Star. — London, England, 1825-01-03 00:00:00

WEST INDIA SLAVERY. LETTER XI. TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR. s—ANGLO has the following passage in his foirth letter:—.“ The Qtarterig Revises hiss chosen to „confine his argument for the necessity of maintaining „ J o ey to tither). point,th at, withodt it, sugar cannot ',continue to be Cultivated as at present." The fact is, au this argument is not so confined, and applies, though tai less degree, perhaps, to the cultivation of ginger, ato p, coffee, &c. but it is evident that the Reviewer tho ught it more suitable, in the spirit of the adage, „tow *Ors &Wind ix se mixes," to arg• e the ques t:oo on the staple commodity, sugar, from its para mount importance.—What, then, was the tendency of t . e argument upon this subject. throughout the Review? hs . ent to prove, that if the West India Planter-were ssidenly deprived of the services of his slaves in the on i t iyation of sugar, and could only command those t wice' for the future, by the present temptations ,Inch be could it old out for inducing them to work for ors, be would not be able to continue his cultivation in t any chance of adequate remuneration. The ob itbi • t of AN GLUS, in the q uotation which I have selected, ic to maintain a precisely o pp osite ar g ument, and, as ,i, a question of fact, it must be left for the judg- t of the Public. The Reviewer proceeds to chew, that until the mean employing free labour be afforded to the Planter in the Sugar Colonies, from the effect of a change brought 0)011L in she feelings and inclinations of the free negro, s t h telerence to his peculiar situation, forced emanci pation would be ruinous to the Planter, and even pre judicial to the Negro himself, who would be let loose spon society without any preparation qualifying him wln to take his natural position in it—the maintenance of his phlsltal existence, with the least possible degree of erertioti, would form- . the main principle made be rinciple of the h w his reward d f ee li ngs b ut f em anc i p ation cf industry, and of industry long continued, and if aural and religious improvement awaken in the negro mind a desire for necessaries, and even enjoyments, which are now without the pale of his conceptions,—if a tense of the value of money be created in his mind, as the means of acquiring all things desirable, and of bettering his own condition and that of his family—if libour be sweetened to him, from the conviction that be is himself to share the full proportionate sum of 4 .tivantage that is to be derive.' from it, that indisposi tion to exertion which now characterites the race may be changed into a very different frame of mind. It isl tofcctly true, that in marry instances, by a process of luso:ling, he might be satisfied that many of the com fats, which, under circumstances of freedom, he would Derive, as others do from the wages of labour, he now derives under the Slave system, such as food, lodging, tlothing, medical attendance, &c. But is it to be sup posed that so circuitous a process of reasoning, relative w the natural and market price of wages, could recon cile his mind to his position, if he has the faculty of ex ercising any such processes of thought? His work appears, to the Slave, to be the work of the Mister, that work is compulsory, and the SIaIIMIAM bonum which his mind can frame, is that state in which he would be relieved from all and any sort of labour, in a tropical climate, where the natural price of wages can be ob. taMed with little physical exertion. ANGLVS proceeds to state, that the Abolitionists con sider the cultivation of Sugar by Slaves as a service so *mei and deathful," that " they have no choice left" bat to " deliver themselves from all participation in its 'guilt by abstaining from the use of slave-grown "sugar :" and; in conformity with this express principle, rime shops have been established for the exclusive sale ',East India Sugars. Now, if the maintenance of line doctrines can be identified with the profits that *eta arise from the sale of those East India Sugars, it Wield be unnecessary to argue the case, as the whole wield appear to be one of those elaborate puffs which taracterize our present advanced state of commercial 'emotions ; but if the argument be meant seriously, to enquiry naturally presents itself, why those persons