of so great weight,” the “Board of Trade” felt that it was “absolutely necessary that a trade so beneficial to the kingdom should be carried on to the greatest advantage.”  England never gave out a more cruel document than the above circular letter.  To read it now, under the glaring light of the nineteenth century, will almost cause the English-speaking people of the world to doubt even “the truth of history.”  Slavery did not exist at sufferance.  It was a crime against the weak, ignorant, and degraded children of Africa, systematically perpetrated by an organized Christian government, backed by an army that grasped the farthest bounds of civilization, and a navy that overshadowed the oceans.

The reply of the governor of Rhode Island was not as encouraging as their lordships could have wished.

     GOVERNOR CRANSTON’S REPLY.

     “May it please your Lordships:  In obedience to your
     Lordships’ commands of the 15th of April last, to the trade
     of Africa.

“We, having inspected into the books of Her Majesty’s custom, and informed ourselves from the proper officers thereof, by strict inquiry, can lay before your Lordships no other account of that trade than the following, viz: 

“1.  That from the 24th of June, 1698, to the 25th of December, 1707, we have not had any negroes imported into this colony from the coast of Africa, neither on the account of the Royal African Company, or by any of the separate traders.

“2.  That on the 30th day of May, 1696, arrived at this port from the coast of Africa, the brigantine Seaflower, Thomas Windsor, master, having on board her forty-seven negroes, fourteen of which he disposed of in this colony, for betwixt L30 and L35 per head; the rest he transported by land for Boston, where his owners lived.

“3.  That on the 10th of August, the 19th and 28th of October, in the year 1700, sailed from this port three vessels, directly for the coast of Africa; the two former were sloops, the one commanded by Nicho’s Hillgroue, the other by Jacob Bill; the last a ship, commanded by Edwin Carter, who was part owner of the said three vessels, in company with Thomas Bruster, and John Bates, merchants, of Barbadoes, and separate traders from thence to the coast of Africa; the said three vessels arriving safe to Barbadoes from the coast of Africa, where they made the disposition of their negroes.

     “4.  That we have never had any vessels from the coast of
     Africa to this colony, nor any trade there, the brigantine
     above mentioned, excepted.

“5.  That the whole and only supply of negroes to this colony, is from the island of Barbadoes; from whence is imported one year with another, betwixt twenty and thirty; and if those arrive well and sound, the general price is from L30 to L40 per head.

“According to your Lordships’