The Migration from, Surinam to Jamaica. 155 



part of his Majesty's subjects left there. The few particularly mentioned 

 in the inclosed were men of the greatest estates when he left. Cannot 

 give any account of the number of slaves Hie remaining English may 

 have, who he believes were above 60 or 80 when Major Scott wrote to 

 his wife." 



The enclosure, from Bethshua Scott, addressed to Banister, runs as 

 follows : " The distraction she has been in this three years not hearing 

 from her husband, made her forgetful of her duty to everyone. Was last 

 night so mercifully dealt with that she heard of her husband's welfare 

 from his own hand, which she looks at as no tlight thing when so many 

 of their acquaintances are removed to the other world. Those mentioned 

 are Captains Rendar and Maxwell, Venman, Lea, Cowell and about 60 

 more, Sec. Bell also. Mr. Brandt and his wife went for England in June 

 last, not being able to get passage sooner. Her husband has been a 

 deep sufferer, the Dutch striving to confiscate the estate under pretence 

 of Bathe's absence, confining him to the fort with other English for a 

 long time, seizing cattle and five of his ablest hands for the garrison's use, 

 and taxing him partiallj^. In his absence the plantation is ruined, so that 

 he is forced to sell the remainder of cattle and coppers to pay his eno-awe- 

 ments and be in a posture for removal, if, as he hears (though denied 

 by theDutch), Commissioners come fro n the King to release the English. 

 He resolves for Jamaica and bids her write to Mr. Sleigh to take up a piece 

 of land near him, as without selling his hands he cannot purchase a settled 

 plantation ; beseeches him to advise Sleigh. Mr. Simpson has been no friend 

 to her husband, who says that no vessel will get leave to carry negroes 

 away except the King sends. Governor Vorstar is prejudiced against 

 him, she presumes from his not being willing blindly to swallow all kinds 

 of oaths, &c. He durst write no more and is ignorant of affairs every- 

 where, by reason her 16 or 17 letters miscarried. Presents humble service 

 to Madame Banister and her daughters. The enclosed may meet her 

 husband, yet when she remembers how long the Dutch kept Banister's 

 business in agitation, her hopes seem to be built on a spider's web." 



The letter given above is probably the last which Banister wrote 

 home. He never received the letter, dated Villier's House, October 27, 

 1674, which the Council for Foreign Plantations sent to him to the 

 following effect : " Are assured that the original articles made between 

 Col. Byam and Abraham Crynsens about Surinam, and those between 

 himself and Crynsens are in his hands. Would have him send them by 

 the first opportunity, with an account what number of English removed 

 with him from Surinam, how many slaves they brought away, and in 

 what part of his Majesty's dominions they disposed of themselves and 

 their stocks. Mem. This letter was dd. on the Exchange, to Mr. Hon. 

 Rumball, 2nd Nov., who promised to dd. it to Capt. Lowther, of the Swift- 

 sure, now going over with Lord Vaughan." 



It is interesting to note that the draft letter is in the handwriting of 

 John Locke, the philosopher, who at that time was secretary to the Coun- 

 cil for Foreign Plantations. Banister was murdered on the 10th of 