silo have worked themselves up to that frame of mind, that they cannot conscientiously eat " slave-grown togas," should continue to eat, with very conscientious appetites,rice, coffee, and chocolate, or should wear gar ants made of cotton ;—all thete articles being equally ?mined by the labour of Slaves? And I would enquire, whether those who have reasoned them into this prac ticed* self-privation, have taken care to lay before them I true and faithful account of the circumstances of the hbour, and of the general circumstances of the cultiva' lion of the Sugar in the East Indies; 'thereby affording, It the judgment of every person, the contrast be attar the situation of the East and the West In it cultivators? On the contrary, do they not know le a true and faithful exposition of that state i!alel leave doubts in the minds of many persons, "tier it was not more suited, in the furtherance of i!tir principle, to follow the example of the self-priva t!iniits of 1790,wh0, with a view of bringing about le . ai!tst humane, just, and enlightened measure , the ,olitton of the Slave Trade, consented to abstain l eal, the use of sugar altogether? That the service of lives i n the process of cultivating sugar, has occa -1441L . 4 been " cruel ,and deathful " may be granted, that it is the general preponderating character of • • service, is capable of the strongest and most con tte disproof. ..ale already referred to Mr. Clarkson's Pamphlet, ' l L __ r w what the e v id e nce was as to the degree of la . '4oo.in:donned by the Slaves in West India agricul• lit sop. and some of the colonies, from the poverty of ° Ilthour t h e uncertainty of the seasons, the quantity , employed, as compared with the produce o f n ittgar crop, varies peal from similar exertions in a l * and fertile soils : and it must beremem bared, that r .propositionshave _ b een ma d e , un der such cr .. - 4141 %e a k et s e s s, to tra which he Shire to a more genial sail, may produce more profit to his pro- 'prfetah have l'rea resisted by the AbolltTordsts, on grounds of Very questismalshe policy and humanity. The 'motive for this opposition has been a conviction, or rather a hope, that the Planter would ultimately 'find that his sugar cultivation was too ruinous to be tontinned, and consequently would no longer draw upon his Slaw for his labour in that process, but, on the contrary, suffer him to lapse into a complete state of independence, where he would be employed only in the raising ground-provisions for his own maintenance.— But it is to be remembered, through what a course of physical exertion that Slave Must necessarily pass, who is finally released from the duties of cultivation ; but not until that hour arrives, in which the master has dis covered that the utmost continued exertion of the phy sical strength of his Slaves cannot raise articles having exchangeable value in England, from the barren soil, so as to gain a profit to himself that can pay for the maintenance of those Slaves, and yield a fair interest on the capital invested. But, avoiding extreme eases of fertile or unfertile soil, I shall select an instance of a sugar plantation, in a colony which has been long cultivated. The planta tion to which 1 allude, is in Barbadoes, and belongs to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Fo reign Parts, to whom it was left in trust, by General Codrington, for special purposes. The account which I shall submit has been before the public for some time, and no person yet has presumed publicly to im peach the accuracy of that detailed statement. The work which conveys to the public this information, is entitled, 44 A Statement of Me Plan observed in Me So. 44 eiety and College Estates in Barbadoes," which the So ciety for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts have themselves published. in their Abstract of the Proceedings of the Society for the year MS, and which they have prefaced with the following obser vations: " The publication of such an interesting do.' 64 content, cannot fail to be highly satisfactory to the " Members of the Society, as, among other details, it a will prove that the existence of Slavery is not incom• " patible with an increase of population—within the " short period of eight years, nearly one-sixth having " been added to the number on the establishment." They then proceed to