The vine you wrote abt last year I have ready to ship but I am afraid the plants are too young to trust to the care of a Capt and as another fleet is expected to sail shortly have kept them to send with the prune, when they will be stronger and better able to bear the passage wh I hope will meet with your approbation as they will loose nothing by staying another month or two in Jamaica and have time enough to be home before the cold weather sets in.

As you did not mention the receipt of either of my last of Augst 18 and Nov 10 am afraid they were both lost. I then ---- as good an idea of the dreadful situation the Negroes had been in --------- pable of doing from the accumulated misfortunes that had attended, not only G Grove but the Island in general for some time past. Hurricanes and floods with their consequences, famine and disease marked with devastation their progress thru the island. The dysentery wh then raged with great violence did as little damage on G Grove as could hopefully have been expected, it chiefly attacked the old and weakly, the working Negroes sustained little loss as you will see in the list of increase and decrease; Mr Taylor knows well their situation and what they are capable of doing, he now pays the strictest attention to every minute article and transaction on the estate, the business will be conducted with that regularity and ease wh never fails of success and wh distinguishes every place he is concerned for; it is needless to say your interest in Jamaica is as near Mr. Taylor’s heart as his own, but as I have many indisputable proofs of this fact I now assert it with the greater pleasure as Grove cannot fail of doing well under his protection and management. As you did not say anything in your last with respect to the few acres of land I petitioned for am afraid you have been induced to alter your mind, was I not convinced the Estate has a great deal more land than will be ever cultivated, I would not venture to mention it a second time but as this is really the case I have still some hope of your granting me this favor, as it will enable me to do some little for myself wh I can never do without ----- as there is now some hope of our keeping an undisturbed possession of the Island in consequence of our late signal victory could wish to be doing something before I grow old which I cannot do without your generous assistance. I mentioned before my having had repeated offers of considering extending my practice wh I have hitherto neglected. I have now in my offer the care of Amity Hall which I hope you will consent to my taking, you know its situation and that I ride thro it every morning in my way to and from Holland, its vicinity to G Grove and the convenience with wh I can attend it is the reason why I venture on this request, however shd you have the least objection I shall give up every idea of that kind without murmuring. I hope you will not be displeased at my mentioning the matter. I am Sir with great respect yr most obt & oblgd humble servant.

Agreeable to your instructions of Jany I have sent you a few small branches of the Jamaica prune tree with the fruit upon them in a jar filled with rum and also some of the green fruit in a wide mouthed bottle you will at the same time receive some of the dry ripe fruit wrapt in paper. - In my last of May 14 I promised to send a bottle of Nayeau made by distilling rum from the bark of the prune tree merely as a specimen, but I have since found that infusion gives a more agreeable flavour than distillation and I imagine the bottle of rum which contains the green fruit only will have exactly the same flavour (with the addition of a proper quantity of refined sugar) by the time it reaches you. I was sorry at not being able to procure case bottles fit for the purpose none being to be had here large enough or with mouths wide enough to admit the branches, but as the jar is well secured it will, with a little care from the Captain arrive safe. In order to give you every information of this tree I have sent the botanica as well as general description of it, given to me by the same Gentm I mentioned in my last, it is exactly the same as that wh. he sent some time ago to Dr. Solander. If you shd still want the flowers, please to honor me with your commands and the utmost care shall be taken to procure them in the proper season. --- Capt Taylor by whom I send these things has also the care of the grapevines and he promis’d to give them a good berth and to take particular care of them on the passage. I shall be very happy to hear they arrive safe and answer your expectation, and am, Sir, with much respect, your most obedient servt.

