| Description | Journal of Jonathan Troup: October 1789
He described the weather and remarked that it was unusual to have such a long spell in Dominica without rain
A number of people came to see his collection of curiosities
He had not seen Dr Fillan and a few days later he told Lowndes and Rainy that he would not go up to Dr Fillan's again. Following that he was told that Dr Fillan was sorry for everything that had happened and would forgive all if Troup returned to his house but that he had no concessions to make to Troup as Troup was his junior. Troup's answer was no. Several days later, Mr Carson told him that Dr Fillan wished Troup would dine with him
He saw the French cook who had agreed to his terms
He remarked that ants were an excellent thing for cleaning bones
'The way I am going, I will make myself popular…and when I become popular everything will come out so the sooner they come out the better "Macte Virtuto Esto" My principle is to do all in my power for the public and I don't want Dr F [dock'd] to screen me from the imputation of murder. He says 'If you kill, the blame falls upon me, not upon you' but avarice is his principle and love of gain blinds his eyes'
In Martinique some weeks before, there had been a revolt by a number of negroes and the ringleaders were hung, [tortured] and quartered to the number of 20. Several days later, 300 Mulattoes sided with the governor of Martinique - some were killed, 16 were made prisoners and the rest fled. The 16 were to be hung and the fugitives were flooding into Roseau. 'Soon after, there was word of 20,000 people killed in Paris… & people wore cocades in imitation, people in Martinique had done the same…Governor fled into some part'
He listed the books he had on loan
He got a 7ft long snake and described its anatomy
He bottled his demi-john of wine
He treated a negro hurt through a rockfall
He described the Militia Day in town which was held every quarter year
He described a French expedition to measure the meridian at the Arctic circle
He treated a man with a broken scapula at Bath Estate
He described the mulattoes and blacks who had any power as being in their element when terrorising their inferiors
He treated himself for a swollen foot
He described watching a game of quoits
He opened an abscess at Bath estate and described seeing negro dancers in the yard there
He read William Hasting's Trial in front of the House of Lords for High Crimes and took detailed notes
He sketched a Tomahawk
He described social events
He remarked that he saw a negro girl who had only been 14 days on the island, she was docile and well favoured, about 6 years old
He discussed politics
He mentioned that a French company has gone to measure the meridian at the equator
He described the French in Dominica wearing the cockade of liberty in their hats
A mad dog was shot after dinner
Mr Carson told him of a lock'd jaw in a stout negro. The disease had entered his body through a cut. Troup described the treatment of Mr Webb's boy who had the same disease, this time from a splinter. He saw the man with lock'd jaw and got details of his symptoms. He went to see Stewart's Negro with lock'd jaw who died
He drank Spruce Beer with Knox and Fraser
Mr Davidson also died. He had been 16 years on the island
He went to see Captain Urquhart who was taking bark for an ague
He went down to Mr Bordeaux who got a poisonous serpent of Trinidad or St Lucia and described other curiosities
He visited Lieutenant Archibald's and was asked to see the wife of a soldier who had been cut in the forehead
He gave Lieutenant Smith a vomit
He noted that Mr Carson was thinking of settling here for good
Mr Rainy (Troup remarked that he was amongst the first men of respect and influence in Dominica) declared him a sensible young man in public
He made notes from books he was reading including the works of Pope, from Oliver Goldsmith's 'Animal Nature' volume 5 of 8, Horace and Chaucer's the Wife of Bath
He received a letter from his brother
He went to Bath estate where he saw President Stewart and heard that an enormous sized snake was taken at Castle Bruce
He noted the words of Ode on Solitude written at 12 years old
Mr Morson told him of a case of tetanus and locked jaw which was cured in 10 days by putting the patient under the waterspout of a mill
Mrs Warner's son was a little better but his cheek was softer
He saw Miss Collins and Miss Corlet and promised a copy of Oedipus to Miss Collins
He sketched a Ballechiae type fish
He listed some negro phrases
Cloe, a negro wench of Dr Clark's, got a foot long worm from her nose
