10 Feb 1826

Clare Hall Feby 10^th 1826

Sir,

  I am sorry to say the first part of this letter is the most pleasant part for me to communicate, which is that surplus ??? for this year are good and that I shall be enable to send you at least 250 Hhds ??? They have cut fifteen Acres plant canes with a ….

 

It is very difficult to read first page and mostly seems to be minor estate news of sugar production. I will continue with the next readable page.

 

Accounts with for this Estate and Barbuda were sent by the Topaz, I hope they are correct I have had a good deal of trouble to get them arranged they are voluminous from the number of debts due when I came here.  I have now given directions that a regular Receipt book shall be kept, and every transaction entered in it, which I can if you wish it send annually with the accounts which I hope will be more simple than they now are.

  Now comes the most unpleasant part of this Letter, Mr Osborn went with me to Barbuda with the Hope of inducing some of the Negroes to come to your Estates, I had ordered them to be mustered, it went on pretty well certainly with some murmuring till we got nearly through the Women when they all declared they would not leave the Island unless compelled by force.  However I have got all the Tradesmen such as Masons and Carpenters to come with me to assist in their trades, but with a promise that they may return when this work is done, on these conditions they will at any time come over, and I trust that some of the young People will occasionally do the same.  I have offered to send back a certain number as often as they are replaced by others; I cannot depend on them, but I think I shall succeed.  I have now thirteen men with me five others have promised to come over to raise stones; by degrees perhaps they may be induced to remain after they have formed connections here; The rapid increase on that Island is very great, at giving out the Xtmas allowance there were one hundred and ten children, under those whose employment was merely to pick grass for the stable we have many more since the first is that they have formed an idea as most other Island have that after a certain time the Island will be given up to the King, and that will be at liberty to do just as they please and they think I am deceiving them when I tell them to the contrary, at the same time they are extremely obedient to any orders I give, except that of quitting the Island.

  I am much hurt and mortified at not being able to send you the proceeds of the wrecked sugar, which I had flattered myself to do.  The Manager on this Estate sold them for me unfortunately when I was in Barbuda the payment became due, he received the money, appropriated a large proportion of it for the care of the Estate, part of it paying the last two years to the Doctor for his attendance.  He was not aware that you had forbid me making use of the monies of one place for the other.  He is a most active young man and a good planter, and I think has the interest of the Estate at Heart, a thing of this kind will never happen again and must be replaced by this Estate as soon as possible  I am sure he did it from the best of motives as a large sum has been due many years to the Doctors, it is the first thing he has done without my order I am sure will be the last he is a valuable man to this Estate and I should be sorry to part to part with him.  I have as yet received no accounts from St. Vincents.  I shall return to Barbuda in a few days to get the Corn in, We have had a good deal of rain there which has prevented me taking up as many cattle as I would with a great mortality has taken place in Cattle lately your Windward Estates after they have had a good many are much in want of some at this moment I feel extremely obliged by your informing me of the plan of Mr. Garland I certainly had been very unwell but never had an idea of leaving this Country rely on it that you will be the first to hear of such a thing and as I can give you satisfaction I shall be happy to remain here My health is now perfectly restored which was occasioned principally from fatigue, the statement of the decrease of the value of Barbuda will soon be sent you I am enabled to go back many years

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