The Long Ago Times

Do wear makeup? Then you probably already have these! But…they’ll run out…

Please consider supporting today’s sponsor, those ubiquitous Neutrogena wipes!

Amazon Affiliate Link

KINGSTON, January 13th, 1824 — Jamaica’s latest dispatches, up to the 13th of the previous month, have reached the Jamaica Coffee-house, delivering news that will undoubtedly hearten many: the island has returned to a state of tranquility. The recent unrest was largely isolated to St. Mary’s parish. While there were instances of gatherings among the Negro population in various locales, these did not escalate into further disturbances. The consensus is that the wider Negro community has come to recognize the fallacy under which the insurgents operated, demonstrating a readiness to return to peaceful compliance.

From Kingston on December 22nd, a court in Port Maria has convicted eight slaves—seven from Frontier Estate and one belonging to James Walker, Esq.—of engaging in a seditious conspiracy. Their execution is scheduled for the coming Wednesday. Subsequent reports caution against the publication of certain private communications regarding the state of the slave populace, suggesting that airing such views might not serve the public interest.

An intriguing development involves Smith, a missionary reportedly spared by the Governor of Demerara after relinquishing documents indicating his mission to incite insurrection, purportedly dispatched by a faction within England. Though unverified, this revelation could hardly be considered surprising under the circumstances.

As of December 20th, a letter from St. Mary describes the parish’s newfound peace, attributing prior misconceptions of impending freedom to misleading assurances from the British government and inflammatory materials circulated within Jamaica. The letter criticizes the logistical shortcomings in preparing for military reinforcements, noting a failure to provide basic provisions or transport for the troops—a neglect that seemingly undercuts the urgency of the situation.

Notably, by the year’s end, a collective awakening among certain segments of the Negro community is documented, with individuals admitting to misguided efforts at subversion, thereby possibly mitigating their penalties.

Entering January, reports detail the arrest and impending trial of thirteen Negroes in Balcarres’ parish on charges of sedition, following admissions by four individuals previously mentioned. Despite a general sense of satisfaction concerning the slave population’s current disposition, authorities remain vigilant, underscoring the importance of sustained caution.

Recent apprehensions and investigations into alleged conspiracies further underscore the tense atmosphere. Meanwhile, the arrival of the Colombian schooner Guyerena with commissioners on board highlights the broader geopolitical interactions at play.

The discontinuation of militia guards in various towns signals a return to normalcy, celebrated for its orderly conduct, a testament to the disciplined response to the crisis.

Lastly, a report from Manchester encapsulates the challenges faced by authorities in maintaining security, detailing a fruitless expedition to uncover arms among the Negro population—a venture yielding nothing more than antiquated weaponry, underscoring perhaps the overestimated threat.

In sum, Jamaica’s journey back from the brink of widespread insurrection to a semblance of order is a narrative of miscommunication, misperception, and the eventual realization of a shared desire for peace, albeit within the complex dynamics of colonial rule and the inherent tensions of a society built on the institution of slavery.

⁂

The content on this website is for entertainment purposes only.
Much of it has not been thoroughly reviewed by humans,
although we do get a blast from reading it ourselves.
But it should absolutely not be cited
as a source for anything other than itself.

We use OpenAI’s GPT-4 API to extract text
from the public-domain archive of The Times,
and rewrite this to contemporary standards.
Graphics are also largely AI-generated.

This website is supported by advertising and donations!
Please consider supporting today’s sponsor,
those ubiquitous Neutrogena wipes,
by clicking here to learn more.
Please also consider making a donation here—
we get so excited every time we hear the bell ding,
and there’s no donation too small!