state thus— " GENERAL VIEW OF THE INTENTIONS OP THE FOUNDER. The Society and College Estates, situated in the " Eastward Division of Barbadoes, in the Parish of " Saint John, were left by General Codrington, at the " commencement of the preceding century, in trust to " the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in " < Foreign Parts. The grand and immediate object " of their bequest was the erection of a College on the " property, established as a public institution for the " advancement of learning, and to be maintained by " the labour of Slaves. " RELIGIOUS IMPROVEMENT OF THE NEGROES. " Although deriving some advantage from two Go " vernesses set over the young, and from the occasional " inuiuction of the Ministers entrusted with the care " of the scholars, the Sleeks On these estates were never " provided with any regular system of religious teeth— " ing until the year 1818. At this period, the inci eased " funds of the property enabled the Trustees to send out a Clergyman, in full orders, on a liberal este " blisliment ;.his views were to be exclusively directed to the promotion of Christian knowledge and Chris " tian habits among the Slaves of these estates, and he “ was required to convey to the Society the apparent " effects of his superintendance. Having filled the si " tuation fleetly five years, he is able to bear testimony " to the following facts, with regard to their religious " advantages and general condition. " REGULATIONS FOR DIVINE SERVICE. " Religious Instruction.— Divine Service is per " formed on the Sabbath, commencing at half-past " eleven o'clock, strictly according to the. Rubric of the " Church of England, and a familiar lecture is deli " vered on the faith and duties of the Gospel. The tendance is *now regular and full, from* the adult " Estate Negroes, those who are present receiving " tickets, which, on being delivered to the Manager, " secure to them the enjoyment of the Saturday after. " noon next following, from one o'clock; Their chit: dren, seventy-one id number, in a neat uniform dress, " always attend, seats in a particular part of the chapel " being provided for them. Many of the neighbouring " free coloured persons and Slaves are in the habit of " frequenting this chapel, and the communicants " amounted latterly to the number of thirty-one. The " chapel is built of stone, and accommodates from two " hundred and fifty to three hundred persons. " SCHOOLS FOR TIM CHILDRIN OF TR' IRICORORti. " Education of Children.--The "children between " four and ten years of age meet together at a nest " little school-house, near.the Chapel, half way between 44 the two estates—their number, at present, is forty " eight. They are taug ht er to read on the. National " plan, and remain the tuition of a highly-re. " spectable Governess, from nine till one every day,, " Saturday excepted. Those who are between the age " of ten and fifteen, (twenty.three in number at pre " sent), are assembled on the Sabbath, and are tate " chetically instructed by the Chaplain, in the body of " the Chapel, for two hours previous to worship. The " day-school children are .at the same time in the " school room, under the tuition of their Governess; a " comfortable apartment appropriated to her use, leads " out of the school-room, and a stipend with allow " antes is grafted by the Society. " MARRIAGES ON THE SLAVES. Habits of the Slaves.—Tbere is but one instance of " marriage among them legally performed, and the " Chaplain ardently looks forward to the influence of " religion, in putting an end to polygamy, as promoting " a desire, and suitable reverence for, this hallowed' , " bond ; although accompanied with no solemnity, if their connections are by no means , to be regarded in " the light of promiscuous concubinage—many in " stances of connubial fidelity through life, are to be " met with. Yet, from the unfortunate habit of living " with more than one wife, the unison is in other cases " too frequently violated. Baptism is administered to " all infants, on application made by the parents, and to " all adults after due examination and instruction. " ATTENTION TO PUILIC WORSHIP. " Their behaviour at Public Worship is reverent, " and in many cases devout. Their desire for instrue " don is manifest, and they ate heard conversing on " subjects, which discourses from the pulpit, or the " reading of their children have suggested to their " minds. As to their general conduct, the Manager " has repeatedly declared his conviction, that the in• • troduction of Christanity has produced much bene • ficial effect obvious to himself. In seasons of illness or distress, they are visited by the Chaplain at the .