefit of the monopoly, have, in fome cafes, proved more liberal than thofe of rival ftates; but the principle by which the various nations of Europe were influenced, was precifely the fame: To fecure to themfelves refpeétively, the moft important of the productions of their colonies, and to retain to themfelves exclufively, the great advantage of fupplying thofe colonies with European goods and manufaétures, was the chief aim and endeavour. of them all. WHETHER the feveral parts of this fyftem, as adopted by the Britith government, and its confequent train of duties, reftriétions, and prohibitions, were originally as wife and politick, as they are evidently felfifh, is a queflion that of late has been much controverted. But this is a difcuffion into which it can anfwer no good purpofe to enter, becaufe the prefent arrangement has been toolong,and is nowtoo firmly eftablifhed amongft us to be abrogated ; and thus much at leaft has been truly faid in its favour, that it is calçulated to correfpond with the regulations of foreign ftates: : for fo long as other nations confine the trade of their colonies to themfelves, to affirm that Great Britain derives no advantage from following their --- Page 465 --- WEST INDIES. their example, is to contradiét both experience CHAP. III. and reafon * OF the commercial regulations ofthis kingdom, the memorable law which was paffed in the 12th year of King Charles II. chap. 18, commonly called, by way of eminence, THE NAVIGATION AcT, may be confidered as the foundation. By this law it is, among other provifions, declared, FIRST, That no goods or commodities fhould be imported into, or exported out of, any ofhis Majefty's plantations or territories in Afia, Africa, or America, but in thips belonging to the fubjeêts of England, Ireland, Wales, or Berwick, or in fuch as are of the built of, and belonging 10, fuch plantations, and whereof three-fourths of the mariners and the mafter are' - Englith fubjeéts, on pain of the forfeiture of fhip and cargo; and all admirals and commanders of king's fhips are authorized to make feizure of fhips offending herein. SECONDLY, That no perfon born out of the allegiance of his Majefty, who is not naturalized, * 46 Free commerce and navigation are not to be given < in exchange for reftriétions and vexations, nor are they of them." So fays, Mr. likely to produce a relaxation of ftate, in his admirable Jefferfon, the American of fecretary the United States, dated 16 Dereport to the congrefs wherein the reader will find many deep and cember 1793 obfervations ; on the fubject of free commerce, important which apply to all the maritime powers of Europe as well as to the ftates of America. or is not naturalized, * 46 Free commerce and navigation are not to be given < in exchange for reftriétions and vexations, nor are they of them." So fays, Mr. likely to produce a relaxation of ftate, in his admirable Jefferfon, the American of fecretary the United States, dated 16 Dereport to the congrefs wherein the reader will find many deep and cember 1793 obfervations ; on the fubject of free commerce, important which apply to all the maritime powers of Europe as well as to the ftates of America. or --- Page 466 --- HISTORY OF THE BOO K or made a free denizen, thall act as a merchant VI. or factor in any of the faid places, upon pain of forfeiting all his goods and chattels. THIRDLY, That all governors, before they enter intothe exercife of their office, Chall take an oath to do their utmoft, that the above-mentioned regulations fhall be punctually and bona fide obferved ; and a governor neglecting his duty therein, fhall be removed from his government. FOURTHLY, That no goods or commodities whatever of the growth or manufaéture of Africa, Afia, and America, thall be imported into England, Ireland, Wales, Guernfey and Jerfey, or Berwick, in any other Chips but thofe belonging to the faid places, or to the plantations, and navigated in the mannér aforefaid, under penalty of forfeiting both thip and cargo. FIFTHLY, That no fugars, tobacco, cotton, indigo, ginger,fuhick, or other dying woods, of the produétion of auy Englith plantation in Afia, Africa, or America, thall be exported therefrom to any place, except to fome other Englilh plantation; or to England, Ireland, Wales, or Berwick. The above commodities being named in the aÉt are called generally enumerated, in contradiftination to all others of plantation growth; and, LASTLY, Bond fecurity is required from all fhips trading to or in the plantations, and lading on --- Page 467 --- WEST INDIES. on board fichcomnolitie-foartieduaretieraner CHAP. of this part of the law. III. SUCH, together with the conditions under 1 which foreign-built fhips were to enjoy the privilege of Englith fhips, are the chief reftrictions and provifions of this celebrated ftatute, fo far as they relate to the plantation trade, and they are extended and ftrengthened by a law which paffed three years afterwards, which the plantation governors are alfo fworn to enforce; for by the Isth of Cha. 2. C. 7, it is enaéted, that no commodity of the growth, produétion, or manufaéture of Europe, fhall be imported into the Briti(h plantations, but fuch as are laden and put o12 board in England, Wales, or Beraick; and in Englifh-built Shipping, (or thips taken as prize, and certified according to a former aêt) whereofthe mafter and three-fourths of the mariners are Englith, and carried direétly to the faid plantations. There is an exception however as to falt for the fifheries of New England and Newfoundland, wines from Madeira and the Azores, and horfes and viétuals from Ireland and Scotland ; and the preamble to the act, after ftating that plantations are formed by citizens of the mother-country, affigns the motive for this reftriction to be, 6 the mainand kindnefs betaining a greater correfpondence twecn the fubjeéts at home and thofe in the plantations, the faid plantations. There is an exception however as to falt for the fifheries of New England and Newfoundland, wines from Madeira and the Azores, and horfes and viétuals from Ireland and Scotland ; and the preamble to the act, after ftating that plantations are formed by citizens of the mother-country, affigns the motive for this reftriction to be, 6 the mainand kindnefs betaining a greater correfpondence twecn the fubjeéts at home and thofe in the plantations, --- Page 468 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK tations, keeping the colonies in a firmer dependance VI. upon the mother-country, making them yet more beneY ficial and advantageous to it in the further employment and encreafe of Engliffipping, went of Englijfe manufadlures and commodities; rendering the navigation to and from them more fafe and cheap, and making this kingdom afaple, not only ofthe commodities ofthe plantations, but alfo ofthe commodities of other countries and places for the fupply of them, it being (continues the preamble) the sfage of ot/ier nations to keep their plantation trade to themfelves(a). TEN years after this, another act paffed (25 Cha, II. C. 7-) impofing duties on fugar and other (a) The defign of this aét, fays Poftlethwaite, was to make a double voyage neceflàry, where the colonies ufed any commodities of the growth and manufaéture of Europe but Britifh: for if they could not be fhipped in Great Britain, they muft firft be brought thither from the places of their growth and manufaéture, and Great Britain would confequently have the benefit, not only of that freight, but of as many fhips and failors as muft be employed in bringing them f:om thence. It is remarkable, that by this aét Ireland was indireatly deprived of the benefits allowed that kingdom by the act of navigation, fori it is required, that none of the enumerated goods fhall be carried from the plantations to any country or place whatfoever, until they have been firft unladen and put afhore in fome port or haven in England, Wales, or Berwick. By a fubfequent act this intention was avowed, and Ireland was exprefsly fhut out from a dircd trade with the plantations. commodities --- Page 469 --- WEST INDIES commodities (b) exported from one colony to CHAP. asthe reafon: III. another,andthef followingisaffigned: ofthe faid colonics, < that the inhabitants offome not content with being fupplied with thofe commodities for their own ufe, free from all cuftoms, had, contrary to law, exported confiderable quandivers of and did likewife tities to parts Europe, vend great quantities to the thipping ofother naof the trade and navitions, to the great injury gation of the parent ftate." For the prevention future, the dutiesin quefofthis inconveniencyin: tion are laid on the export of thofe commodities be given to from the plantations ; unlefs fecurity tranfport them direétly to England, Berwick, or Wales. The duties were the fame, I believe, as then in on moft of thofe comwere paid England modities imported for home confumption. THIS act was foon found to require explanation and amendment ; for the payment of the aforefaid duties having been confidered in the colonies exoneration from fecurity not to go as an giving to any foreign market in Europe ; it was provided by the 7 and 8 W. III. C. 22, that, notwithftanding the payment of the duties in queftion, the fame fecurity thould be given as was required by former acls; and it was enaéted and declared, (b) White fugar 55. and mufcavado I S. 6d. per cwt.; tobacco Id. cotton-wool $d. indigo 2d. cacao id. per lb.; logwood E-S ginger I S. the cwt.; fuftick, &c.6d. VoL. II. G g that . 22, that, notwithftanding the payment of the duties in queftion, the fame fecurity thould be given as was required by former acls; and it was enaéted and declared, (b) White fugar 55. and mufcavado I S. 6d. per cwt.; tobacco Id. cotton-wool $d. indigo 2d. cacao id. per lb.; logwood E-S ginger I S. the cwt.; fuftick, &c.6d. VoL. II. G g that --- Page 470 --- HISTORY OF THE BOO K that no commodities of the growth or manufac: VI. ture of the plantations, fhould, on any pretence whatfoever, be landed in Ireland or Scotland, unlefs the fame were firft landed in England, and had paid the rates and duties wherewith they were there chargeable by law. By the iame aét it is declared, that no goods or merchandize whatever Thall be imported into, or exported out of; any Britith colony or plantation, but in fhips built in England, Ireland, or the plantations, wholly owned by Englith fubjeêts, and navigated as before ; and provifions are eftablifhed concerning the regiftering of fhips, to prevent the fraud of pafling foreign-built fhips as Englith ; together with various regulations to prevent counterfeit certificates; and frauds in the import and export to and from the colonies; for all which, reference muft be made to the act at large, which is fyftematick and comprehenfive in a high degree. THESE aéts therefore, and fome intermediate ones, which it is not neceffary to particularife, may be confidered as fupplemental to the navigation act, and they form altogether the foundation ofour colonial code; moft of the fubfequent acts now in force, being framed in the fame fpirit, and intended to enforce and ftrengthen the fyftem ; with fome few alterations and exceptions only, which however do not extend to any great and fubftantial fyftematick and comprehenfive in a high degree. THESE aéts therefore, and fome intermediate ones, which it is not neceffary to particularife, may be confidered as fupplemental to the navigation act, and they form altogether the foundation ofour colonial code; moft of the fubfequent acts now in force, being framed in the fame fpirit, and intended to enforce and ftrengthen the fyftem ; with fome few alterations and exceptions only, which however do not extend to any great and fubftantial --- Page 471 --- WEST INDIES fubftantial change in the principle or ground- CHAP. III. work (c). - THE (c) The following, I believe, are the chief additions, alterations, and exceptions, fo far as the Britifh fugar iflands are concerned. If the reader is defirous of the fulleft principally information on this head, he is referred to and moft correét and Navigation, by a late Hiftory of the Law ofShipping in which the drieft John Reeves, Efq. an admirable work, and elefubjeêts are treated with fuch clearnefs, precifion, as to render the book not only inftrudive, but in 3 gance, very high degree entertaining and interefting. By ftatute 3 and 4 Ann, C. 5. Rice and melaffes were put into the enumeration, and by C. 8. Irich linens, laden in Irenavigated according to law, land in Englifh-built fhipping were admitted into the plantations. are By 7 Ann, C. 8. Jefuits bark, and all other drugs, permitted to be imported into Great Britain from the Britifh plantations, on payment of the fane duties as if imported direétly from the place oftheir growth. Cochineal By 13 Geo. I. C. 15. and 7 Geo. II. C. 18. and indigo were allowed for a certain time to be imported from any port or place, in Britifh or other thips; which aêls were afterwards renewed, and are now in force. By 3 Geo. II. c. 28. Rice was permitted, under certain conditions, to be carried from South Carolina to any port of Europe fouthward of Cape Finifterre ; a privilege afterwards extended to North Carolina and Georgia. By 4 Geo. II. c.I5. Non-enumerated goods (viz. goods not enumerated in the 12 of Cha.II. c. 18.) are admitted to be imported direêtly iato Ireland from the colonies, notwithfanding the 7 and 8 of W.III. c. 22.-Hops, by a fubfequent ftatute, are excepted out of this indulgence. By 12 Geo. It. c. 30. Sugars, undér certain regulations and reftriétions, are permitted to be carried immediately from the Britifh plantations to any port or placé fouthward of Gg 2 Cape of Cha.II. c. 18.) are admitted to be imported direêtly iato Ireland from the colonies, notwithfanding the 7 and 8 of W.III. c. 22.-Hops, by a fubfequent ftatute, are excepted out of this indulgence. By 12 Geo. It. c. 30. Sugars, undér certain regulations and reftriétions, are permitted to be carried immediately from the Britifh plantations to any port or placé fouthward of Gg 2 Cape --- Page 472 --- HISTORY OF TME BOOK THE reader will find that the fyftem embraces VI. two diftinét objects; firft, the augmentation of our Cape Finifferre, and alfo to any foreign port of Europe in licenfed fhips, which are to call- frft at fome port in Great Britain.--This was confidered as a great indulgence, but the conditions and regulations- on which it was granted were fo: ftriét and numerous, as to defeat in a great meafure the intention ofthe legiflature. By 4and 5 Geo. III. fett.27. Britith plantation coffce, piemento, and cacao-nuts are put into the enunreration ; as are likewife whale fins, raw filk, hides, and fkins, pot and pearl alhes; and by fect. 28. fecurity is required that no iron, nor any fort of wood called lumber, the growth, produétion, or manufacture of any Britifh colony or plantation, fhall be landed in any port of Europe éxcept Great Britain; an exception however was afterwards made by S Geo. III. C. 45. by which iron might be carried to Ireland, and lumber to Madeira, the Azores, or any part of Europe fouthward of Cape Finifterre. By 5 Geo. III. C. 39. Bond is required to be given in the Britifh plantations, that no rum or other fpirits fhallbe landed in the Ifle of Man ; and by the 6 Geo. III. C. 52. fecurity is required for all non-enumerated goods, that the fame fhall not be landed at any port of Europe to the northward of Cape Finifterre, except in Great Britain, and (by a' fubfequent law) Ireland. By 5 Geo. III. C. 52. Any fort of cotton wool may be imported in Eritifh-built fhips from any country or place, duty free. By the 6 Gco. III. C. 49. was eftablifhed the meafure of opening free ports in Jamaica and Dominica. By this aét, live cattle, and all manner of goods and commodities whatfoever (except tobacco), the produce of any forcign colony in America,might be imported into Prince Rupert's Bay and Roffeau in Dominica, and into Kingfton, Savanna-laMar, 52. Any fort of cotton wool may be imported in Eritifh-built fhips from any country or place, duty free. By the 6 Gco. III. C. 49. was eftablifhed the meafure of opening free ports in Jamaica and Dominica. By this aét, live cattle, and all manner of goods and commodities whatfoever (except tobacco), the produce of any forcign colony in America,might be imported into Prince Rupert's Bay and Roffeau in Dominica, and into Kingfton, Savanna-laMar, --- Page 473 --- W ES' T INDIES. by an entire exclufion of fo- CIAP. our naval ftrength, trade; fe- III. reign thipping from our plantation condly, Montego Bay, and Santa Lucea in Jamaica, from any Mar, forcign colony or plantation in America, in any foreign Nloop, not having more than one deck. fchooner, or other veffel, afterwards continued, until This act was temporary, but Geo. was EII. C. 27. wherein, among materially altered by the 27 are opened in addifundry other regulations, two more ports in the ifland of Grenada, tion to the former, viz. St. George, of New Providence, one and the port of Naflau, in the ifland cochincal, -ofthe Bahamas, into which cotton wool, indigo, and other dye drugs of all kinds, cacao, logwood, and fuftick, all fort of furs, tortoifewoods, hides, and tallow, beaver, &c. horfes, affes, mules, and Ahell, mill timber, mahogany, of any colony OY plancattle, being the growth. or produétion under the dominion of taticn in America, belonging to or and all coin and any forcign European fovereige or ftate, foreign floop, fchooner, bullion, &c. may be imported in any rot exor other veffel, not having more than one deck, andi alfo tbat cecding the burthen of feventy tons, and provided of fome fuch veffel is owned and navigated by the fubjeats alfo to fovereign or ftate. It is permitted foreign European of perfons and- vellels to expart from the fame defeription negroes, and all manner thefe parts Britifh plantation rum, imported, except naval ftores of goods that had been legally thus to be brought and iron. The foreign articles permitted again to Great into the free ports by this act, may be exported law (30 Geo. III. Britain or Ireland; and by a fubfequent the of foreign C. 29.) the reftriétion in regard to tonnage ftill limited.to one veffels is taken off, but thefe veffels are deck. meafure was, the opening the plantation The next great which was firft partially done trade to the people of Ireland, 20 Geo. III. by the 18 Geo.-411.c. 55-and more fully bythe intercourfe C. 10. under which they enjoy the like: unlimited with Gg 3 Britain or Ireland; and by a fubfequent the of foreign C. 29.) the reftriétion in regard to tonnage ftill limited.to one veffels is taken off, but thefe veffels are deck. meafure was, the opening the plantation The next great which was firft partially done trade to the people of Ireland, 20 Geo. III. by the 18 Geo.-411.c. 55-and more fully bythe intercourfe C. 10. under which they enjoy the like: unlimited with Gg 3 --- Page 474 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK condly, the fecuring to Great Britain all the emoVI. luments arifing from her colonics, by a double v monopoly over them : Viz. a monopoly of their whole import, which is to be altogether from: Great Britain; and a monopoly ofall theirexport, which (as faras it can. ferve any ufeful purpofe to the mother-country) is to be no where but 10 Great Britain. On the fame idea, it was contrived that they fhould fend all their produéts to us raw, and in their firft ftate; and that they fhould take every thing from us in the laft ftage of manufaéture. MosT of our commercial writers, and many of our ftatefmen, have confidered the two great leadingprinciplesabove-mentioned to be fo clofely interwoven together, ahd dependent on each other, as not to be disjoined without violence to both; whereas, in truth, the monopoly of our colonial produéts, and the advantages arifing from the fupply of the wants of the colonifts, might not only be fupported, even though foreign-built veffels with the colonies, both in refpeêt of import and export, as Great Britain; on condition only that the goods fo imported and exported are made liable to equal duties and drawbacks, and fubject to the fame fecurities, regulations, and reftrictions asin Great Britain; a condition to which the Parliament of Ireland confented, by paffing an aét impofing duties on the imports, conformable to thofe of Great Britain. The regulations with regard to America, fince the independence of the United States, will be difcuffed in a fubfequent chapter. --- Page 475 --- WEST INDIES. veffels were incorporated into the great of our thipping, but it body CHAP. both our trade and may eventually happen, that III. navigation would be greatly ) improved and extended by fuch a meafure * THAT the maintenance of our naval isone of the moftimportant ftrength Britilh objeéts to which the government can direét its perfon of common attention, no underftanding will venture to difpute; and fo long as Great Britain furnifh can herfelf thipping on the cheapeft terms, for all the great branches of her fufficient poffible encouragement commerce, every be given toour ought undoubtedly to own thipwrights, and every difcouragement to the participation of foreigners in the thip-building trade: but it is the intereft of the merchant to get his freight as it is equally fo of the cheap as polfible; increafe in the manufaéturer; becaufe every price of mhipping and rates as a tax upon the commodities freight, opeaffeéts the forcign demand thipped, and therefore, from in proportion, If progreffive improvements in our * & There are fome who confound gation together, as one and the fame commerce and navionly an inftrument of the other, and thing; : but the one is one. Commerce confifts not always an effential commodities, if it exifts in principally inland in the exchange of can be no navigation. China has a countries, where there Europe extremely beneficial to her, but the commerce has with all to any part of Europe. The fhips of nor navigation carriers." Smith of S. Carolina. Europe are her Gg 4 agriculture fome who confound gation together, as one and the fame commerce and navionly an inftrument of the other, and thing; : but the one is one. Commerce confifts not always an effential commodities, if it exifts in principally inland in the exchange of can be no navigation. China has a countries, where there Europe extremely beneficial to her, but the commerce has with all to any part of Europe. The fhips of nor navigation carriers." Smith of S. Carolina. Europe are her Gg 4 agriculture --- Page 476 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK agriculture and manufaétures, the two great VI. founders and employers of thipping, the mariV time commerce of all the Britith dominions Thall at any time require a greater number of fhips than Great Britain and her dependencies can furnifh on any faving terms, either recourfe muft be had to foreign vehicles, or our trade, like the viétims of Procruftes, muft be lopped and Chortened to make it fuit the meafure of our own (d). NAVIGATION and naval powerare thechildren, not the parents, of commerce; for if agriculture and manufaétures, and mutual wants, did not furnith the fubjedt-matter ofintercourfe between diftant countries, there muft be an end to navigation. The remark therefore of a very diftinguifhed fenator (e), concerning that branch of our commercial fyftem of which we are nowtreating, appears to be undoubtedly true, C that if (d) 46 Can it be reconciled to common fenfe to affert, that if the Americans, or any other people, were to offer us 500 fail of veffels every year gratis, it would be againft the intereft of the nation (as a nation) to accept them, becaufe it might prove detrimental to fome individuals among us (our fhipwrights, &c.)? If the argument will not hold good, confidered in this extended light, it çan never, by parity of reafon, be admitted in cafes where veffels can be purchafed at one-half the price it would coft to build them. 37 -Vide a fhort Addrefs from a manufaéturer, on the Importance of the Trade of Great Britain with the United States of America.- Printed for Stockdale, 1785- (e) Mr. Burke. the to fome individuals among us (our fhipwrights, &c.)? If the argument will not hold good, confidered in this extended light, it çan never, by parity of reafon, be admitted in cafes where veffels can be purchafed at one-half the price it would coft to build them. 37 -Vide a fhort Addrefs from a manufaéturer, on the Importance of the Trade of Great Britain with the United States of America.- Printed for Stockdale, 1785- (e) Mr. Burke. the --- Page 477 --- WEST INDIES. act be fuffered to run the full CHAP. the navigation and III., length of its principle, and is not changed modified according to the change of times, and fluétuation of circumftances, it muft dogreat mifchief, and frequently even defeat its own purpofe HAVING An American writer of a periodical work called the (f publifhed at Philadelphia in 1791, having been inMafeum, had of Ameriformed, that France permitedt itheintrodu@ion however, he was mifcan veffels into her trade (in fentiments; which, which, to my untaken) expreffes the following conviétion in every word. e IfFrance derftanding, convey American veffels, fhe would have 6 (faith he) had rejeéted of to the manufaéture 6e fo far facrificed her carrying-trade the 4 fhips. She wifely purchafes, upon the cheapeft terms, objeét 6 cradles for her marine nurfery. The firft and great the 6 of the maritime powers ought to be, the increafe of the 6 mumber efshair failart, which is beft done by multiplying < chances oftheir employment. Among the means of doing e this, one of the moft obvious and rational is, the multipliThe French-built fhips coft from fifty4 cation of wefils. dollars ton, when fitted to receive a cargo, 6 five to fixty per infurance, the charges of lading, k exclufive of fea-ftores, incidental tothe em4 outward pilotage, and other expences and outfit of a veffel. k ployment, and not to the building 4 The American live-oak and cedar fhips, to which none are e fuperior, coft in the fame fituation, from thirty-three to 46 thirty-five dollars, finifhed very completely. Ifthe French 66 require 10,000 tons of new veffels, on any occafion, or in a any term of time, they may be procured in the United of the medium price of thirty4 States, on a computation forthe fum of dollars . but, if 6 four dollars per ton, 340,000 in France, they $ bought at fifty-fivedollars, the lowelt price dollars. No f would coft the much greater fum of 550,000 cateris f argument is neceflary to fhew, that fuch a pation, 4 paribus, of new veffels, on any occafion, or in a any term of time, they may be procured in the United of the medium price of thirty4 States, on a computation forthe fum of dollars . but, if 6 four dollars per ton, 340,000 in France, they $ bought at fifty-fivedollars, the lowelt price dollars. No f would coft the much greater fum of 550,000 cateris f argument is neceflary to fhew, that fuch a pation, 4 paribus, --- Page 478 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK HAVING obferved thus much on the leading VI. principles, or general fyftem of our colonial Y trade, the application whereof will hereafter be feen, I fhall now proceed to the more immediate object of our prefent refearches, and endeavourtofarnih the reader with fome leading data, or faéts, whereby to appreciate the value and importance of the Britifh fugar iflands, and the commerce which they create 5 byinveftigating, ift. THE nature and annual amount of the export trade from Great Britain and her dependencies, for the fupply of their wants, and the profits of the Britith merchants and fhip owners thereon. 2dly. THE particulars and value of the various rich commodities, the growth of thefe iflands, annuallyimported into Great Britain, Ireland, &c. 3dly. THE value of the fugariflands confidered as fo much Britifh capital. 4thly. A STATE of the thipping and feamen to which the Britifh fugar iflands afford employment. A FULL e paribus, muft produce feamen more rapidly than thofe who 66 refufe thefe cheap veffels. It would appear much lefs unes reafonable, that the government of the United States fhould 66 prohibit the fale of fhips (the memefobiaining navalfrength) Ge to foreign nations, than that any of them fhould rejeét the (r great advantage of fo cheap and excellent a fupply." Such is the reafoning of this author, and it is no proof that his arguments are weak, becaufe the circumftance which gave rife to them did not exilt. --- Page 479 --- WEST INDIES. FULL enumeration of the various articles CHAP, A furnifh the thips bound to the Weft In- JII. which dies with an outward freight, would indeed comconfiderable of almoft all the prife a proportion of this kingdom, produétions and manufaétures as well as of many of the commodities imported into Great Britain from the reft of Europe and the Eaft Indies. The inhabitants of the fugar iflands are wholly dependent on the mother-counand Ireland, not only for the comforts and try but alfo for the common neceffaries elegancics, of life. In moft other ftates and kingdoms, the firft objcét of agriculture is to raife food for the of the inhabitants; but many of the rich fupport of the Weft Indies yield a profit fo produétions what can be obtained from grain, much beyond of the iflands, it is true cecothat in feveral fugar nomyin the planter, rather to buy provifions from others, than to raife them byhis own labour. The produce of a fingle acre of his cane fields, will purchafe more Indian corn than can be raifed in five times that extent ofl land, and pay befides the freight from other countries. Thus, not only their houfehold furniture, their implements of hufbandry, their clothing, but even a great part of their daily fuftenance, are regularly fent to them from America or Europe. On the firft head therefore, it may generally be obferved, that the manufaéturers ife them byhis own labour. The produce of a fingle acre of his cane fields, will purchafe more Indian corn than can be raifed in five times that extent ofl land, and pay befides the freight from other countries. Thus, not only their houfehold furniture, their implements of hufbandry, their clothing, but even a great part of their daily fuftenance, are regularly fent to them from America or Europe. On the firft head therefore, it may generally be obferved, that the manufaéturers --- Page 480 --- HISTORY OF THE B0OK manufa@urers of Birmingham and Manchefter, VI. the clothiers of Yorkthire, - Gloucefterfhire, and Wilts, the potters ofStaffordihire, the proprictors ofallthelead, copper,andironiwors,togetherwith the farmers, victualiers, and brewers, throughout the kingdom, have a greater vent in the Britifh Weft Indies, for their refpective commodities, than perhaps they themfelves conceive to be poffible. Who would believe that woollens con- (titute an article of great confumption in the torrid zone? Such however is the faét. Of the coarfer kinds efpecially, for the ufe of the negroes, the export is prodigious. Even fugar itfelf, the great ftaple of the Weft Indies, is frequently returned to them in a refined ftate; fo entirely do thefe colonies depend on the mother-country 5 centering in her bofom all their wealth, wifhes, and affections. <c Why fhould Eagland (fays an c old planter) grudge at the wealth and profef perity of the plantations, fince all that is ours f6 fhe may account her own, not only becaufe WG 6 are a part of England as it is taken largely, but fc alfo becaufe all comes to the kingdom of EngC6 land, properly fo called ? By a kind of magnetic $c force, England draws to it all that is good in K the plantations : it is the centre to which all 66 things tend. Nothing but England can we 85 relifh or fancy ; our hcarts arc there, wherevee 66 our --- Page 481 --- WEST INDIES: If we a little money; we CHAP. * our bodies are. get breed III. tc remit it to England: : they that are able, Y in England. When we are a tc up their children live and fpend what we 46 little cafy, we defire to is and all that we get brought 46 have in England ; 6 to England * " of the lords of the To the laudable refearches of the flave committee of council on the fubjeet the publick have been lately indebted for trade, of evidence and information refpeêtfuch a body of the Britich Weft ing the general commerce have been colleéted Indies, as could not poflibly efficient than exertions lefs extenfive and by any I have frequently had thofe of government (g). recourfe to their lordfhips report in former parts of this work, and Thall refer to it on this occafion. FROM that authority it appears, that the value of the exports from Great Britain to the Britith Weft Indics, in the year 1787 (fince which time they certainly have not diminifhed) amounted to 135. iod. the whole of which L.1,638,703confifted of Britifh (except about 6.200,000) for the goods and manufaétures. The exports fame year to Africa, which, with all fublequent profits, muft be charged to the fame account, Groans of the plantations, publifhed the latter end of the laft century. Report of the Lords of the Committee of Council on (g) the Slave Trade, 1789. amount they certainly have not diminifhed) amounted to 135. iod. the whole of which L.1,638,703confifted of Britifh (except about 6.200,000) for the goods and manufaétures. The exports fame year to Africa, which, with all fublequent profits, muft be charged to the fame account, Groans of the plantations, publifhed the latter end of the laft century. Report of the Lords of the Committee of Council on (g) the Slave Trade, 1789. amount --- Page 482 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK amount to 6.668,255. 