SD135. James Robertson to Messrs. Shawes & Le Blanc
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 1, 311 (in part).
17 Bury Street, St James’s
12th March 1810
Gentlemen
In the Country last year I examined my Jamaica Papers and found in my account of quit-rent and receipt thereof Signed by the Receiver General of Jamaica, the Patent of John Pitcairn dated July 24th 1782 for 300 Acres,—on resurvey containing 586 Acres which was the Quantity I afterwards put the late Mr Edward Barrett in possession of,—having never been disturbed in my possession thereof nor was Mr Barrett for several years after,—When by what means I know not Mr Linton was induced to bring an Ejectment and by the perjury of certain Witnesses (Some of whom soon after died) Judgment for 278 Acres was obtained:—whereby the Quantity remaining is 308 Acres,—and has the same Boundaries as before, to wit, North on Land patented by John |Sledwoodine|, East, on Land patented by Joseph Linton, South on Land patented by Samuel Barrett Esq and West on unsurveyed Land. My quit rent Account is now in my Possession, and to be Seen by you at any time.
When I met your Mr Robert Shawes, Mr Barrett & Mr P. A. Scarlett, in June last I mentioned the Circumstance of the Balance of the late Mr Edward Barrett and my Account being in my favour,—and my Surprise to find the Judgment against me—but I have Since been informed that Mr Lamont (one of my principal Witnesses who rented Mr Baretts Wharf at Falmouth) who knew all my Transactions with the Exors of the late Mr Edwd Barrett though Subpœnad did not attend in Court and the Cause was brought on without him, notwithstanding the Materiality of his Evidence being duly sworn to. By this means several considerable Articles in my Account unknown to Mr Wm Plummer (who had no Concern in these Affairs after Mr Barretts Death) did not come in Evidence to the Jury[.] I shall now, only mention one Article namely, The Ejectment Doe ex |Deuv| Miles & ab vs Scarlett & ab for June Grand Court 1799[.] In this Cause I was employed by the Defendants and under an Order of the Supreme Court, executed the Same in September 1800, on the part of Debts with Mr George Innes employed on the part of |plts|[.] Mr Lamont furnished the Negroes to me required for the Debts. My Account in this Ejectment is not credited in the Judgment against me—nor are several other Articles wherein Mr Lamont acted on the part of Mr Barretts Exors.
Before I knew the circumstance of Mr Lamonts absenting himself from the Trial, I expressed, as I have already said, my Surprise, in June last, at the Judgment being against, instead of being for me. But, as I was very desirous then, as I have at all times before been, to Settle my Account in the most amicable manner with Mr Barrett (whose Predecessors and I have from our first Acquaintance to their Decease nearly twenty years continued uninterruptedly in the mutual Exchange of good Offices and Friendship and which the last Correspondence of the late Mr Edwd Barrett with me will demonstrate) so am I equally desirous now to execute the Conveyance and to do every thing in my Power to conclude this Business in the most amicable manner, not doubting that Mr Barrett will be equally So disposed, and that he will not avail himself of any Advantage of a Judgment obtained under the above mentioned Circumstances but will not hesitate to concede this Judgment to me,—and when the Account arrives, (of which I have not heard a syllable from Messrs Ross & McDoughal) you shall be authorized to examine it in a friendly manner, and, if it should appear otherwise than the Judgment purports it to be Mr Barrett & myself will be governed by your Opinion therein. The same Proposition you will recollect I made in June last when Mr Scarlett expressed his full Satisfaction with the Propriety thereof–
I shall close this Letter with one or two Observations the Truth of which Mr Edward Spencer late Overseer on Cambridge Estate can fully prove–
Every Acre of Mountain Land in the Parish of Trelawny possessed by the late and present Mr Barrett was purchased from me: and until the delivery of possession of the Land to Mr Barrett (now about to be conveyed by me) the Negroes on Cambridge and Oxford Estates had their Provision Grounds on these Estates As soon as these Estates Negroes but particularly those of Cambridge had established their Provision Grounds on this Land,—which being new and mountainous was richer and more seasonable than the Estates Lands and consequently more productive, Mr Barrett was enabled to convert the latter into Sugar Land.—by which Cambridge Estate alone, was increased one hundred Hogsheads of Sugar annually,—at the same time that the Negroes had a much greater Abundance of Provisions than formerly. The last time I saw Mr Edward Barrett shortly before his Death at Cinnamon Hill in company with Mr Wm Plummer, he said that in the three preceding years of 1795–6 & 7 remarkable for the Scarcity of Provisions on account of dry Weather, he had not purchased for Cambridge Estate So much as one Barrel of Flower!! The Estates were entirely furnished from this identical piece of Land!– It has supplied more than 600 Negroes for 18 years,—not only with Provisions for their own use but to be Sold at the weekly Markets!—by which these Negroes have become rich whereas formerly they not only had not Provisions for Sale but were annually assisted by Mr Barrett with American Provisions to a very considerable Amount. Supposing therefore only 600 Negroes, at ten pounds Currency each (which is a very low Calculation) per Annum for Provisions it makes £6000 a year which multiplied by 18 amounts to One hundred and eight thousand pounds!!—However extraordinary this Statement may appear to be it is nevertheless a true one, and which Mr Spencer can prove To which add the 100 Hogsheads of Sugar of annual increase above mentioned for the same period of time and the Amount though true will seem incredible. In the years 1795, 6 & 7 some Sugar Estates that I could mention, not having Mountain Provision Lands expended their whole Crops in the Purchase of American Provisions, for their Negroes Support–
As I am desirous to be on the same friendly Terms with Mr Barrett as I have always been with his late Grand Father Grand Uncle Samuel Barrett and his late Uncles, and can by the Time I come to Town next Winter, make out a complete Plan of all his Trelawney [sic] Mountain Lands, being upwards of three thousand Acres purchased from me. The Surveys were all performed by me personally accompanied by the late Mr Job Dale, Overseer on Oxford Estate; and I have my Field Notes from which I can draw the plan thereof,—that can be made by no other Person–
I remain very respectfully
Gentlemen
Your most obedient Servant
James Robertson
Messrs Shawes & Le Blanc
Solicitors, New Bridge Street
Publication: None traced.
Source: Copy at Eton College Library.
___________________