‘ Hospital, or ot their own houses, and if there be a prisoner under amillirmseot for sore greet oiressee,bef “ is attended with repel*** exhortation. ".ATTACHMENT op Thi SLAM TO THIS CHAPLAIN. " They seem to feelgreat.confidence in their Minis " ter, and often seise opportunities of having inter " course with him ; and their numerous little presents, " and sorrow at partin4 with him, spewed their attach " meat in a most affecting manner. 66 GENERAL TREATMENT OP Till NEGROES. " Previously to the commencement of their daily work, " warm tea° is handed round to every individual. Their " scene of labour from su wise to sun -set, is alleviated by " two regular suspensions of half an hour for their break " fast, and an hour and a half for their dinner. Thi, 46 latter meal is dressed for them, against their return " at noon, so that the interval is passed in refreshment, without care or fatigue. While occupied in the field, " draughts of water are constantly supplied, by a per son appointed for that purpose, and in more weati .4 some work, a refreshing beverage of punch is very 46 frequently mixed and sent out to them. Their labour " has been much lightened by the introduction of the " plough, and it has been for years the object of the " Agricultural Society, to devise and encourage mea " sum for diminishing manuaktoil. " NATURE OF THE PUNISHMENTS. " Punishments of a severe nature ate very rarely in -44 flicted, and the general substitution of confinement " for corporal chastisement, has been found to answer " all the ends of correction. 66 PRIVILEGE. OF TIM SLAVS& " Every mother having eight children alive, has the " undisputed enjoyment of the whole of Thursday, and 68 the Saturday afternoon, throughout the year, is al " lotted to those who have three living. The alternate "Saturday afternoon only is granted to the other 64 labourers during the crop. 46 ATTENTION TO THE SICK. " The Hospital is a new and very commodious " building, there are five apartments, so constructed as " to, admit safe ventilation, opening into a gallery for " the use of convalescents. There is another division—a l " lying-in room, but it is entirely at the option of the a mother to occupy this or her own house during the "month—the visits of the Apothecary are daily, and " a nurseattends constantly on the sick—in cases of " dangerous illness, the very best medical or surgical • aid is called in without hesitation, and without regard •to expense. Very little labour is exacted from peg a sant females, and . great consideration is shewn them. i • while nursing the ir children ; each child receives a " supply of baby linen, and, when a month old, is pre. "seated with a dollar. There is a neat nursery, • with a superintendant, in which the young children *are kept, while their mothers are engaged at their • work. Here they remain during the day, accessible •to their parents till of an age fit to be employed in " picking grass, sweeping the door, &c. 41 ALLOWAWCZ OP POOP. _ 66 The portion of food allotted them, besides the meal '• daily cooked for them, is so abundant, that they are " enabled by the superfluity to pay for making their cl9these to raise stock, and to sell a part at the town • fihrket; Their houses are generally of stone, with a • thatchifd roof; around them is a patch of land under • beat cultivation ; and this little property they have * permission to have, at their decease, to any relative • or friend, being a slave on the estate. 