145. 4d.(h). Befides VI. this, the coft is to be ftated of manufaétures and - provifions from Ireland, and of wines from Madeira and the Azores; the fame having hitherto been purchafed by Britifh capitals, and conveyed to the Weft Indies in veffels trading circuitoufly from Britith ports, and the returns likewife made, for the moft part, to Great Britain. For the fame reafon, the coft and freight of lumber, fith, and other produétions of America, both from the.American ftates and the Britifh provinces, tranfported from thence to the Britith fugar iflands, in Britith veffels, muft likewife be added to the eftimate. CONCERNING Ireland, Ihave no account for 1787, but the reader will find, in an Appendix to this volume, official accounts for the years 1790, 1791,and1792, as well ofthe exports from that kingdom to the Britifh Weft Indies, as of the imports received from thence in return; both in a direét trade. Of the former, the average value is 6.294353 Irifh, being equal to 6.277,218 fterling the amount of the imports will be given hereafter. (h) The goods fhipped for the purchafe of gum, ivory, and gold, in the trade direét between Africa and Great Britain, conftitute fome fmall part ofthis; but I make no deduction on that account, becaufe the freight of, and merchants commifions on, fuch part as are applied to the purchafe of flaves, and the profits on the fale of thofe flaves in the Weft Indies, not being charged in the Infpector General's books, I fet one againft the other. OF --- Page 483 --- WEST INDIES. from Madeira and the Azores, the CHAP. Or wines, in thefe iflands may be efli- III. yearly confumption imated, on an average, at 6-30,000. RESPECTING America, the fupplies that were furnifhed by thofe provinces which now annually the United States, were valued, at the conftitute placcs of delivery, at no lefs than 6-720,000 and they confifted ofarticles fo effentially iterling; to which this trade neceffary, that the reftrictions grievoufly foever they are is now fubjeét (how dimifelt by the planters) have not, I think, nifhed the demand, or leffened the import (i). Official accounts of the prefent ftate of this intercourle are no where given to the publick: a refurvey ofits nature and extent, as it trofpedtive to the war, will be given in the fubfifted previous fubfequent chapter. THERE are yet to be reckoned the imports American which ftill remain from the provinces of to Great Britain, including Newfoundland; which, in like manner, no account, that I have they were feen, has been publifhed. Suppofing equal in value to the Weft Indian commodities thipped thither in return (a conjeéture probably (i) Jamaica, for a while, found fome refource within itfelf for Ataves and lumber ; but the country is, Ibelieve, by to exhaufted of thofe articles. The profit this time, nearly from the freight alone of the wbole Great Britain arifing 6.245000 fapply, is ftated by the lords ofthe privycouncilat per annum. not lifhed. Suppofing equal in value to the Weft Indian commodities thipped thither in return (a conjeéture probably (i) Jamaica, for a while, found fome refource within itfelf for Ataves and lumber ; but the country is, Ibelieve, by to exhaufted of thofe articles. The profit this time, nearly from the freight alone of the wbole Great Britain arifing 6.245000 fapply, is ftated by the lords ofthe privycouncilat per annum. not --- Page 484 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK not very wide ofthe truth)the fum to be charged VI. on this account for is Y 1787, 6.100,506. 175. 1od.(k). ISHALL now bring into one point of view the feveral great items that have been enumerated $ adding to the Britifh and Irifh fupply 20 per cent. for the coft of freight and infurance outwards, the charges of fhipping, commiflion to the merchantexporter in fome cafes, and the profits in others of the merchant-importer in the Weft Indies 5 all which contribute to fwell the debt of the planters to Great Britain : viz. Exports from Great Britain, L 5. d. direét - 1,638,703 13 IO from Ireland - 277,218 - 1,915,921 13 IO Add 20 per cent. for freight, &c. &c. 383,184 6 2 S. 2,299,106 Exports to Africa for the purchafe of negroes - 668,255 from Madeira and the Azores 30,000 United States of America 720,000 Britifh America 100,506 Total a - 3,817,867 PERHAPS (k) Much the greater part of this fum is for fith from Newfoundland; the import of that article from thence into the Britith Weft Indies, on an average of five years (1783ta 1787, both inclufive) having been 80,645 quintals, worth at the ports of delivery about 175. 6d. the quintal, --- Page 485 --- WEST INDIES PERHAPSIt were no excefs to ftate the whole CHAP. III. amount at this time at four millions of pounds 1 fterling. Hence then appears the vaft dependence of the Britith Weft Indian colonies on their country, for almoft every thing that is parent to civilized life; and it ufeful and ornamental obferved, by the accurate and intelwas juftly that fuch a market for the ligent Mr. Glover, vent of our manufaétures, furnifhes irrefragable proof, that, through whatever channel riches have flowed into thofe colonies, that influx hath made its paflage to the mother-country, 66 not (continued he) like the dath of an oriental torrent, but in falubrious, various, placid, and copious ftreams; refrefhing and augmenting foberinduftry by additional employment to thoufands and ten thoufands of families, and lightening the burthen rents, by reducing the contributions of upon parifhes to poverty unemployed." AFTER all, it is not fo much by the exports from, the fugar iflands, that to, as by theimports article of we are to judge of their value : every their produéts and returns being in fact as truly Briti(h property, as the tin which is found in the mines of Cornwall; and their ftaples are the more valuable, inafmuch as they differ from the commodities produced at home : for they fupply the mother-country, not only with what fhe muft VoL. II. H h otherwife ." AFTER all, it is not fo much by the exports from, the fugar iflands, that to, as by theimports article of we are to judge of their value : every their produéts and returns being in fact as truly Briti(h property, as the tin which is found in the mines of Cornwall; and their ftaples are the more valuable, inafmuch as they differ from the commodities produced at home : for they fupply the mother-country, not only with what fhe muft VoL. II. H h otherwife --- Page 486 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK otherwife purchafe from foreigners for her OWI VI. ufe, but with a fuperfuity befides for foreign confumption. Let us now then, as propofed, enquire into the particulars, and eftimate the value of their various productions and commodities with which Great Britain and her dependencies are annually fupplied. Here too, I might refer to the year 1787,and avail myfelf, as I have done in the hiftory of each particular ifland, of the very exaét, comprehenfive, and valuable ftatement of the returns of that year, as prepared by the Infpeétor General of the exports and imports, with the marketable prices of each article, and annexed by the committee of the privy-council to their report on the flave trade; but L choofe rather to look to the year 1788, chiefly becaufe the exports of any one year are fet properly againft the imports of the fucceeding one ; it being ufual, in moft articles of Britifh export to the Weft Indies, to give twelve or fixteen months credit. THE imports into Great Britain from the Britith fugar iflands in 1788,and thevalue thereof, will appear in the following table. The quantities are taken from the Infpector General's return (1)s but that officer has not, in this cale, as in the account of the former year, affixed the (1) Report of the privy-council, part iv. marketable --- Page 487 --- WEST INDIES. marketable prices (m). Thefe therefore are col- CHAP, leéted from the opinions of refpectable brokers, III. ) on a low average of the year 5 the mifcellaneous articles excepted, which ftand as ftated by the Infpector General with the addition of one-third, being the ufual difproportion between the aétual prices current, and thofe in the cuftom-houfe books. (m) The marketable prices, are the current prices after the duties have been cleared, and thefe are paid on importa* tion, except as to the duties and excife on rum, which is permitted to be bonded. The latter therefore cannot be faid to be paid by the planter in the firft inftance, as in the former cafe they certainly are, and nine times out of ten are not refunded by the confumer, as will hereafter be demonSrated, Hha 2 IMPORTS thofe in the cuftom-houfe books. (m) The marketable prices, are the current prices after the duties have been cleared, and thefe are paid on importa* tion, except as to the duties and excife on rum, which is permitted to be bonded. The latter therefore cannot be faid to be paid by the planter in the firft inftance, as in the former cafe they certainly are, and nine times out of ten are not refunded by the confumer, as will hereafter be demonSrated, Hha 2 IMPORTS --- Page 488 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK VI. IMPORTS from the B Cwt. Sugar, Montferrat, Nevis, and St. Kitt's Antigua 181,813 Grenada 193,783 St. Vincent's, Tortola, and Anguilla Jamaica 1,124,017 Barbadoes IIO,955 Dominica 47,610 Gallons. Kum, Jamaica 2,917,797 other iflands 728,645 Cwt. Coffee 32,283 lbs. Cotton 11,618,382 Cw:. Ginger, Tamaica 3,892 Barbadoes 5:755 Mifcellaneous articles valued at the cuftom-houfe prices Add one-third, the ufual difference between the prices books, and the current prices at market THE amount is 6.6,488,319. IIS. 4d. and this fum is altogether exclufive of bullion, of which the annual import from thefe iflands into Great Britain is very confiderable it is prefumed that, 6-320,000 is a moderate average, which being added to the foregoing, gives a total of f.6,808,319. IIS. 4d. Iwill call it fix million eight hundred thoufand pounds only; and the calculation is confirmed by the teftimony ofa merchant --- Page 489 --- WES ST INDIES. CHAP. INDIES into GREAT BRITAIN in 1788. III. Cwt. E. S. d. 6. So d. 42,542 at 475. 569:973 14 - B75596 at 46s. 863,870 16 188,993 at 44:. 2,835,784 12 58,565 at 451. 356,771 5 - 065, 696 6. 4,626,400 7 S. d. 316,094 13 6 72,364 IO 388,959 154:958 a - 63. 4d. - 677,738 19 - 5,8,8 + 12,661 18,499 - 466,322 15 5 General's 1551440 18 5 621,763 13 IO TOTAL E. 6,488,319 II 4 merchant of the firft charaéter and ability 3 who, in his evidence before a committee of the houfe of commons, has fixed on this fum as the amount of theimports into Great Britain from the Britith Weft Indies for the fame year (n). (n) See the evidence of George Hibbert, Efquire, merchant in London, before a feleét committee of the houfe of commons, appointed to take examinations on the flave trade, 2oth March, 1790. H h 3 OF . 6,488,319 II 4 merchant of the firft charaéter and ability 3 who, in his evidence before a committee of the houfe of commons, has fixed on this fum as the amount of theimports into Great Britain from the Britith Weft Indies for the fame year (n). (n) See the evidence of George Hibbert, Efquire, merchant in London, before a feleét committee of the houfe of commons, appointed to take examinations on the flave trade, 2oth March, 1790. H h 3 OF --- Page 490 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK Or the Imports into Ireland and America, &c, VI. direétly from thele iflands, in 1788, no Y account, that I have feen, has been given to the publick, I thall therefore adopt, from the authority of the Infpeétor General, thofe of the year preceding; which ftand thus: k. S. d. To Ireland (0) 127-585 4 5 American States 196,460 8 Britith American colonies 100,506 17 IO Forcign Weft Indies 18,245 I2 6 Africa 868 15 - Total 6.443,666 17 9 Add this fum to the Britth import, and the whole yearly value of the produce of the Britifh Weft Indies, exclufive of what is confumed by the inhabitants themfelves, is feven million two hundred and forty-three thoufand fix hundred and fixty-fix pounds feventeen thillings and ninepence fterling; all which is produced by the labourof65,000 whites, and 455,000 blacks, being (o) In official accounts before referred to of the Irifh exports and imports, and fubjoined at length in an appendix to this volume, it appears that the value of the goods imported into Ireland from the Britifh Weft Indies, has of late years greatly increafed. In 1790 they amounted to E. 169,563. 8.. 1od-in 1791 to 6.218,58g. IS. 1o.-and in 1792 to 6.225:774 14s. 3d. Thefe fums are the currency of Ireland. one --- Page 491 --- WEST INDIES. one hundred and eleven pounds for each white CHA P. IIIperfon, and thirteen pounds eighteen thillings - and fix pence per head per annum, for man, woman, and child, black and white, throughout all the Britili Weft Indies, FROM this immenfe fupply, the revenues of Great Britain and Ireland received, in.grofs duties, upwards of 6.1,800,000 fterling, exclufive of the duty of 4 # per cent, colleéted in Barbadocs, and fome other of the iflands, and which being paid in kind, is, I prefume, included in the general imports above ftated. Of the remainder, we have already feen how large a Thare was the property of the manufaéturer, the merchant, and the navigator. A further fum, not lefs than 6.1,037,000, muft be placed to the fame account, for freights and infurance homewards, commiflions on the fale, and a long train of other charges, The balance, reduced, as it neceffarily muft be, by fuch a multiplicity of claims and deduétions, to a very fmall proportion of the grofs returns, is paid over to the planters, their agents, mortgagees, or annuitants, moft of whom are refident in Great Britain, and by whom it is partly employed in extending cultivation in the Weft Indies, and partly expended or invefted in the mother-country. 5 in the one cafe giving Hh 4 vigour train of other charges, The balance, reduced, as it neceffarily muft be, by fuch a multiplicity of claims and deduétions, to a very fmall proportion of the grofs returns, is paid over to the planters, their agents, mortgagees, or annuitants, moft of whom are refident in Great Britain, and by whom it is partly employed in extending cultivation in the Weft Indies, and partly expended or invefted in the mother-country. 5 in the one cafe giving Hh 4 vigour --- Page 492 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK vigour to induftry, in the other upholding the ) VI. price of Britifh lands, or the credit of the Britith funds. With great truth, therefore, did the merchants and planters declare to the houfe of commons, Cc that the fugar colonies, and the commerce thereon dependent, have become the moft confiderable fource of navigation and national wealth out of the limits of the mothercountrysand that no part of the national property can be more beneficiallyemployed forthe publick, nor are any interefts better entitled to the protection of the legiflature, than theirs (P)." ISHALL now ftate the value of this great property, confidered as Britifh capital. In the re- (P) The following are the particulars of freight and infurance homewards, commiffions, &c. as enumerated in the valuable chain of evidence by George Hibbert, Efquire, before referred to, viz. Received by the fhip owners, for freight home- L. wards, about - 560,000 Underwriters, for infurance - - I50,000 Britifh merchants and brokers, for commiffions, &c. 232,000 Wharfingers, &c.including primage 95,000 6-1,037,000 port --- Page 493 --- WEST INDIES. itiseftimated at feventy CHAP. port of the privy-council,i viz. III. millions of pounds fterling, as follows: E. 1 - 450,000 negroes at f. 50 perhead 22,500,000 Lands, buildings, utenfils, mules, &c. and crop on the ground, double the value of the negroes 45,000,000 Value of the houfes, 8c. in the towns, the trading and coafting veffels, and their crews belonging to the iflands - 2,500,000 Total - - 6-70,000,000 ANOTHER mode propofed by their Lordfhips of afcertaining the capital, is to reckon twelve purchafe on its annual produce, it being, years obferve, not unufual in the Weft Indies, to they that Ithink that the fale of fell eftates at price. Weft Indian eftates at ten years purchafe, is much more common; and reckoning the mercantile value of the capital at feven millions per annum, the refult, by this mode of calculation, agrees precifely with the former ; a circumftance which gives room to conclude, that it is nearly as accurate as the fubjeét will admit : There can be no pofibleinducements to exaggerate, where acknowledged facts are of fo much weight. THERE yet remains to be added a brief ftate of the (hipping and feamen to which the fugar colonies direétly giveemployment ; and it appears that ; and reckoning the mercantile value of the capital at feven millions per annum, the refult, by this mode of calculation, agrees precifely with the former ; a circumftance which gives room to conclude, that it is nearly as accurate as the fubjeét will admit : There can be no pofibleinducements to exaggerate, where acknowledged facts are of fo much weight. THERE yet remains to be added a brief ftate of the (hipping and feamen to which the fugar colonies direétly giveemployment ; and it appears that --- Page 494 --- HISTORY-QF THE BOOK that the number of veffelswhich in theyear 1787 VI. cleared from the feveral Britifh Weft Indian iflands for Great Britain and Ireland (including 14 from Honduras) were 689, containing 148,176 tons, and navigated by 13,936 men, being about nine feamen to every IOO tons : an extent of fhipping nearly equal (as I have elfewhere obferved) to the whole commercial tonnage of England a century ago. At the fame time it is not to be overlooked, that the feamen fo employed, beingin conftant fervice, are always at command 5 and on this account, they are a more valuable body of men than even the feamen employed in the Newfoundland fithery ; of whom a great proportion remains in the country during the winter, and cannot therefore, on any fudden emergency, be added to the naval force of the kingdom (g). ON (9) The French writers ftate the number of fhips employed in their Weft Indian trade at 600, and the average of their burthen at 300 tons one with another : their feamen at 15,000. The following account of the average imports from the French fugar iflands, and the duties paid thereon, was publifhed in 1785; viz. DUTIES, 130,000 cafks of fugar valued at 90,000,000 livres. Droits de domaine d'occident 5,600,00 60 millions of pounds of coffee 45,000,000 Droits d'oétroi a l'Amerique 7,344,00 2 millions of poundsofindigo 18,000,000 Duties on fugar refined inl France 4,592,00 1 miliion of pounds of cacao 1,000,000 Duties on coffee 750,00 3 millions of pounds of cotton 6,000,c00 Dutics On indigo 37,5 Total 160,000,000 Total - 18,323.5 --- Page 495 --- W EST IN DIES. of the whole it may be truly CHAP. Ox a retrofpeét iflands in the Weft III. affirmed, that the Britith fugar in Y Indies (different in all refpeêts from colonies northern latitudes) anfwer in every point of view, and, if I miftake not, to a much greater extent all the purpofes and than is commonly imagined, for which colonies have been at any expeétations They furnith, as we have feen, time eftablifhed. fure and exclufive market for the merchandize a of the mother-country: and her and manufaétures dependencies, to the yearly amount of very near four millions of pounds fterling. They produce immenfe value, and in quantities not only to an but alfo for fufficient for her own confumption, a great export to foreign markets, many valuable and moft neceffary commodities, none of which interfere in any refpedt with her own produétions; and moft of which, as I fhall demonftrate hereafter, fhe cannot obtain on equal terms elfewhere: -accompanied too with this peculiar benefit, that in the transfer of thefe articles from one part of her fubjeets to another part, not one thilling is wealth of the taken from the general circulating kingdom. Laftly, they give fuch employment and feamen, as while it fupports and to her (hips tends encreafes her navigation in time of peace, not in the fmalleft degree to obftruét, but on the contributes very eminently to aid and contrary, in war.. It is evident invigorate, her operations thereforc, in the transfer of thefe articles from one part of her fubjeets to another part, not one thilling is wealth of the taken from the general circulating kingdom. Laftly, they give fuch employment and feamen, as while it fupports and to her (hips tends encreafes her navigation in time of peace, not in the fmalleft degree to obftruét, but on the contributes very eminently to aid and contrary, in war.. It is evident invigorate, her operations thereforc, --- Page 496 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK therefore, that in eftimating the value and imVI. portance of fuch a fyftem, nojuft conclufions can 1 be drawn, but by furveying it comprehenfvely, and in all its parts, confidering its feveral branches as connected with, and dependent on, each other, and even then, the fum of its advantages will exceed calculation. We are told indeed, among other objeétions which I Thall confider more at large in the concluding chapter of my work, that all the produéts of the Britifh Weft Indies may be purchafed cheaper in the colonies of forcign nations. Ifthe fact were true, as it certainly is not, it would furnifh no argument againft the propriety and neceffity of fettling colonies of our own; becaufe it muft be remembered, that foreign nations will allow few or none of our manufaétures to be received in their colonies in payment : that their colonifts contribute in no degree, by the inveftment and expenditure of their profits, to augment the wealth of the Britith nation, nor finally do they give employment exclufively to Britith thipping. To what extent the naval power of Great Britain is dependent on her colonial commerce, it is difficult to afcertain: Ifthis trade be confidered in all its channels, collateral and direct, connected as it is with our filheries, &c. perhaps it is not too much toaffirm, that it maintains a merchant navy on which the maritime ftrength of the kingdom fo greatly depends, --- Page 497 --- WEST INDIES. ceafe to be a nation with- CHAP. pends, that we fhould III. out it (r). following is a comparative view ofthe two greateft Indian branches (r)Thei of the Britith commerce; the Eaft and Weft trades: INDIAN TRADE. WEST INDIAN TRADE. EAST employed. Eighten Capital employed. Seventy Capital millions. millions. an- Value of goods exported from Value of goods exported Great Britain and her denually to India and China, including the both by the company and pendencies, the fetheir officers. One million profit of freight on veral branches of fapply, and a half. infurance, &c. Three millions eight hundred thoufand pounds. Import fales by the company, Imports into Great Britain and fales under licence. and Ireland, and fhippedt to Five millions. other parts, the profits of which center in Great Britain. Seven millions twvo hundred thoufand pounds. Duties paid to government, Duties paid to governmient. cuftoms, &c. Seven hundred One million eight hundred and ninety thoufand pounds. thoufandpands One Chartered fhipping of the Shippingemployeidire. company. Eighty thoufand hundred and ffty thexfand tons. tons. But the great difference arifes from the circumftance that the trade to the Weft Indies is carried on with our own colonial poffeffions, which the fettlements in the Eaft never were, nor even can be confidered. paid to government, Duties paid to governmient. cuftoms, &c. Seven hundred One million eight hundred and ninety thoufand pounds. thoufandpands One Chartered fhipping of the Shippingemployeidire. company. Eighty thoufand hundred and ffty thexfand tons. tons. But the great difference arifes from the circumftance that the trade to the Weft Indies is carried on with our own colonial poffeffions, which the fettlements in the Eaft never were, nor even can be confidered. --- Page 498 --- HISTORY OF THE APPENDIX TO CHAP. III. OF BOOK VI. EOOK THE following authentick ftatement of the exports VI. and imports between the Weft India Iflands and Great Y Britain, in the year 1795, was read in the Houfe of Commons by the Right Honourable Mr. SecretaryDundas, in his fpeech on the Slave Trade (April 1796.) It difplays fuch an aftonifhing encreafe as might appear utterlyi incredible, were it not recolleéted that in 1795 many of the French fugar iflands were in our poffeffion : 1795. Value in pounds fterling. Exports of Britilh Manufaétures - 4 3,212,431 of Foreign Manufactures - - 531,000 Total of Exports from Great Britain 2 for 1795 3,743,431 Imports of Weft India produce into 7 8,881,673 Great Britain for 1795 S Value of Weft India produce re-ex35773,000 ported in 1795 to foreign markets S Mr. Dundas, in the very eloquent fpeech which he delivered on this occafion, after introducing the preceding ftatement, made the following important obfervations: < If any perfon thall tell me, that fome of thefe advantages would be enjoyed by us even if the Weft In2 dies --- Page 499 --- WEST INDIES. dies ftood in the fame relation to this country as America APPENthis I fnall readily admit, that as much DIX. ftands at moment, out of the and fale of 1 of this account as arifes be exportation the fame in cafe of a our manufaétures might pofibly manufaéturers of America feparation. Ido not think the nor indeed likcly to be for a great many years, are yet, rival the manufaéturers of Great-Britain. in a ftate to admitted thus much, it muft, on the But when I have that fuch an event, befides the other hand, be allowed, the of this kingoperation it would have on navigation that dom, would put out of our power the whole produce and for which the planters comes from the Weft-Indies, elfewhere. Such a confequence can eafily find a market and does it not form a moft imwould inevitably follow, 2 We fhould lofe all the furplus portant confideration an article in the foreign trade of which makes fo great advantage this country. The whole of that important would would, by fuch an event, be loft for ever. Such be one of the confequences of Weft-India relative independance, fituation and fuch, as Ihave ftated, is de facto the ÇObetween the mother-country and her fugar exifting lonies. in Member of this Houfe Is it then, Sir, a crime any in this cafe to talk of policy? Is this the only queition of policyaret to be excluded? from which: allconfiderations who, the Is it a crime in me to call on Gentlemen, and paft delibelevity of youth, have arrived at a more fober rate mode of thinking, maturely to weigh the confeof rafh and intemperate councils on this occaquences fion. Shall it be faid, that I do not confult the interefts becaufe I, who have attained a more adof humanity, ofl life, do not rufh precipitately on, withvanced period out clearly fecing my way! before me ? This Jeads me, Sir, to another confideration, which I the attention of the Houfe,-and this wifh to prefs upon America. Gentlemen fhould confideration relates to recollect, the confeof rafh and intemperate councils on this occaquences fion. Shall it be faid, that I do not confult the interefts becaufe I, who have attained a more adof humanity, ofl life, do not rufh precipitately on, withvanced period out clearly fecing my way! before me ? This Jeads me, Sir, to another confideration, which I the attention of the Houfe,-and this wifh to prefs upon America. Gentlemen fhould confideration relates to recollect, --- Page 500 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK recolledt, that the independance of America is already VI. eftablithed. The feparation of the Weft-India iflands 1 from the mother-country is, therefore, at this time, a very different queftion from what it would have been, if the connexion between Great-Britain and America had fill fubfifted;-before Gentlemen permit themfelves to think fuch an event poffible, before they revolve in a fit of generofity, orin a momentof: anger, to declare the WeftIndia colonies independant, I with they would at leaft confider, what fecurity there is, that thofe iflands would continue in that ftate ofindependance in which we might place them, if they were abfolved from their allegiance and difmiffed from the patronage of this country? I would afk, whether thereis no other power in the world to be found, who would ftretch out a fatherly hand for their proteâtion ? If, by the egregious folly and the madnefs of this country, fuch an event fhould occur, if any unjuft and intemperate decifion of this Houfe fhould unfortunately produce the independance of the fugar COlonies, it is but too probable, that, with exultation over our folly, fome other nation would read fuch a paper as I have this day produced, to demonftrate to the world the confequences of our infanity, by difplaying the extent of our loffes, and the magnitude of their gains ! I feel myfelf impelled, by the importance of the fubject, to prefs this again and again upon the minds of the Houfe, and to inform them how greatly they are miftaken, if they think they are confulting the true interefts of this countryin giving the fmalleft encouragement to the moft diftant idea of Welft-Indian independancy!" Ably as the foregoing confiderations were enforced by the Right Honourable fpeaker, it may be ufeful to fuggeft fome views of the fubjeét which he omitted,- and, Firft, the importance of the fubject, to prefs this again and again upon the minds of the Houfe, and to inform them how greatly they are miftaken, if they think they are confulting the true interefts of this countryin giving the fmalleft encouragement to the moft diftant idea of Welft-Indian independancy!" Ably as the foregoing confiderations were enforced by the Right Honourable fpeaker, it may be ufeful to fuggeft fome views of the fubjeét which he omitted,- and, Firft, --- Page 501 --- W E ST INDIES. Firfty Itis a conclufion not logically juft, that, becaufe APPEN* the commerce of Great-Britain has been profperous and DIX. progreflive fince the feparation of the North-American Y colonies, it is, thercfore, indebted to that feparation for of its profperity, and might not have arrived to any much part pitch if fuch an event had not happened. a Do the higher American States ufe none but Britilh manufacemploy none but Britith agents, enrich none but tures, Britith capitalifts? Are they not become formidable rivals to us in commercial navigation, and has not France in the prefent war, found in their neutrality a powerful refource? Their advancein population and wealth, for immediately preceding the revolution, was feveral years and rapid, that, confidering the drains and fo obvious which the war impofed, it would be too much burthens to fay, that their independance has given a peculiar fpur their advancement, from which Britain, as a trading to has derived a compenfation for her lols of their nation, exclufive trade. Could any probable expenfe of their hafe nearly reached the amount of that debt proteétion incurred in the war by which they were loft? The arby which free trade is ufually recommended do guments to this cafe. Such arguments imply a general not apply Someliberation, but here there was no quid pro qu0. doubtlefs, was conceded, and nothing obtained in thing, return. Whatever may be determined refpeding the Secondly, which Great-Brituinderived from her Northadvantages American colonies, no fair conclufion can thence be drawn as to the value of thofe fhe poffefles in the WeftIndies, in fo many and fuch material points diffimilar in and fituation. So early as the time of Sir Jofiah nature who wrote in 1660, while the colonies of both Child, kinds were yet in their infancy, this diftination was sarked; their relative fitnefs for raifing rival manufaczures, building rival fhipping, and draining the motherVOL. II. Ii çountry o fair conclufion can thence be drawn as to the value of thofe fhe poffefles in the WeftIndies, in fo many and fuch material points diffimilar in and fituation. So early as the time of Sir Jofiah nature who wrote in 1660, while the colonies of both Child, kinds were yet in their infancy, this diftination was sarked; their relative fitnefs for raifing rival manufaczures, building rival fhipping, and draining the motherVOL. II. Ii çountry o --- Page 502 --- HISTORY OF THE B 00 K country of people, are by him flated in plain,but forcibleg VI. terms. (See Child On Trade. cap. I0.) It fhould nevet be forgotten, that the cultivation of the Weft-India iflands is entirely devoted to objects which the mothercountry cannot produce, yet cannot do without, and which, from their extenfive confumption, afford the fureft means of balancing her fureign trade :-thofe colonies poflefs no exclufive thipping, and their acquirements centre, not byi indireét channels, but immediately, in the bofom of Great-Britain. Political economifts may theorize concerning the utility of colonies, and the preference of concentring the national induftry and wealth, but they. forget that fuch eftablifhments are infeparable from the genius of a maritime people, and eflential to its profperity. And, ifthe comparative merit of colonies be examined, we may fafely affert, that none ever exifted fo reconcileable with the beft principles of political economy as thofe which the European nations pof fels in the Weft-Indies. Thirdly, The independancy of the WeftIndia iflands, all things confidered, is not a fubjeét of probable fpeculation; theyare conftituted for an interchange ofexclufive benefits, like that in which they now exift, and have hitherto fourithed; and Great-Britain would impofe a tafk upon herfelf greater than any the ever undertook, were fhe to attempt to counteraét their natural bias in that refpect. Now, if any of our political economifts fhould be difpofed to maintain, that, in a ftate of dependance upon fome other nation, Great-Britain might derive advantages from their commerce, let him be afked, what benefits did the derive from the trade of Martinique and St. Domingo ten years ago? Thofe which France enjoyed from her exclufive colonies are ftated very clearly in the valuable Analyfis of the. French Commerce publifhed about the time ofthe revolution, by M. Arnould, Itis there thewn that France imported from hcr of our political economifts fhould be difpofed to maintain, that, in a ftate of dependance upon fome other nation, Great-Britain might derive advantages from their commerce, let him be afked, what benefits did the derive from the trade of Martinique and St. Domingo ten years ago? Thofe which France enjoyed from her exclufive colonies are ftated very clearly in the valuable Analyfis of the. French Commerce publifhed about the time ofthe revolution, by M. Arnould, Itis there thewn that France imported from hcr --- Page 503 --- W EST INDIES. her colonies a value of about eight millions fterling, of APPENfhe about fix millions, by that, and by DIX. which exported the general balance of trade in her ) that alone, turning for the rapid progrefs which favour. After accounting the commerce of Europe has made in the eighteenth that intelligent writer concludes:- 1 c Toutes century, réunies ont produit la plus grande c ces circonftances, forte émulation dans le commerce des < activité et une et G Européens. Elles ont multiplié les confommations, K ce mouvement produéteur a particulierement itéfavor- du < able à la France, devenue, vers le commencement e fiècle, propriétaire d'objets nouveaux de copfommation. < Avec le fecours des denrècs de nos IRles d' Amériques la 6 France a fondé une marine coloniale importanté, elle a navales du Nord, pen6 fait ainfi valoir les marchandifes ct dant que les capitaliftes, les armateurs, etles négocians 6 François, en s'enrichiflant par le commerce, comme tc lesagens du gouvernement, par la part qu'ils obtenoient K dans la progrellion des impôts fur les confommations, des < fe font livrés à un luxe qui a augmenté le debouché < produits du fol et de linduftrie des Contrées Méridio4. nales de FEurope." 