30 July 1825

 

Clare Hall July 30th 1825 

Sir, 

  Since I had last the pleasure of writing to you I have had a smart attack of Illness which confined me to my Bed nearly two weeks, since which I have been to Barbuda from whence I am just returned; I had there a relapse in consequence of sleeping two nights on the sand attending a French ship from Guadeloupe which got on shore on the 25th of last month, but got off after my taking out part of her Cargo.  She was injured, and obliged to run for St Thomas;  leaving what I had landed in my possession (viz) twenty nine Hhds Sugar & 13 Puncheons of Rum these I retain as a compensation for the assistance rendered the ship.  I have had some correspondence with the French Consul, particulars of which you shall have by the first vessel for England, if possible by the Schilling bank which sails tomorrow. 

  I write this in here in order to give you an account of a very heavy Gale which took place on the 26th Inst. And which I fear has been very fatal to the Southern Islands.  The Eight day Boat to follow the Packet which has just arrived and which sails immediately report the sea to leeward of Dominica & Guadeloupe to be covered with wrecks of Houses and at Barbuda we had more rain than wind.  This Island has suffered little some Mills blown down, and about twelve Negroes but in Boats.  This Estate has not suffered in the least. 

In haste as the Mail Boat is now detained for (???)

I am 

Sir 

Your Most Obedient  

Servant 

(signed) John James 

 

<<The Ship that was grounded was “Amerique” >>

Reference: Gloucestershire Records Office, Microfilm no.351, Section no.6, D1610 C24
Accessed through Simon Fraser University library

05 July 1823

Antigua July 5^th 1823

Sir.

                Inclosed you will receive a Bill of lading for eight Hdds of Sugar shipped on board the West Indian Brig, Cook Master, which ship left this port yesterday for London.

  These 8 Hdds are the only ones we have been able to make since my last letter, on account on the first Instance of calm weather, & since of a continuance of extreme heavy rains, more of which has fallen on this property,& generally throughout the Island than I have ever seen in a given time since I have been in this Country, I may even say for the present crop think is too much, but we must look forward to its paying us the next, as should have made more sugar but the bad (state?)of our roads would not admit of Carting the canes.  We have now about forty five Acres to take off which probably may make about 30 Hdds & which if the weather permits shell be ??? as fast as possible.  I would have suffered them to stay over as they were planted very late but on the current state of the weather our Cotton Crop for the next year would suffer and also prevent my planting the quantity of provisions needed we will therefore get on as fast as possible altho the sugar may not be as good as I could wish.

  I returned from Barbuda last week we have had an equal share of rain there, and I trust we shall have a large proportion of provisions planted, after this month I mean to take up my residence on that Island till after the Hurricane months.

  I hope if the present rains continue Antigua will make as large Crop next year, and that working Oxen will be in demand, we have a great number fit for sale; what I brought to this Estate have turned out well, without them I would have done ????  I have offered the pick of any Oxen on the Estate for sale which may be a means of getting rid of Barbuda Oxen.  Beef Cattle I can get little or nothing for I have sold a few ?? Cows at one shilling per pound formerly they fetched ??? this is the best price I can get & therefore must continue it, by the West Indian I forwarded to M^r. Trattle a duplicate of the Bill of Lading for the above mentioned sugar

                                                                I remain

Sir Your Most Obedient

Servant

(signed) John James

  

Reference: Gloucestershire Records Office, Microfilm no.351, Section no.6, D1610 C24

Accessed through Simon Fraser University library

09 July 1817

Barbuda July 9^th 1817

Sir.

    On the fourth Ins^t I wrote you inclosing a Bill of lading for six Bales of Wool which is on board the ship Bristol Volunteer, she was to be ready to sail tomorrow.  I now find the Packet has been at Antigua, I therefore inclose you the seconds of the six Bills of Exchange, the first of which was sent to you in my Letter of 14^th June; and as it is probable that Packet may arrive in England before the Volunteer I have also inclosed a duplicate of the Bill of Lading for the Wool.  I have also sent by the Volunteer to Turtle and a Barrel of Cashew Seeds.

  Altho I wrote you about the Wool on the 14^th June, I think it necessary to mention again that the Bale N^o.6 is the last shorn, and that there is another Bale, the Number of which I do not know, which was shorn in October last, the Wool in the other for I fear is not very good as it has been laying here some time, and was so full of dirt is to be obliged to be washed, but it may probably answer to have worked up for your own Negro Clothing.  The remainder of the Cotton will go in the Ship Francis which will sail some time this month.

  I have not yet received the first of Rawlins’s Bill but trust it will arrive before the Courts next year, when every step shall be taken to recover the money any; I understand Stedman Rawlins the drawer of the Bill is now in England.

  In consequence of the loss of the two Island vessels when I was in England, and the remaining one being very old, (in fact she was condemned when I first came on the Island is not seaworthy, but by repairing her on the Island I have kept her till this time) I am under the necessity of building a new one for the next Crop, which I shall undertake immediately.  A ship builder from Antigua offered to superintend it, but his terms were so very high (one hundred Ioes(?) about £165 Sterling) merely to look on occasionally, that I have not engaged him, I have offered him 100 Currency to lay the frame and hope he will accede to it, if not a shall undertake it my self.

