University of Virginia Library

MARCH 1. (Friday.)

One of my house-boys, named Prince, is son to the Duke of Sully; and to-day his Grace came to beg that, when I shouldleave Jamaica, I would direct the boy to be made a tradesman, instead of being sent back to be a common field-negro: but my own shops are not only full at present, but loaded with future engagements., Sully then requested that I would send his son to learn some other trade (a tailor's, for instance) at Savannah la Mar, as had been frequently done in former times ; but this also I was obliged to refuse. I told him, that formerly a master could pay for the apprenticeship of a clever negro boy, and, instead of employing him afterwards on the estate, could content himself with being repaid by a share of the profits ; but that, since the Abolition bad made it impossible for the proprietor of an estate to supply the place of one negro by the purchase of another, it would be unjust to his companions to suffer any one in particular to be withdrawn from service; as in that case two hundred and ninety-nine would have to do the work which is now performed by three hundred ; and, therefore, I could allow my negroes to apply themselves to no trades but such as related

to the business of the property, such as carpenters, coopers, smiths, &c. " All true, massa," said Sully ; " all fair and just; and, to be sure, a tailor or a saddler would be of no great use towards planting and getting in your crop; nor—" He hesitated for a moment, and then added, with a look of doubt, and in a lower voice, " Nor—nor a fiddler either, I suppose, massa ? I began to laugh. " No, indeed, Sully.; nor a fiddler either

It seems the lad, who is about sixteen, and somewhat stupid, has a passion for playing the fiddle, and, among other trades, had suggested this to his father as one which would be extremely to his taste. We finally settled that, when the plough should be introduced on my estate (which I am very, anxious to accomplish, and substitute the labour of oxen for that of negroes, wherever it can possibly be done), Prince should be instructed in farming business; and, in the meanwhile, should officiate as a pen-keeper to look after the cattle.

Just now Prince came to me with a request of his own: Massa, please, me want one little coat."-" A little coat! for what?" " Massa, please, for wear when me go down to the Bay." "And why should you wear a little coat when you go to the Bay ? "—" Massa, please, make me look eerie (buckish) when me go abroad." So I assured him that be looked quite eerie enough already ; and that, as I was going away too soon to admit of my seeing him in his little coat, there could not be the slightest occasion for his being a bit eerier than he was. A master in England would probably have been not a little astonished at receiving such a request from one of his groom-boys ; but here one gets quite accustomed to them ; and when they are refused, the petitioners themselves frequently laugh at their own unreasonableness.