Liverpool Papers, 1791 (15)

Extracts from the minutes of the General Meeting of West India Plantation Merchants held in The London Tavern 3 nov. 1791

From Liverpool Papers – Vol. CLXII (1791-1792), ff. 101-102. – Ms. 38.351

Resolved unanimously:

That from the Official Papers now laid before the Meeting as well as from other Accounts it appears that the very alarming Insurrection of the Negroes which has arisen and is believed yet to exist in the French Colony of St. Domingo and which has already occasioned much bloodshed and destruction originates not only in Political Differences consequent to the late changes of Government in France, but rather in a mutionous disposition recently discovered this long dreaded among the Negroes and which has been industriously promoted by communication between mischievous and misguided Persons in this Country and France, subversive of that subordination on which entirely depends the Welfare of the Negroes themselves and of every other Inhabitant of the West India Colonies.

That from Jamaica, the nearest British Colony distant only 28 Leagues and also from our West India Islands the last advices are generally expressive of a peaceable and contented disposition of the Negroes who have been happy under the protection of human treatment of their Masters, and under the assurance of additional relief in their Labour when requisite by a continuance of seasonable Importations from Africa that such a disposition prevailing at this time (with but few exceptions) afford the fairest prospect of tranquility and Prosperity to the British India Islands unless perverted by the same cause that have brought Ruin and Desolation upon their Neighbours.

That dreadful consequences may result from the Insurrection in St. Domingo to the British West India Islands in general, and particularly to the Island of Jamaica should the revolt be of long duration or should it end (as from the distractions prevailing and from the small effective Military Force now in the Island there is too much cause to fear) in the desertion of that Colony by the Europeans; that attempts have been made and are still making to create and ferment in the Minds of the Negroes in our Colonies a dangerous spirit of innovation, and more especially to misrepresent the nature and extent of the last discussions in the House of Commons of Great Britain respecting the Slave Trade;  thus encouraging discontents which had the situation of our Negroes been such as it has been described must long since have ended in the Ruin or our Colonies.

That admitting the present general Tranquility of our Islands, yet as the artful Insinuation we have mentioned, have been and are still propagated with unremitting Activity: as the insurrection in St. Domingo appears to be considered by some with exultation, as the disposition of Negroes to revolt may remain secret and unobserved till the moment of the operation; as their depredations are always sudden and destructive and as prevention of such Calamities, as are now in our contemplation can never be to cautious provided in the opinion of this Meeting that an additional Naval and Military Force inmmediately sent out to the British West India Island will at this time have the most desiderable Effects; manifesting a disposition in Government carefully to protect the national Prosperity which results from the Commerce of the West India colonies and also convincing the Negroes in our Islands (notwithstanding what has been and is now insinuated and propagated among them to the countrary) that the Government of this Country has never entertained the most distant Idea of supporting them in revolt and murder and of utterly destroying those Colonies which so essentially contribute to her present flourishing Situation.

That a Committee be appointed to present the above Resolutions to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary of State, to have a conference with them as may be suggested by the subjects and to report to a General Meeting as soon as possible the result thereof.

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From: Documentos para estudio. Marco de la época y problemas del Tratado de Basilea de 1795, en la Parte Española de Santo Domingo. Colección de J. Marino Incháustegui, Bs. As., 1957, pp. 569-570

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