ibition did
not prohibit. It was a carefully drawn bill for those days.

The diligence of the public officers in the seaport town of Newport
was richly rewarded. The slave-trade now had the sanction and
regulation of colonial law. The demand for Negro laborers was not
affected in the least, while traders did not turn aside on account of
three pounds per head tax upon every slave sold into Rhode Island. On
the 5th of July, 1715, the General Assembly appropriated a portion of
the fund derived from the impost-tax on imported Negroes to repairing
the streets; and then strengthened and amplified the original law on
impost-duties, etc. The following is the Act:--

"This Assembly, taking into consideration that Newport is
the metropolitan town in this colony, and that all the
courts of judicature within this colony are held there; and
also, that it is the chief market town in the government;
and that it hath very miry streets, especially that leading
from the ferry, or landing place, up to the colony house, so
that the members of the courts are very much discommoded
therewith, and is a great hindrance to the transporting of
provisions, &c., in and out of the said towns, to the great
loss of the inhabitants thereof:--

"Therefore, be it enacted by this present Assembly, and by
the authority thereof it is enacted, that the sum of L289
17s. 3d., now lying in the naval officer's hand, (being
duties paid to this colony for importing of slaves), shall
be, and is hereby granted to the town of Newport, towards
paving the streets of Newport, from the ferry place, up to
the colony house, in said Newport; to be improved by their
directors, such as they shall, at their quarter meetings
appoint for the same.

"And whereas, there was an act of Assembly, made at Newport
in the year 1701-2, for the better preventing of fraud, and
cozen, in paying the duties for importing of negro and
Indian slaves into this colony, and the same being found in
some clauses deficient, for the effecting of the full intent
and purpose thereof:--

"Therefore, it is hereby enacted by the authority aforesaid,
that every master of ship, or vessel, merchant or other
person or persons, importing or bringing into this colony
any negro slave or slaves of what age soever, shall enter
their number, names, and sex in t