with servants ; of these some are English and others
negroes."

These are all the facts which I have been able to collect
respecting negroes, in the early days of New-England.
From thence it appears that slavery did exist in a small
proportion ; that the laws discouraged it, and that the
public sentiment was against it ; but that the evil was not
eradicated.

No other slaves were known here in those days, excepting
some of the aboriginals of the country ; who had, at various
times, submitted themselves to the government, and received
its protection ; and had enjoyed in a degree the benefits of
civilization, and of evangelical missions, so that they were
denominated "praying Indians." Of these, some did, in
1675, 6 and 7, join with other natives in a war against the
colonies, commonly called king Phillip's war. Such as
were taken in arms, were adjudged guilty of rebellion. A
few of them were put to death, by a judicial sentence ; but
the greater part were sold into slavery in foreign countries.
Some of these latter found their way home, and joined with
the hostile Indians, in a severe revenge on the English, in a
succeeding war. (See Hist. N. Hampshire, vol. 1. p. 245.)

Query 2. Whether the African trade was carried on
thither ? at what period it commenced ? to what extent
it was carried on ? when it began to decline ? and when it
was wholly discontinued ?

The African trade never was prosecuted in any great
degree by the merchants of Massachusetts. No records or
memorials are remaining by which any thing respecting it,
in the last century, can be known. There was a connexion
in trade between this colony and that of Barbadoes, which
was begun about the same time ; and some families went
from hence to settle there. It is therefore probable that
negroes might have been introduced here by means of that
connexion.

In 1703, a duty of £.4 was laid on every negro imported ;
for the payment of which, both the vessel and master were
answerable. How long this duty was exacted, I know not.

By the inquiries which I have made of our oldest mer-
chants now living, I cannot find that more than three ships
in a year, belonging to this port, were ever employed in the