EVANGELICAL MAGAZINE.

JANUARY, 1811.

MEMOIR

OF

THE LATE HERMANUS HILBERTUS POST, Esq.

OF DEMARARA.

(In a Letter from the Rev. Mr. Wray to the Editor.)

Reverend Sir,

With great pleasure I comply with your desire, to give you some account of the life and death of our excellent friend Mr. Post. I have frequently heard him relate almost every circumstance of the former; ⚫ and in his last sickness, when I was seldom from his bed-side, he made me acquainted, I believe, with every secret thought of his heart. I often requested him to give me some account of his life in writing; but he used to say he had not time. However, as he knew I much wished it, he sometimes repeated on his death-bed what he had before related in the days of his health. Mrs. Post, and two respectable neighbouring planters, have also assisted me in communicating every needful information. One of them, Mr. Van Cooter, was his bosom friend for 30 years; and the other, Mr. Sample, was a very intimate acquaintance. To Mrs. Post and these two gentlemen, I have read the following sheets, which they approve, and believe to be perfectly correct: →→→

HERMANUS HILBERTUS POST, Esq. was born at Utrecht, in Holland, on the 26th of Dec. 1755. His parents were truly respectable, both in circumstances and character. His father was a Member of the Senate of that city for several years, was universally respected, and was eminent for his protection of, and kindness to, the lower class of people. He carried on an extensive sugar refinery, and some other business, in which he sustained severe losses, and failed. Honest to the utmost degree, he disposed of all he possessed in behalf of his creditors, resigned his office as a senator, and retired to a country-seat near Houdegyn. Sometime after, he went to live at Amerengen, and was made Chief Justice of that district.

Mr. Post's mother was a very devoted disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ for many years, and spent much time in reading,

meditation, and prayer. She was a peculiar comfort to her husband in his reduced circumstances. I have heard. Mr. Post say, he has heard her converse with his father a great part of the night, endeavouring to comfort his mind with the promises of the gospel.

Mr. Post had two brothers and three sisters. One of his brothers was educated for the bar, and the other for the church. The former died at the Cape of Good Hope, on his way to India; and the other obtained a living at Arnham, which he still occupies. The two youngest sisters are married to ministers in Holland; and the eldest to a very respectable and pious gentleman. This lady has been distinguished by her piety from her earliest years, and acquired much reputation by her writings. She took much pains in catechizing Mr. Post when he was a child, and was made very useful to him. He often spake of her with the greatest affection, and sometimes with tears in his eyes, as he did also of his mother. At the age of eight years, his mind appears to have been much affected by the love of Jesus Christ, and the things of eternity. I have frequently heard him say, that, when very young, he was often deeply impressed by the application of sermons, though he attended but little to the illustration of the subjects. About 14, he was taken from the Latin School, and went to reside with his parents at Houdegyn, where he amused himself, in his leisure hours, by gardening and fishing. He was afterwards placed at Utrecht, in a counting-house; but did not like his employment. He used to say, his proud heart would not submit to such engagements, after being accustomed to wear a sword by his side, and to associate with the most respectable people of the city. Being fond of reading history and travels, he acquired a desire, when a child, to go either to the East or West Indies; and now he determined to do so the first opportunity. He soon obtained letters of recommendation to persons of distinction in Demas rara, and arrived in this colony in the year 1774.

"Full of life and activity, and anxious to put himself forward, in order to assist his parents,' says his friend,' he soon became manager of an estate, which was begun new out of the Bush, on the west point of the river Demarára; and, about two years after, he obtained his own land, on the east sea-coast, by the help of a friend; in the remembrance of whom, he called his estate Le Resouvenir. From the revenue of this, he soon began to assist his beloved parents, and eontinued to do so until their death; and then continued the same help to his sisters."

His genius and activity as a planter are well known in Demarara. His estate is one of the best and largest on the east coast, and is admired by all who visit it, for its neatness, order, and.cultivation, as well as for the convenience of its

buildings, sluices, and trenches, which are the effects of hist own ingenuity and diligence; for he was his own manager, carpenter, and mason.

When he obtained the land, about ten acres were enclosed from the water, but none of it was cultivated. He began with thirteen negroes, one old woman of whom was blind: four are yet living. They made the trenches, and he pared the sides. About 4 o'clock in the afternoon, the negroes used to cover themselves all over with clay, to keep the musquitoes from biting them; and it was impossible to keep them at work any longer. Mr. Post used to sleep in an open hut, in a hammock, and was obliged to have a fire by him a great part of the night, to smoke out the musquitoes. His estate was the seventh which was begun on the coast. It is 2,200 roods long, and 100 broad, Rynland measure. It contains 700 acres, 295 of which are planted with cotton, $75 with coffee, and 100 with cocoa and provisions. There are at present 375 negroes. The house and buildings stand about one mile from the sea-side, and eight from Stabroek, in a very healthy and pleasant situation. From the top of the house, we have a fine view of the ships that pass. A green path leads up to the buildings from the public road, Formerly, tamarind-trees stood on each side; but, on account of their decay, they have been cut down since Mr. Post's death, and mountain-cabbage planted in their stead. Behind the house a canal is cut to the back dam, which brings fresh water to the buildings; by which also the negroes bring down their plantains in a boat, which greatly diminishes their labour. For a considerable distance, orange-trees grow on each side of the canal. Every thing is neat, pleasant, and convenient throughout the whole

estate.

