“Feb. 13.—Still at Bridgetown. No lighters at work to-day, as there was no sugar ready. Went out to three plantations to hurry things. At the Sea View plantation Mr. Outerbridge took me all over the place, and made me stay to dinner. (P.S. He has a beautiful young daughter, Miss Blanche, and after dinner we had a pony race. She beat me.) They say this sun would kill a white man in three months if he worked in the cane-fields, but it does not hurt the negroes. Saw how they squeeze out the cane-juice between big rollers, and then boil it down into sugar. The planters promised me 150 hogsheads by to-morrow.
“Feb. 14.—Got 122 hogsheads sugar on board, and plenty promised for to-morrow. Very curious thing happened to me to-day. When I came aboard ship to supper, found a letter for me, though no mail steamer in. Opened it, and found a handsome valentine. Can’t imagine who could have sent it.
“Feb. 15.—Only 30 hogsheads loaded to-day, on account of heavy rain.
“Feb. 20.—Loaded 82 hogsheads. Have now 1455 on board. We hope to sail for London on Saturday. Miss Blanche Outerbridge has invited me to a lawn party at their plantation to-morrow. Half afraid to go, for never was at a lawn party in my life.
“Feb. 21.—No sugar to-day. Went to the lawn party, and had splendid time. The Governor was there, and Mr. Outerbridge introduced me to him.
“Feb. 23.—Loaded 160 hogsheads to-day. Sugar coming with a rush now.
“Feb. 25.—Sailed for London at two o’clock this afternoon, with 2415 hogsheads of sugar, making about $120,000 worth of cargo that I have to look after. Must keep my eyes open. Will see no more land now till we sight the Scilly Islands, off the English coast.
“March 15.—Expect to sight the Scillys to-morrow morning. Have had a fairly good voyage so far, with some bad weather, but no hard gales. A long stretch of water, this, from Barbadoes to England; but the seas are no higher in the middle than along the coast. Cargo in good order.”