_, IV. 131-5, 138, 143, 191-3.

[38] _R.I. Col. Rec._, IV. 471.

[39] Arnold, _History of Rhode Island_, II. 304, 321, 337. For
a probable copy of the bill, see _Narragansett Historical
Register_, II. 299.

[40] A man dying intestate left slaves, who became thus the
property of the city; they were freed, and the town made the
above resolve, May 17, 1774, in town meeting: Staples, _Annals
of Providence_ (1843), p. 236.

[41] _R.I. Col. Rec._, VII. 251-2.

[42] _Bartlett's Index_, p. 329; Arnold, _History of Rhode
Island_, II. 444; _R.I. Col. Rec._, VIII. 618.

[43] _R.I. Col. Rec._, X. 7-8; Arnold, _History of Rhode
Island_, II. 506.

[44] _Bartlett's Index_, p. 333; _Narragansett Historical
Register_, II. 298-9. The number of slaves in Rhode Island has
been estimated as follows:--

In 1708, 426. _R.I. Col. Rec._, IV. 59.
" 1730, 1,648. _R.I. Hist. Tracts_, No. 19, pt. 2, p. 99.
" 1749, 3,077. Williams, _History of the Negro Race in America_,
I. 281.
" 1756, 4,697. _Ibid._
" 1774, 3,761. _R.I. Col. Rec._, VII. 253.

[45] Fowler, _Local Law_, etc., p. 124.

[46] The number of slaves in Connecticut has been estimated as
follows:--

In 1680, 30. _Conn. Col. Rec._, III. 298.
" 1730, 700. Williams, _History of the Negro Race in America_,
I. 259.
" 1756, 3,636. Fowler, _Local Law_, etc., p. 140.
" 1762, 4,590. Williams, _History of the Negro Race in America_,
I. 260.
" 1774, 6,562. Fowler, _Local Law_, etc., p. 140.
" 1782, 6,281. Fowler, _Local Law_, etc., p. 140.
" 1800, 5,281. _Ibid._, p. 141.

[47] _Conn. Col. Rec._, XIV 329. Fowler (pp. 125-6) says that
the law was passed in 1769, as does Sanford (p. 252). I find
no proof of this. There was in Connecticut the same Biblical
legislation on the trade as in Massachusetts. Cf. _Laws of
Connecticut_ (repr. 1865), p. 9; also _Col. Rec._, I. 77. For
general duty acts, see _Col. Rec._, V 405; VIII. 22; IX. 283;
XIII. 72, 125.

[48] _Acts and Laws of Connecticut_ (ed. 1784), pp. 233-4.

[49] _Ibid._, pp. 368, 369, 388.

* * * * *

_Chapter V_

THE PERIOD OF THE REVOLUTION. 1774-1787.

23. The Situation in 1774.
2