37 o Arnould, Balance de la Commerce, P. 268. Iiz --- Page 504 --- HISTORY OF THE CHAI P. IV. Trade berween the Britifh Wek Indies and Nortis America previous to the late Civil War-Oficiul Account of American Supplies, and their Value.- Ships and Scamen-Retwrn.- Adwvantages Tefulting from this Trade to Great Britain.-Meafures adepted by Government O1l the Re-efablifhment of peace-Prodlamatian of the 2d July, 1783--Petitions, from the Wef Indies-Oppofition ofthe Settlers in Nova Scotia, &Sc. and the Ship-builders al Hame-Refareuce to the Committee of Privy Couucil-Bvidence taken by the Committet-Their fimnal Opinion thereon.-Proceedings Grment-Quinidoa of Negroes in the Weft Indies in confequence-1a ofthe 28 Geo. III. Chk. 6.-Prefent State and Value ofthe Trade between the Britifk Wef Indies and the remaining Britifh Provinces in America-The fame zvith the United States of America.-Inference from the Whole-Appeudis. BOOK HAVING purpofely referved for feparate difcufVI. fion, the commercial intercourfe between the 1 Britifh Weft Indies and North America, I thall now proceed to inveftigate its nature and extent, as it fubffted previous to the late unfortunate civil . III. Chk. 6.-Prefent State and Value ofthe Trade between the Britifk Wef Indies and the remaining Britifh Provinces in America-The fame zvith the United States of America.-Inference from the Whole-Appeudis. BOOK HAVING purpofely referved for feparate difcufVI. fion, the commercial intercourfe between the 1 Britifh Weft Indies and North America, I thall now proceed to inveftigate its nature and extent, as it fubffted previous to the late unfortunate civil --- Page 505 --- WEST INDIES. and offer fome confiderations on the CHAP. civil war : in the regulations and IV. policy of Great Britain, iflands) reftriétions (as they affeéted the fugar afterwards thought proper to which government of the acadopt concerning it, in confequence after kowledgment of American independency: which, I thall endeavour to furnich an account ftate of the Weft Indian trade, of the prefent and the continenboth with the United States, to Great Britain. tal colonies yet remaining without hazard Ir may, I think, be affirmed, that if ever there was any one of contradiétion, of commerce in the world, that particular branch and limitation than any called lefs for reftraint to the other, it was the trade which, previous was carried on between the planters year 1774, Weft Indies and the inhabitants of North of the traffick calculated to America. It was not a admianfwer the fantaftick calls of vanity, or to nifter gratification to luxury or vice; but to procure food for the hungry, and to furnith materials (fcarce lefs important than food) for fupplying the planters in two capital objeéts, their buildings, and packages for their chief ftaple productions, fugar, and rum. Of the neceffity they were under on the latter account, an idea may be formed from the ftatement in the preceding chapter of the importation of thofe commodities Ii 3 into --- Page 506 --- HISTORY OF TH E B.OOK into Great Britain; the cultivation of which muft VI. ablolutely have ftopped without the means ofconY veying them to market. For the fupply of thofe effential articles, lumber, fith, flour,and grain, America feems to have been happily fitted, as well from internal circumftances, as her commodious fituation; and it is to a neighbourly intercoufle with that continent, continued during one hundred and thirty years, that our fugar plantations in a great meafure owe their profperity; infomuch that, according to the opinion of a very competent judge (a), if the continent had been wholly in the hands of a foreign power, and the Englith precluded from all commerce or intercourfe with it, it is a very doubtful point, whether, in' fuch cafe, we fhould at this hour have poffeffed a fingle acre of land in the Weft Indies. THE following is an official account of the total import from North America into the Britith Weft Indian iflands for the ycars 1771, 1772, and 1773, artefted by Mr. Stanley, fecretary to the commiffioners of the cuftoms in London, dated the Isth March 1775- (a) Mr. Long. AN it is a very doubtful point, whether, in' fuch cafe, we fhould at this hour have poffeffed a fingle acre of land in the Weft Indies. THE following is an official account of the total import from North America into the Britith Weft Indian iflands for the ycars 1771, 1772, and 1773, artefted by Mr. Stanley, fecretary to the commiffioners of the cuftoms in London, dated the Isth March 1775- (a) Mr. Long. AN --- Page 507 --- WEST INDIES. AN ACCOUNT of the total import from CHAP. North America into the Britilh Weft Indian IV. Y Iflandsin the years 1771, 1772,and 1773From From Canada From NewSpecies of Goods. the States. Unired Nova and Scotia. foundland. Boards and Timber, Feet 76,767,695 232,040 2,000 Shingles No 59,586,194 185,000 Staves No 57:998,661 27-350 Hoops No 4712,c05 16,250 9,000 Corn - Bulhs. 1,204389 Peafe and Beans Do 64,006 1,017 Bread and Flour Bbls. 396,329 Ditto Kegs 13:099 Rice Bbls. 39,912 Rice Tierces 21,777 Fith Hhds. 51,344 449 2,307 Ditto Bbls. .47.686 Ditto Quintals 21,500 2,958 11,764 Ditto Kegs 3,304 Beef and Pork - Bbis. 44,782 Ppultry Dozs. 2,739 Horfes No 7,130 Oxen No 3,647 Sheep and Hogs No 13,815 Oil Bbls. 3,189 Tar, Pitch, and Turpentine Do 17,024 Mafts No Spars No 3,074 Shook Cafks No 53.857 Soap and Candles Boxes 20,475 Ox Bows and Yokes No 1,540 Houfe Frames - No Iron Tons Ii 4 OF --- Page 508 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK OF this great fupply, the value at the ports VI. of delivery, including freight, was 6.2,160,000 fterling, or f.720,000 annually; confifting of about 1,200 annual cargoes ; but it is proper to obferve, that the veffels employed in this trade (which were generally floops and fchooners, fingle decked, and without topmafts) commonly made two, and fometimes three, voyages in the year i fo that the aétual number never exceeded in any one year 533, which were navigated by 3,339 feamen, including negroes : of the latter, the number was eftimated at about 1,000. Thus, the fhortnefs and cheapnefs of the navigation ina great degree fupported the trade. THE chief articles with which the Britifh Weft Indian iflands fupplied America, in return for the produce of that continent, were fugar, ruma melaffes, and coffee. Of rum, the quantity annually fhipped thither, before the war, on an average of three years, was 2,800,000 gallons; and the quantity of melaffes was 250,000 gallons. This. laft may be confidered as fo much additional rum, each gallon of melaffes producing an equal quantity of fpirit of the American proof, which augmented the annual fupply of that article to 3,050,000 gallons. The fupply of fugar was eftimated at 5,000 hogtheads, of 16 cwt.; and of coffee, at about 400,000 lbs. The value of the whole (including fome other fmall articles) was 2,800,000 gallons; and the quantity of melaffes was 250,000 gallons. This. laft may be confidered as fo much additional rum, each gallon of melaffes producing an equal quantity of fpirit of the American proof, which augmented the annual fupply of that article to 3,050,000 gallons. The fupply of fugar was eftimated at 5,000 hogtheads, of 16 cwt.; and of coffee, at about 400,000 lbs. The value of the whole (including fome other fmall articles) was --- Page 509 --- WEST INDIES. fterling, leaving a balance of CHAP, was 6.420,000 which IV. #-300,000 in favour of the Americans, ) 1 paid in dollars, or bills of exwas commonly them fo far with the means change, furnithing Britain, in reduétion of of remittance to Great their debts to the Britith merchants. FROM this account of the exports from the Briti(h Weft Indies to the continental colonies, that America, befides affording an init appears fource of fupply, was alfo a fure exhauftible market for the difpofal of the planters farplusproduétions ; fuch, I mean, for which there was no fufficient vent in Europe, efpecially rum; the of that article into Great Briwhole importation been little more than tain and Ireland, having America. On half the quantity confumed in whatever fide therefore this trade is confidered, it will be found that Great Britain ultimately received the chief benefits refulting from it; for the fugar planters, by being cheaply and regularly fupplied with horfes, provifions, and lumber, to adopt the fyftem of management were enabled to themfelves, but not only moft advantageous Much of that land alfo to the mother-country. to the whiéh otherwife muft have been applied cultivation of provifions, for the maintenance of their negroes and the raifing of cattle, was appropriated to the cultivation of fugar. By thefe means, the quantity of fugar and rum (the moft profitable --- Page 510 --- 49a HISTORY OF THE EOOK profita'-le of their flaples) had increafed to a furVI. prifing degree, and the Eritifh revenues, navigation, and genera! comme:ce, were proportionably augmented, aggrandized,and extended. Having anadvantageous marketfortheir rum, theplanters were enabled to deal fo much the more largely with the mother-country, On the other hand, the Americans, being annually indebted to Great Britain for manufaétures, in a larger fum than their returns of tobacco, indigo, rice, and naval Alores, were fufficient to difcharge, made up the deficiency, in a great degree, by means of their circuitous trade in the Weft Indies, foreign as well as Britifh ; and were thus enabled to extend their dealings with Great Britain. Thus the cffect was juft as advantageous to her, as if the fugar planter himfelf had been the purchafer to the fame amount, inftead of the American (b). SUcH (8) Dr. John Campbell in his treatife, intituled, Candid and impartial Coxfiderations on thbe Sugar Tiade, (1763) has confidered this fubjeét in the fame light, and expreffed him. felf as follows: 66 As the inhabitants of the Sugar Colonies are continual purchafers from fuch as are fettled vpon the continent of America, the amount of their purchafes conflitutes a balance from them in favour of fthofe of whom they purchafe. But on the other hand, the inhabitants of the northern colonies drawing large and conftant fupplies of commodities and manufaétures from hence, we, for the fame reafon, have a like balance in our favour againft them. It is evident, therefore, that by their transferring the balance due the inhabitants of the Sugar Colonies are continual purchafers from fuch as are fettled vpon the continent of America, the amount of their purchafes conflitutes a balance from them in favour of fthofe of whom they purchafe. But on the other hand, the inhabitants of the northern colonies drawing large and conftant fupplies of commodities and manufaétures from hence, we, for the fame reafon, have a like balance in our favour againft them. It is evident, therefore, that by their transferring the balance due --- Page 511 --- WEST INDIES. having been the nature, neceffity, and CHAP. SucH intercourfe, there IV. advantage of this commercial reafon to expeét that, on the was certainly every which had termination of hoftilities, the fyftem unavoidably been interrupted and difarranged would revive as of courle, and be during the war, re-eftablifhed under every pofible encouragethe liberal and accomplithed ment. Accordingly, minifter, who was in the direétion oft the finances, time in to parliament a proviloft no prefenting of which the fional bill for that purpofe; a copy reader will find in a note (c). Br of that which is due from them due to them in fatisfadion profits ultimately center with to us, the whole accumulated the inhabitants of Great Britain." American Intercourfe (c) The following is a copy ofthe Honourable William Bill which was brought in by the Right Pitt, Chancellor of the Exchequer, March 1783. eftablifhment and regulation of 46 A Bill for the provifional the of Great Britain trade and intercourfe between fubjeats America. and thofe of the United States of North North the following thirteen provinces of 4 WHEREAS Maffachufet's Bay, Rhode America, namely, New Hampfhire, Connedicut, New York, Ifland and Providence Plantations, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, New Jerfey, North Carolina, and Georgia, have lately Pennfylvania, South Carolina, by his Majefly to be, and now been folemnly acknowledged States, by the name and are, free, independent, and fovereign defcription of the United States of America: the Moft and declared by King's 66 Be it therefore enaéted with the advice: and confent of the Excellent Majefty, by and and Commons, in this prefent Lords Spiritual and Temporal, Parliament Plantations, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, New Jerfey, North Carolina, and Georgia, have lately Pennfylvania, South Carolina, by his Majefly to be, and now been folemnly acknowledged States, by the name and are, free, independent, and fovereign defcription of the United States of America: the Moft and declared by King's 66 Be it therefore enaéted with the advice: and confent of the Excellent Majefty, by and and Commons, in this prefent Lords Spiritual and Temporal, Parliament --- Page 512 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK By wbat means thefe reafonable expectations VI. oft the planters, and good intentions of the miY nifter towards them, proved ill-founded and abortive, Parliament affembled, and by the authority of the fame, that all ftatutes heretofore made to regulate the trade and commerce between Great Britain and the Britifh Plantations in America, or to prohibit any intercourfe between the fame, fhall, fo far as they, regulate or prohibit the intercourfe and commerce between Great Britain and the territories now compofing the faid United States of Ameriça, wholly and abfolutely ceafe: 66 And whereas, whilft the aforefaid Thirteen Provinces were annexed to and conftituted a part of the dominions of Great Britain, the inhabitants of the faid provinces enjoyed all rights, franchifes, privileges, and benefits of Britifh fubjeéts born in Great Britain, as well in refpeét to the trade and commerce with Great Britain asin other inftances; and in confequence thereof the fhips and veffels of the faid inhabitants, being navigated in like manner as Britifh fhips and veffeis are by law direéted to be navigated, were admitted into the ports of Great Britain, with all the privileges and advantages of Britifh-built fhips : 6c And whereas, bythe feveral laws now exifting, for reguJation of the trade and commerce of Great Britain with foreign States, the fubjeêts of the latter are, as aliens, liable to various commercial reftriétions, and alfo to various duties and cuftoms at the ports of Great Britain, which hitherto have not been applicable to, or demandable from, the inhabitants of the feveral provinces now compofing the faid United States of America: 66 And whereas it is highly expedient that the intercourfe between Great Britain and the faid United States fhould be eftablifhed on the moft enlarged principles of reciprocal benefit to both countries; but, from the diftance between Great Britain: and America, it muft be a confiderable time before ions, and alfo to various duties and cuftoms at the ports of Great Britain, which hitherto have not been applicable to, or demandable from, the inhabitants of the feveral provinces now compofing the faid United States of America: 66 And whereas it is highly expedient that the intercourfe between Great Britain and the faid United States fhould be eftablifhed on the moft enlarged principles of reciprocal benefit to both countries; but, from the diftance between Great Britain: and America, it muft be a confiderable time before --- Page 513 --- WEST INDIES. which flowed from CHAP. tive, and the fatal confequences IV. meafures reforted to by the Britilh govern- - L the to point out. ment, I (hall now proceed THE convention or treaty for eftablifhing and regubefore any and intercourfe between Great Britain and lating the trade States of America, upon a permanent foundathe faid United tion, can be concluded: of making a temporary regulation 66 Now, for the purpofe between Great Britain and ofthe commerce and intercourfe and in order to evince the the faid United States of America, of the moft perfedl difpofition of Great Britain to be on terms and in confiwith the faid United States of America, amity difpofition on the part of the faid dence of a like friendly Great Britain, Be it further enaéted, United States towards the fhips That from and after the and citizens of the faid United and veffels of the fubjedts and goods on States of America, with the merchandizes all the of Great board the fame, fhall be admitted into and ports veffels of the Britain in the fame manner as the fhips States; but the merfubjeêts of other independent board fovereign fuch fhips or veffels of the chandizes and goods on United States, being of the fubjeéts or citizens of the faid of the faid United States, growth, produce, or manufature fame duties and charges only, as the Thall be liable to the would be fubjeét to, if they fame merchandizes and goods and imported in Britifhwere the property of Britih fubjedts, Britith natural-born built fhips or veffels, navigated by fubjeats. further That during the time aforeec And be it enafted, and citizens of the faid, the thips and yeffels of the fubjeéts into the ports of His faid United States, thall be admitted in America, with Majelly's iflands, colonies, or plantations, or manumerchandizes or goods of the growth, produce, with any of the territories of the aforefaid United States, facture, from His faid Majefty's iflands, colonies, liberty to export or fubjeats. further That during the time aforeec And be it enafted, and citizens of the faid, the thips and yeffels of the fubjeéts into the ports of His faid United States, thall be admitted in America, with Majelly's iflands, colonies, or plantations, or manumerchandizes or goods of the growth, produce, with any of the territories of the aforefaid United States, facture, from His faid Majefty's iflands, colonies, liberty to export or --- Page 514 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK THE preliminary articles of peace were figned VI. at Verfailles on the 27th of foont January 1783; after which, the houfe of commons having paffed â vote of cen(ure on the treaty (with what regard to juftice or confiftency, it is not my bufinefs at prefent toinquire) this event was followed by the refignation of the miniftry by whom the treaty was adjufted. The new adminiftration, it may be prefumed, had too many objeéts to attend to, on their firft elevation to power, to find leifure for confidering the bufinefs of a commercial treaty or plantations in America, to the faid territories of the faid United States, any merchandizes or goods whatfoever; and fuch merchandizes and goods, which fhall be fo imported into, or exported from, the faid Britifh iflands, colonies, or plantations, in America, fhall be liable to the fame duties and charges only, as the fame merchandizes and goods would be fubject to, if they were the property of Britifh natural-born fubjedts, and imported or exported in Britifh-built fhips or veffels, navigated by Britifh feamen. 64 And be it further enaéted, That during all the time herein-before limited, there Thall be the fame drawbacks, exemptions, and bounties, on merchandizes and goods exported from Great Britain into the territories of the faid United States of America, as are allowed in the, cafe of exportation to the iflands, plantations, or colonies, now remaining, or belonging tothe crown of Great Britain, in Ameriça. 66 And be further enaôted, That all fhipsa and veffels belonging to any of the citizensor fubjefts oftife faid United States of America, which fhall have come into any port of Great Britain fince the together with the goods and nerchandizes on board the fame fhips and veffeis, fhall have the full benefit of this act." with --- Page 515 --- WEST INDIES. with America. As, however, it was indifpenfably CHAP. IV. neceffary to repeal the prohibitory laws which had exifted during the war, this was done by an aét paffed for that purpofes but as to the reft, took the fhorteft courfe poffible to parliament trouble, by veftingin the crowns fave themfelves for a limited time, authority to regulate the commerce with America in fuch mannner as his majeftyine council fhould deém expedient (d). NEw and extraordinary as it certainly was, that fuch extenfive authority fhould be delegated to the executive power, neither this by parliament or order of circumftance, nor the proclamation, council, that iffued in confequence of it, on the 2d July 1783 (afterwards renewed annually) excited much inquiry. Although by this proclamation, the importation into the Britifh Weft Indies of every fpecies of naval ftores, ftaves, and lumber, live ftock, flour, and grain of all kinds, the growth of the American ftates, was confined to Britith fhips legally navigated 3 and the export to thofe ftates of Weft Indian produétions, was made fubjeét to the fame reftriétion ; while many neceffary articles (as falted beef and pork, fith, and train-oil) formerly fupplied by America, were prohibited altogether, it was confidered as a meafure merely temporary and experimental ; and (4) Vide Stat.23 Geo. III. C. 39. until all kinds, the growth of the American ftates, was confined to Britith fhips legally navigated 3 and the export to thofe ftates of Weft Indian produétions, was made fubjeét to the fame reftriétion ; while many neceffary articles (as falted beef and pork, fith, and train-oil) formerly fupplied by America, were prohibited altogether, it was confidered as a meafure merely temporary and experimental ; and (4) Vide Stat.23 Geo. III. C. 39. until --- Page 516 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK until a plan of permanent regulation fhould be VI. agreed tol by both countries, it was thought neither 1 impolitick nor unjuft, that Great Britain fhould referve in her own hands the powèr of reftraining or relaxing her fyftem of commercial arrangements, as circumftances might arife to render the exercife of fuch a power prudent and neceffàry. IN thefe reafons the Weft Indian merchants, and fuch of the planters as were refident in Great Britain, acquiefced: 2 but on the firft meeting of a new parliament, in May 1784, (another change having taken place in the mean time in the Britifh adminiftration) (e) the bufinefs ofa commercial intercourfe between the Weft Indies and the States of America, preffed itfelf on the attention of government with a force which was not to be refifted. Petitions, complaints, and remonftrances, were poured in from every ifland in the Weft Indies. Some of the petitioners reprefented that they had not fix weeks provifions in ftore, and all of them, anticipated the moft dreadful confequences, if the fyftem of reftriction fhould be much longer perifted in 5 expeéting nothing (e) The Right Honourable William Pitt, who had been Chancellor of the Exchequer from ioth July 1782 to sth April 1783, was re-appointed to that oftice, and alfo nominated Firft Lord of the Treafury, on the 2yth of December 1783, foon after which the parliament was difiolved. lels --- Page 517 --- WEST INDIES. revolt of their flaves, in the CHAP. lefs than a general IV. apprehenfion of perifhing of hunger. ON the other hand, the inhabitants of the recontinental colonies, efpecially fuch of maining the new fettlers there as were emigrants from the . United States, promifed to themfelves the acquifitian of fudden and immcafe riches from the vaft advance of price which it was forefeen their few exports, when no longer depreffed by competition, would obtain at the Weft Indian markets. Every exertion, publick and private, was theretheir friends in Great Britain, to fore made by and innumerable pamconvince adminiftration, that phlets were circulated to fatisfy the publick, the Weft Indies might be very amply fupplied with every article of North American produce (rice excepted) from Canada, Nova Scotia, and the. ifland of Saint John. Hence they not only O recommended a fteady adherence to ftrenuoully of reftriétion on the part of Great the fyftem their wilhes, that Britain, but openly expreffed the United States,might retaliate, by prohibiting, in return, Britifh fhips from trading in the ports of America. The complaints and remonftrances of the Weft Indians, they treated as the turbulence of difappointed faétion. They: accufedthem of having abetted the American rebellion, and while wallowing in wealth, their apprehenfions of VoL, JI. Kk uoully of reftriétion on the part of Great the fyftem their wilhes, that Britain, but openly expreffed the United States,might retaliate, by prohibiting, in return, Britifh fhips from trading in the ports of America. The complaints and remonftrances of the Weft Indians, they treated as the turbulence of difappointed faétion. They: accufedthem of having abetted the American rebellion, and while wallowing in wealth, their apprehenfions of VoL, JI. Kk --- Page 518 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK ofa fcarcity of food were ipurned at and ridiVI. culed, as if hunger was no part of our nature. L IT is impoflible, I think, not to perceive in thefe, and fimilar arguments, a lurking taint of refentment and malignity, the relicks of former provocation againft the Americans ; and at leaft as ardent a defire to wound the new republick, through the fides of the Weft Indians, as to benefit Nova Scotia at their expence. Thefe paflions are among the frailties of our nature, and may be forgiven. But there was another, and a numerous clafs of people, who ftood forward on this oceafion, in fupport of the fyftem ofreftriétion and monopoly, on different ground : thefe were the fhip-builders, fhip-owners, and theiry various dependantsin London ; who affeéted to believe, that if American fhips were fuffered to take fugar from our iflands, they would convey it-not to America, but-to foreign countries, and rob us of the carriage ofit; or they might, it was alledged, enter into a competition with Britifh fhips for the freight of goods to Great Britain. To this it was anfwered, that a limitation of tonnage to fhips employed in the American intercourfe, to which the planters would not object, confining it to veflels having only one deck, and not exceeding feventy or eighty tons, muft fatisfy the moft fcrupulous on that head; inafmuch --- Page 519 --- W EST INDIES. inafmuch as fuch veffels could never be employed CHAP. 1V. fugar acrofs the Atlantick; nor 1 in tranfporting infured if fuch attempts fhould could they be got this anfwer muft have be made. But although well-informed and confiderate perfatisfied every foundinfufficient to filence the clamour fon,itwas propagated which at that time was induftrioufly the the of the carrying-trade, as if on fubject navigation of future exiftence of the commercial Great Britain had been involved in the difcuffion. So vehement was the uproar, that the minifter himfelfwas compelled to give way to the torrent. Although Mr. Pitt was now placed at the head of the Britifh adminiftration, he found himfelf unable, on his return to power, to enforce his firft intentions on this fubject. Inflead of rethe provifional bill which, a few months viving before, he had prefented to parliament, he thought it advifeable to refer the confideration of the whole matter to the lords of the committee of council for the affairs of trade, by whom privy of the Weft Indian merchants and planters, many refident in Great Britain, were interrogated on the fubject ; and the writer ofthis had the honour to be of the number. It was readily admitted by the fugar planters, that on every principle of honour, humanity; and juftice, the unfortunate toyalifts of Canada and Nova Scotia were entitled Kk 2 to it advifeable to refer the confideration of the whole matter to the lords of the committee of council for the affairs of trade, by whom privy of the Weft Indian merchants and planters, many refident in Great Britain, were interrogated on the fubject ; and the writer ofthis had the honour to be of the number. It was readily admitted by the fugar planters, that on every principle of honour, humanity; and juftice, the unfortunate toyalifts of Canada and Nova Scotia were entitled Kk 2 to --- Page 520 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK to a preference of their cuftom, provided thofe VI. provinces poffeffed, in any the means / degree, of fupplying their wants ; but this, they contended, was the main point in difpute. They therefore requefted, that beforc any perinanent regulations fhould be adopted by government, enquiry might be made, ift. How much of the annual confumption of American ftaples thofe provinces had fupplied hitherto P and, 2dly. how far, from their prefent, or probably future, fituation, they might be fuppofed capable of-exceeding their former produce and exports ? SucH an enquiry was accordingly entered upon, and abundance of evidence colleéted on the fubjeêt; when it appeared, from the cuftom-houfe returns, that of 1208 cargoes of lumber and provifions imported from North America into the Britith fugar colonies, in 1772, only feven of thofe cargoes werei from Canada and Nova Scotia; and that of 701 topfail veffels, and 1681 floops, which had cleared outwards from North America to the Britifh and foreign Weft Indies, only two of the topfail veffels, and eleven of thei floops, were from thofe provinces. It ftood therefore incontrovertibly proved, that, previous to the war, the fupplies which they afforded, did not amount to a proportion of the whole confumption of the fugar iflands, in any degree worthy national attention; and, on the fecond ground of enquiry, --- Page 521 --- WEST INDIES fhewn Canada, not only CHAP. enquiry, it was refpedting IV. that the navigation of the river Saint Lawrence - fo obftruéted by the ice in the winter, was greatly winds in the fammer, asto render and by wefterly more than one voyage in the year impra@ticable; but that in the provinceitfelf, the climate renders the crops of wheat altogether precarious. It was proved, that in the years 1779, 1780, 1781, and 1782, the fcarcity in Canada had been fuch, the export of all bread, wheat, and as to occafion by authority ; and it was flour, to be prohibited time of the enquiry, a fhewn that, at the very with fhipin the riverThames wasactually loading flour for Quebec. Onthe whole, it appeared although in favourable feafons (as in 1774) that, fometimes be found an overplus of there might ofthe inhabitants, grain, beyond the confumption could by yet that a regular and fufficient fupply means be depended on from that province; no that the frequency of difappointment muft prove obftruétion to newinhabitants an infurmountable there with a view to the cultivation of fettling with regard to Jumber, the price of wheat ; and, as to cut off all hopes fabourin Canada was fuch, of fupply from thence, even if the navigation had been fubjeét