Demerara, 10th March 1855
W. R. Sandbach Esq.
Dear Sir,
My last respects were dated the 25th Ulto and the mail which only arrived here on the 28th brought me Mr. Tinne’s letter of the 1st February, there is yet no appearance of the packet due here on the 8th Inst and it is now likely that we shall have an opportunity of replying to letters by her. In reply to your remarks about the position of the Boilers of the Draining Engine I can only say that the plans you sent me were immediately forwarded to Mr. Martin but he states that he had then proceeded too far with his foundation to make any alteration, at the same time adding that in his opinion there was not the slightest fear of any injury to the foundation of the Boilers from the still water running under and tho’ I should have preferred a different arrangement of the machinery I should hope from the precautions taken there is little danger of any inconvenience.
Mr. Martin assures me that there is now everything is now about finished except the trench leading to the sea which we found very difficult to get done except at an extravagant rate of wages, everything however will be completed before the Draining Machine will be required, the natural drainage at present is very good, and I am glad to say that the cultivation on the estates has greatly improved with the fine weather we have had and I have great hopes that the Leonora and Groenveld canes will yield much better this year, but the crop unfortunately comes in late on both estates, the former has commenced making sugar but they will not have many canes to take off before they stop; at the Anna Catherina they are now making sugar, and if their canes turn out well they will however go on with little intermission for some months.
I have arranged with Mr. Martin about Coffey’s still which he has now taken in hand at the same time doing some repairs to the Groenveld Engine before they begin the crop. The Leonora Engine now appears in very good order and the new steam stock has been put in there and at Anna Catherina. Mr. Jones tells me that he sends you regularly the Royal Gazette and trusts to draw your particular attention to that part of the Governor’s speech in opening the combined court where he speaks of the clause which permits private parties to send for immigrants at their own expense, and receiving half the bounty for their introduction. It now appears that the Home Government have disapproved of this clause and altho’ it is legal it is likely to be entirely inoperative, as the licence will not be granted. I was so struck with this part of the Governor’s speech that I waited on him personally to have a clear explanation of it, I am sorry to say that my interview with him was anything but satisfactory; he stated that although Sir P. [Wodehouse’s] Government did not wish to delay the confirmation of the ordinance they disapproved of that part of it and therefore he could only refer parties wishing to avail themselves of that clause to the Home Government. I then told him that I would write to him on the subject and this I have done, and he promises me to send a reply to my letter which I have no doubt he will do and which I will send to you as soon as I receive it, but in the meantime you should not go to any expense in making arrangements to send for people, as I am convinced that the Ordinance in that respect will be inoperative, this is always the way the Planters have been met in regard to immigration, it would appear as if there was a determination on the part of Government to put an end to immigration altogether, and the intention now is to throw the whole expense on the Planters.
I enclose an order from Mr. Martin for some things for the machinery on the Leonora and Anna Catherina as well as his letter to myself by which you will see that he thinks Fawcett’s charge high and they certainly appear so to me; the weather continues all we could wish.
I am
Dear Sir
Yours Respectfully
James Stuart
Demerara, 10th March 1855
Dear Sir,
Since my letter of this date was written I have received the enclosed communication from the Governor in reply to my application for a licence to send home to enable you to send to India for labourers for your estates next season.
I am
Dear Sir
Yours Respectfully
James Stuart
W. R. Sandbach Esq.