| Transcript or Index | Jamaica 24th April 1783
Sir
We have to acknowledge the receipt of
your letters of the 10th & 20th of January, 4th of February &
3d of March by the Packet and by the Henry Capt Wilson.
In regard to the American Negroes, we flatter ourselves
we have already said enough to satisfy you of the
impropriety of pursuing the measure you pointed out, of
either a Lease, or purchase, or even the hire of these people,
for any term whatever. Upon the arrival of those Negroes
in this Country, the same advantages which you take notice
of immediately occurred to many Proprietors of Estates
here, who hired several Gangs of them for a year certain.
These Gentlemen are now so perfectly convinced of their
having been mistake, and of the inability of those people
to the common Labour of Estates that many of them
wish for an expiration of their agreement. Mr Simon
Taylor says they will not answer, and Sutherland who
has an opportunity of seeing how they go on in that
Parish, and neighbourhood, advises to have nothing to say
to them. It is your Interest only we are studying when we
recommend it you to drop all thoughts of this measure.
The Plan you lay down in your letter of the 4th of Febry
for the improvement of your Estates strikes us at once as a
measure highly proper, and what we have for some time past had
in contemplation. Those Negroes who have been inured to
Jobbing and the drudgery work upon Estates, are most certainly
your object, and by far the more preferable of the two. We
shall endeaver by every means in our power to accomplish
this upon the footing you mention, having a due regard to
what you suppose may be the average price of Sugar.
We shall make the proper enquiry about the wood that
is upon the Grange Estate, the quality & quantity, & acquaint you.
We observe what you mention in regard to that Estates Supplies
for the present year, and have wrote to Campbell to send us a
List of such articles as he cannot possibly do without, which
we shall purchase here upon the most reasonable terms possible.
We hope you was fully insured upon the Catherine as you
have no doubt heard of her loss upon the Camaynas
The Second two hundred pounds you paid to Mrs Cowan
is credited in your Account with Mr Laings Estate, copies
of which, and the other Accounts shall be sent you by the
Man of War. We cannot say exactly the Sum we shall
be under the necessity of drawing for this year - but this
you may rely upon, that we shall be as moderate as we
possibly can. The last years balance that may be due
to ourselves shall remain untouched, unless something
very urgent should oblige us to draw for a few hundred pounds.
Upon Account of Mr Laings Balance we hope not to
exceed the Sum of Three thouhsand pounds Sterling, if even
so much - that and the purchase money of the Negroes
for B Mountain last year, we think will be all.
In regard to Insurances we can add but little
more to what we have already advised Viz
BW - 50 hhds [hogsheads] on board the Allion for Bristol
do - 20 hhds on the Thetis Major for do
do - 50 hhds on the Thompson Hurst for London.
The remainder of hte Estates Crop may be
insured for, as value may appear, upon the Ships Astly,
Capt Castle, Prince George, Blatchford, & the Farmer
Austin - the two former are arrived & the Farmer
hourly expected.
GW - the Show Ann & Mary sailed from PortRoyal a
few days ago and will take on board all that may be
ready to ship, which we suppose may be from 60 to 70 hhds
VW - what sugars are made will chiefly be shiped upon
the Betsey Laurie, probably a few upon the Lord Rodney
Stimpson but cannot ascertain the exact number of
Casks. We hope you will Insure upon all these
vessels to sail with, or without Convoy.
In regard to Robert Laing. We have
consulted with Doctor Nasmyth and other friends of his late father
who are all of Opinion that the circumstance of Colour, which
you seem to think will operate against him in England, will
still be in greater force here, and upon the whole that the
difficultys will be found more numerous here than at Home.
We must acknowledge that this coincides perfectly with our
own opinion, and more especially now, that his inclination
seems to have taken a turn to the Study of the Law, a profession
which of all others the circumstances of Colour would operate
very forcibly, and be a strong objection against his success in
this Country. Should he at last incline to fix his residence
here, the Penn certainly seems more promising than any
thing in the Mercantile way, as he may then be able to
avail himself of the whole of his little patrimony without
any Kind of risque.
Please to present our respectfull compliments
to Mrs Perrin and to Mr & Mrs Fitzherbert, and
are with very sincere esteem and regard
Sir
Your faithfull & mo[st] obed[ien]t serv[an]ts
Wm Philp Perrin Esqr |