which may be rank’d with the Muscavadoes, and that is 3750 l. and then there remains 11250 l. to which we will add the value of the Drink, that is made of the skimmings, at 120 l. per month, which in twenty months comes to 2400 l. and then the whole revenue will amount unto 13650 l. in twenty months. But this profit must come successively in, as the Sugars are made, and they work all the year, except in November and December, when the great downfalls of rain come: and if they pave the waies, between the Canes, for the Slids and Assinigoes to passe, they may work then too; for, little else hinders them, but the unpassablenesse of the waies.
So then you see, that upon the venturing, and well husbanding of 3000 l. stock, you are setled in a revenue of 682 l. a month, of which months we will account 13 in a year, so that after your work is set in order, and that you will account the yearly revenue, you will finde it 8866 l. per Annum.
Now let us confider, what the certain charge will be yearly, to keep the Plantation in the condition we receive it, which we will suppose to be compleatly furnished, with all that is necessary thereunto: And first, of all manner of houseing, as convenient dwelling houses, the Mill-house, or Grinding-house where the sugar is prest out; the boyling-house, with five sufficient Coppers for boyling, and one or two for cooling, with all Utensills, that belong to the Mill, and boyling-house; the filling room, with stantions; the Still-house with two sufficient Stills, and receivers to hold the drinke, with Cisterns to all these rooms, for holding liquor, and temper; the Cureing house fill’d with stantions, two stories high, and commonly in it seventeen or eighteen hundred pots for cureing; the Smiths forge, with room to lay coales, Iron, and steele; the Carpenter, and Joyners houses, where they lodge and lay their tools, and much of their fine worke, with sufficient store-houses, to lay such provision as we receive from forraine parts, as Beefe, Pork, Fish, Turtle; and also to keep our drink which is made of the sugar, to the repairing of all which, the premises with the Appurtenances, we will allow no lesse then 500 l. Per Annum.
To this, there is yet more to be added: for though we breed both Negres, Horses, and Cattle; yet that increase, will not supply the moderate decayes which we finde in all those; especially in our Horses and Cattell, therefore we will allow for that 500 l. Per Annum.
The next thing we are to consider is, the feeding of our servants and slaves, over and above the provisions which the Plantations beare, and that will be no great matter, for they are nor often fed with bone-meat; But we will allow to the Christian servants, (which are not above thirty in number,) foure barrels of Beefe, and as much of Porke yearely, with two barrels of salt Fish, and 500 poore-Johns, which we have from New England, foure barrels of Turtle, and as many of pickled Makerels, and two of Herrings, for the Negres; all which I have computed, and finde they will amount unto 100 l, or thereabouts; besides the fraight which will be no great matter; for you must be sure to have a Factor, both at New England and Virginia, to provide you of all Commodities those places afford, that are usefull to your plantation; or else your charge will be treble. As from New England, Beefe, Porke, Fish, of all sorts, dried and pickled; from Virginia live-Cattle, Beefe and Tobacco; for theirs at Barbadoes is the worst I think that growes in the world; And for Cattle, no place lyes neerer to provide themselves, and the Virginians cannot have a better market to sell them; for an Oxe of 5 l. pound price at Virginie, will yield 25 l. there.
But to go on with our computation: for as we have given order for feeding our people, so we must for their cloathing; and first for the Christians, which we will account to be thirty in number whereof ⅔ shall be men, and ⅓ women, that we may make our computation the more exact; and for the men, (which are twenty in number,) we will allow one for the supreame Overseer, who is to receive and give directions, to all the subordinate Overseers, which we allow to be five more; and those he appoynts to go out with severall Gangs, some tenne, some twenty, more or lesse, according to the ability of the overseer hee so imployes; and these are to go out upon severall Imployments, as he gives them directions, some to weed, some to plant, some to fall wood, some to cleave it, some to saw it into boards, some to fetch home, some to cut Canes, others to attend the Ingenio, Boyling-house, Still-house, and Cureing-house; some for Harvest, to cut the Maies, (of which we have three Crops every yeare,) others to gather Provisions, of Bonavist, Maies, Yeames, Potatoes, Cassavie, and dresse it at fit times for their dinners and suppers, for the Christian servants; the Negres alwayes dressing their own meat themselves, in their little Pots, which is only Plantines, boyl’d or roasted, and some eares of Maies toasted, at the fire; and now and then a Makerell a piece, or two Herrings.
The Prime Overseer may very well deserve Fifty pounds Per Annum, or the value in such Commodities as he likes, that are growing upon the Plantation; for he is a man that the master may allow sometimes to sit at his own Table, and therefore must be clad accordingly. The other five of the Overseers, are to be accounted in the ranke of Servants, whose freedome is not yet purchased, by their five years service, according to the custome of the Iland. And for their cloathing, they shall be allowed three shirts together, to every man for shifts, which will very well last halfe a year, and then as many more. And the like proportion for drawers, and for shooes, every month a paire, that is twelve paire a year; six paire of stockings yeerly, and three Monmouth Capps, and for Sundayes, a doublet of Canvas, and a plaine band of Holland.
An Account of Expences issuing out yearly for Cloathing, for the Christian Servants, both Men and Women, with the Wages of the principall Overseer, which shall be 50 l. sterling, or the value in such Goods as grow upon the Plantation.