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(SLAVERY AND ABOLITION.)
GIBSON, EDMUND.
Two Letters of
the Lord Bishop of London: The
First To the Masters and Mistresses
in the English Plantations abroad,
exhorting them to Encourage and
Promote the Instruction of their
Negroes in the Christian Faith. . . .
31 pages. Small 8vo, modern cloth-backed
marbled paper-covered boards with label
up the spine.
London: Joseph Downing, 1729
[600/900]
The second edition of this work, first published
in 1727. As the title implies, the Lord Bishop
was concerned that the Negro slaves being
worked to death on the British colonial planta-
tions were not receiving instruction in
Christianity.
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(SLAVERY AND ABOLITION.) GRAINGER, JAMES M.D.
The Sugar-Cane,
a Poem in Four Books.
Engraved frontispiece of the sugar cane plant. Half-title, [vii],
[1-3], 4-167, pages, plus [i] errata. Contemporary full calf with spine gilt extra in five pan-
els with raised bands, red morocco label; joints rubbed but quite firm.
London: Dodsley, 1764
[800/1,200]
FIRST AND ONLY EDITION
An epic poem on the sugar cane with copious detailed historical footnotes
on the running of plantations, the crops and the slaves, as well as notes on flora and fauna of the West
Indies. The last “Canto” is prefaced by a long “Invocation to the Genius of Africa,” which is a bit
misleading, because it’s followed by “Negroes when bought should be young and strong,” going into
great detail as far as the clothing and feeding thereof. While this is a rather strange vehicle, it still is a
really interesting view of the sugar cane plantations. Most interesting is the last book in which the
good doctor elucidates on the best Africans for slaves and which duties the different tribal groups are
best suited. In addition to the fascinating footnotes, an early owner has made a number of marginal
notes in ink, most with classical references, “Virgil” et al. An entire book has been written about this
book, “The Poetics of Empire, a Study of James Grainger’s Sugar Cane” (John Gilmore, 2000).
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(SLAVERY AND ABOLITION.) VERNON, SAMUEL.
A retained copy of a
letter from Samuel Vernon to Alexander Willock, asking that he “acquaint us
the number and quality of the slaves Rogers (master of their ship) sold.”
Folio
sheet, the letter written on one side; and an old merchant’s bill on the other side.
[Newport, RI], 1766
[800/1,200]
Samuel Vernon (1711-1792) together with his brother William were New England merchants who
made their fortunes in the triangular Atlantic slave trade. In this letter to Alexander Willock, a part-
ner in the trade, Vernon inquires about the 500 pounds sterling made by Captain Rogers, the master
of their ship Othello, having sold some slaves on his own. It was more common for the masters of the
slave ships to have “shares” in the overall profits. Vernon continues, asking that the profits be invested
in the “best sugar and rum.” This letter is a perfect illustration of the triangular trade.
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