enerally of ten per cent, on slaves, probably proved
burdensome to the trade, although this was not intentional.[7] The
Biblical prohibition of slavery and the slave-trade, copied from New
England codes into the Duke of York's Laws, had no practical
application,[8] and the trade continued to be encouraged in the
governors' instructions. In 1709 a duty of L3 was laid on Negroes from
elsewhere than Africa.[9] This was aimed at West India slaves, and was
prohibitive. By 1716 the duty on all slaves was L1 121/2_s._, which was
probably a mere revenue figure.[10] In 1728 a duty of 40_s._ was laid,
to be continued until 1737.[11] It proved restrictive, however, and on
the "humble petition of the Merchants and Traders of the City of
Bristol" was disallowed in 1735, as "greatly prejudicial to the Trade
and Navigation of this Kingdom."[12] Governor Cosby was also reminded
that no duties on slaves payable by the importer were to be laid. Later,
in 1753, the 40_s._ duty was restored, but under the increased trade of
those days was not felt.[13] No further restrictions seem to have been
attempted until 1785, when the sale of slaves in the State was
forbidden.[14]

The chief element of restriction in this colony appears to have been the
shrewd business sense of the traders, who never flooded the slave
market, but kept a supply sufficient for the slowly growing demand.
Between 1701 and 1726 only about 2,375 slaves were imported, and in 1774
the total slave population amounted to 21,149.[15] No restriction was
ever put by New York on participation in the trade outside the colony,
and in spite of national laws New York merchants continued to be engaged
in this traffic even down to the Civil War.[16]

Vermont, who withdrew from New York in 1777, in her first
Constitution[17] declared slavery illegal, and in 1786 stopped by law
the sale and transportation of slaves within her boundaries.[18]

13. ~Restrictions in Pennsylvania and Delaware.~[19] One of the first
American protests against the slave-trade came from certain German
Friends, in 1688, at a Weekly Meeting held in Germantown, Pennsylvania.
"These are the reasons," wrote "Garret henderich, derick up de graeff,
Francis daniell Pastorius, and Abraham up Den graef," "why we are
against the traffick of men-body, as followeth: Is there any that would
be done or handled at this manner?... Now, tho they are black, we cannot
conceive there is more liberty to have them slaves, as it is