78 TlMEHRI. 
the moment I reached it threw the light to the ground 
and felt thankful that my steps had been so providen- 
tially directed. So far for the occurrences which imme- 
diately succeeded or were connected with the hurricane. 
I ought now, in justice to ourselves, to proceed to de- 
tail to you, would my time or remaining space admit, the 
methods that we as well as all the neighbouring gentle- 
men adopted to repair our losses, and to show how, 
greatly vilified and traduced as we have been as cruel and 
merciless planters, we consulted the welfare of our negroes 
before all other obje6ts, leaving and neglecting every- 
thing else, even our own residences and comforts, as of 
secondary moment, until theirs were first attended to ; but 
this I must defer until I next write to you. 
