1788-May-13: Governor Parry of Barbados reported to Lord Sydney that the agitation surrounding the slave trade in England had produced a “visible ferment” am…

1788-May-13: Governor Parry of Barbados reported to Lord Sydney that the agitation surrounding the slave trade in England had produced a “visible ferment” among the island’s enslaved population. He observed that slaves were increasingly bold in their conversations and appeared to be better informed about political developments than in previous years. The Governor expressed concern that the flow of information through maritime channels was undermining the authority of masters. He emphasized that the “contagion” of liberty was spreading rapidly despite efforts to maintain a strict cordon of silence. This report underscored the porous nature of colonial borders in the face of shared information.