66 INDULIIIIIICEI TO THE SLAVES. . - " At the end of the crop, a day is given up entirely "to rejoicing. They have a dance in the yard, which II the Attorney, Chaplain, and others, are invited to wit " nest, and a comfortable dinner is provided for them "on the occasion. On the death of any one, the near " relatives have the intermediate time between the de " cease and the interment, and all on the estate leave " their work one hour earlier to attend the funeral. " These regulations being pursued under the humane !is direction of Forster Clarke , Esq. Attorney, and Mr. 04 Samuel Hinksoa, Manager, there are now fifty " three more slaves on the estate than there were in the, " year 1815, though three Mulattoes have purchased their liberty, and no-purchases been made. "GENERAL DISPOSITION IN THE PLANTERS TO RETINA " TO THE SLAVES THE BENEFITS OF RELIGIOUS Me 11 STRUCTIoN. " A disposition on the side of the Proprietor to ins. l l 41 part, and of the Slave to receive religious instruction, is evident; nor can there be a doubt but that au et& dent system of religious tuition, interwoven with some '" judicious immunities under the guidance of Clergy '4! men of the Established Church, throu3h the subor " dinate agency of catechists, will be readily embraced " by most Proprietors, and will promote the gradual " civilization and eternal good of the slaves themselves. "JOHN H. PINDAR, Chaplain." The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, in Account for the Barbados. Trust Estate, front Jan. St, 1821, r Jan: u, leas. &SCRIPTS. &lasses of last Ae. count, £1175 9 9 Otto of Messrs. 976 0 6 Itseeipt of Messrs. Trude, 1975 19 6 Onelfear's Dividend on 434,000 Three per Cent. Cease& dated Sask. An nuities, 1090 0 0 PAYMENTS. drawn by F. Cadre i £1845 1 7 3 Hlk drawn by 111. Nicholson, Prod -663 19 5 Bills drawn by Stu dents. • 300 0 Bins drawn by H. Pindar,Ckaplain, 400 0 0 Pikers Salaries, 115 0 0 Postage of Letters and Packets, 15 s 6 Due to Balance, 1804 12 7 £5144 19 9 ,C 5144 1$ 9 It is te-be observed here, that some of the items on the payment side have not any connection with the or dinary eapeoses of the estate ;these are, the bills drawn 'by Mr. Nicholson, the President, for the support of a College, and of bills drawn in favour of Students holding exhibitions at British Universities, comprising together nearly the sum of 1,0001. whereas, on the re ceipt side of the account, nothing appears but what is, or has been, derived from the proceeds of the estate, nrhich is eseirrsively a sugar estate, producing neither coffee nor cotton. As it may be interesting to review the cortingenciei to which the Cultivation of sugar has been liable, par ticularly in the old Islands, from the uncertainty of seasons and natural calamities, I adjoin an account of the nett clearances of the Codrington College Sugar Estate, from the year 1770 to 18'23, both inclusive. From which alio will be seen, with what prudence and discretion that respectable body of men, the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, have acted in discharging the trust reposed in them. •Illor is it undeseiving Of remark, that the agricultural attor ney, and the missionary, are both natives of Beibadoes, and owners of Slaves; and yet A mot.us will be astoni,hcd to find that the Society have ,either distrusted their • Ging* tea. -,~.,,.. mires% oar lowstl Aupseeli ant and discretias. Stammer of time AMNIA& Poore! or Lea animism ea tbe Culti vation of tie Cedtiestes Came &tsar Beate, in Harbatiees, by Slaves, fame the Teo 1770 to ins, both imitate,: the increase of the Slaves b Skit Me been already/toted -- --- _. PROFIT. LOSS. 1770 / Cle ared 335 10 1 17711 Sunk 1,355 424 1/72• Cleared 84 18 11 -1773 ' Sank 551 19 74 Cleared 17/4 1 53 18 74 1773 • Sink 1,016 10 3 1776 Do. 1151 14 101 1777; Do. 204 494 1778 Do. 249 15 0* 1779 .- -- Do. 135 17 7i 1700 Cleared 378 9 6 , 1781 Sunk 899 2 14 1768 Do. 771 10 114 ,„., C Cleared to / 59 4 6 . " 1 10th Oct. S . 1764 Cleared 542 6 7 1785 Do. 864 18 7 1786 Do.: 1,538 11 5 1787 Do. 2,034 3 11 1768 Do. 1,904 15 4 1789 Do. 1,570 14 1 1790 Do. 1,399 4 5. , 17: 1 1 Do. 2,718 18 10 , 17 , Do. 3,086 19 3 1793 Do. 3,561 15 1 1794 Do. 591 16 10 1795 Sunk 000 18 0 1796 Cleared 2,186 0 4 , , 1797 Do. 1,857 1 64 1798 Do. 1,738 11 24 1799 Do. 1,645 13 104 . 1800, Sunk 69 8 54 1801 1 Cleared 1,326 15 II r 1802' 1 8051} Dv.3,673 0 3 16041 Do. 1,65311 7 1 1605 , Do. 3,402 10 Si I s 180 6 Do. 921 II 94 s 1807 Do. 1,161 2 9 1808 Do. 1,548 13 9 , r 1809 ...11. Sunk 44 $ 81 a 181 Cleared • 1,164 17 10 e 1911 Do. 348 10 1 ' e 1812 Do. 601 8 8 . d 1813 Do. 266 13 . , a . 1814 Do. 3,049 10 2 / I 1815 Do. 4,965 9 3 a .1816 Do. 7,41319 3 d 1817 r Do. 3.98019 9 1818 Do. -4,70019 1 ' 1819 Do. 5,540 11. II - 18 Do. 2,024 8 2 a . 