SD19. George Barrett Plummer to Elizabeth Barrett Williams
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 1, 304 (in part).
Jamaica
Monday Night Octr 12th 1795
My dear Betsy
When will death be satisfied—another of our family have fallen a sacrifice to him—our dear Friend George G. Barrett is no more—he died at Cambridge near port Morant last Thursday of a fever & is interred in the Church yard there. I have not yet heard the particulars of his death only that he was sensible to the last & gave directions about his funeral & in what manner to break the melancholy news to his father & mother which was by writing to Mr Hylton the overseer—who immediately yesterday afternoon sent for Mr P. poor unfortunate parents—three Sons & all gone only one Daughter left & she is a dangerous state God only knows whether they will have a Child left to close their Eyes—he was my best freind [sic]—yours also—for who is there now that can or will do any thing for you & your Children only your Brother—he is truly griev’d both for poor George’s death & you—& says as he knows of no other friend & your Son absent if you will appoint him to act for you he will do every thing in his power for you & yours——
I am sorry your health is so bad I hope to god you are getting better—to see you once more would give me as much joy as I am capable of receiving tho I own to you I do not wish you to come to Jamaica the times are too bad I do not know what will become of us all—we are in a perilous way—but if you do come you will be receiv’d by every part of your family in the most affectionate manner—you will not experience any coolness—you seem offended at my writing so freely to you—can you suppose I have any other motive than yours & your Childrens future welware [sic]—but I have done—this melancholy event would afford sufficient arguments—but I never more will trouble you with my remonstrances you know best what you ought to do—poor Gran Waite & her dear Child what will become of them—they have indeed lost their best friend—my most affectionate love to them– I hope Polly & Tommy have arriv’d safe & well in England—yesterday was 11 weeks since they saild– I am in pain for them as I hear Mrs Murray & five or six other passengers in the Brunswick died at Sea when ever I think of Polly & Tommy I rejoice that they are not here—he would be in the same danger as my three & Harry Waite are– Harry P– is at St Elizabeth, ill with the rheumatism—he may be out now on parties as 40 or 50 maroons are in that parish of Westmorland– Billy came down last week his company being reliev’d but suppose he will soon go up again Tom also came down last Wednesday with the Gout & a violent pain in the pit of his stomach– Harry Waite went up again Saturday & I hear there was an attack made yesterday & many maroons killd but no certain accounts of any white people as yet I suppose we shall hear tomorrow– I am in pain for Harry W– the maroons have kill’d many white people at different times—last Monday Mr Sudlow was killd Docto<r> Thompson knows him very well & some others wounded Bob Tomlinson is also killd– Sam Cunningham died at the Camp with a fever– Mr Robert Kenyon got a dysentery there & died at Irwin leaving poor G Barrett George Watson & Mr Allen his Executors– I wrote you before of many others that were kill’d– I cannot recollect those since as my thoughts are entirely taken up with my own misfortune– Oh Betsy my heart is almost broke– I wish continually to see her—in the night I open my Eyes: looking for her—in this very room (Mr Ps) I saw her breath[e] her last o the thoughts of it kills me I can’t write about her—if it was not for my poor Mama I could not support it—but can she bear to lose another Child– I am almost as thin as Polly was when she went away & almost a constant pain in my Stomach & palpitation at my heart– I cant describe my feelings—but I hardly think of my Boys when they are at the camp—& altho the false report of Tommys being killd had a dreadful effect—yet after my real misfortune my mind was in such a state that if I heard they were all killd it would not have had any effect on me– I seem as if I could bear any thing– I shed more tears for Pollys departure than I have done for all my troubles since—tears comes in my Eyes but they wont stay– I dont know what is come to me– I believe my heart will break– I could not go down to my Aunt it might have thrown me into the same state & then I should distress them more– I cannot trust myself—my going can do no good– I have no comfort to give lov<e> to Polly & Tom I intended writing to her but I am obl<iged> to send my letter away in the morning—& I could not com<pose> myself enough to write before tonight besides as the Packet is likely to be detain’d I may hear something about the maroons & then I will write to her—several of Mrs Hardings (Franlins) Negroes have join’d them—& many others—it is dangerous for people to ride about as they may be killd by slaves & then pass of[f] for the maroons it is thought Mr Sudlow was kill’d by Mrs Hardings negros a number of settlements are burnt– Sally was here this Afternoon & says my Mama joins her in love to you Polly Tom &c &c– I expect mama here tomorro<w> she very often comes & stays some days with me my love to your Children & am my dear Betsy yours
affly
G. B. Plummer
poor Pinkys picture has never been heard of– Hibberts says it neer was sent to his house he knows nothing of it—Mr P– is not well I am afraid this new misfortune will be too much for him.
Address, on integral page: Mrs Eliza. B. Williams / Manchester Street Manchester Square.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Eton College Library.
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