ago; these were almost all wholly Children. At
Rhode-
island the rum distillery & the African trade were
prosecuted to a greater extent than in
Boston; &
I believe no Sea port in
Massts except
Boston had
any concern in the Slave business. Sometimes
the
Rhode island vessels after having sold
their prime Slaves in the W. Indies brought the remainders
of their Cargo hither for sale.
(In 1703 a duty of £ 4 was laid, by Law on every
negro imported, for the payment of which both the
Master & Vessel were answerable)
[Citation in left margin: Winthrop's Letter.] How long this
duty
contind I know not.
About the time of the Stampact in 1765, 6 & 7, this
trade began to decline, & in 1788 it was prohibited
by an express Law This could not have been done previous to the
Revolution, as the Governors sent hither from Engld, it is sd, were
instructed not to consent to any acts made for that purpose. -- the
Causes will be more par-
ticularly explained in the answer to the Queries
under the the 3d & 5th articles.