As a master, Mr, Post had the character of being severe; and some have pretended that he introduced the gospel to atone for his severity; but a very respectab:e planter, who has known him many years, declares that he never knew him inflict severe punishment; and that he never had any runaway negroes, except two or three who were notoriously bad. He did not punish but when absolutely necessary; and I have frequently seen him much affected when his manager, or overseer, has inflicted punishment. Sometimes he would send to know the cause, and would say to me, I can punish them myself, but I cannot bear to hear them punished by others, though I know it is sometimes necessary. Nothing would cause tim sooner to dismiss a white servant, than undue severity with the negroes. He was kind to them at all times, especially when they were sick. Then they had wine and soup, or whatever his house or table could afford. He also paid them his own personal visits. The greatest attention was also given to them

by Mrs. Post, whether by night or day. Mr. Post indeed obliged them to work; and in this he set then an example; for he was undoubtedly one of the most laborious planters in the colony. It is true that Mr. Post was somewhat hasty in his temper; but he did not suffer it to overcome him so as even to induce him to inflict severe punishment.

In his dealings with others he was honest, upright, and faithful to all his engagements. His word, among those who were acquainted with him, was as good as his bond. None disputed what Mr. Post said, if it were in his power to fulfil it; and he was careful not to promise more. Dishonesty and imposition appeared to have no place in him; but he was easily imposed on by others; and, in two or three instances, he suffered greatly on account of this.

For benevolence and humanity he was eminent. He was a father to the fatherless, and took care of many poor children, who were not able to take care of themselves. He not only brought them up in his house, and provided food and raiment for them, but also gave them an education useful both for time and eternity. For several years he kept a schoolmaster on his estate, to instruct them; who also, on the Sabbath morning, read the Liturgy of the Church of England to them, and to any of his domestics who would attend. He likewise instructed them himself. Often have I heard him catechize and speak to them in the most affectionate manner; and joy appeared to fill his soul when they attended to his fatherly instruction nor was he backward to reward those who did well. At my arrival he had no less than eight or nine orphans, or children as destitute as orphans, under his roof and paternal care, and who still continue with his widow. Many who formerly were as olive-branches around their table, have now tables of their own; and several have been removed to the eternal world.

Mr. Post was not only a father to the fatherless, but a protector and supporter of the widow,-the guide of her who had lost the guide of her youth. He advised her in all her affairs, and assisted in the management of them. Indeed, he was kind to all who stood in need of, and applied to him for help, in whatever station or circumstances of life he found them, whether bond or free. Thus, like Job, he delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon him; and he caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.'

Among the many acts of benevolence which Mr. Post per formed, his character stands deservedly high for one which tended much to the public good. Froni March 1803, to July 1804, there was scarcely any rain in the colony; and numbers of people were dying for want of water. Mr. Post went into

the Bush, with 150 negroes (some of whom were sent from other estates) and carried a small canal, which he had for merly begun, five miles and a half farther into the interior than the cultivation of his estate, to bring fresh water down to the coast; which was the happy means of saving hundreds of negroes, and a great number of cattle. He also placed a puncheon of water on the side of the public road, and a boy. or two, to supply the people who passed, with water for their horses. The negroes, I am told, came five or six miles each way for water; and cattle were supplied from almost every neighbouring estate. He was four days and four nights in the Bush, and slept in a hammock suspended on two stakes, and the negroes on the swamp, sometimes with a part of their bodies in the water. For this act of benevolence he will long be remembered and highly beloved by numbers of people of every colour; hence, the people call him The God of Courabannat. In dry seasons, the negroes from many estates are supplied with fresh water from Le Resouvenir. In the evening, when they come to the meeting, many of them bring their jugs with them, and so take them full of water when they return. Many also come to wash their clothes. Much cattle as likewise supplied with water.

Many other acts of benevolence might be mentioned; for he was always ready to assist his neighbours, and sometimes even to his own disadvantage. In assisting one neighbour to repair his back dam, which was much injured by the heavy rains, and the water from the Bush, he undoubtedly shortened his life. He, and many of his negroes, wrought very late at it one night, and resumed their labours at half past three the next morning; continuing in the rain and cold till ten o'clock. He was not an idle spectator, but the principal person in carrying on the work and directing the people; and, by his superior skill, was the means of saving the estate from ruin. The gentleman knew not how to be thankful enough to him, and offered him any remuneration in his power; but Mr. Post replied, that all the reward he desired was, that he would permit his negroes to attend the preaching of the gos pei; which he promised to do. From the fatigue and badness of the weather, he was soon after confined, for a time, to his

room.

Plantains were also extremely scarce at this time. If it had not been for the Americans, the country must have perished; but, after all, num. bers died for want of food and water. One gentleman, with whom I am acquainted, lost 50 on one estate; and I am certain his would not have perished, had it been possible to prevent it: I have heard a gentleman say, who had 2000 negroes under his care, that he never could procure more provisions at once than would last ten or twelve days.

+ An Indian name for a Creek.