Day 4. News from London

Day 4. Title

There is no way of knowing how the Galls received the news of emancipation. It would have come in dribs and drabs. No doubt there was a lot of misinformation and mixed views about how it would affect the future of the island. One way or another it would have affected the nefarious plans of William and Henry Beckles Gall.
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Sam had been into Bridgetown early and brought the paper for Henry to read over his breakfast.

“Massa, I’m gonna be free.”

Henry ignored him as he helped himself from the dish of bacon and plantains.

Sam pointed to the headlines.

“It say Emancipation”

Henry knew that Sam could read as his wife had amused herself in teaching him to read from the Bible. He also knew that the word emancipation did not occur in either the New or Old Testaments. Sam must have heard a whisper amonst the town slaves; but he was correct. The local newspapers copied news items from the papers in London and the United States. And there it was, the British Parliament had voted on the Emancipation Bill and it was going to come into law.

Sam had lived with various members of the Gall family all his life. He had started out weeding the fields. As a creole boy he was thought to be more teachable and kinder to animals than older native Africans and so was put in charge of the oxen and then the mules. So when Henry was looking for a driver for his carriage and house servant Sam had been selected to serve in the Gall household. This was a good move for Sam as being near to town there were more opportunities to make some money; errands to be run and if he dared use his masters carriage to transport parcels. Henry was wise to this abuse of position but tolerated it.

Sam was saving up for the day when he might be able to afford to buy his freedom. Henry  had not so much as agreed to this plan; but he hadn’t said he would refuse. Sam wondered what the news would mean for his future. Would he still have to buy his freedom? Would he lose his position with the Galls? Who would pay him to work for them?

Henry had read the article and was troubled that Sam had not understood the situation correctly. How would he break it to him?

“Sam.”

“Yes Massa”

“This is indeed good news, but….”

Sam had heard the “but” before. 

“But what Massa?”

“Sam. The British Parliament moves very slowly. This is only one debate that Wilberforce has one. The M.P.s have agreed to the law changing but the law won’t change until the Lords agree. And even then the King will have to agree.”

It was clear that Sam did not understand. How could it be that the government could agree emancipation but then it not become law.

Henry decided that he needed to warn his brother who was not one to read the newspapers. He had over 70 slaves working on the plantation and they needed to be given accurate information. Sam was sent off to harness the horse to the buggy for the trip to St.John’s. Sam wanted to get going quickly before the heat of the sun became unbearable.

The road passing across the Savannah and along Carlisle Bay was maintained by the soldiers in the Garrison and was relatively smooth. It was probably the best road in Barbados and had long stretches of shade which provided respite for man and beast. There was also a water trough fed by the sweet water spring on the Bay Estate. The remainder of the journey was a real contrast. The climb up the limestone escarpment left Henry’s horse exhausted. She had been used to the short journey into Bridgetown each day and back in the afternoon. But this was a cross island expedition for her. Sam knew that she could not be expected to go on unrested. The compromise was for Henry to get down and walk a while. And so in this way, partly as a pedestrian and partly in the carriage they arrived at the big house at Galls Retreat past 1pm. There was no sign of William. Sam was sent off to find him.

*  *  *  *  *

Henry helped himself to some rum and added an equal measure of water from the dripstone. He anticipated a long wait.

He had foolishly given into his brother’s arguments to keep the plantation as a going concern. Sitting in the window overlooking the little vegetable garden, in the shade of the jalousies he had fallen for the charms of the plantation. It was well named as Galls Retreat - a retreat from the hot bustle of Bridgetown.

But the figures did not stack up. The plantation was not being well kept by his brother. There were not enough workers. Two thirds were women. All of them were getting old and weary. And few children to take their places. The house slaves had been put back out in the fields and this had caused great resentment. What were they going to make of the news of emancipation. There had been so many false hopes raised since the abolition of the slave trade. There seemed little advantage in freedom if they were too old to work; if they had no land of their own where would they live; where would they keep their chickens, keep a goat, grow vegetables or plantains?

William listened to his brother. “If you are right, no one will give you a fair price for the land and nothing for the slaves if they are to be freed. It’s your fault that we took lawful control of the estate from the Provost Marshall and we now owe £1000 to those old cronies of Aunt Elizabeth. If we sell we will be ruined and if we don’t we will be ruined. A fine accountant you are. You should stick to being a shopkeeper.”

There was no point in continuing the conversation. William could explain emancipation to his slaves in his own way. Henry needed the money to keep his business afloat let alone to expand it. His plans to join the Barbadian élite were crumbling. He drank up and walked out of the plantation leaving Sam to hitch up and catch him up.