Category Archives: The Letters
Simon Taylor to Chaloner Arcedeckne, 29 May 1788
29/05/1788
In May 1788 Taylor continued his defence of Jamaican slavery in response to the upsurge of abolitionist activity in Britain. He told Arcedeckne his opinions about the treatment of enslaved people and the prospect of a rebellion. He also promised to send his friend a detailed plan of Golden Grove sugar estate, which suggests that […]
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Simon Taylor to Chaloner Arcedeckne, 19 April 1788
19/04/1788
In common with other planters in Jamaica (and across the West Indies) Taylor was taken aback by the popularity and success of the incipient abolition movement in Britain. He contemplated its effects in Jamaica and strongly asserted that he thought an end to the slave trade would result in the economic ruin of the colonies […]
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Simon Taylor to Chaloner Arcedeckne, 7 April 1788
07/04/1788
In April 1788 Taylor gave Chaloner Arcedeckne his early reactions to two phenomena that would define the remaining 25 years of his life: the French Revolution and the abolition movement. Political tensions in Paris were apparent throughout the Atlantic world by this time, and Taylor appears simultaneously to have relished the prospect of French weakness […]
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Simon Taylor to Chaloner Arcedeckne, 6 December 1787
06/12/1787
At the end of 1787, Taylor commented on proposals by Matthew Boulton, the British entrepreneur and manufacture of steam engines, to adapt steam power to sugar mills in Jamaica. He was not fully convinced by them. […] Respecting Mr Bolton, untill he sends out modell, & letts people know the premium he expects for his […]
Also posted in Sugar, Technological innovation Tagged Chaloner Arcedeckne, Matthew Boulton, Simon Taylor Comments Off on Simon Taylor to Chaloner Arcedeckne, 6 December 1787
Simon Taylor to Chaloner Arcedeckne, 1 May 1787
01/05/1787
Taylor’s discussion of breadfruit relates to the infamous 1787 expedition of the HMS Bounty, commanded by Captain William Bligh, to collect plants in Tahiti and introduce them to the West Indies, where it was anticipated that they would help provided food for the enslaved people on sugar estates and other properties. Taylor’s discussion on this […]
Also posted in British Government, Disease/health, Enslaved people, Food/provisions, Hurricanes, Navy, Sugar, Taxes/duties, Trade Tagged Chaloner Arcedeckne, Simon Taylor, William Bligh, William Pitt Comments Off on Simon Taylor to Chaloner Arcedeckne, 1 May 1787