Synopses & Reviews
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. In Volume 3 he continues his description of Dutch Guiana, which had been captured by the British. He gives detailed descriptions of illness among the troops, comparing the Dutch and British medical practices. As several of the medical staff had died, Pinckard was kept extremely busy, while continuing to make observations on all he saw. Surviving an attack of yellow fever, he describes his own symptoms at length. In Guiana he witnessed exceptional cruelty towards slaves, concerning which he gives graphic details, and also the unequal treatment of mulattos. He ends the book with the arrival of his long-delayed orders to proceed to St Domingo (Haiti).
Synopsis
An army surgeon's detailed account of the West Indies in 1796-1797, first published in 1806.
Synopsis
This detailed description of Dr Thomas Pinckard's voyage to, and residence in, the West Indies in 1796-1797 provides much information on the people of the area as seen through western eyes. Writing in the genre of informal letters to a friend, he comments at length on everything he saw.
Table of Contents
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; 10. Author addresses his frien