to no delay and obftacle whatever. RESPECTING Nova Scotia, it was Thewn that it never had, at any one period, produced grain Kk 3 fufficient no that the frequency of difappointment muft prove obftruétion to newinhabitants an infurmountable there with a view to the cultivation of fettling with regard to Jumber, the price of wheat ; and, as to cut off all hopes fabourin Canada was fuch, of fupply from thence, even if the navigation had been fubjeét to no delay and obftacle whatever. RESPECTING Nova Scotia, it was Thewn that it never had, at any one period, produced grain Kk 3 fufficient --- Page 522 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK fufficient for the fuftenance ofits inhabitants : it VI. had never exported any lumber worthy the name Y of merchandize; and fo far from having any to export, it appeared that a confiderable importation into the province was at that time taking place, from the oppofite fide of the bay of Fundy, to enable the new fettlers at Port Rofeway to build houfes for their own refidence. LASTLY, as to theifland ofSaint John,it was proved that, like Nova Scotia, it had never yet furnifhed food enough to keepits few inhabitants alive, nor exported any one article the produce of the ifland. Its fituation, within the gulph of Saint Lawrence, fhut it up from all interçourfe during five months ofthe year ; and its fogs, more prevalent and durable than even thofe of Nova Scotia, rendered the country too uncomfortable for population, while land remained unoccupied lin happier climates. THE advocates for the prohibitory fyftem, however, were not eafily filenced. They declared it would be more for the intereft of Great Britain, that the Weft Indians fhould be deprived of American fupplies altogether, rather than, 6y receiving them from the United States in American veffels, contribute to aggrandize the naval power of the new republick. They maintained, that the fugar iflands had refources within themfelves, which, with occafional aid from Great Britain, --- Page 523 --- 5o3 W E ST INDIES. might enablethem to exift very comfort- CHAP. Britain, intercourfe IV. ably, even though the accuftomed with all parts of the American continent was entirely cut off. If not,it was triumphantly aiked, in what manner were they fupported during the when all regular communication with the war, United States was fuppreffed? IN reply to this objection, it was proved that the Britith fugar iflands, during the war, had been badly fupplied, both with lumber and provery which, ifit had convifions; ; and at an expence tinued, would have been equally ruinous with at all. Their chief rethe not being fupplied the veffels that had been fource was American captured in their way to the French iflands ; a refource which had terminated with the war, and at beft proved fo uncertain and inadequate, that of the Britilh iflands had been driven by many to the worft of all applications (as Britilh neceflity colonifts) of their labour ; the raifing provifions, and cutting lumber upon their own eftates. Inftead of diredting their attention to the culture of thofe valuable and bulky ftaples which contribute, in fo eminent a degree, to form the dignified mafs of fupport which the Britith navigation derives from her diflant colonies, they had been compelled to change their fyftem : They had abandoned the cultivation of fugar, and applied their land and labour to the purpofes of K k 4 raifing colonifts) of their labour ; the raifing provifions, and cutting lumber upon their own eftates. Inftead of diredting their attention to the culture of thofe valuable and bulky ftaples which contribute, in fo eminent a degree, to form the dignified mafs of fupport which the Britith navigation derives from her diflant colonies, they had been compelled to change their fyftem : They had abandoned the cultivation of fugar, and applied their land and labour to the purpofes of K k 4 raifing --- Page 524 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK raifing food. In what degrec the Britifh navigaVI. tion and commerce had fuffered by this meafure, the cuftom-houfe books would demonftrate : From that authority it would appear, that in 1777, previous to the capture by the French of any of the fugar iflands, the import of fugar into England only, had fallen fhort of the import of 1774 upwards of 45,000 hogtheads, of 16 cwt. 5 in value nearly one million, creating a lofs in freight 0ff-150,000 on that article alone,'and a defalcation in the publick revenue of 6-300 a day, for every day in the ycar! Here then, it was faid, was a full and fatisfactory refutation of the popular clamour on the fubject of the carryingtrade. Compared with thefe loffes, and their confequences to every part of the empire, fo inconfiderable, fo truly contemptible was the trifling interference of American Challops, carrying food to invigorate the hungry labourer, and timbers to repair mills and houfes, that it feemed not to be an objeét deferving a moment's folicitude in the breaft of a great nation. SUcH were, in part, the evidence and arguments offered on behalf of the Weft Indies; and if the queftion bad met with unprejudiced and temperate difcuflion, I am inclined to think, notwithflanding the jealous and monopolizing fpirit of traffick, that regulations widely different from the prefent fyftem of reitriétion and exclufion --- Page 525 --- WEST INDIES. America, would have been efta- CHAP. fion towards the private interefts IV. blithed ; but, unfortunately, - 1 of fome, and the prejudices and paffions ofothers, allowed to mingle in the inveftigation. I were that, in common cafes, it ill becomes am aware individual to arraign the wifan undifinguifhed of the national councils ; but dom and propriety although there is a degree.of refpect due to men in authority, which I would willingly preferve, I dare not maintain it either by the violation yet of truth. The confequences or the fupprefion recommended which fowed from the proceedings on this occafion, will prefently be and adopted with indiffeen; and they cannot be remembered ference. To fupprefs facts, therefore, in which the interefts of humanity are fo deeply concerned, is to facrifice both the dignity and utility the great end of which is to make the of hiftorys of one fet of men, a leffon errors and mifconduét and a warning to their fucceffors. THE cafe was, to fpeak plainly and undifguifthat the committee of council, to whom edly, bufinefs dethe confideration of this important volved (with the beft intentions I believe, forit cannot be fuppofed that they wifhed to injure the Weft Indian colonies) fuffered themfelves to be guided in their refearches by men who had o refentments to gratify,and fecret purpofes to proSome of thefe, were perfons whom Amemote. rica their fucceffors. THE cafe was, to fpeak plainly and undifguifthat the committee of council, to whom edly, bufinefs dethe confideration of this important volved (with the beft intentions I believe, forit cannot be fuppofed that they wifhed to injure the Weft Indian colonies) fuffered themfelves to be guided in their refearches by men who had o refentments to gratify,and fecret purpofes to proSome of thefe, were perfons whom Amemote. rica --- Page 526 --- f06 HISTORY OF THE 8OOK rica had profcribed for their loyalty, and unjuftly VI. deprived of their poffeffions. That they had be- - come, on this account, objects of compaffion, and claimants on the publick of Great Britain, I have no wilh to deny ; but, without doubt, they were the laft men in the world whofe opinions fhould have been adopted, concerning the eftablifhment ofa fyftem ofreciprocityand conveniency between the mother-country, and that which they had left. To fuppofe that fuch men were capable of giving an impartial and unbiaffed teftimony in fuch a cafe, is to fuppofe they had divefted themfelves of the common feelings of mankind. THE firftenquiries of the committee of council (thus influenced) were direéted to difprove the affertions contained in an addrefs of the affembly of Jamaica, concerning the diftrefs in which that ifland was ftated to be, at that time, involved, from the want of provifions and lumber. Although thofe affertions were abundantly confirmed by the declarations and fubfequent conduét of the governor himfelf, to whom thea addrefs was prefented (e); their lordfhips reported, that the affembly were by no means warranted in the ftrong terms they had ufed; it appearing, they faid, 6 from private letters laid before them, that the fcarcity complained of did not exif." When (e) Sir Arch. Campbell. theit --- Page 527 --- WEST INDIES. defired to communi- CHAP. theirlordthips were humbly who had written IV. cate the names of the parties fuch letters, that fome judgment might be formed what degree of credit was due to their teftimony, againft that of the legiflature of the colonys they refufed, with tokens of manifeft difpleafure, to difclofe them. THEIR lordfhips, in the next place, proceeded eftimate the refources of Canada and Nova to Scotia ; and in contradiction to the evidence and conclufions which had been given and adduced by the Weft Indian merchants and planters, they afforted, in o general terms, < that the exportation ofgrain from Canada would revive and increafe, provided the Weft Indian market was fecured to the inhabitants of that province ;" and they added, c that feveral perfons of great experience, of opinion, that an annual export of were bufhels might in a few years be de300,000 on." They admitted that the natural pended in the navigation of the river Saint impediments might affect the fupply of lumber, but Lawrence, that this circumftance would injure the denied trade in flour. They ftated, & that Nova Scotia would be able in about three years to fupply oflumber, and moft of the other great quantitics which the Weft Indies are in want of from articles America, provided grants of land were North properly export of were bufhels might in a few years be de300,000 on." They admitted that the natural pended in the navigation of the river Saint impediments might affect the fupply of lumber, but Lawrence, that this circumftance would injure the denied trade in flour. They ftated, & that Nova Scotia would be able in about three years to fupply oflumber, and moft of the other great quantitics which the Weft Indies are in want of from articles America, provided grants of land were North properly --- Page 528 --- HISTORY OF THE B O OK properly made and fecured to the inhabitants; VI. for that (although the fea-coaft is rocky and barren) the interior parts, and the banks of the rivers, have as fine a foil as any part of the world, admirablyftted for dairy farms, and the groroth of garden vegetables." THEY averred, 66 that the climate of Nova Scotia is fine and healthy; that the new fettlers were induftrious, and that the neutral French who flill remain (when no longer in a precarious flate with refpeét to the government under which they are to live) would probably follow the example of the new fettlers, and learn from them to improve the country; efpecially if due encouragement fhould be given to their induftry, by fecuring them proper markets." Their lordfhips were further affured, from good authority, that upon the like encouragement, the population of Nova Scotia would be increafed. SUCH a detail of probabilities, provifoes, and poffible contingencies, with the mention, among other refources, of dairy, farms and garden vegetables, feemed, to the difappointed planters, fome-. thing very like derifion and mockery. They complained, that inftead of affurances of relief, they were put off with airy conjectures, with frivolous ifs and may be's; with promifes inconfiftent with the lawsofnature, and with declarations negatived both by experience and reafon ! Is --- Page 529 --- WEST INDIES. 5og the argument which appeared to have CHAP. IN truth, themfelves, was 1V. moft weight with their lordfhips admitting all expeétation of that which (tacitly and Nova Scotia to be chifupply from Canada for that by merical and delufive) took granted, American (hips from the ports of the excluding Great Britain would find full emWeft Indies, veffels as Ameployment for as many additional and rica formerly employed in that commerce, all the profits which America reaped, of reap calculated the freightage alone, at which they the annual fum of 6.245,000 fterling. o ON the whole, the lords of the committee recommended a ftriét and rigid adftrongly of the interherence to the meafure confining courfe between our Weft Indian Ilands and America, to Britith thips only, as a regulation of deviation from abfolute neceffity ; confidering any the commerce and navigation of it, as expofing of revolted fubjects, Great Britain to the rivalry now become ill-affeéted aliens. They expreffed, indeed, fome apprehenfion, left the congrefs of the United States might retaliate, by prohibiting, in return, Briti(h veffels from being the carriers between them and the Britith Weft Indies; but feemed to think this circumftance not very probable, inafimuchi as the people of the United States would, in that cafe, they faid, fuffer much more than any of his Majefty'sfobjeds: a conclufion , Great Britain to the rivalry now become ill-affeéted aliens. They expreffed, indeed, fome apprehenfion, left the congrefs of the United States might retaliate, by prohibiting, in return, Briti(h veffels from being the carriers between them and the Britith Weft Indies; but feemed to think this circumftance not very probable, inafimuchi as the people of the United States would, in that cafe, they faid, fuffer much more than any of his Majefty'sfobjeds: a conclufion --- Page 530 --- HISTORY OF THE B.OOK fion not very decifive; the experience of all agee VI. abundantly proving, that confiderations V of intereft are frequenly overpowered by motives of refentment. THESE doétrines and opinions of the lords of the committee of council were unfortunately approved and adopted in their fulleft extent by the Britifh government ; and the only folitary hope which now remained- to the inhabitants of the Weft Indies was, that the apprehenfion of their lordfhips, concerning American retaliation, was ill-founded ; and that the United States, notwithftanding the prohibitory fyftem of Great Britain, would ftill open their ports to Britith thipping; and freely indulge them with the liberty of importing the products of the Britifh fugar iflands; carrying away American produce in return. The planters could not indeed but forefee a very great expence, delay, and uncertainty attending fuch circuitous navigation ; but to this they were prepared to fubmit, as the only alternative of elcaping inevitable and impending deftruction. BUr there was this misfortune attending the fugar planters, that their wants were immediate; and of a complexion affecting not only property, but life. Whatever refources might ultimately 'be found in the opulence and faculties of the mother-country, it was impoffible, in the nature of things, --- Page 531 --- WEST INDIES. things, to expect from fo diftant 5II adequate fupply to a vaft and a quarter an CHAP. coming fuddenly and various demand, IV. the fugar iflands too had unexpeétedly. Many of 1 fuffered der two tremendous dreadfully un1781, in hurricanes, in 1780 and for the cafnal confequence whereof (had it not been affiftance obtained from prizeveffels) one half of their negroes muft have perifhed of hunger. Should abfolutely tions occur, the moft dreadful fimilar vifitawould be realized; and I am forry apprehenfions to add, that realizedthey were ! IHAVE now before me a report of a committee of the affembly of the flave trade, wherein Jamaica, on the fubjec of ifland, in the lofs of negroes in that confequence of thofe awful concuffions of nature, and the want offupplies from is incidentally ftated. Itis a document America, of beft authority ; and the the while it abundantly following extraét from it acquits the Weft Indian chants and planters from the merlence and faétion, which charge of turbuliberally on this occafion was ilbrought againft them, will, I as an awful leffon to future minifters hope, ferve fuffer the felfifhnefs of how they of perfonal party, and the prejudice refentment, to have an the national councils. influence in 66 We fhall now (fay the committee) out the principal caufes to which this point mortality of ft Indian chants and planters from the merlence and faétion, which charge of turbuliberally on this occafion was ilbrought againft them, will, I as an awful leffon to future minifters hope, ferve fuffer the felfifhnefs of how they of perfonal party, and the prejudice refentment, to have an the national councils. influence in 66 We fhall now (fay the committee) out the principal caufes to which this point mortality of --- Page 532 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK of our flaves is juftly chargeable. It is but too VI. well known to the houfe, that in the feveral years 1780, 1781, 1784, 1785, and 1786, it pleafed Divine Providence to vifit this ifland with repeated hurricanes, which fpread defolation throughout moft parts of the ifland ; but the parifhes which fuffered more remarkably than the reft, were thofe of Weftmoreland, Hanover, Saint James, Trelawney, Portland, and Saint Thomas in the Eaft. By thefe deftruétive vifitations, the plantain walks, which furnifh the chief article of fupport to the negroes, were generally rooted up, and the intenfe droughts which followed, deftroyed thofe different fpecies of ground provifions which the hurricanes had not reached. The ftorms of178oand 1781 happening during the time of war, no foreign fupplies, except a trifling affiftance from prize-veffels, could be obtained on any terms, and a famine enfued in the leeward partsoftheifland, which deftroyed many thoufand negrocs. After the ftorm of the 3oth of July1784, the lieutenant-governor, by the advice ofhis council, publifhed a proclamation, dated the 7th of Auguft, permitting the free importation of provifions and lumber in foreign bottoms, for four months from that period. As this was much too thort a time to give fufficient notice, and obtain all the fupplies that were ncceffary, the fimall quantities of flour, rice, and other --- Page 533 --- WEST INDIES. other provifions, which were imported in confequence of the proclamation, foon rofe CHAP. tant a price as to induce the tofoexorbi- IV. 1 of November affembly, on the 9th the following, to prefent an addrefs to lieutenant-governon, requefting him to long the term until the latter end ofMarch proobferving, that it was impoffible for the 1785; produétions of the country to come to fuch natural turity as to be wholefome food, before that maThe term of four months not time. this addrefs was prefented, the being expired when declined to comply therewith; lieutenant-governor but December on the rft of following, the houfe that a prolongation of the term Was reprefented, then neceffary: : They obferve that, abfolutely reluétance with which perfuaded of the his honour would be brought to deviate from regulations which felt he himfelfbound to obferve, it would much concern to addrefs him give them a fecond time, on the fame occafion were they not convinced that was in a cafe of fuch extreme it tify fach a deviation. neceffity as to jufAccordingly,thel lieutenantgovernor, by the advice of his Majefly's direéted, that the time formerly limited council, extended to the 31ft of fhonld be January then next enfuing(178s): but, at the fame time, the houfe, that he was not at heinformed any longer from the liberty to deviate regulations which had been eftablifhed in Great Britain. Voz. II. Ll *FROM it tify fach a deviation. neceffity as to jufAccordingly,thel lieutenantgovernor, by the advice of his Majefly's direéted, that the time formerly limited council, extended to the 31ft of fhonld be January then next enfuing(178s): but, at the fame time, the houfe, that he was not at heinformed any longer from the liberty to deviate regulations which had been eftablifhed in Great Britain. Voz. II. Ll *FROM --- Page 534 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK < FROM the 31ft of January 1785, therefore, VI. the ports continued fhut, and the fufferings of 1 the poor negroes,in confequence thereof, for fome months afterwards, were extreme : Providentially, the feafons became more favourable about May, and confiderable quantities of corn and ground provifions were gathered in by the month of Auguft; when the fourth ftorml happened,andthe lieutenant-governor immediately thut the ports againft the exportation of any of our provifions to the French and Spanith iflands, which were fuppofed to have fuffered more than ourfelves; but not thinking himfelf at liberty to permit the importation of provifions in American veffels, the produétions of the country were foon exhaufted, and the ufual attendants of fcanty and unwholefome diet, dropfies and epidemic dyfenteries, were again dreadfully prevalent in the fpring and fummer of 1786, and proved fatal to great numbers of the negroes in all parts of the country. 46 ON the 2oth of Oétobet in that year, happened the fifth dreadful hurricane, which again laid wafte the leeward parithes, and completed the tragedy. We decline to enlarge on the confequences which followed, left we may appear tq exaggerate; but having endeavoured to compute, with as much accuracy as the fubject will admit, the number of our flaves whofe deftruétion may be fairly attributed to thefe repeated calamities, and --- Page 535 --- WEST INDIES. and the unfortunate meafure of reign fupplies, and for this interdiéting fo- CHAP. imports and returns of purpofe compared the IV. years, with negroes for the laft feven thofe of feven years hefitaten not, after every allowance for preceding, we caufes, to fix the whole lofs at fifteen adventitious THIS NUMBER WE FIRMLY thoufind: PERISHED OF BELIEVE TO HAVE FAMINE, OR OF DISEASES CONTRACTED BY SCANTY AND DIET, BETWEEN THE LATTER END UNWHOLESOME OF THE 1780, AND BEGINNING OF 1787." SucH (without including the lofs of the other iflands, and the negroes in in their cultivation and confequent diminution which Great Britain returns) was the price at exclufive thought proper to retain her right of fupplying gherfugariflands with food and neceffaries! Common compel us to believe (as I verily do charity muft this dreadful believe) that profcription of fo many thoufand innocent people, the poor, unoffending neither intended nor forefeen negroes, was commended the by thofe who remeafures that produced it, Certainly no fuch proof was wanting to demonAratethat the refentments of party too fuperfede the common feelings of frequently It is indeed true, that the evil did our nature. fome meafure furnith its at length in babitants of own remedy: The intheir lands and Jamaica, by appropriating part of labour to the raifing of provifions, Ll2 and offending neither intended nor forefeen negroes, was commended the by thofe who remeafures that produced it, Certainly no fuch proof was wanting to demonAratethat the refentments of party too fuperfede the common feelings of frequently It is indeed true, that the evil did our nature. fome meafure furnith its at length in babitants of own remedy: The intheir lands and Jamaica, by appropriating part of labour to the raifing of provifions, Ll2 and --- Page 536 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK and the hewing of ftaves, found fome refource VI. within themfelves; and, happily for the other Y iflands, the United States did not, as was apprehended, adopt any fcheme of retaliation; fo that Britifh veffels ultimately obtained the profits of the carriage (whatever it was) between the Weft Indies and America 3 and thus at length the fyftem became recognized and confirmed by the legiflature (f). Bur, (f)1 By the 28th Geo. III. C. 6. which took effedt the 4th of April 1788, it is enaéted, <6 That no goods or commodities whatever fhall be imported or brought from any of the territories belonging to the United States of America, inta any of his Majefty's Weft India Iflands (in which defcription the Bahama Iflands, and the Bermuda, or Somers Iflands, are included) under the penalty of the forfeiture thereof, and alfo of the fhip or veffel in which the fame fhall be imported or brought, together with all her guns, furniture, ammunition, tackle, and apparel; except tobacco, pitch, tar, turpentine, hemp, flax, mafts, yards, bowfprits, ftaves, heading, boards, timber, thingles, and lumber of any fort; horfes, neat cattle, fheep, hogs, poultry, and live ftock of any fort; bread, bifcuit, flour, peafe, beans, potatoes, wheat, rice, oats, barley, and grain of any fort, fuch commodities, refpeétively, being the growth or production of any of the territories of the faid United States of America; And that none of the goods or commodities herein before excepted, enumerated, and defcribed, thall be imported or brought into any of the faid iflands from the territories of the faid United States, under the like penalty of the forfeiture thereof, and alfo of the fhip or veffel in which the fame hall be fo imported or brought, together with all her guns, furniture, ammunition, tackle, and apparel, except by Britifh fubjects and in Britifh-built fhips, owned by his Majefty's fubjeéts, and navigated according to law.-By another claufe, none of the aforefaid articles are to be or brought into any of the faid iflands from the territories of the faid United States, under the like penalty of the forfeiture thereof, and alfo of the fhip or veffel in which the fame hall be fo imported or brought, together with all her guns, furniture, ammunition, tackle, and apparel, except by Britifh fubjects and in Britifh-built fhips, owned by his Majefty's fubjeéts, and navigated according to law.-By another claufe, none of the aforefaid articles are to be --- Page 537 --- WEST INDIES. whatever benefit has accrued to the CHAP. BUT, and ar- IV. mother-country, from the regulations which the Briti(h parliament thus rangements it is certain that her confirmed and perpetuated, colonies in North Arerica, at whofe remaining for whofe benefit the (cheme of exinftance and clufion and reftriétion was principally promoted, from the derived few or none of thofe advantages which they had promifed to themfelves meafure, difcovered, when it was too in the outfet. They irrevolate, that the decrees of Providence were cable. The river Saint Lawrence remained, as feven months in the year by an. ufual, locked up Scotia barrier of ice; and Nova impenetrable fterile; fo much fo inftill continued inexorably that the very men who, in 1784, had condeed, reprefented ithisprovince as being capable, fidently in from of the foreign iflands, under the like be brought any and diftrefs, penalty, except in times of publick emergency with the advice and when the governors of any of our iflands, the importation of confent of the council, may authorize fhips for a limited them by Britith fubjeats in Britifh-built ftands with regard to the time." Such is the law as it now Weft Indies: import of American articles into the Indian Britith to the Concerning the export of Britith Weft produce Britith-buile United States, it is permitted to export, in whatfoever, fhips which and owned, any goods or commodities to be exwere not, at the time of paffing the ad, prohibited and alfo fugar, meported to any foreign countryin Europe, and piemento; ; bond being laffes, coffee, cocoa-nuts, ginger, ofthe fame in the United States. giren for the due landing L13 --- Page 538 --- 5T8 HISTORY OF THE BOOK in the courfe of three years, of fupplying alt the VI. Weft Indics with lumber and provifions, found ) it neceffary, at the end of thofe three years, to apply for and obtain the infertion ofa claufe in the prohibitory act, to authorize the admiffion of both lumber and provifions into that province from the United States. On this circumftance itis unneceffary to anticipate the reflections of the reader! Ix confequence of this pernsiffion, there were fhipped in the year 1790, from the United States to Nova Scotia alone, 540,000 ftaves and heading, 924,980 feet of boards, 285,000 fhingles, and 16,000 hoops 5 40,000 barrels of bread and meal, and 80,000 bufhels ofgrain; ; an irrefragable prooft that Canada had no furplus of either lumber or grain beyond her own confumption, or undoubtedly the Canadian market would have been reforted to, in preference to that of the United States. And thus vanifhed all the golden dreams and delufive promifes of a fufficient fupply from. Canada and Nova Scotia to anfwer the wants of the Weft Indies; and the predictions of the planters and merchants have been verified and confirmed by the experience of years. I regret that Iam unable to furnifh the reader with an accurate account of the aétual exports from thofe provinces to the Weft Indies fince the war (the report of the committce of council on the flave trade, to, in preference to that of the United States. And thus vanifhed all the golden dreams and delufive promifes of a fufficient fupply from. Canada and Nova Scotia to anfwer the wants of the Weft Indies; and the predictions of the planters and merchants have been verified and confirmed by the experience of years. I regret that Iam unable to furnifh the reader with an accurate account of the aétual exports from thofe provinces to the Weft Indies fince the war (the report of the committce of council on the flave trade, --- Page 539 --- WEST INDIES. information in all CHAP. ttade, though fraught with of the IV. other cafes that relate to the commerce the fth 3 being flent on this head) or of colonies, to the fugar iflands. which they fend annually into of this latter article imported The quantity on the Britilh Weft Indies from Newfoundland, both inof four years (1783 to 1786, an average quintals (g). clufive) was 80,645 from the THE exports, for the year 1787, AmeBritith fugar iflands to all our remaining Newfoundland included, conrican poffeffions, gallons of fifted of9,891 cwt. of fugar, 874580 26,380 81 cwt. of cacao, 4 cwt. of ginger, rum, 200 lbs. of piemento, 575 gallons of melaffes, of cotton wool, and cwt. of coffee, 1750 lbs. from Canada, St. John's, (g) The imports, into Jamaica of April, 1783, and the 26th and Nova Scotia, between been 3d ftated in a report ofthe Aembly of OStober 1784, have 6 catalogue" is very copious. oft that Ifland. The negative no Indian-corn, or other fhip-bread or bifcuit, No four,-no hogs, or poultry. The only meal,-no horfes, cattle, hundred fhieep, and eighty bufhels of potatoes, provifions were, one about barrels of falted fifh,- and 751 hogfheads and for 5oo the maintenance of 30,000 rather. a fcanty allowance blacks, for the fpace of nineteen white people, and 250,000 the quantity was 510,088 feet, months - Of lumber, &c. fhingles.- Previous to z0 bundles of hoops, and of 301,324 the five years from 176S to 1772, the war, on an average from Canada, Nova Scotia, the whole imports into Jamaica barrels of four, 7 hog/heads of fifh, and St. John's, were barrels 33 of tar, pitch, and turpentine, 36,000 8 barrels of oil, 3 feet of lumber. fhingles and ftaves, and 27,235 fome LT4 ,088 feet, months - Of lumber, &c. fhingles.- Previous to z0 bundles of hoops, and of 301,324 the five years from 176S to 1772, the war, on an average from Canada, Nova Scotia, the whole imports into Jamaica barrels of four, 7 hog/heads of fifh, and St. John's, were barrels 33 of tar, pitch, and turpentine, 36,000 8 barrels of oil, 3 feet of lumber. fhingles and ftaves, and 27,235 fome LT4 --- Page 540 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK fome fmall articles, fruit, &c. of little account; VI. the value of the whole, agreeably to the current prices in London, was 6.100,506. 175. Iod. ferling, and the thipping to which it gave employment was nominally 17,873 tons, navigated by 1,397 feamen. As this however includes repeated voyages, the quantity of tonnage and the number of men muft be reduced one-half, To the United States of America the fame ycarthe exports in Britifh fhipping were thefe: 19,921 ewt. of fugar, 1,620,205 gallons of rum, 1241 cwt. of eacao, 339 cwt. of ginger, 4,200 gallons of melaffes, 6,450 lbs. of piemento, 3,246 lbs. of coffee, 3,000 lbs, of cotton wool, 291 hides, and 737 barrelsoffruit. THE value in fterling money, according to the prices current in London, was 6.196,460. 