He sketched a High Forehead Cavallier (fish)
He saw Mr Winston at Bath who 'seems to be affected towards me'
He bought an injured bird and is unsure whether to name it the Small Bittern or the Blue Goulding
He made note on Celsus 'De Medicina' (notes are in Latin and English) including links between the weather and abortions and labours
A woman came to have her tooth drawn. He told her to go to Dr Fillan but she wouldn't and he refused to treat her - 'I confirm myself to shine with greater splendour afterwards'
He had a discussion with Mr Rainy regarding his actions. Rainy thought he would hurt himself with confinement but Troup thought not. He was invited to dine with Mr Rainy that night. Mr Carson later told him that he and Dr Fillan were also to dine with Rainy that night. He dined at Mr Rainy's with Dr Fillan, Mr Carson, Mr Fran, Mr Lundie and Mr McAlaster. Troup paid Dr Fillan 'all the respects due to a stranger gentleman'
He visited Mr Smith to borrow a book
He made notes regarding the cooking of wine
He bought three American apples for a Bit and remarked that 'the fruit is so so'
He made notes from the first Epistle of Lib. 1 to Lord Bolingbroke, the 6th Epistle of Lib. 1 from Mr Pope to Mr Murray, Lib II Epistle II and the Epilogue to the Satires
He sketched a mulatto woman in mourning dress. Troup remarked that most of them were slaves and gave a long description of their morals and habits
He made more notes from Celsus on De Sanguinis Detractione (Lib II Cap X), the notes are in Latin
He sketched a sprat used as a relish after dinner
He sketched a devil's horse
He stated that Governor Bruce's dog was attacked by a snake on Castle Bruce estate, and the negroes were set to kill it
Troup found the lower jaw of a human head on the shore
He remarked that Masters of the African ships could not persuade the slaves that they were not to be killed and eaten by white men so they threw themselves aboard to try and get home or killed themselves in other ways
Nancy Armourer came to him for balls so that Mr Carr could shoot a mad dog which had bitten Dr Armourer's boy. The boy was hot and sick after the dog bite
He borrowed the History of Bella - the Chief of the Runaways
Mrs Evans' boy was taken at Bath estate for stealing canes
He was visited by Mr Archibald and Mr Copley
He described games played by the negroes
He made anatomical notes, e.g. that laughter is caused by the largeness of the spleen, and expressed his thoughts on where the soul resides
Polly Armourer scolded a black woman which gathered a crowd. She mentioned Dr Armourer a lot. Troup remarks 'God I may get my dearest Miss Mary Ford and then to a blessing. I'll think myself a happy man'
He got some powder from Mr Smith and fired his pistols
Polly Armourer and Clark came to get 'some glasses [ _______ ] and gave us bawdy [tracts]. They are very obscene women… I have seen them when idle take their boys aged 2-3 years old and make a little black girl of the same years lie down and make them move as if they were in the act of copulation'
He told the story of a soldier caught in copulation with a turkey
The Friendly Dominica Society was formed by Mr Smith, Mr Carson and nine others
He made notes on 'The Dying Negro' by Mr Bicknall. Part of the poem is copied here. Mr Watt read the poem and told them of the death of a negro on his estate because the mulatto nurse thought he was shamming to get out of work
President Stewart's son presented him with a 'Cock's Egg'. Troup sketched the egg
He called on Mr [Allis] and after dinner the conversation was all about 'Corlet's damned nonsense of poetry'. The following morning, the conversation concerned whores buggering men and the soldier who had sex with a turkey
He remarked that Mr [Nawson] was a very dangerous person who employed folk to steal fowls
He mentioned Mr [Allis'] health - he had an obstruction in urethera
He told of a negro who fixed a bayonet blade to a staff to make an 'unmerciful weapon'
He described the ingredients in a negro pudding
While conducting Miss Kemp and Miss Swiney to Bath Estate, they were nearly ridden down by 'Mad Atkinson and a country gentleman'
Troup was determined to get an apology from Mr Corlet for attacking him in a mixed company and gave information regarding the argument between Mr Corlet and other gentlemen
Troup described a rainbow of the moon that he saw at 3 am
He saw a little girl at Bath who was hot, raving and very incoherent
Mr Ross told a story of a woman in New York who burned to death [from apparent spontaneous combustion] |