05 Sep 1818

Barbuda Sept^r 5^th 1818

Sir.

    In a letter of 9^th July of last year, I informed you of the necessity there was of building a vessel for the use of this Island, and your Antigua Estates; I am now happy to say that it is in a great state of forwardness, and could be launched in a very short time, and as it will not be much wanted till about the commencement of the next sugar Crop, it is not my intention to get her into the water till about Xtmas; she is built of the very best materials, and I trust will be a fine vessel, of about sixty tons and will carry thirty two Hh^ds of Sugar.  I have, from Bolts obtained from Wrecks, then enable entirely to Copper fasten her; the Deck as well as Bottom, & Bands.  I therefore trust you will have no objection to have her bottom Coppered as far as her light watermark. It will cost some money at first, but ultimately will be a saving; without it a vessel in this Country ought to be hove down at least every six weeks; when carrying Sugars it is a great loss of time: as well as expense; we cannot do it in this Island, I am therefore obliged to have it done in Antigua; in consequence of which, it is seldom done in less than a week.  In a list of things required for the use of the Island I have included that Copper sheathing, but should you disapprove of the vessel being coppered you will of course strike it out. The Cable, Chain, & Canvas are principally for her use. The vessel now in use is very old, and must soon be condemned; I have been patching her ever since I have been on the Island.

The list of the things for the Island is absolutely necessary the Negroes having had no clothing since 1815 the date of the last Invoice; as I shall have to make the vessels sails after the arrival of the Canvas, I shall be glad to have the articles out by one of the first ships to Antigua, that she may be ready early in the Crop to carry Sugars.

I am sorry to say that I have heard nothing from Lord Combermere since I wrote you in November last; he was to have sent for the Cattle, and had promised to let me hear from him some days before his vessel would be here; he also talked of visiting this Island in his next tour.

We have an extremely dry, having had no rains of consequence for the last three months till yesterday, when we had some good showers, which enabled me to plant the whole of my Corn for next Crop. Last night and this morning it has been blowing hard, but nothing in the shape of a Hurricane, tho I think it possible it has blown harder at no great distance.  I trust my boat will be able to cross the Channel, with this, tomorrow, I do not think it safe for her to do so this day.  Enclosed are the second of the two Bills forwarded in my last of the 14^th (instant?), one for £200 the other for £168:8 Sterling. I have forwarded the papers respecting Rawlins Bill to St Kitts. 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

08 July 1818

Barbuda July 8^th 1818

Sir.

Understanding that the Admiral Rowley is nearly ready to sail for Bristol, I am sending over this years wool to be shipped onboard of her, I think it is much superior to what was sent last, it is in three Bales of about three hundred pounds each, I am also sending two fine turtle and Barrel of Cashew seeds to go by her, and hope they will reach you safe.  By the ship Cato Cap^tn Morton for London, which I find is to sail on Friday next will be shipped six Bales of Cotton and a box of turtle shell, I have about as much more Cotton still to clean, which shall be done as fast as possible. I shall direct my Agent in Antigua to forward to you the bills of lading for the same, and one to Mr Trattle for the Cotton & shell. I am happy to say the weather continues to be as favourable as I could wish, I have now planted all my Yams, and about one hundred & eighty Acres of Corn, which are looking well; Cotton I have not yet planted as August it is considered the best time for planting it, the land is ready. The Rattoons are looking well. The Rains this season commenced much sooner than usual & if this continues I hope to have good crops of everything this year, last season we had no rains to speak of until 20^th October, which is too late for this Island; since my last your Estates have had another load of Oxen, and I am now looking out for others to complete the demand, which I hope soon to accomplish.  Inclosed you have Geo: Ottleys Bill on John R Indway Esq^r for £150 sterling.

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

06 June 1818

Antigua June 6^th 1818

Sir.

