Volume 03 Page 0013

Gowrie and East Hermitage

		To	$
1857 Octr		To Middleton & Co Factors Oct'r 1857 @ Oct'r 1858	$1880	81
1858 April	1	do 1450½ Bs feed Rice @ $1.20
		$1740.60 142 Bbls @ 87½¢ $124.25	1864	85
		(part of this Rice sent to Silk Hope)
		Overseer's Wages for past year	300
Jan'y	30	R. & J. Lacklison	32	76
		Boyle Henderson (ploughs)	20
		O. Johnson & Co	10	75
		W. G. Dickson (Grocer)	10	46
		A. A. Solomons	44	56
		Ross & Co.	76	29
		Nevitt, Lathrop & Rogers (plan blankets)	270	40
		R.H. Donnoly	93	18
		A. McAlpin & Bro.	167	60
		Dr. W. Gaston Bulloch (for Hector's eye)	51
		R.A. Allen & Co. (Shingles)	95	57
			$4918	23

My expectations with regard to the Overseer's improving upon his past
years sad experience were vain. Mr Venters did do a little better
than before, as far as an increase in the Crop was concerned,
but very little, moreover elated by a strong & very false religious
feeling he began to injure the plantation a vast deal, placing himself
on a par with the Negroes, by even joining in with them at their
prayer meetings, breaking down long established discipline, which in
every Case is so difficult to preserve, favoring & fiding in any difficulty
with the people, against the Drivers, besides Causing numerous grievances
which I now have every reason to suppose my neighbours knew; & perhaps
I was laughed at & ridiculed for keeping in my employ such a Man.
I discharged Mr Venters and on 8th January 1858 engaged Mr Wm H. Bryan