The Virginia Gazette

Extract of a Letter from on board the Prince of Orange, of Bristol, Capt. Japhet Bird, dated from St. Christopher's, April 7.

At our Arrival here, I thought all our Trouble of this Voyage was over; but on the Contrary I may say, that Dangers rest on the Borders of Security. March the 14th, we found a great Deal of Discontent among the Slaves, particularly the Men, which continued till the 16th about Five in the Evening, when to our great Amazement, above an Hundred of the Men Slaves jump'd over-board, and it was with Difficulty we saved so many as we did; out of the whole we lost 33 of as good Men Slaves as we had on board, who would not endeavour to save themselves, but resolved to die, and sunk directly down. Many more of them were taken up almost drowned: some of them since dead. but not to the Owner's Loss; they being old before any Discovery was made of the Injury the Salt Water had done them. The Reason I hear since of this Misfortune, was owing to one of their Countrymen, who came on board, and in a joking Manner, told them, that they were to be eat, and their Eyes to be put out, with a great many other notorious and nonsensical Falsities. I can't be certain when we shall sail from hence, there being a great Scarcity of Sugar, and the Slaves not all sold. We are in Hopes of selling 240. The Capt. has lost Two of his own Slaves. This Misfortune has disconcerted the Captain's Design of proceeding to Virginia with Part of them.

Another Letter, dated the 17th of April, says, St. Christopher's is the worst Place a Man ever put Foot on, Provisions being too scarce, there is nothing to be had for Love nor Money. That Capt. Bird and his Surgeon had been dangerously ill before they left Bonny, and that Mr. Bishop the Surgeon's Mate died coming off the Coast.