Off the Island of Dominica William’s Second Letter to his Sister

Off the Island of Off the Island of DominicaDominica

William’s Second LetterWilliam’s Second Letter

to his Sisterto his Sister

Off the Island of Off the Island of DominicaDominicaMy Dearest SophieMy Dearest Sophie

I seize the chance to write to you and to I seize the chance to write to you and to assure you that I have survived the assure you that I have survived the

rigours of the Middle Passage. At least, I rigours of the Middle Passage. At least, I have survived in body, tho’ my mind is have survived in body, tho’ my mind is

most uneasy. I suffered badly from most uneasy. I suffered badly from seasickness in the latter stages, but my seasickness in the latter stages, but my suffering was as nothing to the plight of suffering was as nothing to the plight of my poor fellow-creatures whose cries my poor fellow-creatures whose cries accompanied my sleep every night.accompanied my sleep every night.


Shortly after I gave my last letter to the captain of the Shortly after I gave my last letter to the captain of the Conway vessel, I was called by Captain Wainwright to his Conway vessel, I was called by Captain Wainwright to his cabin. He was clearly uneasy – a certain shiftiness, which cabin. He was clearly uneasy – a certain shiftiness, which

I have often suspected in him – was very obvious now. I have often suspected in him – was very obvious now. He asked me to remember that I was a guest aboard He asked me to remember that I was a guest aboard his his ship, and that he had been unwilling to take me on the ship, and that he had been unwilling to take me on the

voyage ‘but for a certain obligation I owed to Mr Saxton.voyage ‘but for a certain obligation I owed to Mr Saxton.This is not a business for Young Gentlemen of Sentiment’ This is not a business for Young Gentlemen of Sentiment’

he said. I assured him that I was only working to secure he said. I assured him that I was only working to secure the best interests of my employer: ‘Why, so am I, so am the best interests of my employer: ‘Why, so am I, so am I, Mr Parry – and you will keep your counsel if you wish I, Mr Parry – and you will keep your counsel if you wish to serve your own best interests’. I had no idea what he to serve your own best interests’. I had no idea what he

meant.meant.


But, oh my dear Sophie, words fail to But, oh my dear Sophie, words fail to express what I was to see (and hear) over express what I was to see (and hear) over

the next days. the next days. Shortly after our conversation, a Shortly after our conversation, a

succession of boats drew up alongside our succession of boats drew up alongside our vessel, bearing the most melancholy cargo vessel, bearing the most melancholy cargo

I have ever beheld. I have ever beheld. Wave upon wave of sad, chained, beaten Wave upon wave of sad, chained, beaten and cowed natives were forced in groups and cowed natives were forced in groups below the decks: their cries were pitiful, below the decks: their cries were pitiful,

and the curses of the sailors brutal. and the curses of the sailors brutal.


I could scarcely believe that the very I could scarcely believe that the very sailors whom I had heard singing a sailors whom I had heard singing a shanty as the anchor was dropped shanty as the anchor was dropped

when we arrived were the same men when we arrived were the same men who brutally beat women and who brutally beat women and

children as they were forced below children as they were forced below deck: and in such numbers, too! deck: and in such numbers, too!


Captain Wainwright, dressed in the finery Captain Wainwright, dressed in the finery of his office, stood on the quarter deck, of his office, stood on the quarter deck,

supervising the loading of his ‘cargo’. He supervising the loading of his ‘cargo’. He saw my disgust –‘just Human Cattle, Mr saw my disgust –‘just Human Cattle, Mr

Parry’ he said. ‘Think of them as so many Parry’ he said. ‘Think of them as so many new minted coins: advancing the fortunes new minted coins: advancing the fortunes

of your Benefactor. of your Benefactor. Men of Prosperity cannot afford to be too Men of Prosperity cannot afford to be too

Nice’ he said, with a certain air of Nice’ he said, with a certain air of smugness ‘or how would we afford to smugness ‘or how would we afford to Live’. I dislike the man, and his trade, Live’. I dislike the man, and his trade,

more very day – but I must say nothing. more very day – but I must say nothing.


I saw young Idris Peters watching me ‘It gets no I saw young Idris Peters watching me ‘It gets no better with time’ he said. I hate the business, but better with time’ he said. I hate the business, but work is scarce, and Captain Wainwright is a fair work is scarce, and Captain Wainwright is a fair

man, as they go. At least he allows them time on man, as they go. At least he allows them time on deck each day – some Captains will not’. deck each day – some Captains will not’.

Captain Wainwright has observed my quietness Captain Wainwright has observed my quietness with something resembling amusement. Go to with something resembling amusement. Go to parties in the Carib Isles’ he cried to me ‘forget parties in the Carib Isles’ he cried to me ‘forget

what you have seen. These creatures will forget– what you have seen. These creatures will forget– see – they are little more than beasts’.see – they are little more than beasts’.


My dearest Sophie – such brutality – and My dearest Sophie – such brutality – and yet this place is like Paradise. The yet this place is like Paradise. The

Mountains rise steeply from a deep blue Mountains rise steeply from a deep blue sea, and are covered with vegetation of a sea, and are covered with vegetation of a wildness and luxuriance such as I never wildness and luxuriance such as I never

saw. I am told that some of the inhabitants saw. I am told that some of the inhabitants are Indian savages, but that slowly the are Indian savages, but that slowly the

Jungle is being reclaimed. Jungle is being reclaimed.


I pass this letter to you, my dear, as we cross paths I pass this letter to you, my dear, as we cross paths with a Royal Naval Frigate bound for Portsmouth. with a Royal Naval Frigate bound for Portsmouth.

They put a boat across to us to bring us letters, and They put a boat across to us to bring us letters, and I was fortunate enough to have a Conversation with I was fortunate enough to have a Conversation with

the young Lieutenant who came aboard. He the young Lieutenant who came aboard. He expressed surprise that I was travelling as a expressed surprise that I was travelling as a

passenger on a ‘Slaver’ as he called us. He told me passenger on a ‘Slaver’ as he called us. He told me in confidence – while Captain Wainwright was away in confidence – while Captain Wainwright was away from us in his cabin, that Opinion in England and in from us in his cabin, that Opinion in England and in Parliament is turning against the Trade – he asked Parliament is turning against the Trade – he asked

me if I had heard of Mr Wilberforce – I said I had not. me if I had heard of Mr Wilberforce – I said I had not. Perhaps you, Sophie, with your passion for the Perhaps you, Sophie, with your passion for the

News, can tell me more?News, can tell me more?


Tomorrow we arrive in Jamaica: our melancholy Tomorrow we arrive in Jamaica: our melancholy passengers will be ‘disembarked’ there. passengers will be ‘disembarked’ there.

I will look forward to hearing from you: I shall I will look forward to hearing from you: I shall be , for some months, working for a Mr Simon be , for some months, working for a Mr Simon Taylor, who is, by all accounts, a Gentleman Taylor, who is, by all accounts, a Gentleman

of great Wealth and Consequence in the of great Wealth and Consequence in the Islands, though advanced in years.Islands, though advanced in years.

Please write and tell me more about this Please write and tell me more about this Wilberforce, for I confess myself much Wilberforce, for I confess myself much disturbed by what I am learning in this disturbed by what I am learning in this

Damaged Paradise.Damaged Paradise.Your Affectionate BrotherYour Affectionate Brother

WilliamWilliam

Documents

Off the Island of Dominica William’s Second Letter to his Sister