No. II.
On the fourteenth page of the preceding pamphlet is an extract from the Birbice Advertiser, giving an account of the purchase of Northbroke by a number of emancipated laborers. The Guiana Chronicle of Monday, Dec. 9th, just received, contains additional particulars of that purchase, which appears to have been made not by a dozen persons as stated in the Birbice paper, but by about seventy.
The following are extracts from an address presented by the purchasers to the Governor of the Colony.
To His Excellency Henry Light, Esquire, Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Colony of British Guiana.
MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY,
Sir,— * * * * * *
On the 7th day of this month we jointly purchased, from the Executors of the late Hugh Rogers, Esquire, for the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars, his Plantation called "Northbroke," containing about 500 acres of land; and as we have been enabled to pay the purchase money principally from out of our savings since we obtained our freedom, we cannot refrain from expressing how thankful, how grateful we are, how indebted we ever shall be, to all those noble-minded individuals who were mainly instrumental in procuring and giving us that freedom.
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We know that to the individual act of her Majesty, we owe the happiness of having you here, as our Ruler and Governor, in her name. Your Excellency is too exalted in station to listen to praise and commendation, and we too humble to offer them; but we may be allowed to state, with thankfulness, that every act of your Excellency's administration, with reference to us, and to the body to which we belong, has been marked with kindness, benevolence, liberality and justice. And we humbly pray The Almighty Ruler of all Men, that your Excellency may be long spared to us, to afford us your protection.
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We know the blessings of Freedom, and we endeavor to deserve them. We are peaceable in disposition—industrious by habit—loyal and faithful by nature—gratitude to our Sovereign, and to your Excellency, will make us doubly vigilant and circumspect.
We further respectfully represent to your Excellency, that it is not our intention to settle down upon our Plantation, and lead a life of Idleness. Our views and wishes are to have the Land divided into equal portions among us. Individually rent our cottages upon our respective plots of ground, and thereon, in our leisure hours, cultivate our Vegetables and Provisions; but our firm determination, as a body, is to continue to labor daily, as now, upon the several Plantations where we are employed.
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We further respectfully represent to your Excellency, that it is our intention to establish upon our Plantation, a School-House and Church, (and there is a new, large Building on the Estate, well adapted to these purposes); in the former, our Children will be taught to read their Bible, and learn their several duties to Society at large, whilst in the latter, as each revolving Sabbath appears, we shall assemble together, and there offer up to the Almighty, our humble thanks for the great and wonderful benefits which, under Divine Providence, have been conferred upon us.
Praying your Excellency's favorable consideration and Patronage,
We have the honor to be, sir,
Your Excellency's most obedient humble servants.
(Signed) John Sertima, William Lewis, Thomas Badlie, James M'Crae, Frank Baillie, Samuel Burton, Romeo Isaac, Daniell Isaac, Thomas Colin, Martin, Martin Menarmy, Simon Hanover, Simon Scott, Thomas Hercules, John Lewis, Wm. Gamell Reaves, Jas. Handy, John Wheeler, Vollove Robert, John Mileel, Michael James, Simson Tate, Sampson Cooper, Isaac Chapman, Primus Samuel, Cupidore Hopkinson, Quashie Porter, Cornwall Porter, Cæsar Solomon, Hall Porter, Quammie Adam, Hamlet Cato, Simon Spencer, Melville Porter, Quashie Bard, Quacco Hamilton, Medlin Hamilton, John Lion, Cross Sumner, Marlborough Sam, Pollodore Bentick, Ceciro Hercules, Jillis Cumming, Gambry James, Moses Hopkinson, Bill Williams, Blackwell Lancaster, Scipio Samuel, Pat Murphy, Ned Mackay, William Negaeley, Alexand Porter, William Smart, Catherine Loud, Kenneth Jarrich, Hannah Porter, Sammy Knight, Hannah Porter, Adam Grant, Maria Grant, Collin M'Crea, John Tiddell, Simon King, Bellender Hopkinson.
Signed in my presence, this 30th day of November, 1839.
(Signed) C. H. STRUTT, Stip. Magistrate.
Witness to the several signatures,
(Signed) Mary Strutt.
True Copy,
C. R. WHINFIELD, Act. Gov. Secretary.