JAMAICA. 



ducement to the formalion of this fchemc of conqLiefl wa?, the 

 happy circumftance of the Marons ; who, they obfcrved, had ac- 

 quired very cointortable fettlements, and a life of freedom and eafe, 

 by dint cf their prowefs. On the niglit preceding Ealler-Monday, 

 about lifty of them marched to Port Maria, where they murdered 

 the ftorekeeper of the fort (at that time unprovided with a gar- 

 riibn), broke open the magazine, and feized four barrels of powder, 

 a few mulquet-bal's, and about forty fire-arms. Proceeding from 

 thence to the bay, which lies under the fort, they met with fome 

 fiiliing-ncts, from which they cut off all the leaden finkers, made 

 of bullets drilled, Thefe Negroes were moftly cclle6led from 

 Trinity plantation, belonging to Mr. Bayley ; Whitehall, and 

 Frontier, belonging to Mr. Ballard Beckford ; and Heywood Hal', 

 the property of Mr, Hey wood. Mr, Bayley had been called up by 

 one of his domeftics, and, mounting his horfe, rode towards the 

 bay, in hopes that, by expoftulating calmly with the rebels, he 

 might periuade them to difperfe and return to their duty; but their 

 plan was too deeply laid, and they had conceived too high an 

 opinion of it, to recede. 



Upon his nearer approach, he perceived they were determined 

 to act offenfively, and therefore galloped back with great expedition ; 

 a few random-lhots were difcharged after him, which he fortu- 

 nately efcaped, and rode diredlly to the neighbouring eftates, 

 alarming them as he went, and appointing a place of rendezvous. 

 In this he performed a very eflential piece of fervice to the white 

 inhabitants, who before were entire flrangers to the infurredtion, 

 and unprepared againft furprize; but this notice gave them fome 

 time to recollecfl themfelves, and to confult meafures for fupprefling 

 the infurgents. In the mean while, the latter purfued their way to 

 Heywood-Hall, where they fet fire to the works and cane-pieces, 

 and proceeded to Efher, an eftate of Mr. William Beckford, mur- 

 thering on the road a poor white man, who was traveling on foot. 

 At Efher they were joined by fourteen or fifteen of their country- 

 men. The Whites on that eftate had but juft time to (hut them- 

 felves up in the dwelling-houfe, which they barricadoed as well as 

 they could; unhappily they were deftitute of ammunition, and 

 therefore incapable of making any refiftance. The rebels, who knew 



their 



