This poem, was published in 1752 (the Age of Enlightenment), but according to the Notes in The Penguin Book of Caribbean Verse “no later writers refer to it”
The verses about sugar, which trace “the noblest plant …. Thro’ all its various Toils” show what we might most neutrally describe as a conflicted attitude to slavery, accepting the necessity for slave labour, acknowledging the “work-hating” attitude of the gangs who must work the plantation, but putting in a strong plea to the slave-drivers to show mercy, spare the whip, & recognise their common humanity.
Even when I was at primary school we were taught that workers for the sugar plantations "had to" come from parts of the world used to tropical conditions, because white skinned people were simply incapable of labouring in such heat.
In 1966 there were complaints from British athletes about the Commonwealth Games being held in the heat of Jamaica
These days the Barbados tourist industry has been able to extend its season beyond just October-Easter as the British quite happily, of their own free will, take their holidays there in August!
To urge the Glory of your Cane’s success,
Rich be your Soil, & well manur’d with Dung,
Or, Planters! What will all your Labours yield?
A faithless Profit, & a barren Crop.
When heavy Rains in pleasing Floods descend,
And all your Land with finished Holing smiles,
Swift to the Task of Planting call your Slaves,
While yet the Weather favours your Designs.
Close watch, ye Drivers! your work-hating Gang,
And mark their Labours with a careful Eye,
But spare your cruel, & ungen’rous Stripes!
They sure are Men, tho’ Slaves, & colour’d Black,
And what is colour in the Eye of Heav’n?
‘Tis impious to suppose a Difference made;
Like you they boast sound Reason, Feeling, Sense,
And Virtues equally as great & good,
If lesson’d rightly, & instructed well.
Spare them your tyranny, inhuman Men!
And deal that Mercy you expect from Heav’n.