8.. as hath been ftated in the former chapter (h). The amount of the freight on thefe exports, and alfo on American produétions fupplied the Weft Indies, is the monopoly which Great Britain has cxacted by her late regulations. It cannot therefore be faid, that if fhe has loft much, fhe has gained nothing; but eftimating her profit at the utmoft, to what does it amount, compared with the coft of the purchafe ? Admitting it even to ftand at the fum fixed by the committee of coun- (h) Number of veffels (including repeated voyages) 386, tonnage 43,380, men 2,854. cil --- Page 541 --- WE EST INDIES. how fubordinate is fuch a confiderations CHAP IV. til(i), in competition with the future 3 when placed exiftence of our fugar growth and profitable centerin iflands, the whole of whofe acquirements her the bofom of the mother-country, ehriching manufaétures; encouraging her filheries, upholdthe credit of her funds, fupporting the value ing ofher lands, and augmenting, through a thoufand channels, her commerce, navigation, revenues, ftrength, wealth, and profperity! of feON the whole; it is a confideration very that the benefits of the prefent rious importance commenfurate reftraining fyftem are by no means to the rifk which is incurred from it. Jamaicas it is true, in time of fearcity, may find fome refource within herfelf; and America has not yet adopted, and perhaps may riot adopt, meafures ofretaliation ; but it muft always be remembered; one oft the Weft Indian iflands is occathat every and many of them fionally fubjeét to hurricanes, deftroying all to exceffive droughts, which; by wretched the produéts of the earth, leave the but on imported provinegroes no dependence fions fupplied them by their owners. Antigua rendered by this calamity a has been frequently in fcene of defolations as it was particularly 1770, and twice again, in the years 1773 and 1778. (i) 4.245000 fterling. Should athat every and many of them fionally fubjeét to hurricanes, deftroying all to exceffive droughts, which; by wretched the produéts of the earth, leave the but on imported provinegroes no dependence fions fupplied them by their owners. Antigua rendered by this calamity a has been frequently in fcene of defolations as it was particularly 1770, and twice again, in the years 1773 and 1778. (i) 4.245000 fterling. Should --- Page 542 --- 5*z HISTORY OF THE BOOK Should the fame irrefiftible vifitation overtake 1 VI. thefe unfortunate countries hereafter,-as the planters have no veffels of their own, and thofe of America are denied admittanceinto their ports, bow are even the moft opulent among them to avert from their unhappy labourers the miferies offamine, which in a like cafe fwépt off fuch rumbers in Jamaica? Concerning the permiffion that Îs held out to the planters to refort, in time of emergency, to the foreigniflands, it is fo manifeftly nugatory, that I choofe not to fpeak ofit in the language which my feelings would dictate (k). COMPARED with the danger thus impending overthe feeble and defencelefs Africans, the inconveniency which of late has been felt and complained ofin Great Britain, from the high price of Weft Indian commodities, deferves not the confideration of a moment. It is the neceffary and unavoidable confequence of our own arrangements. Yet, perhaps, it is this circumftance alone that comes home to our feclings; and to this (k) Under the prefent limited intercourfe with America (exclufive of the uncertainty of being fupplied at all) the Weft Indians are fubjedt to three fets of devouring monopolifts. ift. The Britifh fhip-owners, 2d. Their agents at the ports in America. 3d. Their agents or faétors at the chief ports in the iflands, all of whom exaét an unnatural profit from the planter; : by which means thofe moft effential neceffaries, flaves and lumber, have rifen in price no lefs than 37per ive of the uncertainty of being fupplied at all) the Weft Indians are fubjedt to three fets of devouring monopolifts. ift. The Britifh fhip-owners, 2d. Their agents at the ports in America. 3d. Their agents or faétors at the chief ports in the iflands, all of whom exaét an unnatural profit from the planter; : by which means thofe moft effential neceffaries, flaves and lumber, have rifen in price no lefs than 37per --- Page 543 --- WEST INDIE3: more than to any other, I verily be- BOOK this caufe, which has IV. lieve, may be attributed the clamour excited againft the planters, been induftrioufly their fuppofed ill ufage of their neconcerning of is Difcontent at the high price fugar, groes. for the wretched, and the murcalled fympathy of avarice become the diétates ofhumanity. murs can be more grofs and lamenWhat inconfiftency of cruelty to his table! We accufe the planter and contemplate, at the fame time, with flaves, our own commercial approbation or indifference, thoufands of thofe unpolicy, under which many have already perifhed, and to which happy people thoufands more will pro- (1 grieve to add) many bably fall a facrifice ! comparative table will de37 per cent. as the following monftrate: : Prices of Raves, lumber, Edc. at Kinghon, Tamaica, during the frffrom 1772 to 1775 (bothyears inclufive) the two periods; focandfrom 1788 to 1791. 1772. 1773- 1774- 1775Firft Period: : E. S. 6.s f. s. 6.s. Red Oak Staves per M. 8 o 8 O 8 IO 9 White Oak Staves per M.9 IO 9 IO IO o II O Pitch-pine Lumber per M.8 o 9 o 9 IO IO O Common Lumber per M. 6 IO 7 IO 8 IO 9 IO 22 Inch Shingles per M. 2 o 2 S 2 IO 2 10 1788. 1789. 1790. 1791. Second Period; f. S. f. *. S. f. Red Oak Staves per M.14 IO 14 IO IO 12 O White Oak Staves per M.15 o 15 II o 12 o Pitch-pine Lumber per M. 14 o 12 5 II 1O 12 Common Lumber per M. 13 o IO O 9 io IO 22 Inch Shingles per M. 3 O 3 o 2 15 2 15 IO 2 10 1788. 1789. 1790. 1791. Second Period; f. S. f. *. S. f. Red Oak Staves per M.14 IO 14 IO IO 12 O White Oak Staves per M.15 o 15 II o 12 o Pitch-pine Lumber per M. 14 o 12 5 II 1O 12 Common Lumber per M. 13 o IO O 9 io IO 22 Inch Shingles per M. 3 O 3 o 2 15 2 15 --- Page 544 --- HISTORY OF THE APPENDIX TO CHAP. IV. OF BOOK VI. 300K THIS work having (1799) reached a third edition; VI. it is with infinite fatisfaétion the author has an Y tunity, in this place, of prefenting to his readers the oppor- 12th article of the treaty of amity, commerce, and navigation between his Britannick Majefty and the United States of America, concluded at London the Igth of November 1794, and finally ratified by the American Houfe of Reprefentatives on the 3oth of April 1796. What effeét the author's arguments in the preceding chapter produced on this occafion, he prefumes not to fay. That fome of the facts which he ftated had a very confiderable influence on the minds of his Majefty's minifters, he has been affured from high authority; and indeed it were injurious to the charater of thofe minifters to fuppofe that they had not. The 12th article is expreffed in the words following: t XII. His Majefty confents, that it kc thall and may be lawful, during the time hereinafter kc limited, for the citizens of the United States to carry kc to any of his Majefty's iflands and ports in the Weft ks Indies from the United States, in tbeir own wvefils, not 66 being above the burthen effeventy tons, any goods or mer- &c chandizes, being of the growth, manufaéture, or pro- < duce of the faid States, which it is or may be lawful cc to carry to the faid iflands or ports from the faid States c in Britifh veffels;and that the faid.American veffelsfhall 66 be fubjedt there to no other or higher tonnage duties 4 or charges than fhall be payable by Britifh veffels in 6 the 66 being above the burthen effeventy tons, any goods or mer- &c chandizes, being of the growth, manufaéture, or pro- < duce of the faid States, which it is or may be lawful cc to carry to the faid iflands or ports from the faid States c in Britifh veffels;and that the faid.American veffelsfhall 66 be fubjedt there to no other or higher tonnage duties 4 or charges than fhall be payable by Britifh veffels in 6 the --- Page 545 --- WEST INDIES. 5a5. of the United States; and that the cargoes of APPEN4 the ports veffels fhall be fubjeet there to no DIX. G the faid American than fhall be payable 1 e other or higher duties or charges from the faid States c on the like articlcsi ifimportedthere c in Britifh veffels. that it fhall be 6 And his Majefty alfo confents, for the faid American citizens to purchafe, € lawful in their faid veffels, to the United 6 load, and çarry away faid ifhands and ports, all fuch articles, G States, from the manufaéture, or produce of the E being of the growth, law be carried from thence ( faid iflands, as may now by veffels, and fubjeét only g to the faid States in Britifh to which 6 to the fame duties and charges on exportation fhall be fubjeêt < Britilh veffels and their cargoes are or C in fimilar circumftances. that the faid American veffels do < Provided always, in the United States only 5 6 carry and land their cargoes that, during the and declared, S it being exprefaly agred the United States will procc continuance of this article, melaffes, fugar, coffee, e hibit and reftrain the carrying any veflels, either from his G cocoa, or cotton, in American from the United States, to any part g Majefty's iflands or United States, reafonable fea g of the world, except the S ftores excepted. that it fhall and may be lawful, during c Provided alfo, for Britith veffels to import from the k the fame period, and to export from < faid iflands into the United States, all artlcles whatct the United States to the faid jflands, manufacture of e ever, being of the growth, produce, or 6 the faid iflands, or of the United States refpectively, be fo imG which now may by thel laws of the faid States and and that the cargoes of the faid K ported veffels exported; Thall be fubjeet to no other or higher g Britifh than (hall be payable on the fame G duties of charges, in American veffels. c articles iffoimported or exported matter and c It is agreed that this article, and every be in force thing therein contained, fhall continue to E 6 during --- Page 546 --- HISTORY OF THI E 3OOK c during the continuance of the war in which his (MaVI. < jeftyis now engaged; and alfo for two years from and 6 after the day of the fignature of the preliminary or other C articles of peacc by which the fame may be terminated. < And it is further agrced, that at the expiration "of the c faid term, the two contracting parties will endeavour 4 further to regulate their commerce in this refpect, aC6 cording to the fituation in which his Majefty may thea cc find himfelf with refpeêt to the Weft Indies, and with ( a view to fuch arrangements as may beft conduce to the $ mutual advantage and extenfion of commcrce." the fignature of the preliminary or other C articles of peacc by which the fame may be terminated. < And it is further agrced, that at the expiration "of the c faid term, the two contracting parties will endeavour 4 further to regulate their commerce in this refpect, aC6 cording to the fituation in which his Majefty may thea cc find himfelf with refpeêt to the Weft Indies, and with ( a view to fuch arrangements as may beft conduce to the $ mutual advantage and extenfion of commcrce." --- Page 547 --- WEST INDIES SPZ, CH A P. V. Charges bronght againf the Planters introdugory of and Doétrines the Defign of which is to Opinions that the Settlement of the Britifh Plantaprove, and unwife. e.-Tefimony of tions was improvident and Anithe Infpeor-General O1 this Subje8t, thereon.- -Erroneous Idea concerning madverfions betzween Great Britain and her a difina Interef National Income and the Sugar Mands-The Individuals arifing from thofe Iands Profits ef of Pofilethwaite confidered fparates-Opiisus Indian the Duties On W'ef and Child-Whether and Commodities imported fall 012 the Confiumers 7-Drawbacks and Bounties: : Exin what Cafes and their Origin and planation ef thofe Terms, MoPropriety traced and danaebratod-0fihe wopely-compas; its Nature and Origit-ReAriëlions on the Colonifs enumerated; and the Benefits refulting therefrom to the Mother Country whick pointed out and illdratrd-Adcantagon and the would accrue to the Planter, the Revenue, the Public, from permitting the Inhabitants ef Wef Idies to refine their raw Sugar for the Clamours raifed in Britifk Carfiumpist-L'njed Great Britain 01 any poey-ddsmnugiàoirot of efablifhing Sugar jsdian Staples-Prejea Plantations --- Page 548 --- HISTORY OF THE Plantations in the Eaft Indies under the Proteélion of Government osfidred-Reungdrase zuhich might be offered againft this and other Meafures.- Conclafion. BOOK AFTER fo copious a difplay as hath been given VI. of the prodigioufly increafed value of thefe im1 portant iflands, during the fpace of a century and a half, which have nearly elapled fince their firft fettlement, it may be fuppofed that the conduét of Great Britain towards them (notwithftanding the proceedings on which I have prefumcd ta animadvert in the foregoing chapter) has generally been founded in kindnefs and liberality S and that the murmurs and complaints which have fometimes proceeded from the planters, when new and hcavy duties have been laid on their ftaples, have been equally ungrateful and unjufts the faftidious peevifhnefs of opulent folly, and furfeited profperity. CHARGES to this effeét have indeed been frequently uged againft the planters of the WeftIndies, with a fpirit of bitternefs and rancour, which inclines one to think, that a fimall degree ofe envy( (excited,perhaps, by the fplendid appearance of a few opulent individuals among them refidentin Great Britain) is blended in the accufation. They would therefore have remained unnoticed by me, were they not, on frequent occafions, nefs of opulent folly, and furfeited profperity. CHARGES to this effeét have indeed been frequently uged againft the planters of the WeftIndies, with a fpirit of bitternefs and rancour, which inclines one to think, that a fimall degree ofe envy( (excited,perhaps, by the fplendid appearance of a few opulent individuals among them refidentin Great Britain) is blended in the accufation. They would therefore have remained unnoticed by me, were they not, on frequent occafions, --- Page 549 --- WEST INDIES. fions, introduétory of doétrines and as extraordinary in their opinions. CHA P. their nature, as dangerous in V. tendency ; for, fupported as they are by perfons of ability and influence, if adopted' by they cannot fail, minifters, and carried from the tional councils into nameafures, to widen our recent o wounds, and make a general maffàcre of whole fyftem of colonization. our OF thefe doétrines and opinions, fo far concern the Britifh as they dies, the plantations in the Weft Infollowing is a fair abftraét and ment: abridgeFIRST. That the fugar iflands have been tled by Britith capitals which fetmight have been employed to greater advantage at home,in ing on and extending the carrycommerce, and manufaétures, the agriculture of Great Britain. SECONDLY. That the money expended Weft Indian eftates, is in upon yielding a profitable general far from much return to the nation, inafas even a good crop does not leave the owner fo much as fix per cent. on his capital,after payment of expences. THIRDLY. That the duties on Weft Indian commodities fall altogether on the confumer. FOURTHLY. That the feveral laws which have been made, prohibitory confumption of Britilh tending to force the Weft Indian Voz. II. M. m produce upon --- Page 550 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK upont theinhabitantsof Great Britain, have vefted VI. ini the planters a complete monopoly of the Bri- - tifh market, at the coft, and to the manifeft injury, of the Britifh confumer, who might otherwife purchafe fugars, &c. from the foreign iflands, - 20 or 30 per cent. cheaper than in thofe of Great Britain. FIFTHLY. That from this great difparity of price between Britifh and forcign fugars, the former cannot be made an object of export from Great Britain, by any other means than by granting drawbacks and bounties out of the exchequer; the Britifh exporter being otherwife unable to ftand the competition of prices in the foreign market:-a policy, which is pronounced to be dangerous and deftruétive. THE inference which is drawn from thefe premifes is plainly this, that, confidering the expence of proteâting them in war, the fettlement of fugar plantations in the Weft Indies was improvident and unwife; and that their further extenfion and improvement would not promote the general interefts of the Britith empire. Iris probable that thefe, and fimilar notions of the fame tendency, bat of more extenfive application, were originally diffeminated with no other view, than, by depreciating the value and importance of all colonial fettlements, to reconcile the nation to thofe rath and inconfiderate * proccedings, , the fettlement of fugar plantations in the Weft Indies was improvident and unwife; and that their further extenfion and improvement would not promote the general interefts of the Britith empire. Iris probable that thefe, and fimilar notions of the fame tendency, bat of more extenfive application, were originally diffeminated with no other view, than, by depreciating the value and importance of all colonial fettlements, to reconcile the nation to thofe rath and inconfiderate * proccedings, --- Page 551 --- WEST INDIES. proceedings, which terminated in the lois of 53* America. They have had their day; CHAP, other fpeculations and endeavours and, like V. ineffeétual, as vain and 1 might have been configned, without injury, to oblivion. As, however, the manifeft aim of fuch doétrines is toinduce the to adopt meafures that in their legiflature check and impede the further confequences may lonifs in a line of cultivation, progrefs of the CO+ the exprefs in which, under have encouragement of government, they already embarked their fortunes, and plied their faculties, it becomes apwork of this kind, to confider neceffary, in a degree of attention. them with fome Ir might indeed be alledged, and with truth, that nothing can more clearly great nakednefs of that doétrine which expofe the fider the fugar iflands affeéts to contion, than a plain and as unprofitable to the naduétions which fimple difplay of the prothey, furnifh, the market which they create for our manufa@ures, and the ping to which they give thipa difplay hath already been employment. And fuch ceding exhibited in the prechapters : but, unfortunately, there prevail many popular prejudices againft the which are difficult to remove, becaufe colonies, founded not in reafon but felfifhnefs, they are thus entrenched, are only to be encountered Opinions M m 2 by recalling --- Page 552 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK recalling tot the publick attention, fuch eftablifhed VI. principles and facts as, being built on experience, neither fophiftry can perplex, nor felf-intereft elude. Ix moft of the late fpeculative fyftems that I have feen, which have treated of the Britifh COlonies, there appears this great and fundamental error, that their intereftsin general are confidered as diftinét from, and in fome refpects oppofed to, the general interefts of the empire, We fpeak of them indeed as our colonies, and of their inhabitants as our fubjects; but in our dealings, we are apt to regard them with a fpirit of rivalry or jealoufy, as an unconnededorhoflile people, whofe profperity is our detriment, and whofe gain is our lofs. INTIMATIONS to this effcét were, I admit, promulgated by very able writers at an early period, concerning new England, and fome other of the colonies in North Agierica ; but none of thole writers ever confidered the plantations in the Weft Indies in the fame point of view. They knew that the greateft benefit of colonies, is the produétion of ftaple commodities different from thofe ofthe mother- country; ana advantage almoft peculiar to fuch of our plantations as are fituated in the fouthern latitudes. This neceffary diftinétion feems however to have efcaped the notice , concerning new England, and fome other of the colonies in North Agierica ; but none of thole writers ever confidered the plantations in the Weft Indies in the fame point of view. They knew that the greateft benefit of colonies, is the produétion of ftaple commodities different from thofe ofthe mother- country; ana advantage almoft peculiar to fuch of our plantations as are fituated in the fouthern latitudes. This neceffary diftinétion feems however to have efcaped the notice --- Page 553 --- WEST INDIES. of thofe who admit that the money CHAP. tice even iflands, is in fact v. which is vefted in the fugar ) Britith property, and that the profits and returns from it, center in Great Britain, and no arifing another advantage peculiar to our where elfe; Yet the truth unWeft Indian fettlements. doubtedly is, that the fugar planters, generally for ipeaking, are but fo many agents or ftewards their creditors and annuitats in the motheror if, in fome few inftances, they are country ; themfelves, it is in Great independent proprietors Britain alone that their incomes are expended, their fortunes ultimately vefted. The pro-9 and iflands therefore ought, in all duce of the fugar on reafon, to be confidered as ftanding precifely the'fame footing with the produce of the motherThe fugar made in them is raifed by country. and the fale of it (as far as it can Britifh fubjeéts, purpole to Great Britain). anfwer any profitable market. In the aétual confined to the Britilh within the kingconfumption of the commodity the money which it cofts is only transferred dom, into that of from the hand of one inhabitant be the price high orlow, the naanother: : hence, the richer nor the tion at large is not one thilling of whatever is poorer on that account. But, ofwhatfaved,and confumed at home, thevalueis abroad, and paid for byforeigners, ever is exported the M m 3 --- Page 554 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK the amount is fo much clear gain to the king: VI. dom (b). NEITHER ought the national profits arifing from their cultivation, to be eftimated, in any degree, by the profits which are made by the feveral individual cultivators. The income which the nation derives from her fugar plantations, comprehends the whole of their produce. The income of the cultivators confifts only ofthe very fmall proportion of that produce which is left to them, after paying duties to government, freights and commifions to the Britifh merchants, and othe intereft of their debts to Britith creditors. Itis indeed very poffible that a concern may be lucrative to the publick, which is ruinous to the individual. That the nation has been benefited in ten thoufand ways from her plantations in the Weft Indies, no man of common fenfe or com- (8) It is the praétice with fome writers, in treating of foreign commerce, to confider every branch of it as unfavourable to the nation, in which the imports are of greater value than the exports; : that, is, they ftrike a balance on the cuftom-houfe entries, and confider the excefs either way, as the meafure of the national advantages, or difadvantages, of fuch a trade. Ferhaps the application of this tule to moft branches of foreign commerce (rightly fo called) is not improper ; and it will extend, I am afraid, in a great degree, to our trade with the Eaft Indies ; but from what has been faid in the text, the reader will perceive the grois abfurdity of bringing our intercourfe with the Weft Indies to the fame ftandard ; and that our importfrom, and not export to them, is to be confidered as the meafure of their value. mon of fuch a trade. Ferhaps the application of this tule to moft branches of foreign commerce (rightly fo called) is not improper ; and it will extend, I am afraid, in a great degree, to our trade with the Eaft Indies ; but from what has been faid in the text, the reader will perceive the grois abfurdity of bringing our intercourfe with the Weft Indies to the fame ftandard ; and that our importfrom, and not export to them, is to be confidered as the meafure of their value. mon --- Page 555 --- WEST INDIES. denied, until the motives that CHAP. mon candour ever gave birth to a contrary V. 1 I have already affigned, individual proprietors pretence ; and that many by have, at the fame time, fuffered confiderably therein, Iam afraid it is too notorious adventuring to difpute. that comes more immeBUT the argument bulk of the community, ,is the diately home to the have before nightly very prevalent idea which I of the Britith Weft noticed, that all the produéts article fugar, Indies, and more cfpecially the great dearer than twenty to thirty per cent. are frop Againft this thofe of the foreign plantations. it might circumftance, (if it were well founded) benefit feem fufficient to oppole the national but the generally from the whole fyftem ; arifing mindful of himfelf only, conceives that confumer, to purchafe fugar he ought to have permiffion it. the rate, wherever he can procure at cheapeft whofe aim it is to buy cheap and The refiner, fame to which fell dear, claims the privilege; ifhe would indeed there would be lels objection, confent that another part of bis fellow-fubjedts, the of the eommodity, fhould enjoy the growers commercial reftraint which fame freedom from however, the he requires for himfelf. Unluckily deftitute of foundation. fact itfelf is altogether of price, indeThe exiftence of fuch difparity Aluétuations, pendent of Faccidental and tempofary is M m 4 which fell dear, claims the privilege; ifhe would indeed there would be lels objection, confent that another part of bis fellow-fubjedts, the of the eommodity, fhould enjoy the growers commercial reftraint which fame freedom from however, the he requires for himfelf. Unluckily deftitute of foundation. fact itfelf is altogether of price, indeThe exiftence of fuch difparity Aluétuations, pendent of Faccidental and tempofary is M m 4 --- Page 556 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK is neither true nor poffible, as is demonftrated VI. the magnitude of the Britith by export, both of raw and refined fugar, for the fupply of foreign markets; it being evident, that foreigners would not refort to our market for the purchafe of a commodity, which they might buy cheaper at home (c) : Nor do I recolleét when it was otherwife. (c) Refpedting the French fugar iflands, I can fpeak of my own knowledge. Moft of their largeft planters having adopted the praétice of claying, they pay lefs attention to the manufaéture of good mufcavado than is given to in our iflands. This latter therefore, being generally * inferior quality, may be fold proportionally cheaper than ours; but whenever it is of equal goodnefs, the price alfo is equal, and fometimes higher. Of twelve famples of mufcavado fugar produced to me in Saint Domingo, as of the beft quality of Jaucre bridt made in that ifland, I could not honeftly that any one was well manufaéured; and 1 am pronounce I could have purchafed better fugars in Jamaica at perfuaded a lefs than was afked for thofe. This was in 1791, foon after price the revolt of the flaves, when it might have been fuppofed that the diftreffes of the French planters would have compelled them to fell their fugars more reafonably than they had done for feveral years before. In fact, the only datum for the relative value of foreign and Britifh fugar, is the afcertaining of each at the cclonial market; infiead of which, the price price always referred to, is the price in Eurepe, afer the charges of freight, duty,c. arc added to the original coft. The not to this neceffary diftinétion, has probably given rife attending to the very erroneous idea above noticed, which has occafioned more ill-will and groundlefs complaint againft the Britifh figar planter, than any other circumftance. While I am onl this fubjedt it mayaiot be improper to take fome notice the difparity between the of profits obrained on their fugar by the Eurepe, afer the charges of freight, duty,c. arc added to the original coft. The not to this neceffary diftinétion, has probably given rife attending to the very erroneous idea above noticed, which has occafioned more ill-will and groundlefs complaint againft the Britifh figar planter, than any other circumftance. While I am onl this fubjedt it mayaiot be improper to take fome notice the difparity between the of profits obrained on their fugar by the --- Page 557 --- WEST INDIES. wife. There was indeed a time when England, CHAP. of her own, was compelled V. having no plantations of foreign nations, and at their own to purchafe for a prices, many articles of prime neceffity, fupply the Britifh and French planters in Great Britain and France. of charaéter, * the author ftates the In a Frenth publication at whole year's import into France on an average equal to 130,000 cafks, valued at 90 million of livres, E-fter. this 3.937,500. value he fets the duties and imAgainft Livres. pofts, viz. Duties of the weftern domain - 5,600,000 - 6.245,000 Ditto in the Weft Indies - 7,344,000 - - 321,300 566,300 Ditto on 50,000 cafks confum- 7 4,592,000 - 200,900 ed or refined in France Total of impofts and duties, including the 7 charges of Government, civil and mili- - 767,200 tary, in the iflands E. 5. d. According to this ftatement, 2 thefe fugars are valued, per 30 5 93 cafk, at - And the duties thereon efti- 2 5 8 O mated at S Leaves, clear of duties - 24 17 91 fterling money. Let us now look to Britith fugars. I fuppofe 14 cwt. a good average weight per cafk at fale, and that 21 1. SS. per cwt. was a high medium of pricein Great Britain (duty, &c. included) for feveral years previous to,the revolt of the flaves in St. Domingo: I compute # Reflections d'un Vicillard, &C, 1785: O 8 O mated at S Leaves, clear of duties - 24 17 91 fterling money. Let us now look to Britith fugars. I fuppofe 14 cwt. a good average weight per cafk at fale, and that 21 1. SS. per cwt. was a high medium of pricein Great Britain (duty, &c. included) for feveral years previous to,the revolt of the flaves in St. Domingo: I compute # Reflections d'un Vicillard, &C, 1785: O --- Page 558 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK fupply of which, thofe very nations now refort to VI. the Britifh market. Cc Before the fettlement of 1 our colonies (fays Poftlethwaite) our manufactures were few, and thofe but indifferent. In thofe I compute the publick charges, civil and military, paid in our iflands by grant of affembly, at not lefs than 200,0001. per annum : And that this refts as a charge upon their fugars of about two fhillings per cwt. The amount of thefe colonial impofts upon a cafk of 14 cwt. will therefore be K.I 8 Os The Britifh duties which were formerly paid on importation were 12. 5. 3.per cwt. 8 12 O In all, per cafk - E-IO o O Then, fuppoling the grofs value of one cafk of 14per cwt. at 45.. per cwt. to be 6-31 1O O Deduét publick impofts and duties IO O O Leaves - 6.21 IO o N. B. ;l. 8s. (the French Dnties) is rather lefsthan 18per cent. on the value, and zol. the impofts and duties paid by the Britifh planters, is 31 * per cent. From the preceding calculation it appears, that out of rool, value ofthe French planter's fugar, there is left him, after payment of duties to his government abroad and at home, 821.-But to the Britith planter, out of his figar, no more than 681. gs.-and although the grofs apparent value of the Briti(h planter's hogfhead of fugar is higher than that of the French planter's by il. 45. 3d. yet he receives, after paying the taxes upon it, lefs than the other by 31. 7S. gd.-This fuperior advantage enables the French planters to pay: a higher price for negroes, and to carry on their plantations at a greater expence than the Engih-circum@ances which probably make the fcale between the planters of the two nations nearly even. O value of the Briti(h planter's hogfhead of fugar is higher than that of the French planter's by il. 45. 3d. yet he receives, after paying the taxes upon it, lefs than the other by 31. 7S. gd.-This fuperior advantage enables the French planters to pay: a higher price for negroes, and to carry on their plantations at a greater expence than the Engih-circum@ances which probably make the fcale between the planters of the two nations nearly even. O --- Page 559 --- WEST INDIES. thofe days, we had not only our naval ftores, but CHAP. V. from our neighbours. Germany fur- - pur thips, with all things made of metal, even to o nifhed us linens, and a thoufand other nails. Wine, paper, fupplied us things, came from France. Portugal with fugar, All the produéts of America were poured into us from Spain; and the Venetians and Genoefe retailed to us the commodities of the Eaft Indies, at their oz0n price." The fame is confirmed by Sir Jofiah Child. c6 Poraccount fugar (fays this author) before we had tuguele fold for feven and cight plantations of our own, and it isa pounds fterling the quintal or cwt.;" after remarkable and well known circumftance, that the cultivation ofindigoin Jamaica, was fuppreffed by an exorbitant duty of near 6.20 the hundred weight, Great Britain was compelled to toher rivals and enemies 6.200,000 annually pay fort this commodity, fo effential to a great variety of her moft important manufaétures. At length, the duty being repealed, and a bounty, fome time after, fubftituted in its place, the provinces of Georgia and South Carolina entered upon, and fucceeding in the culture of this valuable plant, fupplied, at a far cheaper rate than the French and Spaniards (regeiving too our manufaétures in payment) not only the Britifh confumption, but alfo enabled Great Britain to export a furplus at an advanced price to foreign markets, IF --- Page 560 --- HISTORY OF THE. BOOK - IF thefe writers then were well informed, and VI. the commeicial world has thought highly of their - induftry and knowledge, it would be difficult to prove (though it is eafily faid, and as eafily denied) that the fettlement ofthe Britifh fiugarplantations was unwife or improvident 5 nor will it be found very eafy to point out any other channel in which the money which has been expended in their improvement, could have been applied to greater national benefit. Againft advantages of fuch magnitude and permanence as I have fhewn to refult from thofe colonies, and the various branches of our commerce dependent thereon, neither the lofs to individuals in the plantations, by improvident fchemes in the outfet, or improper conduét in their fublequent purfuits, nor the temporary inconvenience which is fometimes fuftained.by the purchafers and confumers at, home, from an occafional advance of price in fome few of the colonial produéts, outweighs in the fcale of reafon a feather! ISHALL now proceed to confider thofe other pofitions and doétrines which have beenadvanced concerning the duties that are paid, and the drawbacks that are granted on the produéts of the Britifh fugar iflands, and Thall afterwards treat fomewhat largely of the monopoly compaét, or the privilege which the planters of thofe iflands poilels, of fupplying exclufively the Britifh confamption the colonial produéts, outweighs in the fcale of reafon a feather! ISHALL now proceed to confider thofe other pofitions and doétrines which have beenadvanced concerning the duties that are paid, and the drawbacks that are granted on the produéts of the Britifh fugar iflands, and Thall afterwards treat fomewhat largely of the monopoly compaét, or the privilege which the planters of thofe iflands poilels, of fupplying exclufively the Britifh confamption --- Page 561 --- WI EST INDIES. and other articles. oThe fub- CHAI P. fumption offugar, of orna- V. jeêt is naturally dry,and not fufceptible but its importance will not be difputed, ment ; but few commercial regulaand perhaps there are than tions whofe principles are lefs underftood thofe of the compaét laft mentioned. THE points to be confidered are briefly comobjections :-It is afprifed in the following ferted, That the duties which are levied on FIRST, the produéts of the Britifh Weft Indies imported Great Britain, though paid in the firft ininto ultimately ftance by the proprictor or importer, the and on him alone (d). fall on confumer, SECONDLY, (d) The following are correét tables ofthe duties payable Indian atthis time (1792) on the principal articles United of Weft States of produce, both in Great, Britain and the America : IMPORTATION into GREAT BRITAIN of DUTIES payable of upon] the Britif WeR Indies, agrecalle to the Conthe Produce back folidated A01, mof of auhich are drawn upon Exportation. d. E S. d. 5. Refined fugar, cwt. 4 18 8 Indigo, mahogany, Mufc. fugar, - - o 15 O Nicaragua wood, logwood, lignunRum,purgallon,cuf- excife vita, and fuftick, toms sd. 45. 