1826

Eighteen Twenty-Six

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People	Harry Begg, James Forsyth, Sandy Forsyth, William Forsyth, Morris Forsyth, Mary, Young A. Forsyth (possibly Alexander), Mr. Robertson
Places	Dundurcas, Coldstone A roadside settlement in the Aberdeenshire parish of Logie-Coldstone. Coldstone is a mile north of Newkirk. Dr. Proctor's plantation was Bryan Castle Estate, near Rio Bueno, in Trelawny parish.
Events	Sandy arrived in Jamaica on January 11th. Though he is a bookkeeper his job is to measure and set off fields. Sandy comments on the lack of religious devotion among blacks and whites in Jamaica. He thinks they should be more mindful considering the mortality rate in Jamaica. Sandy says he works for Mr. Robertson. James tells Harry how he had hoped to be in Canada in the summer of 1826 but his health would not permit him to travel.
Research Notes	Harry Begg does not leave for Canada until about April 1831. He is in Scotland. Dr. is an abbreviation for Dear. James Forsyth wrote this letter. He included quotations from a letter from Sandy Forsyth who had emigrated to Jamaica.Dundurcas was in the counties of Elgin/Moray. Scottish Parish: ROTHES (DUNDURCAS)

Mr Harry Begg
Coppersmith
Tumulochi Coldstone
By Aberdeen

Dr. Harry & Mary Dundurcas May 4th 1826

It is with great pleasure that I now have the agreeable satisfaction to you notice, that we have a letter from Sandy, dated the 5th & 6th of Feb, announcing his safe arrival in Jamaica, upon the 11th of January, after a short passage of 36 days, after they left Falmouth in England x days of which they were becalmed. The passage however had been very dangerous, for it appears that they had meet with a storm or hurricane when all hopes of safety was given up, and they expected every moment to be engulfed in the bottom of the ocean, it pleased Providence to spare them and they got safe without any damage that we had heard of. The letter was some time before it came to my hand as it was addressed to William to whom more than the one half of it was wrote and the other half to me, it is very long and what is to me is wrote a xxx which makes it very difficult to read, I could not be contained it were I to transcribe it in two sheets of paper, he mentions particularly to me not to neglect to write to all his dear brothers and sisters and names you particularly who he regrets still much his sudden departure from this to be at London in time for the vessel prevented him from having the happiness of seeing you at sometime if favored by Providence a few years, he hopes to have the pleasure of spending the rest of his time among his dear relations, I have wrote Morris, Mary, Young A Forsyth (possibly Alexander). I shall now give you an unabridged state of some of the letter to Wm and me that you may have a view of how he is situated and has been employed since his arrival till the time he wrote which was scarcely a month.
After a pretty long preamble relating to his leaving this country without having time for an interview of advising with him or other friends and which takes up the first page. He says,

“Everyone here appears to be too regardless of the Sabbath, this is the only day of the seven devoted for pleasure xxx xxx both with white and black. Not such a thing as going to hear a sermon or to look into a Bible. One has the same opportunity of the gospel here, as if at home, if xxx but in looking after the salvation it must be done privately. One will meet with more countinance who will pay respect to (the Lord). This is a prevailing custom among a great many Book-keepers, who are regardless of character over a sufficient evidence why so many are called off to suddenly to appear before the great Tribunal and as the mortality here is certainly great, and we are ever liable to it, but I am credibly informed by Mr. Robertson the gentleman I am under he observes and I plainly begin to think that one may live as comfortably & healthy in Jamaica as anywhere else if not for excessive drinking, staying out at night soon after they loose their health, their constitution broke, take fever and in a few hours illness make their exit.”
Here he returns thanks to Almighty God for his protection in his dangerous passage the particulars of which he mentions some of which is stated above with reflections of what it is to think of death when in safety, but how different when staring you in the face and not knowing the moment when you are to engulfed in the bosom of the deep. As was his case for some time.
“I am happy to State Lines my arrival to this Island on the 11th of Jan. that I have not had the faintest touch of a headache, I enjoy my health since I left home as well as I ever did in my life. The small pain I complained of in my Chest has intensly left me. And I hope in preserving my Morals and asking the assistance of the Almighty that my health will continue.
You could form no idea of this Country. I who have seen it could skeach

(sketch) it out but faintly. The only way I have been employed since my arrival is in measuring and setting off fields along with Mr. Robertson. I rank as 2 Book-keeper. Go to 1xx B.K. £go-2 Book keepr £80. 3 B.K. £70. Every thing is charged very high. The saddle £ x, the bridle £5. Portmantua £4. I turn out to Muster at Folmouth after being 3 months in the island. My red coat costs £14. Expenses for myself if boy I take Breakfast & diner £1- otherwise for a plate of soup half a dollar. You must be a young man must live pretty low for years. Clothing is a way high. Coat £5. Shoes 3 to 4 dollars.”
Here complains for want of flannel shirts worn near the body to dry up the sweat. “I perspire much am frequently obliged to change my shirt twice a day but once regular. You feel very chilly & cold in either linen or cotton shirts, you could xxx the very best I put off xxx—xxx as washing cost us nothing.”
The rest of William’s letter being wrote & crossed with red ink is very faint and scarcely legible all I can make out of it is to this effect. That white people when on business or employed in the Country, their living costs nothing they may call and have B. and dinner at any plantation but when otherwise when they pay, everything is most extravagant. That two of passengers that went out within have more liberty that he has, have a room by themselves but that he resides with Mr. Robertson, the gentleman he is under, who he commends as a young man very much esteemed and respected as any in the country and who has been very attentive upon him and that he looks upon himself as being under great obligations to him and wishes William to address a few lines of thanks to him for his attention in the first letter he writes. He seems also to have much in his power as he never fails to promote such of his Book-keepers as gives him satisfaction. If I can read correct I think Mr. R has a bout £200 a year besides several profitable xxx. What Sandy writes to me is rather of a consolary nature referring to the above for xx know that he left me rather low in spirits which indeed still continues altho’ this letter relieves my anxiety very much. I have thus given you an esteem a view as I could of this,
I have been rather weekly for a few days past the writing of these letters has exhausted a little even tho’ the other three were not so full as this. I wrote you about the beginning of this year and mentioned that if I was able I trusted to have the pleasure of seeing you at your house this summer but as I have not been so very fit for traveling altho’ I have reason to be thankful in tolerable health yet begin to fear that I would not bear the fatigue of such a journey. Meantime I wish much upon receipt of this you would write me xx final post and let me hear how Mary the family and all friends are I request you will make offer of my kindest love xx.
I recommend of you all to Almighty God
and am ever Dr . Harry and Mary,
James Forsyth

For your satisfaction I add this Direction (Direction – Bryan Castle, Rio Bueno, Care Mr. Robertson, Trelawny, Jamaica) I hope this long letter will refresh Mary’s spirits. Mary’s compliments to you all. William and family are well. Mrs. Forsyth often enquires about you. Should add much more ---
P.S. Having so room here I may add that Sandy days to me, “that I need send no more Books to him, as there is a handsome Library at Bryan Castle of Divinity History xx as you will meet with many places in Scotland, which he has free access to. A cheese he got from a friend I put here in his Trunk, says
“the cheese I carried xxx is cut and parted in Small xx much valued, merely because it is Scotch kobback, in again – you would not think how I have been amused since last night by the Negroes, Since last night it is their common practise to sing, dance from --- Satt night to sunrise Sund xx they can be noisome at times that I have been hours before I could sleep. What a contrast, I have not seen a white woman since I left England.”