Antigua July
16th 1810
Sir
On Friday night
the 22nd of last month, the Americans sloop Unicorn, from Rhode
Island bound to Antigua, with Corn & Provisions, was wrecked on the North Reef
of Barbuda; the whole of her deck load consisted of Fish, & wood Hoops, was thrown overboard immediately on her
striking; the remainder of the cargo has been saved, with the exception of some
Corn which got wet; it was sold on Saturday last by public auction; I have
deferred writing until the very last moment, in hopes, to inform you of the
exact sum it sold for, which has not yet been ascertained; as the Corn &
some other things have not yet been delivered; but as nearly as I can calculate,
it will be about 1600 pounds currency; I hope the delivery of the whole will be
effected today, in which case the salvage will be settled tomorrow, & the
money immediately paid to Mr Martin. I am sorry to say Barbuda is not lately
had its share of rain, about five weeks since. I was unable to plant some part
of my yams, & about 50 Acres of Cotton, the former is doing as well as I
could expect considering the dry weather since; but nearly the whole of the
Cotton must be planted over again, I have now at least 140 Acres ready for it.
I left Barbuda on Wednesday last, since which there has been a good deal of
rain in this Island, I hope Barbuda has also had some, if so, the whole of the
Cotton & Yams are in the Ground. I have been able to sell but a very small
quantity of the last years yams, & that to the Navy, as Cash cannot be got from the Estates in this Island for them,
however, as Mr Hodge is in want of provisions for your Estates, & has
agreed to take both the Yams & Corn which I may have to spare, I trust it
will be the same thing to you; the Corn will be full as much as I before
informed you, but that Yams must of course at the season of the year decrease
considerably in weight; I have now more Ground prepared for Yams than I had
last year, which I hope will do well stocked I shall also pay particular
attention to the Cotton. For the first time, since I have been on the Island, we
have this year had a second dropping of Lambs, particularly on the North side,
& middle of the Island, in the windward, & South sides we have not been
quite so fortunate, perhaps owing to the difference of feed; the Cattle are in
good order, we have had a very fair proportion of Calves this season, The Man
of War occasionally call for Beef and
which will I suppose be stopped as soon as the Hurricane months commence.
Several of the Negros have lately been attacked with slight Fevers, but they
are all I am happy to say doing very well, the Quarters accounts to the end of
June should be made up the instant I can get rid of the wreck.
I have the honor to be
Sir
your most obedient and humble
servant
(signed) John James
Reference: JJ257 Robson Lowe collection on microfilm 24995, University
of Texas at Austin, Nettie Lee Benson Latin American Collection.
