house be hen he, this deponent, went the first time Baugheh said Hodge's estate, there was upon it a fine gang of able negroes, about one hundred or more in number, but that when the last wife of said Hodge died, that number was so reduced by cruelty, and absconding in consequence of cruelty, that negroes enough were not to be found on the estate sufficient to dig her grave, and that therefore this deponent,with Daniel Ross, Esq. one of his Majesty's Justices, now present, taking this deposition, assisted in digging the grave of the said Mistress Hodge; that from the length of time, this deponent cannot now remember all the names of the negroes who have died in consequence of the cruelties of said Hodge, but knows the number to be great; and that sometimes three and four have thereby died in the course of a day and night.

That another slave, named Gift, belonging to said Hodge, was working in the field in the forenoon, being a man-boy, and in chains, in the month of in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and seven; that he had been severely cart-whipped before, and at that time was scarcely able to hold an hoe, and his wounds unhealed, when he was laid down in presence of this deponent by the driver, who said. he had orders from his master, said Hodge, so to do, and again most severely cart-whipped, and died that night, as this deponent is certain, in consequence of said cruelty.

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depone

That next morning he, this deponent, saw groes carrying his dead body uncovered on a 4 Ha

board to be buried, and saw that the body was dread fully cut up by the cart-whip.-That this boy had bee in good health, until he was cart-whipped and put in chains, and until then, had not complained of any in disposition; that on such occasions, no Doctor wa called in, but from time to time, when negroes in thi manner became missing, said Hodge desired him this deponent,to mark them on the list board as runaway

That during deponent's residence with said Hodge he sent down three mules to Baugher's Bay, and took the tiles belonging to the heirs of Bezaliel Hodge Esq. deceased; that when he, this deponent, saw the mules going down for said purpose, he brought tho mule-boys to an account, as to where they were going, but they would not tell him, whereupon he, this deponent, as he had some days before been informed by one of Mistress Georges' negroes, of said Hodge's intention, relative to said tiles, not thinking it right, sent them back; in consequence of which, one of said mule-boys went to said Hodge, and told him of their being sent back by deponent, that thereupon the said Hodge came down and quarrelled with this deponent for so interfering with the mule-boys, saying at the same time, that he was sending them to Mr. Hills' for tiles; in consequence of which, the mule-boys went and brought the old tiles from out of the old

house belonging to said heirs of said Hodge on said Baugher's-Bay, which this deponent saw them do, assisted by a watchman belonging to said heirs, named Matthew, by looking at them through a spy-glass, from the mule-pen on said Hodge's estate; that said tiles were brought up to said Hodge's estate, and that he saw them by order, and in presence of said Hodge, put on the Copper-Hole Shed, belonging to said. Hodge; that three mule loads of tiles were brought up that day, and enough afterwards to cover the whole of the said Copperhole Shed,or the greater part thereof. And further this deponent saith, that said Hodge, while he lived with him, would occasionally have the draft cattle belonging to the heirs of said Bezaliel Hodge taken out of the pen of said heirs at Baugher's Bay, before day, and would work them in carting su gar from his works to said Bay, and has made this deponent go to said Bay and tie the watchman belonging to said heirs, who was charged with the care of said cattle, and bring him up the hill to him, the said Arthur Hodge, when said Hodge, in this deponent's presence threatened said watchman to cart-whip him, if he heard he told of his, the said Hodge, so taking and using said cattle, and upon said watchman promisig said Hodge not to tell the same, that said Hodge, in this deponent's presence, has given said watchman cornmeal and herrings to keep him secret.

(Signed)

STEPHEN MKEOUGH.

Sworn to before us, his Majesty's Justices of the Peace for said Virgin-Islands, this 10th day of March, in the fifty-first year of his Majesty's reign; the said STEPHEN M'KEOUGH having first signed this, and the preceding eight pages in our presence.

(Scal.)

One Hundred Joes reward, by

the Hon. THOMAS THOMASSON, Esq. President of his Majesty's said VirginIslands, &c. &c. &c.

Whereas complaint, under oath, hath been made before several of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace, within and for the Virgin-Islands, aforesaid, accusing the Hon. Arthur Hodge, of the said island of Tortola, Esq. of the crime of Murder; And, whereas, exam

inations, under oath, taken before several of his Majesty's said Justices of the Peace in support of said accusations, have been exhibited.

And whereas a warrant founded upon said complaint, and examinations have been granted by several of his Majesty's said Justices of the Peace, for said Islands, directed to the Deputy Provost Marshal of the Virgin-Islands, or in his absence to his acting Deputy, and to each and every the Constables of the Virgin-Islands, aforesaid, commanding each and every of them forthwith to apprehend the said Arthur Hodge, and him to bring before any or either of his Majesty's said. Justices, to be on said complaint dealt with according to law.

And whereas the said Députy Provost Marshal of the said Virgin-Islands, being absent, hath by his acting Deputy, received said Warrant against the said Arthur Hodge, and by him hath certified that he hath made strict and diligent search and inquiry for the Said Arthur Hodge, in order to apprehend him by virtue of the Warrant aforesaid, but hath not been able to discover or find him, the said Arthur Hodge, and that he hath reason to suspect that the said Arthur Hodge is harboured and secreted by some person or persons in the Virgin-Islands, aforesaid :These are therefore, in his Majesty's name, to charge and require each and every, his Majesty's liege subjects, to be aiding and assisting (whenever thereunto