I have received the honor of yours of July 29 last, as also those of Octr 29 and Nov 2nd by the same packet and must now return your many and very sincere thanks for your kind and generous indulgence of all my wishes. My first and greatest wish now is to prove deserving so much favor and by my future conduct to merit the continuance of your good opinion. Mr Taylor has given me a patch of land adjacent to the house I live in containing 15 acres which will make me both easy and happy. I have from my first arrival in this country, found in Mr. Taylor a steady friend and protector, in fact I owe my all to his generous support as I should inevitably have been ruined long since by the invidious and unjust attempts of a man I need not name and that at a time he was giving the strongest appearances of friendship and good wishes tho’ without ever producing a single proof unless I was opening and stoping [sic] my letters to you when he could by any means get hold of them. Your observations on the unpleasantness of my time was but too just, however I now thank God most fervently (more on your account than my own) that the cause is removed, as a bare recital of his transactions in life would give you a horrid idea of the man and would be sufficient cause for your rejoicing at the connection being at an end, however as he is deprived of the pleasances of a good conscience and having nothing to comfort him in his declining years but a heap of ill gotten wealth, being universally despised I will not insult his fallen greatness and last consequence and credits1 The Negroes so far from losing their spirits rejoice with one voice at the happy change in their situation. I am truly sorry to inform you that in the midst of my own good prospects I am very far from being easy, it pains me still more to add you are infinitely more concerned in the cause than myself. Mr. Taylor for some time past has been and still is, in a very alarming situation and unless he leaves this country for a few months the most dreadfull consequences may happen. Hundreds are now with aching hearts panting for his recovery for his loss will be irreparable to the community at large as well as to yourself. In the height of my concern for his recovery I venture on saying this much to you in hopes your influence may have sufficient weight in getting him off wh is a step in the opinions of all he aught immediately to take, however, I at the same time to hope you will not hint to Mr Taylor where you had this information as it might in some measure displease him. This being the season of the year when the Prune Tree blossoms you may depend I shall take care to have some ready agreeable to your desire and send them by ----------? opportunity which I am afraid will not offer soon, however every care shall be taken to have them properly prepared. I shall be very glad to hear those already sent arrived safe but from the turbulence of the passage am much afraid of them. I am, Sir, with the highest respect, your most oblgd and very humble servt.

I have received your favor of 4th May and am very sorry it did not arrive sooner as you therein say it will be rather inconvenient to pay the ballance due me at one payment. – In consequence of what you said in your letter of Decr 1783 I gave a Bill of exchange to Messrs Davidson Walker & Co Kingston for £150 dated 12 June payable at 90 days after sight, having your full permission for so doing in the letter alluded to above, and wrote you by last packett giving you advise of it.- As it is now too late to recall it I hope you will find means to give it due honor, as your not doing it would injure me very much indeed, had I known in time I would have bore every inconvenience rather than have given you the least. – I must now inform you of a most dreadfull calamity that has lately befallen this side of Jamaica. On the 30 of last month the day was excessively stormy till night, when it became one of the most violent hurricanes ever known; many a heavy gale I have seen in Jamaica and have heard much said of hurricanes, but notwithstanding my being on the spot I never could credit more than one half I heard, till by fatal experience I have been dreadfully convinced of the truth of the whole, and much more than I even ever heard. I imagine it is unnecessary to give a definition of the word hurricane, however it is in short every thing the elements can assemble that is horribly destructive to mankind. I have seen trees who’s amazing magnitude would astonish you to behold, torn up by the roots like a small shrub, the largest and strongest buildings in a moment swept away like dust, in fact the most forcible language is by far too faint to give you an Idea of the scene of horror and desolation just now before my Eyes; blessed be almighty God that it did not continue quite an hour, ten minutes more would have levelled every house and building in this district with the ground, the whole coast is strew’d with dead bodies, not a ship or vessel of any kind except one, escaped the general destruction. Many hundreds have perished, both by sea and land, many have been buried in the ruins of their houses and many have been dashed to atoms by heavy timbers flying before the wind. – But to speak more particularly of my own situation, wh you will undoubtedly be anxious about. – In the midst of the storm I found my House going and very providently quitted it in time and fled to the open field for refuge, for however I could not fly being quickly laid prostate by the irresistable wind, luckily for me I was thrown upon an old stump of a tree by which I held fast being on the declivity of a hill which shelter’d me much. I had not been half a minute out of the House before that part I was in flew away like a Bird, however thank God the remaining part stood it out[ ] shattered that one more gust would have carried it away -----------------------------------------------------------? my out offices are totally destry’d, but what is worse----------------------------------------------------------------? by which the slaves are supported are now no more, so-------------------------------------------------------------? the horrid prospect of a famine for six or eight months--------------------------------------------------------------? All my slaves fortunately followed my example by------------------------------------------------------------------ -? -------- and escaped with life, but how I am now to------------------------------------------------------------------? ----------You ask me what success I have had in this------------------------------------------------------------------? gone this heavy calamity I could have answered very good for the time I have been in it, having now upwards of 40 hungry mouths to supply, and should have had ten or twelve more before Christmas if matters had gone on well, but am now under the most dreadful apprehension of losing half of them by famine. – I cannot yet exactly ascertain my loss, but it will be very considerable. I meant to have sent the two puncheons of Rum for Mr Bates friend and am extremely unhappy that it will not be in my power now to oblige him, as all my cash and credit also must be employed for providing the means of preserving my people, I therefore beg you will not take amiss my not sending it, - I almost now envy you the comforts of an agreeable family and good fire side I am heartily tired of Jamaica and most sincerely wish I was able to quit it. Long may you live happy and secure from every danger and disappointment, is the fervant prayer of Dr Brother.

