were anſwerable. A penalty of double the amount of the duty on each one omitted was impoſed for refuſal or neglect to make the preſcribed entry of "Number, Names, and Sex, in the Impoſt Office." A drawback was allowed upon exportation, and the like advantage was allowed to the purchaſer of any Negro ſold within the Province, in caſe of the death of his Negro within six weeks after importation or bringing into the Province.
Mr. Drake ſays that, in 1727, "the traffic in ſlaves appears to have been more an object in Boſton than at any period before or ſince." Hiſt. of Boſton, 574, and in the following year (1728) an additional "Act more effectually to ſecure the Duty on the Importation of Negroes" was paſſed, by which more ſtringent regulations were adopted to prevent the smuggling of ſuch property into the Province, and the drawback was allowed on all negroes dying within twelve months.
This act expired by its own limitation in 1735, but another of a ſimilar character was paſſed in 1739, which recogniſed the old law of 1705 as being ſtill in force.[1] It reduced the time for the drawback on the death of negroes to ſix months after importation.
Free Negroes not being allowed to train in the
- ↑ "Dec. 7, 1737 Col. Royal petitions the General Court, that, having lately arrived from Antigua, he has with him ſeveral ſlaves for his own uſe, and not to ſell, and therefore prays that the duty on them be remitted. The duty was £4 a-head. This petition was laid on the table, and reſts there yet." Brooks's Medford, 435. The act of 1739 was for ten years, and therefore expired in 1749. We have found no repeal of the old law, but the proceedings concerning the act propoſed in 1767 would ſeem to ſhow all the old acts of Impoſt to be expired or obſolete.
