Beschreibung:

A long and important letter from Jane Smith wife of the missionary John Smith Demerara, [late] December 1823, to Peter Jackson [publisher] at Mr Fisher's Booksellers, 38 Newgate Street, London, giving a full account of the circumstances that led to their current 'present distressing situation', and hoping for his assistance, beginning with some details of the events as seen by them on 18th August when 'the slaves in the district in which our chapel is situated, broke out in open rebellion. The revolt was general, and extended along a thickly inhabited coast about eighteen, or, twenty miles. With respect to the proceedings of the revolted negroes I know but little, having been myself a prisoner in close confinement for thirteen, or fourteen weeks. Thus much however is certain, that their object was not blood nor devastation. While the negroes belonging to the plantation on which we resided were in the act of rising Mr Smith was among them persuading them to desist from their wicked purpose. They brandishing their cutlasses in his face told him to go home for they were not going to hurt anyone. Seeing me much alarmed they begged of us not to be frightened, that they wanted nothing but the guns and their rights. I enquired why they wanted the guns. They said to keep their manager from shooting them. The guns soon obtained, and after discharging their contents into the air, they withdrew, leaving the estate uninjured and quiet... ', continuing to give details of Mr Smith's arrest a few days later for 'aiding and assisting the rebels', the arresting officer acting on behalf of Captain McTurk, telling how they were forcibly taken away 'under a pretence, first that Mr S had disobeyed the orders of Captain McTurk in refusing to enrol himself in the militia; and then directly afterwards another pretence was alleged, namely, that our remaining in our house could not be accounted for any other principle than that of our being party to the revolt... ', giving details of the trial, the disclosure of Mr Smith's journal to everyone in court, etc., 'The causes of the revolt are, I think too plain to be misunderstood. The slaves were most greviously oppressed, but it was the opposition they met with on account of their religion, that was to them the most vexatious... ', some tears to fore-margin in following section with loss of words at end of lines, telling that her husband is innocent of every charge and hoping for assistance, telling that a letter of instruction has also been sent to Mr Dance with Mr Elliot on the brig Oscar which left on 22nd December, finally asking that a reply should not be addressed to her but sent 'under cover to William Arrindell' [a barrister in Georgetown who assisted in John Smith's defence at his trial], a total of some 1800 words, 3 pages with integral address panel (some damage with loss as previously noted), 'Ship letter Plymouth' stamp and indistinct circular stamp 'G 5 Fe[b] 1824', heavily browned, folio An important and substantial letter giving first-hand evidence concerning the arrest and trial of missionary John Smith (1792?-1824). The Demerara rebellion of 18 August 1823 was an uprising involving more than 10,000 slaves that took place in the Crown colony of Demerara-Essequibo (now part of Guyana). In part the slaves were reacting to poor treatment and a desire for freedom; in addition, there was a widespread, mistaken belief that Parliament had passed a law for emancipation, but it was being withheld by the colonial rulers. Instigated chiefly by Jack Gladstone, a slave at 'Success' plantation, the two-day rebellion also involved his father, Quamina, and other senior members of their church group. Its English pastor, John Smith was implicated. The largely non-violent rebellion was brutally crushed by the colonists under governor John Murray They killed many slaves with estimates of the toll from fighting ranging from 100 to 250. After the insurrection was put down, the government sentenced another