slave-pens on the coast of Africa. But whether the American colonies virtuously struggled to resist and suppress the slave-traflic during those years is another matter entirely.
To begin with the facts in the matter, we find that in New York in 1709 a tariff duty of £3 per head was laid on all negroes imported from any other place than an African port, and this is said to have been prohibitive.
In connection with this take the letter of the Earl of Bellemont to the Lords of Trade:
"I should advise the sending for negroes to Guinea, which I understand are bought there and brought hither, all charges whatever being bourne, for £10 a piece, New York money. . . . If it were practical for the King to be the merchant and that the whole management of this undertaking were upon his account, were it so, there would be profit of at least £50 per cent.' (Vol. IV. Col. Doc.)
The tax was laid to promote a direct trade. In 1716 a tariff then imposed was explained by Governor Hunter. (Vol. V., N. Y. Col. Doc.)
"The duties laid on negroes from ye other colonies are intended to encourage their own shipping and discourage their importing of refuse and sickly negroes here from other colonies, which they commonly do."
The fact is that while New York State eventually abolished slavery, it never put so much as a spray of sea-weed under the bows of slave-ships owned by her citizens.
In Rhode Island, as early as 1708, a tax of £3 per head was laid on all negroes imported. This tax has been called a restraint on the trade and it has been quoted to show that the Rhode Islanders even thus