  We are still without any quantity of rain, nor do I wish for any till the end of this month, by which time I shall have a good proportion of Land ready for Corn &c.  I am

Sir

              Your Most Obed^t Humble

Servant

(signed) John James

Reference: Gloucestershire Records Office, Microfilm no.351, Section no.6, D1610 C24
Accessed through Simon Fraser University library

29 July 1813

Antigua July 29^th 1813

Sir

                I feel equally disappointed and mortified at not being able to send you more than the two inclosed Bills one for £150 the other for £50 making together £250 Sterling which is the whole I have been able to receive by this Packet.  You have also the duplicate of the Bill sent you in my last of the 27^th June for £76 Sterling before this I was in hopes of being on my passage to England but the not being able to settle your accounts has prevented me but I trust by the next Packet or at furthest by the following one to finally close them; I shall then take my passage in a Packet.  My own Private Accounts I shall unavoidably be obliged to leave unsettled. I have written to St Kitt’s respecting Mr Rawlins’s business, have not yet received an answer, but suppose I shall by the return of the Mail Boat.

  I am sorry to say we are stricken (?) very dry at Barbuda they have not had a drop of water in the Cistern for the last four months.  On Friday last we had a pretty severe Gale.  I was in hopes it would have been attached with rain but it went off without it, the Gale was not sufficient to do us any injury; I was obliged to send a small Vessel which was there to sea she returned in the Evening with her sales & rigging much damaged; she fortunately had on board a load of Corn for Antigua which prevented her been driven to Leeward. Notwithstanding the drought I have pleasure to say that the stock as yet have not suffered they have been constantly fed on Hay, & are now making the risks look small but I trust we shall have enough to last us much longer than the dry weather can possibly last fortunately both the North & South sides of the Island have had occasional showers, it is only the middle which is suffering. I am

Sir

Your Most Obedient Humble

Servant

(signed) John James

Reference: Gloucestershire Records Office, Microfilm no.351, Section no.6, D1610 C24
Accessed through Simon Fraser University library

30 July 1812

Antigua July 30^th 1812

Sir,

        By the Ship Braganza which left this for Liverpool on Sunday last, I took the opportunity of forwarding to you the Barbuda Accounts to the end of June, accompanied by two of Black & Hays Bills for £250 Sterling each, another set of the same Bills will be sent with this; the balance referring  Barbuda by the Accounts sent is £2737: 18: 2. I have particularly to regret the not being able to forward the whole of it to you by this Packet; you will perceive that Messrs Black & Hay have been the principal Purchases, there remains now due from them £1325: 8: 2 & I have no prospect of getting it settled until the end of September, at which time they have promised the whole shall be paid. I shall decline furnishing them with any more Cattle until the former account is settled. There is also due from Haloran £346: 10 which he has promised to pay by the arrival of the next Packet, he is agent for supplying the Troops, his payments are guaranteed to one by the Deputy Commisary General residing here; as soon as I receive either of the sums it shall be forwarded to you.

   I must confess that I feel much hurt at the deficiency in the present payment, particularly so as it is the first money I have had to send you since Mr Martins departure, I had every reason to expect that I should have received nearly the whole of it, but as Mr Martin will be with you about the time this can reach, he will be able to assure you that those dis- appointments are almost unavoidable on my part I have now many dues to me for Articles sold from Barbuda these years since, for which I have regularly accounted to you, thereby making them my own debts, could I have raised the money the present Balance should have been settled. With this you will all so receive the Wreck accounts for the last year, the amount of which has been paid to Mr Martin, I shall now take Credit for my Commission on the last two wrecks which I will state at the foot of this.

   By the Brig Union for London I have shipped fifteen Bales of Cotton, all that is clean at present, there is about 3 or 4 Bales now to clean, what was reaped the first year was nearly all blown away in the Gale of last Year, as well as all the Year Plants then in the Ground destroyed, the Cotton I have now sent is chiefly from what old bushes the Gale left us.   It is with great pleasure I inform you that the Stock generally on the Island has for the last few years increased considerably, & this season the Calves are in greater abundance then they ever were, I have cut above 150 Bull Calves since Christmas. The Horses are also getting numerous in few years with any attention the builder will be able to send many Annually to the Island, and having had about 30 foals sent already this season. The American sheep which I purchased last year a healthy & have increased, the island sheep are looking well last Season droped five Lams at one time all of which she reared. We have now are plenty of feed, but have not been fortunate enough to get sufficient rains & get in much Corn, there is a large proportion of land ready. The Yams & Young Cotton are doing well.  I am Sir, 

                                       your most Obdt. Humble Servt

                                              (signed) John James

Account of Wrecks at Barbuda 1811
		Amount Sales
May	Sloop Maria	361. 0. 3
	Salvage at 20 per Cent		72. 4
August	Brig Patriota (Gen Cargo)	4027: 11: 5 1/4
	Salvage at 25 per Cent		1006: 17. 10
	Do of Don Diegoes part	607. 1
	Salvage at 20 per Cent		121. 8. 2
		£4995. 12. 8 1/4	£1200:  10 -
	Commission at 7 per Cent		84. 0. 8
			£1116: 9: 4

Reference: Gloucestershire Records Office, Microfilm no.351, Section no.6, D1610 C24
Accessed through Simon Fraser University library