Notes on the West Indies 3 Volume Set
Written during the Expedition under the Command of the Late General Sir Ralph Abercromby
Published on 9. December 2010
Book
1452 pages
978-1-108-02428-0 (ISBN)
Description
George Pinckard (1768-1835) was an army surgeon who arrived in the West Indies in 1796. His letters to a friend were published as Notes on the West Indies in 1806; a second edition came out in 1816. Volume 1 deals with the delays in England (due to bad weather) before setting sail, the voyage, and his eventual arrival in Barbados. Volume 2 continues his detailed description of life in that island, particularly regarding slavery and medical matters. Volume 3 covers his secondment to Dutch Guiana where illness from yellow fever was rife. Recovering from it himself, he was able to give a detailed account of his symptoms. He was not impressed by the Dutch treatment of slaves and half-castes. An educated man, accustomed to careful observation of patients, Pinckard gives a valuable commentary on life in the Caribbean, perhaps typifying the responses of a westerner of his class.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 320 mm
Width: 250 mm
Thickness: 70 mm
Weight
2130 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-108-02428-0 (9781108024280)
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Schweitzer Classification
Content
Volume 1: Preface; 1. Concerning the correspondence of distant friends; 2. Scenery, promenades, amusements, &c. of Southampton; 3. The author returns to London with Doctor Master; 4. Author returns to Southampton; 5. Author and his comrades detained in suspense at Portsmouth; 6. Author receives instructions to proceed to Cork in the Bridgewater transport; 7. Author goes to Spithead and St. Helen's with Dr. Henderson, in search of the Bridgewater transport; 8. Author and his colleagues joined by Dr. Cleghorn; 9. Author and his comrades embark on board the Ulysses at Spithead; 10. Leeward Island division of the expedition puts to sea; 11. A dreadful storm overtakes the fleet; 12. Military incertitude not inferior to the glorious uncertainty of the law; 13. Author and his comrades again on shore; 14. Perilous expedition of the author and others to the Motherbank; 15. Excursion to the Commerce de Marseilles at St. Helen's; 16. Convoy sails on the 9th of December; 17. The new year mild and of good promise; 18. Lord Sheffield arrives at Barbadoes; 19. Ceremony of cleaning and painting West India ships; 20. Author continues to address his friend, although he cannot send away his letters; 21. Author and his comrades live on board ship at Barbadoes; 22. Meat sold alive in the market at Barbadoes; 23. Sunday a day of festivity among the slaves; 24. Author and his comrades receive kind attentions from Mr. B. Hinde; 25. Author and his comrades make an excursion to Col. Williams's; 26. Convoys and packet still delayed; 27. Marooning excursion to the windward coast of Barbadoes; 28. Still no tidings of the Commander in Chief, or the Convoy; 29. Author claims the freedom of 'noting' upon all subjects; 30. Author sends his friends a list of the ships of the convoy which had reached Barbadoes; 31. Senate house, and general assembly of Barbadoes; 32. A packet arrives at Barbadoes. Volume 2: 1. Author and his friends wait for General Whyte, and the Cork convoy; 2. Author apprehensive of fatiguing his friend with tales of delay and disappointment; 3. A common signal of alarm converted into an ensign of joy; 4. Creole languor from heat of climate; 5. A surgical operation performed with great dexterity by a negro; 6. General remarks concerning Barbadoes; 7. Further hope, and further disappointment; 8. Author separated from his long associated comrades; 9. Destination of the expedition; 10. Author again upon terra firma; 11. A detachment of the expedition proceeds to Berbische; 12. Barbadoes the metropolis of the West Indies; 13. Terms of capitulation of the colonies of the coast of Guiana; 14. The author is left in the colonies of Guiana, instead of proceeding to St. Domingo; 15. Bush Negroes in the woods of Guiana; 16. Description of house and furniture occupied by the medical staff at La Bourgade; 17. Author's duties lead him to the colony of Berbische; 18. Author embarks on board a commissariat sloop to proceed from Demarara to Berbische; 19. Situation of Fort St. Andrew; 20. A Dutch 'vendue' of slaves; 21. Politeness and hospitality of Governor Van Battenburg towards the author; 22. News reaches Berbische of the capture of the island of St. Lucia; 23. Indolence and visionary difficulties often the bane of our gratification. Volume 3: 1. Author apprehensive of having wearied his friend with the detail of his river excursion; 2. Captain Maxwell and the author make an excursion to Mynheer Roboloski's; 3. Medical discussions promoted by Governor an Battenburg; 4. Author apprehensive lest his unanswered notes should provoke feelings of repentance in his friend; 5. Author suddenly recalled to the colony of Demarara on account of increased sickness among the troops; 6. Author called from La Bourgade to Mahaica, on account of the prevailing sickness among the troops; 7. Barbarous murder of a slave; 8. Troops sickly; 9. Visit to Major Prauel's;