ction was taken. The planters were by no means discouraged
and again requested the Privy Council to consider the matter of
granting a free trade to Guinea.[27] Later the people of Barbadoes
once more represented to the king the inconceivable poverty caused by
the lack of free trade to Guinea and other places.[28] Some of the
Barbadoes assemblymen even suggested that all the merchants be
excluded from the island, and that an act be passed forbidding any one
to sue for a debt within four years.[29]

Finally, on May 12, 1669, in answer to the numerous complaints of
Barbadoes, the Privy Council informed the islanders that the king
would not infringe upon the charter granted to the African Company;
and that sufficient Negroes would be furnished to the planters at
reasonable prices providing the company was assured of payment.[30]
The company was pleased at the king's favorable decision and at once
represented to him its critical financial condition because the
planters refused to pay their just debts.[31] The complaint of the
company was considered in the Council September 28, 1669, at which
time an order was issued requiring that henceforth land as well as
chattel property in Barbadoes might be sold at public auction for the
satisfaction of debts. The governor was directed to see that this
order not only became a law in Barbadoes, but that after it had been
passed it was to be executed.[32]

Thus it became clear that the planters of Barbadoes could hope for no
relief from the king and, therefore, during the few remaining years in
which the company was in existence they made no other consistent
effort to convince the king of their point of view. On the other hand,
if the company expected the king's instructions to be of great
assistance it was sorely disappointed. On August 2, 1671, John Reid
reported that they had been unable to recover the company's debts,[33]
and further appeals to the king for relief were of no avail.[34]

It is difficult to ascertain whether Barbadoes was in as great need of
slaves as the planters often asserted. The records kept by the factors
in the island have nearly all disappeared. From an early ledger kept
by the Barbadoes factors it appears that from August 11, 1663, to
March 17, 1664, the usual time for the chief importation of the year,
3,075 Negroes were received by the company's factors. These slaves,
1,051 men, 1,018 women, 136 boys and 56 girls, were sold in return
partly for sugar and p