3d. - - o 4 3 free. Piemento,per lb. o o 3 Coffee, per cwt. O 3 Cocoa, * If the Coffce isfor home confumptiats, it pays afurther duty of 31. 155. per caut. to the cufloms, and 6td. per lb. to theexcife.- Cocoa alfo, Sffor home cos/umption,pays 125. 6d.perc reaut-oxeif 61 d. per lb. ick, toms sd. 45. 3d. - - o 4 3 free. Piemento,per lb. o o 3 Coffee, per cwt. O 3 Cocoa, * If the Coffce isfor home confumptiats, it pays afurther duty of 31. 155. per caut. to the cufloms, and 6td. per lb. to theexcife.- Cocoa alfo, Sffor home cos/umption,pays 125. 6d.perc reaut-oxeif 61 d. per lb. --- Page 562 --- S43 HISTORY OF THE BOOK SECONDELY, That the practice of allowing VI. drawbacks on their re-export, is and Y dangerous deftruétive. THIRDLY, E. S. d. 6. 5. d. Cocoa, ditto. - - O I 3 Gum Guaiacum, O O 9 Ginger, black or Jalap 0 o 9 white, per cwt. O II O Aloes, per cwt. - 6 10 8 Cotton, fro.n any Sarfaparilla, per lb. o O 8 place in Britifh Tamarindsred,cwt.: O 6 bottoms,,free. Impof of the UNITED STATES upon WEST INDIA PRODUCE. Cents. Centss Diftilled "fpirits, if more forty per cont. above than ten per cent. below proof : 30 proof, per gallon - : 20 If of more than forty If more than five, and per cent. above proof 40 not more than ten, per Brown fugar - cent. below a 21 Melaffes Ifofproof, and not more Coffee, ter pound than five per cent. beCocoa I low 22 Piemento If above proof, but not Indigo exceeding twenty per Cotton - 3 cent. 25 Tonnage on foreignvefIf of more than twenty, fels per ton 5o and not more than N. B. One handred Cents is equal to a Spamif Dollar, Not lefs than 50 Gals, to be imported into the United States. *** An addition of ten per centum to be made to the feveral rates of duties before fpecified and impofed, excepting rum, which thall be imported in fhips or veffels not of the United States. E Brown or Mufcavado fugar, not of the Britifh plantations, is fubject, on its importation into Great Britain, to a duty --- Page 563 --- WEST INDIES. fupply CH AP. THIRDLY, That the monopoly"of V. vefted in the planters is partial, oppreffive, and L unjuft. confider thefe feveral pofitions in the Is SHALL them. The inveforder in which 1 have placed D tigation of them is neceffary to the completion ofmy work, and, with a few general obfervations, will conclude my labours. IF daily experience did not evince that argument has very little effeét on the avaricé of goand the felfith prejudices of indivivernment, it might be a matter of wonder that the duals, (in the full extent to which firft of thefe pofitions it is carried) fhould ever be ferioufly repeated, after the clear and tinanfiwerable refutation which has been given toit, both in parliament and from the prefs, a thoufand times; and what is more, by fad experience in a thoufand inftances! SQ long, however, as it continues to be the language of prejudiced or interefted men, it is the duty of the planters to give it attention; and although have nothing new to offer on a quefthey may has been fo frequently and fully inveftion which tigated, duty of E.1. 75 2d. and white or clayed fugar of foreign being growth to 6.2. 55. 6d. the cwt; Eaft Indian fugar goods, ranked among the company'si imports as mangfaétured It is all white or pays 6-37. 16s. 3d.per cent. ad valorem. clayed furgar. to give it attention; and although have nothing new to offer on a quefthey may has been fo frequently and fully inveftion which tigated, duty of E.1. 75 2d. and white or clayed fugar of foreign being growth to 6.2. 55. 6d. the cwt; Eaft Indian fugar goods, ranked among the company'si imports as mangfaétured It is all white or pays 6-37. 16s. 3d.per cent. ad valorem. clayed furgar. --- Page 564 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK tigated, they have no reafon on that account to VI. be filent; inafmuch as the doétrine itlelf has not, unfortunately, the grace of novelty to recommend it. THE planters then have affirmed, and they repeat, that there is not an axiom in mathematicks more inconteftible than this maxim in commerce, that the value %f all commodities at market depends entirely on their plenty or ftarcity, in proportion tothe demand or confumption.-IE the quantity at market is not equal to the demand, the feller undoubtedly can, and always does, fix his own price on his goods. On the other hand, when the quantity at market greatly exceeds the vent or demand, then it is out of the feller's power to influence the price, for the plenty will neceffarily keep it down in fpite of his utmoft endeavours to raife it. THE truth therefore undoubtedly is, that in thelatter cafe the original coft of the goods, and all fubfequent charges thereon, fuch as freight, warehoufe rent, duties and taxes of all kinds, are objectsof no concern to the buyer. The quantity, and the quantity alone, regulates the price at market, and augments or diminifhes the profits of the feller. If the demand be great, and the quantity fmall, the feller has fometimes an opportunity not only of reimburfing himfelf the original --- Page 565 --- WEST INDIES. coft, and all fubfequent charges and CHAP, briginal of making great profit beV. duties, but likewife Reverfe the circumftances, and he finds fides. himfelf a confiderable lofer. All this is the neceffary and unavoidable nature of commercial adventure, which is only profperous as it contrives market properly; or, in other words, to to feedthe than to the make the fupply no more adequate demand : Thus the taxes on leather, foap, candles, malt, beer, and fpirits, by enhancing the price to, may be faid to fall on, the confumers; have it in their power, for as the manufaéturers fo they proportion the fupply to the demand, and bring to market no more than fufficient to anfwer the confumption, and if, after all, they cannot obtaina living profit, they ceafe to deal in thole commodities. Ir is the famein regard totea, wines, and othér commodities, the growth or manufaéture of foreign nations, over whofe exports we have no controul, The merchant importer governs his imby the demand which he computes there ports will be at the Britifh market for the commodity; and ceafes to import fuch goods as he finds will him a afrer the duty and all other not yield profit, charges are reimburfed. BUT, in the cale of articles which the fituation and neceffities of the owner bring to fale, and for which no other vent can be found, it is impoffible VoL. II. N n that over whofe exports we have no controul, The merchant importer governs his imby the demand which he computes there ports will be at the Britifh market for the commodity; and ceafes to import fuch goods as he finds will him a afrer the duty and all other not yield profit, charges are reimburfed. BUT, in the cale of articles which the fituation and neceffities of the owner bring to fale, and for which no other vent can be found, it is impoffible VoL. II. N n that --- Page 566 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK that any duties or taxes which the commodity VI. may have paid in itsway to market, can - haveany effect on the price; for the price arifes from the demand, and the demand from the buyer's wants, which it would be abfurd to fay the laying any duty can create, oF the not laying it diminifh.- Thus, when wheat is fcarce, the price rifes; and two or three good harvefts make it cheap again, without any reference to the land-tax whether it be 35. or 45. and without any regard to the farmer's expences. Nor will corn afterwards bear a good price, until the ftock is leffened by exportation, or otherwife, to fuch a quantity as is barely fufficient for home confumption. Hops, hay, cyder, and a thoufand other commodities, are fubjeét to the fame rule. SUCH toois precifely the fituation of the Weft Indian planters : they are compelled to fend their goods to market, or ftarve ; and (with a few unprofitable exceptions) there is no market to which they are permitted to refort but that of Great Britain. Their produce therefore, when brought to fale, can obtain no other than its natural price, I mean that price which a greater or lefs fupply neceffarily and naturally creates. The confumers of fugar neither care for, nor enquire after, its original coft, or the duties and charges which it has paid in its way to market. The importer however muft pay the dutics before he can --- Page 567 --- WEST INDIES. can bring his fugar to fale, for no man will unlefs the duty is firft buy CHAP. cleared; and whether the V. importer can compel the buyer to refund the Y whole, or any part of it, by adding it tor the price of the commodity, depends I have altogether, as oblerved, on the quantity at being an abfolute market; ; it great plenty and a contradiétion to affirm that on the other, bigh price on the one hand, or exift great fcarcity and a low at one and the fame time. price, can other That fugar, like commodities, is fometimes bought Great Britain by up in be very engroffers on fpeculation, may pofible; but this is a traffick in which neither the planters in the Weft as faétors at home, have Indies, nor their they anfiwerable for any concern, fo neither are from it. any confequences arifing Ir is true that, when have overtaken the Weft providential calamities fometimes been Indies, the evil has of remotely felt by the E Great Britain. Wheni it inhabitants to lay wafte the fugar iflands pleafed the Almighty tremendous by a fucceffion of hurricanes, it was reafonable to tbat the reduced ftate of their expeét hance their value in exports, would enEurope. It might then haps be faid that the confumer of perburfed in fome degree the fugar reimofits culture and charges and expences tranfportation, and the duties Nn 2 which Britain. Wheni it inhabitants to lay wafte the fugar iflands pleafed the Almighty tremendous by a fucceffion of hurricanes, it was reafonable to tbat the reduced ftate of their expeét hance their value in exports, would enEurope. It might then haps be faid that the confumer of perburfed in fome degree the fugar reimofits culture and charges and expences tranfportation, and the duties Nn 2 which --- Page 568 --- HISTORY OF THE BOO K which had been levied upon it. It was the naVI. tural and only relief (inadequate at the beft) which the fugar planters could receive; but if, from fome occafional increafe of price on fuch emergencies, they are made fubject to permanent burthens, founded on the vainand fallacious idea that, becaufe the confumer has replaced them once, he will replace them again; the devaftations of the elements are only the leffer evil. ADMITTING howeverthat the confumer really does, in a great many cafes, pay the duty, Or, in other words, that the vender has it very frequently in his power to force his own price; who does not fec, as an inevitable confequence, that a decreafe in the confumption will foon bring the price back to its level ? The produéts of the Weft Indies are rather among the luxuries than the neceffaries of lifc, and the great confumption of fugar efpecially, is with the middle and lower claffes of people, who can, and undoubtedly will, lay it afide when reafons of frugality require it. If any one doubts that this will be the effect, let him only enquire of any country grocer as to the fact, at a time when Mufcavado fugar,in confequence of the calamities that have been ftated, and from captures in war, rofe fuddenly onefourth in value: he will find that the diminution, in the confumption in many parts of the kingdom, --- Page 569 --- WEST INDIES relative proportion; CHAP. dom, was in a much greater branch V. more fatal fymptom cannot attend any a of commerce. which have thus been ftated IF the arguments themfelves to juftify the reare. not fufficient in of the Weft monftrances which the planters from Indies have thought it incumbent on them, the increafe of dutime to time, to urge againft which muft ties, there are faéts to be adduced, convince the moft felfith and incredulous. THE inftance of indigo has been mentioned and it cannot be repeated too often.- already; of the duties on that The planters complained of thole article, as they have fince complained are and they were told then, as they on fugar, in other cafes, that the duties fell conftantly told Government howultimately on the confumer. faw, by abrogating all the duties, ever at length, its error 3 but the remedy was and acknowledged for ifthe duties had cither been applied too late ; of them had taken off in time, or if the weight the inftead of the planter, fallen on the confumer, all difpute, had cultivation of indigo, beyond never been wrefted out ofour hands. infurniches another CACA0, or chocolate, ofthe fatal effcéts of high duties on imporftance feem that an article tation. Strange as it may colonies can raife in the greate(t which our own fhould be fubjeét to a plenty and perfedtion, higher N n 3 time, or if the weight the inftead of the planter, fallen on the confumer, all difpute, had cultivation of indigo, beyond never been wrefted out ofour hands. infurniches another CACA0, or chocolate, ofthe fatal effcéts of high duties on imporftance feem that an article tation. Strange as it may colonies can raife in the greate(t which our own fhould be fubjeét to a plenty and perfedtion, higher N n 3 --- Page 570 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK higher proportionate duty than the foreign comVI. modity tea (the place of which chocolate or coffee - might have fupplied;) fuch however was the cafe even when the duties on tea were nearly double what they are at prefent ! The confequence was, that whether the duties on cacao fell on the confumer or the planter, the effect on the latter was precifely the fame; forifthrough want of a living profits the planter could not afford to continue the cultivation; or if, in exacting a living profit, he loft his cuftomers, becaufe they could no longer afford to purchafe, his fituation became equally diftreffing; until neceffitycompelled himtochange his fyftem, and apply his land and labourto other objects. Thus the growth of cacao, which once conftituted the pride of Jamaica, and its principal export, became checked and fuppreffed beyond the power of recovery. I think I have ellewhere obferved, that there is not at this day a fingle cacao plantation, of any extent, from one end of the ifland to the other. THE cultivation of ginger fucceeded that of cacao, and met with a fimilar fate: but perhaps theinftance of coffee will come more immediately home to the imagination of minifters, becaufe the proof which it affords arifes, not from what has been lojt by impolitick taxation, but from what has been gained by a prudent reduction of exifting duties. In the one cafe, the leffon it affords --- Page 571 --- WEST INDIES. SSE affords is too mortifying to be acceptable: the CHAP, a a to their V. other they will receive as compliment - 1 wifdom. Having however ftated the circumftancein a former part ofthis work (e), itisunneceffary to enlarge upon it here. FROM the whole of what has been obferved of duties, this conclufion appears on the queftion that in nine cafes to me to be incontrovertible; the out often, the duties which are paid on produéts ofthe Britifh plantations, fall chiefly (either on the colonift in the immediately or eventually) and Weft Indies, who is commonly the importer, Great Britain ;-and it is not on the confumerin when the equally certain that, in the tenth cafe, confumer pays them, he onght to pay them ; inaftaxes thouldinjuflice prefs with equal much as all in weight on every member of the community, to his ability to fuftain them; of proportion which, in the cafe of taxable commodities, confumption is the criterion. To this confideration muft be added the well-known and eftablifhed axiom, that taxes paid by the publick at large diftribute themfelves fo equally on the whole, as eventually to raife the price of all other commohimfelf for taxes which dities; each man repaying he pays on other articles, by advancing the price of his own. Let the planters then no longer bé (c) Book v. c.iv. p-349. N n 4 contemptuoufly taxable commodities, confumption is the criterion. To this confideration muft be added the well-known and eftablifhed axiom, that taxes paid by the publick at large diftribute themfelves fo equally on the whole, as eventually to raife the price of all other commohimfelf for taxes which dities; each man repaying he pays on other articles, by advancing the price of his own. Let the planters then no longer bé (c) Book v. c.iv. p-349. N n 4 contemptuoufly --- Page 572 --- HISTORY OF THE B OOK contemptuoufly told (for fuch has been the lanVI. guage of their adverfaries) that they have groaned v without a grievance. I have fhewn that they have been driven, from time to time, by duties accumulated on duties, from the cultivation of one produétion to another; and if (apprehenfive that the few valuable ftaple commodities which now remain to them are in danger of being facrificed, as others have been, to a fyftem of impolitick taxation) they ftate their apprehenfions to minifters, by a recital of plain facts, and a perfeverance in weil grounded complaints, it feems to me they are equally ferving government, and defending their own rights and properties.- Supplies muft neceffarily be raifed; ; they admit it; but contend that there is a point at which taxation on any particular object muft ftop, or it will not only defeat its own purpofe, but have the effeét alfo of endangering all former duties laid on the fame object, by totally deftroying its cultivation or manufaéture. The fubject now naturally leads me to the confideration of drawbacks and bounties, on the re-export of Britifh plantation produéts, the fecond head of our prefent enquiries 5 and as the principal ofthofe produets is fugar, I thall confine my remarks to that article. THE term DRAWEACK, in the language of the Cuftom-houfe, is applied to the tax repaid upon --- Page 573 --- WEST INDIES. of raw fugar, and the word CHAP. upon the exportation which is paid upon the V. BoUNTY to the money in - exportation of what is refined, and exported loaf unbroken. The word drawback fufficiently its meaning ; for (excepting the gain to expreffes by intereft, in confequence of having government of the tax for fome time in its had a depofit the duty retained on the hands, and excepting continued in a quantity wafted while the fugar Britifh port) the original duty paid at importawithout dimition, is refunded on exportation, nution or addition. This at prefent (including the laft duty of 25. 8d. laidin 1791, and declared to be temporary) is 155. the hundred weight. But as to the bounty, the çafe was once different. the refining trade in Great Britain, To encourage actual on the government gave. an premium of refined fugar in loaves, in addition to export and the colleétive fums fo refunded the drawback, together to 26s. the hunand paid, amounting the name of dred weight, obtained generally bounty ; a name which is ftill retained, although fince the laft duty was laid, the extra fum in fact, the drawback, is but little, which is paid beyond for the if any thing, more than a compenfation which is paid on the extra quantity of raw duty of fugar expended in producing a given quantity refined, addition to export and the colleétive fums fo refunded the drawback, together to 26s. the hunand paid, amounting the name of dred weight, obtained generally bounty ; a name which is ftill retained, although fince the laft duty was laid, the extra fum in fact, the drawback, is but little, which is paid beyond for the if any thing, more than a compenfation which is paid on the extra quantity of raw duty of fugar expended in producing a given quantity refined, --- Page 574 --- S54 HISTORY OF THE BOOK refined, and loft by pilferage and wafte, between VI. the-importation and day of as L fale, will prefently be demonftrated (f). HAVING (f) The ftatute book denominates that fpecies of refined fugar upon which what is called the bounty is granted, 6 Sugar in the loaf and whale, being neti." Upon the export of thisfort of fugar the bounty was raifed by the sth George III.c.45. to 14s. 6d. and a further bounty of IIS. 6d. was granted by the 21 George III. C. 16. making together 26. 5. per cwt. and fo it continues at prefent. The laft bounty of 115. 6d, was granted in confequence of an additional duty of 6s. per cwt. laid in 1781, on raw fugar imported, when Lord North was Chancellor of the Exchequer, who frankly declared that he propofed the aforefaid bounty purpofely to remunerate the planters from the import duty, which he admitted they were unable to bear. It is evident however, that the dutyis permanent and certain; the relief, temporary and cafual; inafmuchast theexport ofrefined fugar inaltogetheroccafioni), depending on the fluéuating ftate of foreign inarkets. Should the foreign demand fail, on whom will this additional duty fall but on the planter? This confideration alone is a good reafon why the bounty fhould be more than proportionate to the drawback, Yet when parliament, ia 1791, by the 31 George III. C. 15, laid a further duty of 25. 8d.por cwt. on raw fugar imported from the Britifh plantations (appropriating the fame, for the term of four years, towards the difcharge of certain exchequer bills) making the import duty 15:. per cwt. in the whole, no addition was made to the bounty on the export of refined loaf. All that could be obtained was an addition of 31. 4d. to the drawback, on what the ftatute calls bafards, and ground or porodered fiugar; and alfo on refined loaf broke into pieces, and all fugar called candy. Upon the export of thefe fpecies of fugar, the drawback previous to the 31 Geo. III. ftood at IIS. 8d. only, while the duty duty 15:. per cwt. in the whole, no addition was made to the bounty on the export of refined loaf. All that could be obtained was an addition of 31. 4d. to the drawback, on what the ftatute calls bafards, and ground or porodered fiugar; and alfo on refined loaf broke into pieces, and all fugar called candy. Upon the export of thefe fpecies of fugar, the drawback previous to the 31 Geo. III. ftood at IIS. 8d. only, while the duty --- Page 575 --- WEST INDIES. thus explained what is meant by the CHAP. HAVING V. dawback and bounty, in the cafe of fugar - terms now endeavour to prove that exported, I fhall of the duties, under either appelthe repayment lation, is not a matter of favour to the colonift but of rigourous juftice, and is or importer, and confcientious right which founded on a ftriét and of which he cannot be deprived, he poffeffes, fenfe of moral duty, and a regard to fo long as a juftice, (hall be found among the principles equal of a free government. of merchandize either comes W0AN importer into our ports, to feek the beft market luntarily for dutypaid on raw fugar imported was 125. 44.: and it being but that the drawback fhould at leaft be equal to the duty juft, in that with IIS. 8 d. paid, 34 5. 4 d. was added aét; which, of the import duties makes 151. per cwt. the precife amount who moved the paid fince that aet took place. The minifter alfo at firft to additional duty of 2 5. 8d. in 1791, propofed but the fugar augment the bounty in the ufual proportion; they faid, refiners remonftrated againft the meafure, as being, beneficial only to the planters. It is remarkable however, that in the memorial which they prefented on that occafion to the chancellor of the exchequer, they furnifh an unanfwerable in fupport of an aétual bonus on the export from argument Great Britain of refined fugar ; for they admit that a greater proportion of the refined article is now made from mufcavado than was formerly produced, owing, they fay, to improvements made by the planters in the raw commodity. As thofe fome improve- fruitments were not effeéted but aftermanycofly, confonant and either toj juftice lefs, experiments, it feems no way fhould the advantages of or reafon that the refiners alone reap the rifk, fit dowa them, and the planters, who fuftained quietly under the expence. proportion of the refined article is now made from mufcavado than was formerly produced, owing, they fay, to improvements made by the planters in the raw commodity. As thofe fome improve- fruitments were not effeéted but aftermanycofly, confonant and either toj juftice lefs, experiments, it feems no way fhould the advantages of or reafon that the refiners alone reap the rifk, fit dowa them, and the planters, who fuftained quietly under the expence. --- Page 576 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK for the fale of his goods ; or is compelled to enter VI. them, that the nation may fecure to itfelf the pre-erption at its own market. Ifhe comes voluntarily, he is apprized of the regulations and duties to which, by the laws of the port, he will be fubject ; he makes his option, and if he meets with difappointment, has no right to complain 5 much lefs to expeét a return of the duties which he has paid on importation, in cafe he Thall afterwards find it more to his advantage to re-fhip his goods, and try another market. He comes in the fpirit of adventure, and as his profits, however great, are wholly his own, if his adventure proves fortunate; fo it is but reafonable that he fhould fubmit patiently to his lofs, iflofs is the confequence of his experiment. This conclufion is, Ithink, too evident ta require farther illuftration. ON the other hand, the cafe of thofe who are compelled to' bring their goods to our ports is widely different. The fugar planter, for inftance, is not only obliged to bring his fugar at all times and feafons to a market which perhaps is already overloaded ; but to bring"it too in Britith fhips, that the mother-country may have the benefit arifing from the freight. On the fuppofition that the whole may be fold for home confumption, he is furthermore compelled to pay down the duties on the full quantity imported, before he is permitted --- Page 577 --- WEST INDIES. mitted to fell any part. The home tion is then confump- CHAP. fupplied; ; and a furplus remains, for V. which a vent offers in a foreign market. The 1 foreign purchafer, however, buys nothing for which the péople of Great Britain choofe to an equal price : they have the firft offer, and pay fufal of the whole. Under what recan the Britith pretence then that all duties government, whofe language it is are, and ought to be ultimately paid by the confumer, retain the duties on fuch part of the goods as are not purchafed for the home fupply? The received the mother-country has already benefit of the freight; has had a preference in the fale of the goods, and obtained other mercantile advantagesfrom; and the owner has fuffered the itsimportation; 5 inconveniency of advancing a large fum of money for duties goods which the refufes to on purchafe,-an inconveniency of no fmall account, inafimnuch the lofs ofintereft, fhould the as, belides he would lofe both his goods perith by fire, goods and the duty(g); -perhaps, as an interefted man, I am not comhad (g) Since this work was firft publifhed, the author December reafon to Ipeakfelingly on this point, In the month has of in the London 1793, no lefs than 1,600 hogfheads of fagar, lying there had been warehoufes, paid in duties were confumed by: fire, on which 4-17000; all this was a lofs to the to government upwards of clufive of the goods, The author's unfortunate fhare of owners, ex6.1,200, this lois was petent g) Since this work was firft publifhed, the author December reafon to Ipeakfelingly on this point, In the month has of in the London 1793, no lefs than 1,600 hogfheads of fagar, lying there had been warehoufes, paid in duties were confumed by: fire, on which 4-17000; all this was a lofs to the to government upwards of clufive of the goods, The author's unfortunate fhare of owners, ex6.1,200, this lois was petent --- Page 578 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK petent to decide impartially on this queftion; VI. but t0 mé, it appears that a final retention of the duties here fpoken of, would be an outrageous exercife of power, without a fhadow of right ; a proceeding in the higheft degree unjuft, fraudulent, and oppreffive. As the foreign market will not bear the addition of the Englifh duty, fifteen fhillings per cwt. if the money is not refunded, are taken from the colonift, for having, againft his will, and at a great expence of freightage, fent his fugar circuitoufly through Great Britain. Such an extortion for paffing through a market to which he does not voluntarily refort, is virtually fixing a forced price upon the commodity; and to do this, or by force to take the commodity from him, without giving any price for it,-what is it but an aét ofthe fame nature, differing only in degrees of violence?-The plea of neceffity is not applicable to the cafe; the objeét not being, as in the cafe of corn, a neceffary but a luxury of life; and the colonifts, to whom it belongs, have no Thare in the power of regulating, if regulations are to be made concerning it. IF it be urged that foreigners have otherwife the advantage of fometimes buying Britifh plantation fugar on cheaper terms than the people of Great Britain, it is anfwered that thisisa circumftance --- Page 579 --- - WEST INDIES. ftance for which the planter is no way refponfible, CH A P: andin truth it isini itfelf but little to be regarded; V. - whénever it happens, the national gain is fo fince much the greater; 5 becaufe the kingdom profits the purchafed, and paid much more by quantity for in money by foreigners, than it would have done, if the fame quantity had been confumed at -Government has no means in this cafe home. of foreign nations, for of taxing the confumption if the duty be added to the price of the commodity, the foreign demand is at an end (h). HITHERTO, Since the foregoing was written, an aet of the Britifh (h) has paffed, intituled, e4 An Aêt for regulating the legiflature and payment ofthe bounty on 66 allowance of the drawback, the importation 6 the exportation offugar, and for permitting and Bermuda iflands 66 of fugar and coffee into the Bahama of the aêt, as sin foreign thips." Concerning the latter part in Great the foreign fugar and coffee are not to be confumed the Britain, but put en depot in warehoufes until re-exported, to of the Britifn Weft Indies have no right to objedt planters but with regard to the regulations of the its provifions; &c. the cafe is widely different. By this law it is drawback, the average of enaéted that 6 after the year 1792, whenever the prices of brown or mufcavado fugar (to be taken weckly oath before the Lord Mayor of London, and publithed upon in the Gazette) thall exceed, in the fix weeks which refpecthe middle of February, June, and Oétober, tively precede cwt. (exclufive of the duty) the amount of fifty thillings per is immediately to ceafe the drawback on raw fugar exported is to ceafe during for four months, and the bounty on refined a like term, but commencing after an interval of one month." Such ufcavado fugar (to be taken weckly oath before the Lord Mayor of London, and publithed upon in the Gazette) thall exceed, in the fix weeks which refpecthe middle of February, June, and Oétober, tively precede cwt. (exclufive of the duty) the amount of fifty thillings per is immediately to ceafe the drawback on raw fugar exported is to ceafe during for four months, and the bounty on refined a like term, but commencing after an interval of one month." Such --- Page 580 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK HITHERTO, I have fpoken of the drawback VI. on raw fugar only. I am now to fhew that my obfervations apply equally to that which isr refined; by proving that what is called the bounty; is but little more than merely a modification of the drawback ; the moneyallowed beyond the original duty being an allowance not more than adequate to the lofs of weight in the raw commodity for which the full duties have been paid by the importer, and the lofs of intereft thereon, between the time of the payment thereof, and the time of the receipt of the bounty. THE proportions of refined fugar &cc. procured by melting II2 lbs. of raw fugar, have been afcertained Such is the outline of this aét, on which what I have already faid in the text, is perhaps a fufficient comment; yet it may not be improper to take fome notice of the great argument which was urged in fupport of the meafure in the Houfe of Commons; namely, that it was formed on the model of the corn trade fyftem. But the corn trade laws, though defigned to reduce prices, are alfo contrived to encourage produgtion. They therefore check exportation when the prices are high, and give a bounty on exportation when the prices are low. If the fugarbill had been formed on the fame principle, and had been meant to keep the price of the commedity at a fair medium between the publick and the planter, it would have reduced the bounty when above the ftandard, and either raifed the bounty, or taken off the home duty when below it in fuch proportions as to keep the balance even. In its prefent fhape the act operates wholly againft the planters. --- Page 581 --- WEST INDIES certained by the committee of London refiners as follows; viz. CHAP. V. ibs. 1 - Refined fugar in loaves and lumps 56, Baftard or ground fugar Melaffes or treacle 224s Scum and dirt 28 IS 20 II2 lbs. The bounty and drawback therefore, according to this calculation, will ftand as follows; viz. On loaf K. S. d. fugar - lbs. 5620- at 26s. 13 baftards 2226 at 155. 