Letters from T.B. Hardtmann, St. Kitts manager to the second Viscount Combermere

Scope and Content

Refers to a revolt amongst the negroes at St. Vincent (30 October 1862); to the possibility of securing negro immigrants from the United States (10 January 1863); expatiates on his excellent crop of guinea corn; on 26 January endorses a sample of Nevis cotton (preserved inside is the ecpert opinion of a Harold Littledale). For a time, Hardtmann was high in the confidence of Combermere and the firm of Manning (see letters of the latter, 1861-1871) - he very adversely criticises the condition of the Nevis estate (26 January 1863); and gave a somewhat critical report on their Antigua holdings. In February 1871 howeber there are very evident signs of disagreement between proprietor and manager; the last document of all is a serious exposure of certain transactions of Hardtmann and his son (December 1873)