yland since 1763_: 1771, ch. 7. Cf. _Ibid._:
1777, sess. Feb.-Apr., ch. 18.

[40] _Ibid._: 1783, sess. Apr.-June, ch. 23.

[41] "The last importation of slaves into Maryland was, as I
am credibly informed, in the year 1769": William Eddis,
_Letters from America_ (London, 1792), p. 65, note.

The number of slaves in Maryland has been estimated as follows:--

In 1704, 4,475. _Doc. rel. Col. Hist. New York_, V. 605.
" 1710, 7,935. _Ibid._
" 1712, 8,330. Scharf, _History of Maryland_, I. 377.
" 1719, 25,000. _Doc. rel. Col. Hist. New York_, V. 605.
" 1748, 36,000. McMahon, _History of Maryland_, I. 313.
" 1755, 46,356. _Gentleman's Magazine_, XXXIV. 261.
" 1756, 46,225. McMahon, _History of Maryland_, I. 313.
" 1761, 49,675. Dexter, _Colonial Population_, p. 21, note.
" 1782, 83,362. _Encyclopaedia Britannica_ (9th ed.), XV. 603.
" 1787, 80,000. Dexter, _Colonial Population_, p. 21, note.

* * * * *

_Chapter III_

THE FARMING COLONIES.

10. Character of these Colonies.
11. The Dutch Slave-Trade.
12. Restrictions in New York.
13. Restrictions in Pennsylvania and Delaware.
14. Restrictions in New Jersey.
15. General Character of these Restrictions.

10. ~Character of these Colonies.~ The colonies of this group, occupying
the central portion of the English possessions, comprise those
communities where, on account of climate, physical characteristics, and
circumstances of settlement, slavery as an institution found but a
narrow field for development. The climate was generally rather cool for
the newly imported slaves, the soil was best suited to crops to which
slave labor was poorly adapted, and the training and habits of the great
body of settlers offered little chance for the growth of a slave system.
These conditions varied, of course, in different colonies; but the
general statement applies to all. These communities of small farmers and
traders derived whatever opposition they had to the slave-trade from
three sorts of motives,--economic, political, and moral. First, the
importation of slaves did not pay, except to supply a moderate demand
for household servants. Secondly, these colonies, as well as those in
the South, had a wholesome political fear of a large servile population.
Thirdly, the settlers o