2 II Duty paid Difference So that the apparen? lofs to the revenue from thé bounty is one thilling the cwt. and arifing no more. But as every hogfhead of fugar lofes confiderably in weight, after the duty is paid, and before it is either exported or worked and by the prefent ftriét up, as regulations refpeéting tare, the duty is frequently paid for more fugar than the cafks really contain, it is but a moderate calVoL. II, Oo culation Duty paid Difference So that the apparen? lofs to the revenue from thé bounty is one thilling the cwt. and arifing no more. But as every hogfhead of fugar lofes confiderably in weight, after the duty is paid, and before it is either exported or worked and by the prefent ftriét up, as regulations refpeéting tare, the duty is frequently paid for more fugar than the cafks really contain, it is but a moderate calVoL. II, Oo culation --- Page 582 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK culation to fay that every hogfhead (taking good VI. fugars and bad together) lofes 56 lbs. which at 155. per cwt, the import duty, makes 75. 6d. per hogthead lois to the planter, and a clear and certain gain to the revenue, let the fugar be difpofed of as it may. Thus therefore is government reimburfed for a confiderable part of what 6 it appears to lofe by the bounty, and the intereft which it gains by a depofit of the whole duties on importation, makes. up the remainder. The average annual import of raw fugar is about 160,000 hogfheads of 12 cwt. nett : now fuppofing every ounce of this Was to be exported, and receive ghe drawback of 155. per cwt. yet from the difference of weight alone in the fame fugar, occafioned by an unavoidable walte, government would have received in duties, from this fingle article, between 5oand 6. 60,000 per annum more than it refunds in drawbacks and bounties on the fame commodity. THE above is a plain ftatement of faéts concerning the drawbacks and bounties allowed by government on the export of fugar from Great Britain.-Of the fyftem at large, or general practice of allowing the duties on the home confumption, to be drawn back on the export of goods to foreign markets, enough has been faid by other writers.-Ifit be true, as it is generally allowed to be, that Great Britain by this means eftablilhes --- Page 583 --- WEST INDIES, eitablifhies between her plantations and foreign CHAP. countries, an advantageous carrying trade, the V. profits of which çenter in herfelf, fhe has no juft L reafon to repine at the encouragement which is thus given to forcigners to refort to her markets. It is paying money with one hand, to receive it back, in a different fhape perhaps, but in more than a tenfold proportion, with the other; and no confiderate ftatefman will cafily be perfuaded to think fuch a fyftem improvident and prejudicial (i). I AM. (i) Thus, in a tract by William Penn, intituled 66 The Benefit of Plantations or Colonies," 39 that celebrated expreffes himfelf in the following terms: : legiflator <I deny the vulgar opinion againft 4 weaken England; they have manifeftly plantations, that they 4 frengthened her, which I enriched, and fo 4 thofe that gointoa foreign briefly evidence thus; Firft, 66 is worth more than plantation, their induftry there, 46 their labour being in ifthey ftayed at home, the produét of 66 thofe of this country: commodities for of a fuperior nature to 4 acre in Jamaica or Barbadoes inftance, wortli what is an improved 66 England? We know it is three times to an improved acrein 66 produét ofit cumes for the value, and the e6 England, and is ufually paid forin Englith growth and manufaéture. ss that an ordinary Nay, Virginia fhews, 4 fand induftry in one man produces three thou4. pounds weight of fobacco, and twenty barrels of yearly: : he feeds himfelf, and corn 6 commodity into England brings as much of the 66 growth and befides, as being returned in the 66 than he could workmanfhip have of this country, Îs much more 6 tbat the three fpent here : Let it alfo be remembered, thoufand weight of tobacco briugs in two 6 thoufand ordinary Nay, Virginia fhews, 4 fand induftry in one man produces three thou4. pounds weight of fobacco, and twenty barrels of yearly: : he feeds himfelf, and corn 6 commodity into England brings as much of the 66 growth and befides, as being returned in the 66 than he could workmanfhip have of this country, Îs much more 6 tbat the three fpent here : Let it alfo be remembered, thoufand weight of tobacco briugs in two 6 thoufand --- Page 584 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK IAM now brought to the third ground of obVI. jedtion; comprehending a fubject of wider extent and more important confideration, than either of thofe which I have difcuffed in this chapter ; and on e thoufand two-pences by way of cuftom to the king, which G makes twenty five pounds; an extraordinary Sec6 profit. condly, more being produced and importedtlan necan/pend here, 66 wuE export it to other countries in Enrepe, colich in brings mhoney, or the gronuih of thefe countries, wlich is thefame and this ct things is the advantage efthe Englif merchants andfamen,' 92 To the fame purport writes Doétor Charles Davenant, who, if I miftake not, held the very fame employment of Infpe@tor ofthe exports and imports which is now exercifed with fuch fuperior ability by Mr. Irving. GE By whatever the returns (meaning the returns from our own plantations) are worth (faid Dr. Davenant) beyond the goods exported thither, the xation is, tyfo much, a gainer. There is a' limited ftock of our own produét to carry out, beyond which there is no pafling. As for example, there is fuch a quantity of woollen manufadture, lead, tin, &c. which, over and above our own confumption, we can export abroad; and there is likewife a limited quantity of thefe goods which foreign confiumption will not exceed. Now, if our expenditure of foreign materials be above this, and more than our own produét will fetch, for the overplus we fhould be forced to go to market with money, which would quickly drain us, if we did not help ourfelves other ways, which are, by exchanging our plantatiun geoddsfor their materials," &c. In another place, Davenant ftates the imports from all the plantations at the Revolution at 6.950,000 per anmum, 4 whereof (faith he) 6-350,000 being confumed at home, is about equal to our exports thither, mdsisrenainder, wiz. C 600,000 being re-exported, is shie netiona! gnin by thattrade. 99 To the foregoing authorities might likewife be added thofe of the honeft and intelligent Jofhua Gee, and the learned and accurate Doctor John Campbell; but perhaps, toa common underftanding, the Revolution at 6.950,000 per anmum, 4 whereof (faith he) 6-350,000 being confumed at home, is about equal to our exports thither, mdsisrenainder, wiz. C 600,000 being re-exported, is shie netiona! gnin by thattrade. 99 To the foregoing authorities might likewife be added thofe of the honeft and intelligent Jofhua Gee, and the learned and accurate Doctor John Campbell; but perhaps, toa common underftanding, --- Page 585 --- WEST INDIES felf-intereft, ignorance, and CHAP. on which, prejudice, contributed tothrow V. mifinformation, havej jointly is - veil of obfcurity 5 I mean the privilege which a of the Britifh Weft Indies, vefted in the planters with their chief of fupplying the Britith market commodities, in exclufion of foreigners ; ftaple fugars, and fome other the high duties on foreign (as they produéts of the Weft Indies, operating meant to do) fo as to prohibit their imporwere tation. of colonization in all THE leading principle Britain the maritime ftates of Europe, Great the reft, was, as I have elfewhere obferved, among word monopoly, in this commercial monopely--The It cafe, admitted a very extenfive interpretation. the monopoly of fupply, the mocomprehended nopoly the conclufion is too clear and felf-evident underftanding, illuftration or authority : namely, that the export is to require markets fher colonial produ8s, from Great Britain the to, fureign trade as the export fcorm, or any jef as beneficial to Britif mother-coumntiy, and equally encreafes the other preduction ef the I thall therefore only obferve balance of trade in herfayuur. alone from this kingdom for further, that the export of fugar markets during the years the fupply of the forcign European cwt. of raw, and 278,391 cwt. 1790 and 1791, was 277,656 of cwt. for the raw, and of refined, which, att the rate 455. added per 6. 1,600,000 fterling of 99s. per cwt, for the refined, favour ofthe mother-country, and to the balance of trade in than one-half the fum which is enabled her to pay more for the intereft or diviannually drawn out of the kingdom in the Britilh funds, dends of money lodged by foreigners Oo 3 --- Page 586 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK nopoly of colonial produce, and the monopoly VI. of manufaéture. By the firft, the colonifts were Y prohibited from reforting to foreign markets for the fupply of their wants; by the fecond, they were compelled to bring their chief ftaple commodities to the mother-country alone; and by the third, to bring them to herin a raw or unmanufactured ftate, that her own manufacturers might fecure to themfelves all the advantages arifing from their further improvement. This Jatter principle was carried fo far in the colonial fyftem of Great Britain, as toinduce the late earl of Chatham to declare in parliament, that the Britifh colonifs in America had 110 right to manufagture evei a nailfor a horfe-foc. As a compenfation for thefe reftrictions and prohibitions on the colonies of Great Britain, to favour the navigation, revenues, manufactures, and inhabitants of the mother-country, the COlonifts became poffeffed of certain commercial. advantages; among others, ofthe privilege beforementioned-the fubjeét of our prefent difcuflion -that of an exclufive accefs to the Britith market for the fale of their produce. Thus the benefits were reciprocal ; and each country, Great Britain and her colonies, became a permanent ftaple, or mart, for the produéts and trade oft the other. SucH was the arrangement, or double monopoly, which, with a few exceptions, Great Britain, in of the mother-country, the COlonifts became poffeffed of certain commercial. advantages; among others, ofthe privilege beforementioned-the fubjeét of our prefent difcuflion -that of an exclufive accefs to the Britith market for the fale of their produce. Thus the benefits were reciprocal ; and each country, Great Britain and her colonies, became a permanent ftaple, or mart, for the produéts and trade oft the other. SucH was the arrangement, or double monopoly, which, with a few exceptions, Great Britain, in --- Page 587 --- WEST INDIES. capacity, thought C MAP. in the plenitude of herimpetial bafis of her commerV. It wasthe - 5 ft to eftablifh. plantacial intercourfe with her trans-atlantick of < corretions, and the terms it herfelf a fyftem Whethier it was fpondence and kindnefs (k)." wifdom and found founded in an arrangement too late to enquire. It has policy, it is now it has been adexifted, it has been confirmed, and the colonifts mired, it hgs been imitated ; the faith of have embarked their fortunes upon out that remains, is to point it. All therefore of the colonial contrithe value and importance more than bution. It is prefumed that nothing if there is this, is neceffary to demonftrate that, pledged fecurity in the national faith, folemnly a any ratified, the fyftem is become and repeatedly which cannot now fixed and permanent compact $ without the fulleft be violated by either party, to the other, but on principles compenfation may ferve to juflify a deparwhich, if admitted, rules of juftice on any ture from the ordinary occafion. the exercifed by FIRST then, as to monopoly Britain of fupplying their wants :--The Great of focolonifts are prohibited from purchafing Great Brireigners, not only thofe articles which but alfo tain can fupply from her own refources, (B) Preamble to the 15C.1L.Ch.7. many --- Page 588 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK many which the is herfelf obliged to purchafa VI. from forcigners. Thus a double voyage is rendered neceffary, that Great Britain may benefit by the freightage 5 the expence of which, and all other profits, being added tot the coftoft the goods, the extra price which the colonifts pay is clearly fo much profit to her, and lofs to them. The commodities, which the Britifh colonies in the Weft Indies might purchafe on cheaper terms than at the Britith market, are various. Eaft Indian Goods, including tea, might at all times have been obtained from Holland, and of late may be bought very reafonably in America (1). Germany would fupply the coarfer linens, an article ofvaft confumption in negro clothing, and France would furnifh foap and candles, filk manufaétures of all kinds, cambricks, wines, and a thoufand other articles of lefsi importance. From the United States of America alfo might be obtained bar and pig-iron, falted beef and pork, falted and pickled fith, train and fpermaceti oil, and fome few manufaétures, as beaver hats, and fpermaceti candles, &c.( (m). All thefe are arti- (1) The Teaimported by the Americans in 1791, direétly from China, was 2,601,8;2 lbs.-Prices in Philadelphia 33per cert. lower than in London, the drawback deduéted. (m) The export of falted beef and pork from the United States of Americain 1791 was 66,c00 barrels. The medium price cf the poris was 375. ferling thc barrel; of the beef 28t. cles fpermaceti candles, &c.( (m). All thefe are arti- (1) The Teaimported by the Americans in 1791, direétly from China, was 2,601,8;2 lbs.-Prices in Philadelphia 33per cert. lower than in London, the drawback deduéted. (m) The export of falted beef and pork from the United States of Americain 1791 was 66,c00 barrels. The medium price cf the poris was 375. ferling thc barrel; of the beef 28t. cles --- Page 589 --- WEST INDIES. and are now fupplied ÇH AP. eles of vaft confumption, V. by Great Britain and her dependenexclufively immenfe amount, and in Britilh veffels cies to an have the laws of navigation only ; and fo rigidly that not been enforced by the mother-country, colonies only the convenience and neceffities ofthe have given way to them, but a dreadful facrifice been made to the fyftem, of the lives of has even their miferable negroes, as the reader 15,000 of has elfewhere been informed ! ON the fame principle, to increafe the thipping and naval power of the mother-country, the even in time ofwar, colonifts are not permitted, avail themfelves of the cheapnefs and fecurity to bottoms, in fending their produce to of neutral By this fecond monopoly, the Britilh-market, Great Britain bas fecured to herfelf a preference ofthewhole world in the fale of their ftaple comand is thus rendered independent of modities, nations from whom The was formerly fupthofe for inftance, who had plied, (as the Portuguele and over whofe the original monopoly of fugar) That this is an exports fhe has no controul. from the advantage of no fmall account, appears author circumftance recorded by the following into the Wealth of Nations. 66 About of an Inquiry century (fays that the beginning of the prefent of Sweden writer) the pitch and tar company endeavoured to raife the price of their commodities --- Page 590 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK ditics to Great Britain, by prohibiting their exVI. portation, except in theiro own fhips, at their own price, and in fuch quantities as they thought proper. It is furely unneceffary to obferve, that no fuch felfth policy can at any time be difplayed by the fubordinate and dependent governments of the colonies. Bur the circumftance that preffes with the greateftweight on the Britifh planters in the Weft Indies, is that branch of the monopoly, which, referving for the manufadturers in Great Britain, all fuch improvements as the colonial produce is capable of receiving beyond its raw ftate, or firft ftage of manufacture, prohibits the colonifts from refining their great ftaple commodity (fugar) for exportation. This is effeéted bythe heavyduty of 6.4. 185. 8 d. the cwt. on all refined or loaf fugarimported, while raw or mufcavado pays only 155. The difference operates (as it was intended) as a complete prohibition. a To prohibit a great body ofpeople (fays the author before quoted)(w) from making all they can of every part of their own produce, or from employing their ftock and induftry in the way that theyjudge moft advantageous to themfelves, is a manifeft violation of the moft facred rights of mankind." To this violation however the Weft Indian planters have (e) Wealth of Nations. hitherto ed, while raw or mufcavado pays only 155. The difference operates (as it was intended) as a complete prohibition. a To prohibit a great body ofpeople (fays the author before quoted)(w) from making all they can of every part of their own produce, or from employing their ftock and induftry in the way that theyjudge moft advantageous to themfelves, is a manifeft violation of the moft facred rights of mankind." To this violation however the Weft Indian planters have (e) Wealth of Nations. hitherto --- Page 591 --- WEST INDIES. 57: fubmitted withouta murmur,confidering CHA P. hitherto of the compaét, or reV. it as one of the conditions - - 1 ciprocal monopoly. the in this THE great hardhip on planters cafe is, that the lofs to them by the prohibition, than to the gain acquired is far more proportionatet circumftanée is not by Great Britain. As this underftood, the fubjeet not having, to my fully been difcuffed in any of the publicaknowledge, that have treated of colonial commerce, I tions of Thall point out a few of the many advantages which the planters are deprived by this reftriction. would be an entire faving THE firft advantage of the lofs which is now fuftained in the quantity between the time of thipping in the ofraw fugar, and the day of fale in Great Britain, Weft Indies, wafte at fea by arifing chiefly from unavoidable To afcertain this lofs with all poffible drainage. inexactnefs, I have compared in a great many the invoice weights taken at tle time of ftances, with the fale weights of the fame goods fhipping, books in London ; and I will in the merchants' of venture to fix the lofs, on the average good and bad fugar, at one-cighth part: in other words, of fugar weighing nett 16 cwt. when a hogthead Thall, when fold in London, (hipped in Jamaica, be found to weigh 14 cwt. only. The difference therefore is a dead lofs both to the publick and the --- Page 592 --- HISTORY OF THI E BOOK the planter. The former lofe the ufe oft ftwohunVI. dred pounds weight of fugar, and the latter, is 1 deprived ofits value, which, at 405. percwt. may be ftated at 6.3- 6s. per hogihead, the merchant's charges deduéted. Bur this circumftance requires further illuftration. The quantity of raw or mufcavado fugar imported into Great Britain, on an average of four years, (1787 to 1790, both inclufive) was fomewhat more than 140,000 hogtheads of 14 cwt, at the King'sbeam. The drainage at fea amounted thersfomtosSopoocwt.beinginvalusf.sto,coo fterling--Such is the lofs to the publick ; and letit be remembered, that this lofs is not merely contingent or poffible, but plain, pofitive, and certain ; it being as undeniably true, that 280,000 cwt. or 14,000 ton, of fugar was funk into the fea, in the tranfportation of 140,000 hogtheads of the raw commodity, as that this number was imported into Great Britain ; and it is equally certain, that every ounce of it would have been faved, if the planters had been permitted to refine the commodity in the colonies. The confequent lofs to the revenue is eafily calculated. CONCERNING the planter however, other circumftances are to be taken into the account ; for in this cafe he has a right to reckon not only on what he poltively loft in the firft inftance, but alfo, theads of the raw commodity, as that this number was imported into Great Britain ; and it is equally certain, that every ounce of it would have been faved, if the planters had been permitted to refine the commodity in the colonies. The confequent lofs to the revenue is eafily calculated. CONCERNING the planter however, other circumftances are to be taken into the account ; for in this cafe he has a right to reckon not only on what he poltively loft in the firft inftance, but alfo, --- Page 593 --- WEST INDIES. 573, alfo, on what he might probably have gained CHAP. V. under a different fyftem of reguiations. I have - ftated his actual lofs (the merchant's charges deduéted) at 6-3- 6s. per hogthead; but another and a very confiderable lols, is the melaffes, of which II2 Ibs. of raw fugar yield in the London refinery 28t Ibs.: I will fay 28 lbs. only. On this proportion, a hog(head of raw, fugar at the fhipping weight (16 cwt.) would, if refined in the colonies, yield the planter 448 Ibs. being equal to 64 gallons. This, valued at 9d. fterling per gallon, gives 6.2. 8s. It will be faid perhaps that the Britifh refiner includes the value of the melaffes produced in the refinery, in the eftimate of his profits, and is thereby enabled to give a larger price for raw fugar to the planter, who thus receives payment for the article faid to be loft. It mut be remembered, however, that the fugarplanter in the Britifh Weft Indies is his own diftiller; and having the neceffary buildings, ftills, 8cc. already provided, would convert this melaffes into rum, without any additional expence; and by this means add to its value fomewhat more than one-third. This additional value therefore would be clear profit. Thus, allowing 64 gallons of melaffes produce only 40 gallons of rum of the Jamaica proof, thefe, at IS. Iod. fterling the gallon, would yield 6-3- 135. 4 d.: from which the original melafles being deduéted, there will remain --- Page 594 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK remain f.1. 55. 4d. which may therefore be VI. eftimated as the lofs now fuftained by the L planter in the article of melaffes, on every hog/head of mufcavado fugar fhipped to Great Britain, exclufive of the lofs in the raw material before ftated. To the foregoing might perhaps be added the faving of freight, on the difference between the weight of raw and refined fugar; but I will reckon nothing on this account, becaufe I am of opinion that any given quantity ofrefined fugar madeinto loaves, though lefs in weight, will neverthelefs occupy more fpace than the full quantity of raw fugar from which it is made. Iti is therefore reafonable to fuppofe, that the price of freight would be advanced in proportion; a circumftance which ought to obviate all manner of objection to the fyftem, from the owners of in O fhips employed its tranfportation. Bur the great and decifive advantage that would accrue to the planter from refining his own fugarin the colonies, arifes from the circumflance that his capital, or ftock, is already provided to his hands; without which the favings that have been ftated would avail him but little. Imean, not only that he poffeffes the raw gaterial, but alfo, that the buitdings and apparatus of all kinds which are requifite for the manufaéture of mufcavado fugar, are, with a very fmall addition, all that advantage that would accrue to the planter from refining his own fugarin the colonies, arifes from the circumflance that his capital, or ftock, is already provided to his hands; without which the favings that have been ftated would avail him but little. Imean, not only that he poffeffes the raw gaterial, but alfo, that the buitdings and apparatus of all kinds which are requifite for the manufaéture of mufcavado fugar, are, with a very fmall addition, all that --- Page 595 --- WEST INDIES, that are wanted for the bufinefs of The neceffary refining (0). additions on each plantation CHAP. confift chiefly of a would V. ftoves for drying-houfe, provided with - / baking the loaves, and an annual ply of carthern veffels or moulds fuploaves are formed ; with in which the the further of negro labourers to be provifion branch of the employed folely in the manufaéture. The whole muft be proportioned to the extent of the have endeavoured to afcertain property. I judging of this with fome rule for as much fubjeét will admit, and, precifion as the without reader with a variety of dry perplexing the ferve calculations, will obgenerally, that an allowance of lings fterling for each forty Chilfugar, I find to be hogthead of mufcavado therefore I thall abundantly liberal. This fum deduét from the price at the Britifh market difference of fined fugar, which between raw and reclear otherwife would be fo profit to the much planter, The Englifh refiner (0) The planters of Jamaica meftick ufe, and I have feen it frequently refine fingar for doas in London. In St. done in as great of refining mufcavado Domirgo a procefs has been perfection A refiner from thence with the juice of limes and difcovered maica in 1790, and introduced of the name of Millet came lemons. to Jacefs. I fàw myfelf refined fugar this made praétice with great fucplantation in Trelawny, with by him at Hyde Hall juice of limes and Seville no other material than the ând elegance furpaffed the oranges, fineft which for the London refiners. treble refined tranfparency produced by not go a procefs has been perfection A refiner from thence with the juice of limes and difcovered maica in 1790, and introduced of the name of Millet came lemons. to Jacefs. I fàw myfelf refined fugar this made praétice with great fucplantation in Trelawny, with by him at Hyde Hall juice of limes and Seville no other material than the ând elegance furpaffed the oranges, fineft which for the London refiners. treble refined tranfparency produced by not --- Page 596 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK not having the fame advantages, has to deduét VI. theintereft of a much larger proportionate capital 1 and far greater expences in conducting the manufaéture. Now II2 lbs. of raw fugar fold in London may be reckoned, when the prices aré favourable, to yicld the planter clear of all charges E. I. 135. The fame quantity refined, would yield of loaves and baftards to the value of f.2. IS. sd. exclufive of the melaffes. The difference is 8s. 5d. per hundred weight, Or 6-5- 175. 1od. the hogfhead of 14 cwt. Deduét from this the extra expence of refining in the colony (40s. per hogthcad) there remains 6-3- 175. Iod. which being added to the former fums, it will be found that the whole lofs fuftained by the planter for the fake of the Britith refinery, is not leis than E.8. 9.. 2d. fterling on every hogfhead of his fugarof 16 cwt. which he fends to the Englith market, amounting on 140,000 hoglheads to the prodigious fum of f-1,184,166. 135. 4d. fterling money! Perhaps the circumftance may come more immediately home to the reader, by fhewing how this Iofs affeéts an individual. For inftance, the average returns of Mr. Beckford's plantations are, if I miftake not, about two thoufand hogtheads of fugar annually. He fuftains therefore a lofs of 6.16,916. 13.. 4d. ter anlns that the Britifh --- Page 597 --- W EST INDIES. about one-third of the CHAP. Britith refiners may get V. money ! IT is however to be remembered, that the precalculations are founded on the fuppofition ceding to import refined fugar that leave was granted at into Great Britain, from the Britith colonies, the duties which are now paid on raw or mufthat the revenue would, cavado. Iam apprized to the in that cafe, fuflain a lofs proportionate diminution, in the quantity of fugar imported, it would be) made unlefs it was, (as undoubtedly increafe of the duties on the up by an adequate allowance improved commodity. With every however on this account(aswell as for an increafed the planter's profits would be fufrate of freight) imficiently great; and, in truth, refined fugar from the colonies, would afford to bear a ported heavier duty than merely fuch a rateable much fo that the revenue would not be contribution 3 injured, but greatly improved, by itsi importation, while the publick at large would obtain fugar in its beft ftate much cheaper than they obtain it at prefent (p). THUS (p) It is not my bufinefs to feek out refources for increaf- I beg ing the publick revenue, but as a matter of curiofity, of raw leave to fubjoin the following faêts : The quantity mufeavado imported from the Britifh plantations or into Great Britain fugar in the year 1787, was 1,926,121 cwt. and If the grofs duty paid thereon was 6-1,187-774 12s. 8d. this Vol. II. Pp (p) It is not my bufinefs to feek out refources for increaf- I beg ing the publick revenue, but as a matter of curiofity, of raw leave to fubjoin the following faêts : The quantity mufeavado imported from the Britifh plantations or into Great Britain fugar in the year 1787, was 1,926,121 cwt. and If the grofs duty paid thereon was 6-1,187-774 12s. 8d. this Vol. II. Pp --- Page 598 --- HISTORY OF THE HOOK Taus have I thewn the magnitude of the price VI. at which the Britilh colonifs in the Weft Indies have purchated, for a century paft, the monopoly of the Briti(h market for their chief ftaple commodities. this fngar had been keut to be refined in :he plantations, it wouid have been onc-eighth more in quantity; that pro. portion having been lof at fea by drainage. This would bave made 2,166,886 CWt. which according to the computation of the London refiners, would have yielded 1,083-443 cwt. ofloaf, and 425.038 cwt. of bafards (ekcluding fractions.) Now fuppofing the duty on loaf fugar had been only 105 per Cvt. more thaa the prefent duty on mufcavado (which it would have weilafforded) and the baftard fugar to bave continued at ISspar cwt. the Britifh revenue in that cafe would have received as follows : (both tbe publick and the pianter boing a: the fametie benetitedin a high degree) viz. L- s. d. Onnic83443 cwt. of loaf e at2ss percwt. 