1821 Do. 2,555 0 1822 Do. 9,49010 8 It 1823 Do. 3,901 6 8 11 Tqtal Profit -st $4,659 15 10 otal Loss A' 6,743 10 6 551 19 7b , • Tqtal Profit - se 84,649 IS Amount of Neu Gains 04 years 0,743 10 • T.l A 134,639 15 10) From these tetums, ANOLUS may inform himself as to the profits of a Sugar Estate situated near to that of Mr. Steele's, during the years referred to by him• in his 6th letter ; viz. from 1778 to 1779, *hen the Codring ton College Estate *as actually cultivated at a loss. For the next four years,l7Bo, 1,2, and 3, this loss COll - ; but that during 1784, 5, and 6, the years par ticularly distinguished by AsoLos, to prove the supe riority of Mr. Steele's system over the former system, it is seen, that the Codrington College . Estate also pro duced a much higher gain, under its usual system, when compared with former years, than ever Mr. Steele's Estate had done; which chews that the in crease of profits did not depend, in this case, on the ope ration of the causes assigned by A NGLUS, but upon more favourable seasons for the cane plant, and upon higher prices for sugar. Another observation is deserving of remark, relative to the effect of commercial credit on West India pro sperity. During those years when tbe Codrington Col lege Estate was annually incurring debt, tom unfavour. able seasons, if no individual had appeared to support it through these calaiiitous years, the sufferings of the Slaves must have been extreme, and the purposes of the founder entirely defeated. Whereas, by having com mercial credit, the Slaves were taken care of during the period of calamity, and their labour, in due time, fully repaid all advances made on their account, whilst they afterwards increased their numbers by births, and at the end of fifty-four years, a sum of upwards of seventy thousand pounds have been cleared by them, and placed, under the will of General Codrington, to be applied to certain specific: objects. Had the case been that of a West India Proprietor residing in England, the results would have been the same, except as to the application of the funds created. In the case of the West India Proprietor residing in England, the sum would have been applied by him in giving activity to Industry and capital in England, in the same manner as if the sum bad been created in Yorkshire or Ireland, by the labourers on his farms there. From ihese returns of the nett clearance of the Cod rington College Estate for fifty-four years, ANGLII3 Will perceive that the assertion in his third letter, Mating, " that the business of sugar planting, toy gave * laboar, has been one general average productive, not IP of profit, but loss, during the whole era of Haytian 4 4 freedom," cannot be entitled to credit, without the detailed production of facts to support its tfoth ; be ciuse the fact hero produced is directly opposed to the assertion, as regards a Colony whose soil and climate are not considered the most favourable in the West Indies, for the production of sugar; but in which it has nevertheless been profitable during the period men tioned. excepting three of these years. During all the other years, the cultivation was profitable, and the general average of that period was one of adequate profit.—l am, Sir, your most obedient servant, VINDEX EXTR AORDIN A sty PERFORMANCE. The greet feet race for a thousand sovereigns between J. P. Nicholson, LI. the , fastest in 'Cheshire, and Captain hiediwin, took place on Saterky, ewer twe map of grenad e Hadky Park, B uc ks, many kundred preens heks present. The distance was twenty miles, the eamgedtors starting from Mln. ender The match was made en the evening tithe kte race of Cmintie Parker, at Sunbury, and the Squire was hashed at 5 to 4, but the Ogitein's friends wets free takers. Mr. Barclay, the umpire, reeked the time of each two miles as follows: Mr. Nicholson. win. sec. I Capt. Methwin. min. see. Pilot two miles, 12 35 First two miles, 11 31 Second, - 11 42 Second, - - 11 50 Third, - . 11 52 Third, - - H 4S Fourth, 12 9 Fourth, 12 42 Fifth, - ill is Fifth, - 111 20 Sixth, - 12 40 Sixth, - Is, 111 37 Seventh, 12 42 Seventh le 30 Eighth, - 13 2 Eighth, - 13 le Ninth, . 15 48 Ninth, - - 13 55 Tenth, • - 14 12 Teeth, - - 14 0 Total, 1111. 5 19 Total, The Captain ran st mug until t i he last, bet Mr. strength and speed, and be won within himself, the all the nation. They were together to the end otal, 0Y .I 40 Mr. Nicholas, had A the Captain snaking ed of the 194 k odic - I . i A a le IC 14 ND ss7 100 --- MI sa• km. N * bil . . 74.1.