21 May 1819

St Kitts May 21^st 1819

Sir.

  I came to this Island for the purpose of ascertaining what had been done in Rawlin’s business, and find that Mr Woodley the attorney general to whom(unreadable) had obtained a judgement against Stedman Rawlins the drawer of the Bill; that who I am sorry to find had left this place some time since, and has taken refuge in one of the Dutch Islands, he has also taken off the whole of the property he possessed, and I hear his debts are such as to preclude his return at least for some time; William Rawlins who was the purchaser of the Cattle is also off the Island.  Mr Woodley having spoken to Henry Rawlins the father to whom I understood that Cattle were intended, on the subject, who says, he knows nothing more of the transaction than having purchased the Cattle from his son, and for which he paid him; I shall however go to Nevis where he lives and see him.

  We had I am happy to say some good rains at Barbuda about a fortnight since, of which we were much in want, and I doubt not by this time the Island is looking well, before these rains, the enclosures were so very dry and I was obliged to turn all the cattle into the woods, on my return I shall endeavour to collect them again. The ship Cato arrived in Antigua yesterday week, by her I received a bill of lading for the Cotton Bagging etc.   By the Killingberk which has sailed on this 9 sent to Mr Trattle eight bales of Cotton, and box of tortoise shell, also four Turtle for you, the Turtle are smaller than I had been in the habit of, or wish to send, but are that best I could get notwithstanding the boats have been constantly out, but I hope to be more fortunate by some of the other vessels. I have not yet seen the New Schooner since she has been at Antigua, but understand she is capable of carrying forty Hh^ds of Sugar, with this you will receive Thomas Hardman’s bill on Bayer Otto Bayer Esq^r for £129:2: Sterling

Nevis May 22^nd

  The packet is now here but will sail almost immediately, and as Mr Rawlins lives some miles from the town I am under the necessity of inclosing this letter without seeing him.  I remain

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

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