1,35+303 15 425.658 ct of baftards, at 155 pcwt. 319,228 IO Duties which might have been levied- 1,673-532 5 - Du:ies actually paid in 1787 1,187.774 12 8 Dimerence in favour ofthe revenue - 485,757 12 4 Such isthe facrifice which Îs made by the planters of tke Weft Indies, and the publick of Great Britain, in fupporting the private interefls of that ufeleis intennediate body of peopie, the fager refinersi in Engiand : who, whenever the cafualties of war, or providential calanities, have overtaken the Weft Indies, and thereby.created. a temporary advance in the pale of raw fugar, have been the firit to raife a clamour againft 12 4 Such isthe facrifice which Îs made by the planters of tke Weft Indies, and the publick of Great Britain, in fupporting the private interefls of that ufeleis intennediate body of peopie, the fager refinersi in Engiand : who, whenever the cafualties of war, or providential calanities, have overtaken the Weft Indies, and thereby.created. a temporary advance in the pale of raw fugar, have been the firit to raife a clamour againft --- Page 599 --- WEST INDIES. thodities. It is monopoly for monopoly; an CHAP. not framed by the colonies, but by 7- V. arrangement herfelf, who has fuffered it the mother-country facred by time, has recognized it by a to grow friéterties multitude of laws, and enforced it by Well, therefore, did a and recent provifions. great againft the monopoly of fupply enjoyed by the planters, themfelves: at the fame time poffeffing the monopoly which I have defcribed! It may not be ufelefs to add, that thofe peopleare, in a proportion Enknownin: anyother branch of trade, fureignert; who live in the moft frugal way in England in the and retire with their (about one thoufand whole) favings to their own country. There are few operations more fimple, or which require a k6expetiveappartul, than that of refining fugar. Can it then be juft or reafonable to thus fubordinate in its nature and facrifice to a manufaéture, Britifh limited in its extent, the effential interefts of 65,000 fubjeats in the Weft Indies, and half a million of money, which is now annually loft to Great Britain, that this manufadure may be fupported? It is remarkable that the fame obfervation occurredtol Davenant, whowrote foon afterthe revolutionin 1688. Selaaoipoodgalg duties on the produce ofthe Britifh Weft Indies, he proceeds in thefe words: 66 And here it may not be improper to take notice particularly, of the high impofition laid upon refined fugars imported hither, upon a wrong notion of advancing whercas in truth it only turns to the acour manufaStures, fifty families (for the refiners of England are count ofabout and is prejudicial, and a bar to the induftry no more) greatly which are about the number of of at leaft 14,000 perfons, thofe who inhabit our iflauds producing fugar." (Davenant, Difcourfe 3, on the Plantation Trale.) What would this author have faid, bad he known the fast which I have fated above? Ppi whercas in truth it only turns to the acour manufaStures, fifty families (for the refiners of England are count ofabout and is prejudicial, and a bar to the induftry no more) greatly which are about the number of of at leaft 14,000 perfons, thofe who inhabit our iflauds producing fugar." (Davenant, Difcourfe 3, on the Plantation Trale.) What would this author have faid, bad he known the fast which I have fated above? Ppi --- Page 600 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK great ftateliman (9) obferve, C6 that it was a con VI. pact more folemn than any that an act of parliY ament could create;" and when fpeculative men affert, and interefted men complain, that a compadl thus founded and fupported is at this time not fufficiently favourable to Great Britain; the anfwer is obvious : If Great Britain regrets its operation and wilhes to diffolve it, let her firft make compenfation to the colonifts for all that they have undertaken, and the facrifice they have made, under it; and next, when the releafes herfelf from all future obligation to obferve it, let the releafe be reciprocal 5 extending equally to one party and the other. This done, the colonifts will have no caufe to accufe her ofinjuftice, -but this not done, they will affert that the has violated her faith with them'; that her conduét is oppreffive and fraudulent; ; and her ftatutes fnares to the unwary. IN themean time,itisimpofible not toconfider as exceedingly partial and unjuft, thofe clamours and attempts by which, on any temporary advance in the prices of Weft Indian produéts, the publick difcontent is pointed towards the inhabitants of our fugar iflands. They are partial, inafmuch as their authors confiderthe burthens and wants of the confumers on one fide, without ad- (9) Mr. Fox, verting --- Page 601 --- W EST INDIES verting to the burthens and diftreffes ofthe colo- CHAP. nifts on the other. They are unjuft, as their - V. - manifeft aim is to extend to rivals and foreigners, whofe trade is not fubject to be controuled by Britith laws, thofe advantages which have been purchafed by, and ftand exclufively pledged to, Britifh Weft Indies, whofe trade is ftill to be the this junéture left bound by our regulations.-At indeed, now that the largenefs ofthe exportation that no foreign colonies in the has demonftrated, Weft Indies can fupply us with fugar, cheaper another projeét, of more fatal and than our own, is reforted to; and the naextenfive mifchief, the hopes of a tional attention is awakened by the fofvaft and profitable fugar culture, under tering prote@tion of government, in the houndlefs regions of the Eaft Indies. Thofe plantations which have hitherto proved more than adequate wants; which from proximity and intular to our defended; which enrich our fituation, are eafily manufaéturers, encourage our fifheries, and reinto the'bofom of their turn all their acquirementsi alienated parent, are it feems to be negleéted, diverted to difand the national encouragement inhabitants countries, whofe tant independent and conpurchafe but few of our commodities, fume none of our fith, but take bullion inftead of them 5 who rather fend manufaétures to our markcts, than receive them from us; and whofe Pp 3 exporis aéturers, encourage our fifheries, and reinto the'bofom of their turn all their acquirementsi alienated parent, are it feems to be negleéted, diverted to difand the national encouragement inhabitants countries, whofe tant independent and conpurchafe but few of our commodities, fume none of our fith, but take bullion inftead of them 5 who rather fend manufaétures to our markcts, than receive them from us; and whofe Pp 3 exporis --- Page 602 --- HISTORY OF THE BOO K exports ma; be checked and controuled by 2 VI. thoufand accidents which,at this diftance, can 1 neither be obriated ner forefeen. In fhort, by reconimending the fettlement of fugar plantations beyond the Cape of Good Hope, this projeêt maintains that itis wileto remove encouragement from proximate and dependent colonies, to countrics which, being placed beyond the reach of civil regulations from hence, can be governed only by the fvord, and which, at no very remote period, may regain their independence;- when however it will be too late to refort back to our ruined and deferted colonies in the Weft Indies! ! IF the reader imagines that the intention of this fcheme isto open a fugar trade with the Eaft Indies, to Britith fubjects without diftinétion, it is neceffary he fhould be informed that nothing is farther from the thoughts ofits advocates and promoters. Their aim is to transfer the monopoly of the Weft Indies, to the monopolifts of the Eaft; being well apprized that a great importation of fugar, for a few years, from India, would effeétually ftop the cultivation of this article in the Britifh colonies,after which the market would be their own; and the fupply, as in the cafe of all other articles of forcign growth, be encreafed or diminifhed, as the intereft of the importer, not of thepublick, fhould regulateand direét. FoR --- Page 603 --- W E ST INDIES. to believe that the CHAP. For myfelf, I am unwilling meditated V. Britith government has at any time - intentional injury towards the fugariflands 5 and therefore cannot be perfuaded that fach a projeét the fanétion and fupport of adwill ever receive however, judging of miniftration. The planters caufe for the future by the paft, have abundant anxiety and alarm 3 and ifit were permitted to Weft Indian to expoftulate, freely an uncourtly with the king's minifters on the and explicitly, treatment which thofe colonies have experienced during the laft twenty from the mother-country, dreaded from inyears, and on the danger to be novation, he might diiplay a ftatement of faéts, dif- -unplealant indeed to heanr-butestrenely ficult to controvert or elude. Such a perfon might, without any deviation from truth, preient themwith a detail not unlikethe following (r): fay) that the 6 Ir is well known (he might of thofe colonies which fell under the fufferings dominion of France were very great ; and that at of the war, fuch of the planters as the conclufion vexations of the enemy, and were furvived the in their fortunes, as a not actually bankrupts great many were, were reduced to embarrafinents toit. For the honourof the nearly approaching (r) See The Cafe efile Sagar Coloniess from whence this detail is copied almof verbatimn. Britith Pp 4 he might of thofe colonies which fell under the fufferings dominion of France were very great ; and that at of the war, fuch of the planters as the conclufion vexations of the enemy, and were furvived the in their fortunes, as a not actually bankrupts great many were, were reduced to embarrafinents toit. For the honourof the nearly approaching (r) See The Cafe efile Sagar Coloniess from whence this detail is copied almof verbatimn. Britith Pp 4 --- Page 604 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK Britith name it ought to be recorded, that no VI. fooner was an ifland taken from underthe Britifh Y proteétion, than the property of its inhabitants was treated, to all intents and purpofes, as the property of natural-born enemies. Your veffels of war cruized upon them, and made prize of our effects, wherever they were to be found. Even neutral flags afforded no proteétion againft your depredations; until the higheft authorities in the law had pronounced fuch conduet to be illegal; and parliament interfered to facilitate the paffage of the produéts of Grenada, which having furrendered at difcretion, were ftill expofed to capture. Even the hurricane, that moft awfal vifitation of, Providence, which ufually arrefts the vengeance of men, and by exciting fofter affeétions, difpoles them to aéts of fraternity, loft its ufual effect of procuring a paffage even for the neceffaries of life; and thofe whom the ftorm had fpared, your rapacity would have ftarved. 66 THE war ceafed, and with it the dominion of France over all the iflands (Tobago excepted, which was ceded to her in perpetuity); but our miferies ftill furvived 3 for the treaty of 1782 which gave peace and independence to North America, only transferred hoftilities to the fugar colonies 5 as they have never ceafed from that time to the prefent, to be haraffed with vexations --- Page 605 --- WEST INDIES. 58s The firft meafure eHA P. tions of one kind or another. in the policy V. by which they were annoyed, arofe dif- 1 of the ftate. It was thought neceffary to their connexion with the continent of folve of which was, North America. The confequence of being deprived of its produce that Jamaica, feries of tempefts and unnegro provifions by a thoufand of her favourable feafons, loft fifteen flaves by famine. And yet you talk ofhumanity as ifit zvere a national wirtue! of < WHAT fince has been the difpofition Great Britain towards us, may be learnt from the converfation at this day 5 from the popular oflarge bodies affociated for the abolition conduét and ultimately of flavery itfelf; of the flave-trade, the eftablithments projeéted and in execufrom the coaft of Africa, with views declaredly tion, on ; from the numbers ofinhoftile to our interefts; paragraphs and calumnious pamflammatory phlets that daily iffue from the prefs to prejudice the Weft Indian planters in the publick opinion ; circulation of addreffes, from the indefatigable difufe of Weft Indian exhorting the people tothe with fugar; and laftly, from various propofals to the reduétion ofthe price of the comrefpeêt In fo many fhapes does this fpirit mamodity. to conclude, nifeft itfelf, as to give juft grounds that fomething like a decided purpofe is entertained for the total ruin of the fugar colonies, and that to prejudice the Weft Indian planters in the publick opinion ; circulation of addreffes, from the indefatigable difufe of Weft Indian exhorting the people tothe with fugar; and laftly, from various propofals to the reduétion ofthe price of the comrefpeêt In fo many fhapes does this fpirit mamodity. to conclude, nifeft itfelf, as to give juft grounds that fomething like a decided purpofe is entertained for the total ruin of the fugar colonies, and that --- Page 606 --- HISTORY OF THE BOOK that the vexations we have hitherto experienced, ) VI. areonly preliminaries tothe fyitem which is to be confummated by the grand meafure of raifing up rivals to our moncpoly in your eftablifhments in the eaft. 66 Ir has been imputed as a reproach to the fugar colonies, that they are experive, and that they engage you in war. Never were the Weft Indian colonies the caufe of war; but whenever the two nations of France and England are engaged in any quarrel, from whatever caufe it may arife, thither they repair to decide their differences, They are made the theatre of war; they are the viétims, but never the origin of the conteft. The inhabitants of the French and Englifh iflands live in an habitual intercourfe of good offices, and would wilh for eternal peace 3 and they have reafon for it, for what are they to gain by war? 66 WHEN therefore we refleét upon the various means which have been employed to prejudice the Weft Indian planters, we find ourfelves totally at a lofs to conjeêture what it is that could excite fo much acrimony againft us; as there exifts none of thofe caufes, which ufually prevoke the envy of men, and exafperate their malignity. The Weft Indians are not remarkable (with very few exceptions). either for their gigantick opulence, or an oftentatious difplay ofit. They do not emerge rapidly --- Page 607 --- WEST INDIES. rapidly from poverty and infignificance into fpicuous notice. Such of con- CHAP. tunes of them as poffels for- V. diftinguithed magnitude, as fome gentlemen of Jamaica are happy enough to do, are not the creation ofa day. Their be found in the carlieft names are to ( their records of the ifland, and adventures were coeval with the firft eftablifhment of the colony, and of courfe their perties, fuch as we now find proof the toil of fucceffive them, are the fruits generations. are indeed who have Many there them tolive, with competencies that enable the great mafs of ceconomy, inthis country; but planters are men of oppreffed fortunes, configned by debt to unremitting drudgery in the colonies, with a hope, which nally mocks their grafp, of happier eterreleafe from their days, and a we have lately embarraffinents. Such times as feen, if fuffered to might poffibly have given continue, and have lifted them out ofshrotheiresetions of their it feems that poverty is diftreffes. But mate confidered as the legitiheritage of every Weft Indian They may encounter lols, and planter. verfity ; but never are ftruggle with adthey to profit of contingencies that may enable them to the afters of adverfe repair difliarly fortune, to which they are pecufubjeéted by their pofition. S6 IF the minifter means the ruin of the Weft Indian colonies, he may effect it by promoting the extenfive poverty is diftreffes. But mate confidered as the legitiheritage of every Weft Indian They may encounter lols, and planter. verfity ; but never are ftruggle with adthey to profit of contingencies that may enable them to the afters of adverfe repair difliarly fortune, to which they are pecufubjeéted by their pofition. S6 IF the minifter means the ruin of the Weft Indian colonies, he may effect it by promoting the extenfive --- Page 608 --- HISTORY OF TIIE EOOK extenfive cultivation of thef fugar-canc in the Eaft VI. Indies, with a view to the fuprly of any part of 1 the European market; and we have only equity to oppofe to power, for we cannot repel injury. Murmurs would be unavailing, and our refentmentsimpotent ; but it would be a bafe defertion ofi intereft, to fuffer ourfelves to be intimidated into a voluntary furrender of right. We proteft therefore againft any innovation, and adhere to the fyftem of double monopoly : there we are at anchor; and if there is no fecurity any where againft the ftorms and afflictions of Providence, fo neither is there againft the injuftice ofi men; but we fhail at leaft have the confolation of not fuffering the reproachcs of our own bofoms, or of leaving accufers in our pofterity P" To fuch a remonftrance as the foregoing, refpeétfully but firmlydelivered, it is difficult to fay, what reply could be given. If, however, it is not the wifh or intention of government to violate the national faith with the colonies, by depriving them oftheir monopoly, their apprehenfions on that head may be eafily removed. In this important bufinefs fatisfaction being given, to the reft, if candour were to diétate an anfwer, although much muft beadmitted,much toomight be faid, and honeftly faid, to foften and conciliate. It may be urged that, however harfh and unkind the conduét of the mother-country has occgfionally --- Page 609 --- WEST INDIES, fonally been thought, the colonies 58g forget that they are ought not to CHAP, they indebted to her for all that V. poffefs; their birth and origin, laws, govern- ) ment, religion and liberty ; deriving from her parental folicitudle and powerful proteétion, circumftance that renders them every themfelves, and enviable to others. profperous in the fatal and deftruétive If, during the war which terminated lin difinemberment of the empire, had their thare-perhaps more than their they the general calamity, they will not thare-of of them that had fuffered forget that all by capture (Tobago excepted) were reftored by the peace to the bleffings of a Briti(h conftitution and Perbaps, fince that time, a more liberal government. more generous freedom, policy, a have been wifhed might in fome points be and expected; but it fhould remembered, that they enjoy, and have enjoyed, as a compenfation for commercial long ftraint, the privilege of the Britith market, rethe benefit of the Britith capital. and too, every charaéteriftick mark of a free They poffefs their internal concerns. people in their own They are taxed folely by reprefentatives, and have not only the image, but the fubftance alfo, of an Englith confitution. This whole ftate of commercial tude and civil liberty (as a great writer ferviwell obferved) taken (s) hath together, though certainly (s) Mr. Burke, not , the privilege of the Britith market, rethe benefit of the Britith capital. and too, every charaéteriftick mark of a free They poffefs their internal concerns. people in their own They are taxed folely by reprefentatives, and have not only the image, but the fubftance alfo, of an Englith confitution. This whole ftate of commercial tude and civil liberty (as a great writer ferviwell obferved) taken (s) hath together, though certainly (s) Mr. Burke, not --- Page 610 --- HIsTORY OF THE BOOK not perfect freedom, yet comparing it with the VI. ordinary circumftances of human Y nature, may-be pronounced a happy and a liberal condition. Tothe candid and ingenuous, I truft I need not offer any apology for thus having fuggefted confiderations, which may tend to obviate mifapprebanionyemowegrgjedien, s,and mitigate angerbetweenthofe, who though divided bylocal fituation, are allied to each other by the deareft ties of intereft, affection, and confanguinity. Ihavethought this the more neceffary, as it appears, by the bitternefs and acrimony with which fome men fpeak of the fugar colonies, that their aim is toinftigate the national refentment, and heighten the pubJick animofity towards them. Inftead of manifefting a difpofition, 6 fond to fpread friendhips and to cover heats," thefe gentlemen feem to me to exert their talents in mifreprefentations, which can anfwer no other end than to fet the remaining parts of the empire atvariance with each other. I look not in this place to any of thofe fanatical writings on flavery and the flave trade, which, equally dilgraceful to humanity and letters, propagate the moft daring and outrageous falfehoods without feruple or Thame. Iallude to authors of a very different ftamp; to perfons who, having the means of better information, and poffefling abilities to influence the publick opinion, have fuffered --- Page 611 --- WEST INDIES. fuffered the prejudices of 59: judgment. As party to bias their a man perfonally interefted in the CHAP, V. welfare of the fugar colonies, I have attempted, ( - by difplaying theirimportance and out the wifdom and value, to point and neceffity of lenient a liberal indulgence in the councils, this kingdom towards them. In government of to encourage forbearance and aiming however fide, 1 have, as a loyal and kindnefs on the one dutiful deavoured to conciliate fubject, enfilial obedience affection, and promote on the other: If the colonifts refleé foberly, I am perfuaded they will that, in a conteft with the perceive have nothing to gain, and mother-country, they Reflections of this every thing to lofe. kind, it is hoped, to mutual confidence and may difpofe moderation; and tend equally to promote the welfare of the and the frength, colonies, Britain. profperity, and glory of Great END OF, THE SECOND VOLUME. N6, Great Printed by Luke Hanfard, Turnftile, Lincola't-Inn Fields. é foberly, I am perfuaded they will that, in a conteft with the perceive have nothing to gain, and mother-country, they Reflections of this every thing to lofe. kind, it is hoped, to mutual confidence and may difpofe moderation; and tend equally to promote the welfare of the and the frength, colonies, Britain. profperity, and glory of Great END OF, THE SECOND VOLUME. N6, Great Printed by Luke Hanfard, Turnftile, Lincola't-Inn Fields. --- Page 612 --- Jolinl Coeml Bicaun) Livrory --- Page 613 --- 593 1 APPENDIX TO VoL. II. CONTAINING TABL E S OF WEST INDIAN EXPORTS AND IMPORTS TOAND FROM GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND: Made from RETURNS to the Houfe of Commons in up GREAT BRITAIN, And from OFFICIAL DOcUMENTS in IRELAND. VoL. II. Qg --- Page 614 --- Doln Gomliaon an --- Page 615 --- INDIAN IMPORTS. WEST T A B L E S. No. I. the Value of the WEST INDIA IMPORTS into GREAT An ACCOUNT of the Rates in the Infpector General's Office*, BRITAIN,acording to FOR THE FOLLOWING YEARS; VIZ. VALUE. YEARS. VALUE. YEARS. -61,087,254 I L 629,533 1,160,563 586,255 1724 1725 - - 1.359,185 1700 1 1 824,246 1,222,5I1 1701 - 1 738,601 1,039,513 1702 - - 476,168 1727 1728 - 1 - 1,495,023 1703 1 - 626,453 1729 - - 1,515:421 1704 - - 459.906 - 1,571,608 1705 - 706,574 1730 - - 1310,580 1706 - 1 537,744 1731 1732 1 1,515.453 1707 1 - 604,889 592,750 1733 - 1,618,013 17c8 1734 - 1,141,068 1709 - 645,639 1,160,609 - 780,505 1735 1736 - 1711 - 1 556,165 1 1 945423 - 648,190 1737 - 1:475:910 1713 1 - 762,248 1 1,566,838 1714 - 1 843,390 1739 - 1 1,185-107 1715 1 - 999.413 1740 - 1741 - 1,402,986 1716 1 1,104,188 - - 1,399.335 1717 - 1,204,057 1742 1743 - - 1A04.610 1718 I 896,031 1,156,952 1719 - - 875:358 1744 - 1,024,097 1720 1 - 1,117,576 1745 1,149,124 1721 - 852,529 1746 - 941,116 1722 - - 1,015,617 1747 the Rate of Value of this Office fnce the year M No aleration has been ma3 te in for fome ycars pait, the actualva1697. -According to the priccs in the market, calculation. lue would groatly exceed the lnfgector's Q92 :358 1744 - 1,024,097 1720 1 - 1,117,576 1745 1,149,124 1721 - 852,529 1746 - 941,116 1722 - - 1,015,617 1747 the Rate of Value of this Office fnce the year M No aleration has been ma3 te in for fome ycars pait, the actualva1697. -According to the priccs in the market, calculation. lue would groatly exceed the lnfgector's Q92 --- Page 616 --- WEST INDIAN YEARS. ALUE. YEARS. VALUE. 6-1,615,122 1774 - -6-315747c3 1749 - 1,478,075 1775 - 3,683,795 1,514,452 1776 - 3,349,949 1751 - - 1.444-775 1777 - 2,840,302 1752 1 - 1,428,8:4 1778 - 3,059:922 1753 - - 1,838,137 1779 - 2,836,489 1754 - - 1,462,6CI 1780 L 2,612,236 3755 - - 1,367,255 178t - 2,023:546 1756 - - 1,687,177 1782 - 2,612,910 1757 1 1,906,147 1783 - 2,820,387 1758 - 1,353,425 1784 - - 3531,705 1759 - 1,853,646 1785 - - 41400,956 1760 - 1,861,668 1786 - - 31484,025 1761 1 - 1,953,622 1787 1 - 3,758,087 1762 - - 1,762,406 1788 1 - 4,307,866 1763 - 2,254,231 1739 - - 3,917,301 1764 1 2,391,552 1790 - - 3,854,204 1765 - 2,196,549 1791 - - 3,651,6r1 1766 - - 2,704,114 1792 - - 4,128,047 1767 - 2,690,673 1793 - - 4,339,613 1768 - - 2,042,717 1794 - I 5:294,742 1769 1 1 2,686,714 1795 w - 4,645:972 1770 - - 2,110,026 1796 - 1 4541,217 1771 - 2.979,378 1797 - - 5,173,069 1772 re 3,530,082 1798 6,350,65g 2,902,407 --- Page 617 --- EXPORTS AND IMPORTS. S97 No. IT, An ACCOUNT of the Quanticy of DRITISIE ported into. England, bervecn theigth PLANTATION SUGAR Im1755, and thereaiter inco Crat ofjacuary 1699 and the (o Dritain, of gthurjinuany An Account, for the chrsth Jonunty 17753 ail SUGARS fameretiodiy, ofthe Quantity of RAW and Exported: : Ditinguithing each year, end the Raw from REFINED che Reined, Imported. Rw Sugar Refined Sugar Exported. Exported. YEAKS. QUANTITY. QUANTITY. caut. grs. lbs. cautn 9rs. lbs. QUANTITY, cset. 1699 427,573 2 grs. i0s I 251182,325 2 4 14,302 O 20 1701 489,326 71 1165.391 3 16 4351465 I 21 17,644 2 23 1702 259,c62 3 6 133.917 3 II 3475 17 1703 408,014 o I 45,036 D 2,928 2 24 84,016 2 20 621 I 315,837 2 12 133,713 2 grs. i0s I 251182,325 2 4 14,302 O 20 1701 489,326 71 1165.391 3 16 4351465 I 21 17,644 2 23 1702 259,c62 3 6 133.917 3 II 3475 17 1703 408,014 o I 45,036 D 2,928 2 24 84,016 2 20 621 I 315,837 2 12 133,713 1705 370,157 I. 7 71,822 1 1,339 o 15 1706 335,873 3 3 107,217 O 16 7 6g0 3 18 1707 388,267 3 26 1,846 2 23 1708 377,107 II 1131,832 2 2: 2,156 2 3 64,180 3 6 I 397,570 3 12 2,365 18 1710 507,662 21 74,377 3 23 924 o IS 1711 300,394 26 17,075 2 2.146 2 21 1712 423.541 O 1:9,567 82,142 2 24 1.800 2 16 1713 503,523 S. 8.579 2 18 1714 512,2Z1 ocg J 3-493 1 IO 153,93 26 3 G 3:48: 1716 617-414 3 11 143,557 I I 4,481 3 1717 6341759 2 6 161910 3 1718 763,175 3 14 290,179 2 11 4:549 O 566,885 O 124 9,2 O 1719 5-4.634 O 25 20 13,188 1720 706,385 O 3,04 19 1721 497,611 O 121,778 9 3,. 66 3 1722 616,541 O C 31 509 13 I1 3-786 2 1723 660.7:6 2 9 631470 5. ,3 1724 729,133 2 13 110,C88 1725 851,952 2 7:408 2 1726 668.346 I 140, 172 645,1 3 O 2, 3. 22 8,414 1723 972,240 21 11,073 1729 991.761 23 29 134 17. O 023, C; 7, 20 3 13,50 6 1731 313,27 17 12 14-538 1732 822,314 95,832 O o 3733 11,001284 1734 695-679 3 1735 903,634 22 1736 877-591 O 24 se, 599 1737 550,9 3 IC 40,779 1738 884,232 C 49:437 1739 951,073 4 03.149 1740 06.947 1741 836,144 I C! C :4 9/449 3 5 QI -538 1732 822,314 95,832 O o 3733 11,001284 1734 695-679 3 1735 903,634 22 1736 877-591 O 24 se, 599 1737 550,9 3 IC 40,779 1738 884,232 C 49:437 1739 951,073 4 03.149 1740 06.947 1741 836,144 I C! C :4 9/449 3 5 QI --- Page 618 --- WEST INDIAN Imported. Raw Sugars Refined Sugar Exported. Exported. YEARS. QHANTITY. QUANTITY. QVANTITY. cat. gr5. lbs. caut. grs. lbs. cwt. grs. lbs. 1742 731,410 3 II 50,231 o IO 12,599 3 24 1743 855,134 I 26 151,126 3 II 26,624 3 14 1744 724.411 2 14 58,198 o 19 17,687 o 2 1745 655,199 3 o 78,744 3 9 17,689 o II 1746 753.472 I 19 92,826 2 22 13,616 3 27 1747 608,478 2 14 51,935 I I5 JO,III o I 1748 982,583 2 13 115,727 I II 10,801 3 21 1749 933,271 3 9 127,921 I O 30,928 2 2 1750 915,344 2 5 107,964 O 22 21,846 3 I5 1751 825.936 2 o 43,769 3 6 22,325 2 IS 1752 825,121 I 16 35-712 2 16 13,508 3 20 1753 1,114084 3 26 55,687 2 6 11,224 3 7 1754 859,131 2 12 42,818 2 17 12,298 I I5 1755 1,202,679 3 14 110,853 o 26 14,364 2 I 1756 1,051,265 3 6 206,336 2 o 30,017 3 2 1757 1,230,843 O 20 70,625 o 9 16,758 O 23 1758 1,145,628 2 3 220,824 3 14 62,771 3 o 1759 1,199,682 2 26 174,234 o 9 107,626 2 IO 1760 1,374,720 2 143.683 I 23 58,650 3 18 1761 1-491,317 3 . 393,324 o 131 108,891 I 7 1762 1444581 I 4 322,253 2 7 87,033 2 23 1763 1,733,174 I 5 413,199 3 22 102,514 3 19 1764 1,488,079 o 197,579 O 25 176,302 3 23 1765 1,227,159 3 38 149.125 I 5! 114,851 2 o 1766 1,522,732 2 19 129,236 2 41 27,602 o IO 1767 1,538,034 I 8! 209:533 I 251 35,968 I 12 1768 1,651,512 2 141227,193 3 21 39,273 2 27 1769 1,525,070 o 5; 216,384 O o 34,041 2 16 1770 1,818,229 I 23 199-738 I 9 43,609 I 19 1771 1,492,096 2 24 195,859 I I 55:210 o 13 1772 1,786,045 o 173,601 I 3 31,300 3 23 1773 1,762.357 S 15 186,649 3 19 29,543 3 26 1774 2,015.SII I IS 223,250 O 2 34c89 o 14 1775 2,002,224 3 6 345,012 2 O 69,790 3 20 Dohn Omrlisen Lisrary 195,859 I I 55:210 o 13 1772 1,786,045 o 173,601 I 3 31,300 3 23 1773 1,762.357 S 15 186,649 3 19 29,543 3 26 1774 2,015.SII I IS 223,250 O 2 34c89 o 14 1775 2,002,224 3 6 345,012 2 O 69,790 3 20 Dohn Omrlisen Lisrary --- Page 619 --- AND IMPORTS. EXPORTS Q9 --- Page 620 --- 6c0 W ES T INDIA) N &o 6 G --- Page 621 --- IMPORTS. EXPORTS AND a M C II1 HI1 o T1111T1111 --- Page 622 --- W E S T INDIAN € E O 000 a 5 - F a R C E. 1au28 u! P U11 O € 10. C TIITTIUI S,AISI 'S I TITITIEIT O SIAON I 2E1TITTIEIT % *aeajajuc W III *II1O - "ITTTITIIL No a o N e I o ei N U - --- Page 623 --- AND IMPORTS. EXPORTS Gg O o 0O D o0 00000 1 O O of C o 2 290 e LE A 11 a 2 8 s R - e un S - o a 14 - e o - E 9 X D0 C a 44 - 0o 1 TC111119EIT I1IITSII o 3 11300 11 TLEETITITIT TITTITTTITIIT 11 111-9111111 TTECIHTTTOITT 11 TOIITTIIIIT I mneentin 11 TETTITITIT I TIRTTRITITDET - o TS11 E - 5s S 10o 8 H o - 5 & 0 0 8 E I --- Page 624 --- 60t WEST INDIAN D O N N a : S - a - a a a 40 5 - € - 2 a a "IRIAUOS U! t satpuI UPAA 44 3 3 i5 S $ "ejoaso. THTITIISEIIII 111 1 111951 2 *INMS o 181 IE1IE"I III 1 111-g11 € "SAN TUTTISTTI-I 111 I TOHIITIF S E se1n2juoyi 1E1IITEII1PI i11 1 HTI2I11 a N 7 m oreuef g O of I I a A a 23 8 - a najuy a : --- Page 625 --- AND IMPORTS. EXPORTS O o O 6 o 4 O no O S D & s a 5 R S A a a Tau23 uf Na - UM IITTE1SI11 11 E(ol10, L n s o TTTIT1E1E! *SA *1S I : I1199 STTTTITITTT *SIAON 1 *enojuoyl 111 mINCITIOUIN orewef - E d8 s % gnuy S e a EXPORTS O o O 6 o 4 O no O S D & s a 5 R S A a a Tau23 uf Na - UM IITTE1SI11 11 E(ol10, L n s o TTTIT1E1E! *SA *1S I : I1199 STTTTITITTT *SIAON 1 *enojuoyl 111 mINCITIOUIN orewef - E d8 s % gnuy S e a --- Page 626 --- 6.6 WEST INDIAN 00000 a 000 00 DU a a a 8 S - S - a S O - sai puI 5,6 1#11118 c "FIOR:CL d PITLIUIIT I1 TITITTIITTI "5, '3 T111O111 11 Ig1g111IT11 *SIAON T"IHTITTTTI PI TTITTTITIE amaHuol EITILUIIITT I 1 1IITITIITIL c > o o getuef II S a O SI S 0 C - d - € 6 "Tla "IIH --- Page 627 --- AND IMPORTS. EXPORTS 0 o O NO D 0 O 00 Oo G 6 o o eo of n a o Ia a 5 S $ t - - E el 4 in o 4 3 T1IEI1IO! I I II I S S La N o 1111E1 2e - 1 - HIslio S1 TITIRIETUTIT I IIIILEI s Ln E - o S d #+ S o : N % - à E e 0o t O - S la DE - --- Page 628 --- WEST INDIAN o O 00 O O 6 D 3 2 0ua8 tII € d - saypuI UM a O o L - E ITITILIIE % S S,3111 "S I I 0o SICITIgiE A3N 1I TITTIITIHIIITITITIE de apuor I 11 IIITTITIIIITTIITIT ogeuref 9 a 4I 5 5 O LE equeg 1E1 L J tf n8r puv - H --- Page 629 --- EXPORTS AND IMFORTS. C 0o O 000 000 O O o o2 - 0 2 2 2 2 € S - 0o s % 8 A 5 7 o € a A E E oC 4 o O € a 8 0o S E 0o S 4 % % S O 11 s I I 3 & d I I 1 I LUITIU I I TIILIII O OH 11 11° Ia I I I TIHILIII H11 1,1 HL11 I I I TI11LI1I 1 1 I I - I I H1L11I I 1111 ILIUII1 I 1 a 29 a S O 131 02 E 1 7 5 a 8 L 1 I I I O a d O < - e - S * a De L PIC w! Voi. II. R I --- Page 630 --- WEST INDIAN 0 O + O 8 E + O O O U + 6 a s i3 % - % e € ei 5 a E M E 5 K o e "EIouD8 u! - N SPIpUI UPM * a A 4 0 n a O *FIONIO,L I I I 2 I I J I I E "AY "aS I I De L PIC w! Voi. II. R I --- Page 630 --- WEST INDIAN 0 O + O 8 E + O O O U + 6 a s i3 % - % e € ei 5 a E M E 5 K o e "EIouD8 u! - N SPIpUI UPM * a A 4 0 n a O *FIONIO,L I I I 2 I I J I I E "AY "aS I I "SIAPN I I I I I I I I I F "JELI2HUOVI 1 I I I I 1 I o o ewef L + us % S e % a 5 O € O 2 equeg S o : O n3nuy 0 H de o --- Page 631 --- EXPORTS AND IMPORTS. O s m o O a o 9 E 0 5 o o 0o N O 2 O O s 8 : N $ 3 5 A a S - R 3 - 0o - O O 00 o 0 a o a 3 44 3 is S a B € 3 R & - la O O = + a a O la O S a a S O o E I I - I 1 o of o I 1 s S m O O m O t S o o ( S R o I I I 1 I I I 1 111 H I 1 I I - ! * I I o - m T € iE O o N o m lA : o * co O O O N O t o O o : : a a + I I 8 E de O O O O o : O o 3 s S 2 5 3 S 2 S a DE - : e a 0u 3 B a a M a g 1 a a S3 R --- Page 632 --- W E S T INDIAN O o 8o 9 +o O O 4 of 6 % O S % % 2 - 4 3 el N O O O O d i a a t O e O ru 13u08 UIT is S IPUI UPM o 8 8 0 % *E(O11O,I, I 111 I I11I1 I I I t : A *1C LIII LIIII I $ a O O S m S Ut 1 e S g J a a è S o Ig 4 a o a O A O enSpuy - La - % R S S --- Page 633 --- EXPORTS AND IMPORTS. m O O el 4 5 O O o S a O o o O - 0 a R % t $ $ odf S s en O L S N o o A 4 a a 3 # 2 3 o s a S $ E III L [ 1 I I 1 1 - dE I I I I II L of o O O a O A s o o 8 o 2 o 9 S a 8 3 2 O : N o E e I I I 1 - I E S o o O - 0 a R % t $ $ odf S s en O L S N o o A 4 a a 3 # 2 3 o s a S $ E III L [ 1 I I 1 1 - dE I I I I II L of o O O a O A s o o 8 o 2 o 9 S a 8 3 2 O : N o E e I I I 1 - I E S O e L I H 5 S > --- Page 634 --- W E S T INDIAN o O O o o oO 05 o o 2 - E o 7 a 2 - S R & F - N 9 o o O s 1 O 9 S la O co - E & & 00 8 A O N O o O 44 o o 4 O S O E O N 2 *EIRU3S u! soIpUI U'AL E 2 16 $ e S I 3 : S * *EIOR1O, L I I I I4 HIIIII II "S,HIN "3S I I I - 11 IIIIII II : o O O N 2 O e N % prewe 2 8 * e $ & i 00 5 o a I O O a o s O 1o Je sop eqg Lm I s a II $ ce o o O o EnSnuy T o 1 8 I I1 Nt HIlle - dS 24 --- Page 635 --- AND IMPORTS. EXPORTS O O o o 00 5 O O O C O 13 - an oo o 0 S of o + a o 6 o La 9 % S - S S LE Q O 5n o S lA H - a a 8 0 9 5 a S $ E o 3 et e o a 5 % 2 - a I I I I 1 1 1 I I 1 I I I N 1 I I S 1 I I * O O f s € 1S E 1 1 S - a 3 S 1 1 o a € O 1 t I 1 - S I - H S O O o O O LA 1 I 2 9 à S 2 I E --- Page 636 --- WEST INDIAN I o O O +o O 4 O m O 9 c 00 a m or i5 + + - to a a a S S E 2 % 8 E a S io LA 4 O O o O O S 3 O o + 4 o 6 & & 2 E S 4 $ % # H O O O S 4 e o O e 1oua3 ur S I soypuI UM : £ S 8 % S "eIOlIO,L II IITILI 1 IIIHI II N of "S,1IY "aS I I I glll I II111E 44 E n S N m O prewef of 6 - E a X a S 3 O o + 4 o 6 & & 2 E S 4 $ % # H O O O S 4 e o O e 1oua3 ur S I soypuI UM : £ S 8 % S "eIOlIO,L II IITILI 1 IIIHI II N of "S,1IY "aS I I I glll I II111E 44 E n S N m O prewef of 6 - E a X a O a O a + + € 3 € "saopeqieg e e o I TI E a S - 0o - € 9 *en8nuy I I 1 m 111 I J DU S f --- Page 637 --- IMPORTS. EXPORTS AND O O O 2 - la o 0o O o M 5 n O 8 6o O a o t K S S 0o S - E S S S S o t 8 O 11 a 2 H O o - K % a t S a $ 4 O S O O e a O O O € + % o A t 8 * n E I 1 I L 1 I 1 1 I I I 1 I 1 1 I O O o I I I 2 3 8 I 1 I 1111 11 LE O o a H O o E 5 O 3 S of I 1 a 3 44 S e O a O e I S 1 $ - I I E O ct O I I : S I - 1S $ S e de S VoL. II. --- Page 638 --- EXD OF THE SECOND VOLUME; Soha Gomer Brmen) an Lule Han.fard, Piinter, Great Turofile, Lincoln't-Inn Ficlds, --- Page 639 --- --- Page 640 --- --- Page 641 --- D801 E26h --- Page 642 ---