You will no doubt by this time have heard of this ill fated and unhappy Island having been again desolated by a tremendous and destructive Hurricane on the 27 of Aug last far exceeding that of last year in the damage done, not by its violence but by a longer continuance.The day as usual had been very stormy attended with heavy rains, about noon the wind increased and shifted from point to point every minute, this together with the excessive hot and calm weather we had a day or two before, sufficiently apprised us of the horrid scene we were shortly to be feeling spectators of, the wind about two o’clock afternoon settled in the North west, the sky darkened to almost midnight and the rain became heavy torrents of water pour’d from the Clouds in streams of inconceivable force. Now all was horror and despair – the open field became the safest and only refuge, where it was my lot to remain half drowned and almost deprived of every sense till day break the next morning. – The first objects presented to my View were the wretched remains of my house, Out houses and Negroe Houses together with my furniture (of which I had been particularly choice) lying in one undistinguished mass of ruin and destruction, add to this the entire destruction of the provisions by which the Negroes are supported, and I think you will say my situation just now is not enviable; to speak the truth, I was under this complicated load of misery for some days in a state of the deepest melancholy and despair – However on reflection I found Providence had been still mercifull and kind, first in two very signal instances of sparing my life in the course of the night & secondly in preserving the lives of my Negroes, all of whom escaped unhurt, and on enquiring I found a most extraordinary quantity of American provisions in the Island, such as Corn Flower which will preserve us against famine I untill such time as we can procure a supply. My loss by these two storms has been very considerable indeed and will keep me down, however thank God I have now in a great measure recovered my Spirits and am repairing my misfortunes with all expedition. – I am again rising out of the Ruins of my buildings and hope in a few Months to recover my tranquility – but what can never be recovered is time – it will cost me years longer in Jamaica than intended, I should have wrote sooner but I hope my situation will be apology sufficient, I have now very little time but I could no longer delay giving some account of myself and have accordingly devoted this hour to your service. I have not had a letter from you for a long time but I cannot now tell you the date having once more lost every paper I was master of of any consequence. I hope you will not quite forget me. Pray inform me what the balance is you have against me. – In haste and still a little confused I must beg leave to conclude with my best love to my Sister, Respects to[Mr and Mrs] Bunlon and also at Manthorpe & Selby, to Mrs [ ] to all friends believe dear Brother, with sincere friendship and esteem, yours affectionately

You will please receive enclosed a list of the Negroes on Golden Grove up to the 30th Jun last, with their Increase and Decrease. Since my last in March only three women have been delivered, which makes the whole number on G. Grove this year, ten, however they have produced eleven childn, all of whom are alive and well, in fact I have not lost one child in the Lying-in House out of 18 born since 1st Jany; a good omen I hope of future success. At present we have but few pregnant. I do not expect more than five or six at most before the close of the year. The unwillingness naturally to be expected from the mothers in conforming to this plan is now pretty well overcome, indeed every encouragement has been held out to them, which with the success attending it, appears to have reconciled them perfectly to the regulation. – I could wish, with your approbation to have something substituted in place of the check for the clothing of the newborn infants, it is too harsh and rough for the purpose, anything more soft and compliant would answer much better. – I have repeatedly visited the Botanical garden in the hopes of meeting with something that might be worth your acceptance, but am still at a loss what to send that would answer; if there is anything in particular that you would please to mention, no care, nor attention shall be wanting to procure it with all possible dispatch.