Antigua August 2nd 1805
Sir,
In
consequence of a letter from Mr. Athill wishing to see me at Antigua I came
over the day before yesterday, when I received both your letter of the 5th
of June and the Power of Attorney authorizing me to act for Barbuda, which is a
situation I must confess I did not expect to attain to in so short a time,
consequently I have much to thank you for; and at the same time do assure you
that I shall do everything I my power to merit a continuance of your favor, and
I do not hesitate to say that I think the produce of Barbuda may be improved in
most respects. The Power did not arrive
until the morning of Wednesday last, my friend Mrs. Basset in a letter by the
first April Packet informed me that it was ready and would probably come by the
next Packet, and that having been taken
I fully expected it was lost with her, I have not yet had the pleasure of
seeing Mr. Athill in consequence of his being severely attacked by the Gout,
he has therefore requested I would
remain here a few days, when he hopes the violence of his disorder may
abate. With respect to your observations
on the produce of Barbuda the mules certainly are valuable, and I believe
almost absolutely necessary for your Antigua Estates, but I question if a mule
bred from a Spanish ass is so much superior to a mule from a common one as to
answer the extraordinary expence and trouble in procuring the former from what
I can learn there has never been but two on the Island, from the first they
never had a colt and those from the last are yet too young to form any opinion
of; the Barbuda mules which have certainty an exceeding good character have all
been bred from common Asses, we have three now on the Island sent by Mr. Athill
since arrival from which I shall continue to bred until I have your further
orders. The methods which you propose
respecting the sheep I think highly advisable to try, something is absolutely
necessary as they have been degenerating some time, and do not now sell for
near what they did three or four years since; the climate I think too hot ever
to expect wool, therefore if you should determine on sending out a ram or two,
you will probably send those from which the best sheep may be procured for the
market, I will make a selection of some of the best ewes that they may become a
little used to the enclosures before the rams arrive; sheep certainly has been
the kind of stock which appears to me to have received the least attention for some
time past, old ewes have scarcely ever been sold but left to breed as long as
they would and then die; I will not attempt to say how far sheep dogs may be
useful, but at present a couple of Bull dogs would be much more acceptable to
us, at this time we are in the realist want of them having but one on the
Island, there has been two litters since my arrival, but with all possible care
we have not been able to rear one of them, cattle without doubt is the greatest
object on the place and attended with as little trouble as anything, there is a
constant demand for fat ones to a greater amount than Barbuda can supply, but
without heavy days it is impossible to take those which are in the woods, at
this time there is not a fat one on the Island and I fear unless we have an
alteration of the weather soon, we shall not have any for some time, the last
season was remarkably good, and the showers we have had from time to time have
kept the grass up pretty well, but we are now failing very fast, and if we are
without rain ten days more shall be under the necessity of feeding with bush. The pastures are in great want of
improvement, but of this I shall be able to enter more fully on by the next
Packet, as on my return to Barbuda I shall make it my study to get all the
information on that h??? I can, and will also then send you a particular statement
of the Negroes. We are now preparing for
corn which does by the present method take up a very great proportion of our
time, and at present there is a vast deal of work to be done, which I shall be
able to state much better in a future letter than at this time the Packet which
is now here will sail tomorrow. I have
the honour to be
Sir,
Your
most obedient and humble servant,
John James (signed)
August 3rd
I have just seen Mr. Hodge who has informed me of Mr. Athill’s
resignation and that in future the care of your estates will be vested in him,
and has offered to render me any assistance I may want with regard to the
disposal of the stock etc from Barbuda.
Reference: JJ253 Robson Lowe collection on microfilm 24995, University
of Texas at Austin, Nettie Lee Benson Latin American Collection.
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