   Since I had the pleasure of addressing you (on the first instant(?)) We have received ten Dogs four from London by the Ship Cato & six from Bristol by the Admiral Rowley, the former with the exception of one are rather old, but the latter are very fine dogs; I have not yet used them, as I wish them to be somewhat used to the Climate before they are exposed too much to the heat of the Sun; and hitherto we have been extremely dry, the first Rain we have had for some months was last week, and yesterday we had more, which has enabled me to plant some Corn, Yams, & Cotton, which I shall continue to do as long as the ground remains wet enough.  The Dogs have arrived very opportunately, I mentioned in my last that I expected a heavy demand from the Estates for Cattle for the next Crop, since which the demand has been made, (certainly sooner than I expected,) with a desire that they may be sent as soon as possible, one vessel load consisting of twenty has been sent, and when the vessel can be spared from the Estates duty, more a ready to go; the demand is as follows.  Oxen wanted for Sir Christopher B. Codrington’s Windward Estates, 24 Bettys Hope, 20 Garden, 12 New Work, 12 Old Cotton, 68 in all.  Bettys Hope 9^th May 1818 this number with what have already been sent will make one hundred and fourteen within a few months, and six to Skerritts will make a Total of 120; it will therefore I fear leave me but few to dispose of for some time; in fact I have been obliged to refuse some offers to purchase till your Estates are supplied.  I have reason also to suspect that the annual demand will be considerable.

  I am happy to say what Cattle have been sent have been approved of, as will appear by the following extracts from two of M^r. Osborns Letters the first dated Feby 11^th 1818 says “Many thanks for the Cattle you sent over they are such as to Credit to your choice as well as the plan they come from” the other dated the 20^th of last month says “Cattle I am glad to say arrived safe and are general satisfaction, as I am sure the others will also when they come”  I merely send these extracts to show that the Cattle sent to your Estates have uniformly been good.  For some time past we have been so very dry that I have been under the necessity of having different parties in the Woods cutting Bush &c for the stock, which the late rains will enable me to discontinue, the Stock notwithstanding are in pretty good order.  The Island Accounts shall all be made up to the 30^th of this month, and forwarded by the first vessel that sails after that period.  I am

Sir

Your Most Obed^t Humble

   Servant

(signed) John James

Reference: JJ267 Robson Lowe collection on microfilm 24995, University of Texas at Austin, Nettie Lee Benson Latin American Collection.

01 May 1818

Barbuda May 1^st 1818

Sir.

  Inclosed you have the seconds of Mr Byams two Bills of Exchange on Mess^rs Rodie & Shands for £95: 2:5 & £45: 7:4 Sterling the firsts of which were forwarded in my Letter of the 16^th March, and which I hope have reached safe; they were to have gone by the Packet which sailed about that time, but I find the Boat which followed her to St Thomas’s did not get their till she had sailed; the Antigua mail was therefore forwarded by another vessel.  I am sorry to say we have had no rain since my last, the Island is therefore extremely dry; but the stock still continues in pretty good condition.  The woolly sheep have just been shorn, and I have pleasure in saying the wool is rather better than it has been at any former shearing; as I suppose you would like to have it sent to Bristol I shall keep it till a ship sails for that Port; the flock now consist of two hundred & twenty three Ewes of the American breed and seven Spanish, besides rams, & wethers; my wish is to increase this flock to about two thousand which I think we may maintain within the Walls; I have a Dozen Rams to turn into the woods this season.  I had some turned out last year they have not been seen since, and I have yet seen but one Lamb that appears to be of their getting.  Mr Osborn has made a demand of six more Oxen which shall be sent him next week, I rather think his demand will be pretty heavy for the next season, which I must endeavour to provide for, this dry weather will I hope enable us to Pen them.  Mr Osborn also wishes me to send him the Negros from Barbuda but as they are very loath to leave the Island, and have an idea that it is in my power to keep them here I have requested that he would come over himself and make a demand of them, and take them off; for altho I do not expect any great opposition, yet I think it but fair as he is to receive the benefit of their removal that he should also take a share of the trouble should any occur, or a positive order from you to me to remove them mentioning the number shall be instantly, complied with, they would then see the necessity I was under of sending them to Antigua.

  By the Ships George Hibbert & West Indian I have sent you six fine Turtles, four by the former, and two by the latter, I hope they will reach you in good condition.  What Cotton I can get ready shall be sent by some ship that will sail next month. I am

                                                                                Sir

                     Your Most Obedient Humble

                                  Servant

               (signed) John James

Reference: JJ266 Robson Lowe collection on microfilm 24995, University of Texas at Austin, Nettie Lee Benson Latin American Collection.