Welsh Journals

disappointed in their Expectations. At all Events the Merchant is safe, as he has a Mortgage below the value of the Estate, and 8p. cent interest for his advances; and should the worst happen there has not yet been a Single instance of an estate being sold here at so little as it was purchased for [incomplete] E4. R. G. Bruce, Dominica to [Ascanius W. Senior] [?London]. Dear Sir, Since my last Letter I have been again to visit the lands there purchased for you, and like them exceedingly. I am taking every Step in my power to make an immediate Settlement, and am for that purpose going to settle with my Family on the adjoining settled Estate (which I have purchased) in about a fortnight hence, which will enable me to use everything done under my own time. I have engaged a Manager and purchased some new Slaves, but am greatly at a loss for some seasoned ones for the first commencement of the Settlement. I have employed Agents both in Barbados and Antigua to endeavour to procure some Creol Slaves if possible, as new Negroes sent into a new Estate in the Woods without being mixt with old ones answer very ill, and occasion great losses; but the old Islands are now so exhausted of what seasoned Negroes they could spare that I don't expect to procure any but at a very advanced price. However, a few are absolutely necessary to begin with. The person I have engaged as Manager is one that came from England with me, and in whom I can have the greatest confidence; and as the Estate I have purchased for Dr. Walker is separated from yours only by the River, and is to be settled at the same time, I propose to give him the care of both while they are in their infancy, which will save Expence, and be a mutual help to both Estates till they are so far advanced as each to require a Manager. The agreement I have made with him is to allow him one hundred Pounds Sterling a Year, and his Provisions, for both Estates. After having very fully considered the Subject on the Spot, and consulted the best Planters, I have determined to plant your Estate in Coffee in preference to Sugar, for the following Reasons, which I submit to your Consideration. In the first place I find the sum to which you have limmitted me for your share is not equal to half the Expence of settling a good Sugar Estate, after examining the account and real state of Facts of almost every Sugar Estate in the Island. The Expence of Settling a Coffee Estate is much less than that of a Sugar one. Fewer of weaker Negroes will manage it, and in the Expence of Buildings and Works there is hardly any comparison to be made. The clear Revenue arising from the Coffee Estates here is actually greater at present in proportion to the Capital laid out than the best Sugar Estates. The Carriage of the Produce of a Sugar Estate is laborious and expensive, whereas that of Coffee is light and easy; which is a consideration of great consequence to every Estate in this Country which does not immediately adjoin the Sea at a Shipping Place, for being but little cultivated as yet it will be some years before the Roads and Communica- tions are good. At present they are very bad, which throws great difficulties in the way of carrying Sugar any distance by land, and when they become good by time and cultivation it is an easy matter to convert a coffee Estate into a Sugar one, if it should at any time be thought expedient; especially such a one as ours, where there is a good Command of Water