Wm Smith, C. V. of 1 9,879 The foregoing is an Account of the Slaves in the Parish of Saint Thomas in the Vale, with the Increase and Decrease for the last Three Years, as far as can be procured; many People having declined to give in the Account of the Increase and Decrease of their Slaves. St Thomas in the Vale. Geo. Brammer, S. M. For St Thomas in the Vale. Nov 14th, 1799. ST. MARY'S ST. MARY'S (18.) In Earl of Balcarres's of 22d March 1800. JAMAICA. "} ff. ST. MARY. RETURN of NEGROES belonging to Sundries in the Parish and Island aforefaid, with the Total Number of Births and Deaths (on an Average of the last Three Years); diftinguishing what Proportion of thofe that died were born in faid Ifland, or had been imported upwards of Three Years, and the Number of them who died that had been imported within Three Years of their Death. (19.) In Earl of Balcarres's of 22d March 1800. JAMAICA.1 RETURN of NEGROES belonging to Sundries in the Parish and Ifland aforefaid, with the Total Number of Births (on an Average of the laft Three Years); diftinguishing what Proportion of thofe that died were born in the faid Ifland, or had been imported upwards of Three Years, and the Number of them who died that had been imported within Three Years of their Death. For the Years 1796, 1797, & 1798. 1,2,224 943 314 972 324 459 454 59 IN obedience to your Grace's commands, I laid the fuggeftion, dated 21st April, and inclofed in your fecret letter of the 23d April the fame Year, at a very early moment after its receipt before feveral of the principal Proprietors in this Ifland, who then undertook to answer them. Nearly twelve months having been elapfed without my procuring the promised reply, I thought it expedient to lay thofe fuggeftions before the Legiflature of this Colony; but I am forry to report that the House of Affembly pofitively declined giving any anfwer. In this fituation it only remained for me to call on the Council, in their capacity as Counsellors, to draw up a reply to thofe fuggeftions, which I have now the honor to inclofe. THE Committee of the Council to whom your Honour referred certain queries and fuggeftions, tranfmitted by his Grace the Duke of Portland, dated Whitehall, April 21ft 1798, relative to the increafe of Negroes in this Ifland, and the improvement of their state, have taken the fame into their confideration, and are of opinion: That the Legislature of this Inland have for many years paft uniformly manifested the moft fincere and earnest intentions to improve the condition of the Slaves, to the utmost degree that their eftate is capable of, and that is confiftent with the fafety and welfare of the White Inhabitants. With this view was paffed the confolidated Slave A&t in the year 1791, wherein many effential conceffions and provifions are made in their favour, and for their benefit, far beyond what the policy of former laws had deemed expedient, which will clearly appear from a reference to the faid Act, and a comparison thereof with the earlier A&is of this Inland, regulating the management of the Slaves. From this difpofition fo well evidenced, the Committee entertain the fullest confidence, that if the Legiflture in their wifdom, may hereafter perceive it poffible ftill to improve their condition, that they will cheerfully adopt all measures for that purpose that can be reconciled to the principles of fafety and found policy. With regard to the caules which are fuppofed to have retarded the increase of Slaves, the Committee are inclined to think they are to be found principally in the ignorance of, and want of skill in the midwives, and to the prejudices and immorality of the Negro mothers in common. But as much more particular care and attention are paid of late years, by the feveral Proprietors to the Negro women in childbed, than was the cuftom formerly, they think the evil may reafonably be expected to be growing lefs. In answer to the fecond Query, the Committee find by an official return made to the Council by the Naval Officer of this land, that there have been one hundred thirty thirty-one thousand nine hundred and thirty-feven Negroes imported in the course of the last ten years, and that twenty-five thoufand four hundred and thirty-three Slaves have been re-exported during that period; and it appears alfo to the Committee, from the returns which have been already made by the Clerks of the Peace, that for fourteen parishes, the number transported off the Ifland under judicial fentences, during the last ten years, is, taking them collectively, one hundred and eighty-five, and the number executed for crimes taken in the fame manner, and for the fame term, is ninety-fix. But as to the number of thofe pirated or kidnapped, your Committee have not been able to obtain any information, but they have reafon to think the number must be very inconfiderable. With respect to the number executed and transported, the Committee think it proper to obferve, that of thofe before mentioned, feventy-five were executed, and fixty-one tranfported, for being parties concerned in the late rebellion of the Trelawney Maroons. The Committee is not poffeffed of documents, nor are they attainable by them, whereby to ascertain what has been on a comparison of births and deaths, the annual difference between them; nor can they afcertain what proportion of the numbers imported has been wanted for the fupply of the eftates actually fettled, and what for the annual increase of cultivation. In regard to the third Query and fuggeftion, the Committee cannot advance any opinion as to what might be the fentiments of the Legislature of this island, the Affembly not being fitting; but they are fully impreffed with a conviction that they will be ever ready to promote any measure in their power which may be conducive to the improvement of the Slaves, and of their condition, as they have already intimated in their answer to the first query. The Committee however cannot avoid obferving, that they believe it to be a general, if not univerfal custom, to exempt pregnant women from field or any other hard labour, during a period of more than fix weeks, or even two months of their pregnancy; and from all labour except the care of their children, for the fame time after their delivery. At the time of their delivery, and during the confequent confinement, not only the mother, but the new-born child as well as all other young children fhe may have, receive the aid and affistance of the Proprietors, or those acting for them. In refpect to the fourth and fifth Suggestions, the Committee obferve, that they are prevented from advancing any opinion on the important fubjects therein contained, for the fame reafons which reftrained them in the cafe of the third fuggeftions, as they are matters referrable to the Legiflature at large. But the Committee cannot hep obferving, as to the appointments of Infpectors or Vifitors to fuperintend and enforce all regulations enacted in favour of the Negroes, instead of the present Courts of protection, that fuch meafure is not expedient, and may be productive of great contufion and inconvenience. On the fixth Query, the Committee have to ftate, that by a law of this Island, paffed in the year of our Lord, 1797, intituled, " An Act for the better establish"ment of the Clergy of this land, to oblige the Juftices and Veftries to build a "Church and a Parfonage-houfe in their refpective parishes; and for establishing a "fund or provifion for the fupport and maintenance of the Widows and Orphan "children of deceafed Clergymen." An addition is made to the stipend of all the beneficed Clergy in this Ifland, who are by the faid law directed and required to allot a portion of time, either before or after the performance of divine fervice, every Sunday in their respective Churches to chriften fuch Negroes or other Slaves as shall defire it, as well as to inftruct all Slaves who thall attend for that purpose, in the precepts of the Chriftian Religion. This law evinces the defire of the Legiflature effectually to establish the Chriftian Religion amongst the Negroes, and by impreffing their minds with its principles and 119. 70 precepts, Jamaica. |