Clare Hall
April 11th 1823
Sir.
The present Packet
has brought me your favor of 18th July you may rest assured that
everything shall be conducted on this Estate with the utmost Economy, in one
thing I have certainty added to the expense by increasing the Negroes allowance;
on your Windward Estates they are all allowed twelve pints of Corn per week, on
all others in this neighbourhood they have ten, on this property they had but
eight, I now give them ten pints, the Negroes made no complaint because they
were allowed in a manner to do what they pleased, Mr Ick told me the reason they
had not this allowance of other Estates was they were so near town they could sell
grass to help themselves, they are now I am happy to say perfectly content
& do their work properly. We have been dreadfully dry some time past, but
it is with much pleasure I inform you we had a good shower the day before yesterday,
& yesterday morning, also some this morning, I had planted two pieces in
the dry weather because I would not (???) the
plants, these rains will I hope save them, I am now planting more, and shall
have in before night 70 Acres,25 more to plant, 75 of which are well manured the
rest shall be if possible, for the next year I shall plant from 25 to 30 Acres
of Yams, the same quantity of Eddoes and about 14 Acres of potatoes which if there
is weather will be a fair proportion.
For the two last weeks I was obliged to stop making Sugar as it began to
be a little soft, we commenced again on Monday last, and have now eighteen Hds
in the Curing Houses; of very fair Sugar, better I believe than has been
made on the Estate for some time, of this Mr Trattle will be the Judge as I
shall forward what may be had to him by the first Vessels the Glaphyra &
Geo Hibbert (say) from 20 to 30 Hds. I
first intended keeping them till I had your orders respecting the debts due
from the Estate in this Island, but your last letter mentioning that the first
Sugars home would probably bring a good price will induce me to send as many as
I can get ready; but then I must be under the necessity of drawing some Bills I have been much pressed for payment of
several Accounts by this Packet many of which Mr Ick had engaged to pay on the
first of the present month, I shall put them off as long as possible and
examine their Accounts narrowly, but such is the poverty of the times in this
Island every one is craving for their money.
I trust my Accounts this year will be trifling nothing shall be
purchased that can be dispensed with; the weather lately has been against us,
but having taken care of the late canes I still trust we shall make the
quantity of Sugar I mentioned in my former letters, in future I hope to be
enabled with the help of Barbuda to manure every piece of Land that may be planted. I have just heard that Mr
Blackburns answer to your Bill in Chancery has again arrived in this Island, I
can give you no particulars as the boat follows the Packet this afternoon; I
suppose it will be bought before the Master immediately, your instructions
respecting it I shall be happy to have.
Mr Jarvis arrived in the Packet I met him at Bettys Hope on
Sunday last. I am sorry to say Mr Osborn has (been? Letter damaged)
extremely and dangerously Ill, but am happy to say is now getting better. I was at Barbuda last week we are very dry
there I shall go back again in a few days & remain some time as I am
endeavouring to put as much more land as possible having for provisions, in
future I shall pay attention to your observation respecting the correspondence in
the two properties, my family has been at Clare Hall since Christmas, and will
remain here till the Hurricane months. I
suppose the Glaphyra will sail early in May
I remain
Sir
Your Most Obedient
Servant
(signed) John James
Reference: JJ274 Robson Lowe collection on microfilm 24995,
University of Texas at Austin, Nettie Lee Benson Latin American Collection.
