Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1853-12-10
THE SLAVE TRADE IN NEW YORK CITY

ANOTHER species Of maritime adventure, then en-
gagged in by several Of our most respectable iner-
chants and capitalists was the Slave Trade. Slaves
had been held in this City from the earliest period
of the Dutch settlement aud it is said that the first
importation of negroes in America was Ly Dutch
vessel which brought them from the African coast
and sold them in Virginia. This trade wa hcli-
tated by the Dutch possessions on the coast OF uu
nea. where they easily procured from the AM
can kings for small consideration. THIS trade. IN
the time Of the Dutch appears to have been carried
ON by transient traders and to have constituted 40
mart of tho business Of resident inhabitants Of this
CITY The visits Of slave ships, however, in search
Of q market were of frequent occurrence from an
early period, aud many Of the inhabitants were III
this manner provided with domestic servants aud
farm lnLourcrs The Guinea negroes when first inn
ported were Of less value than those bonn IN this
country from the risks attending accUmauon and
hc necessity Of tutoring them in the language and
customs of the country. And not unircqucntly theh
first change from the confined quarter Ci II slave
shin TO the novel of their new homes were ol
fatal effect upon their health. In 1860, the cargo
of the white Horse was sold in this City, and the
stock of negroes being sold as action several were
I found to have been infected with some fatal disor
der The first instance observed OF this character
was that Of girl bought by Nicholas Boot. While
being led home along the road, ON the shore Of th'
East River, she fell opposite Litschcos tavern cry
\ ing "Ariba;" she was taken up, ana proceeding
few PAGES further aganfell, her eyes being fixed II
her head Her owner coming up asked what wa
the matter? Upon which she cried "moa, moa :
some of the by-standers said "she is drunk. it vii
soon pass away she is sOu7d at heart. At tho
I CITY cate she was put in wagon and taken to hei
masters house. but died in the evening.
la after years as has been stated, the slave traffic
becqme prominent branch of the shipping trade
out Of this port. Tie journal of young man aitor-
ward mayor of this City), sent cut rs supcrcargo
aud agent of merchants in this City, is interesting
/ from its details Of Tic manner Of conducting this
traffic. as well as the mshaps to this particular ad-
venture.
! The Slave Trade being legitimate pursuit, and
followed as n regular branch of foreign trade ioi
many wears both previous and subsequent to the
period now referred to, was exceedingly proh'able,
though somewhat hazardous owing to practical adj
vcnturers who followed them into their remote trad
ing places ard often robbed them OF their stores ana
money used in the purchase OF the negroes me
practice became so great pest to the mercantile
interests that efforts were made by influential NOR
chants If New York TO induce the English ministry
TO assist them in fitting out cruising vessel, pro-
perly armed, toact against the pirates Col Robert
/ Livingston, of New York, an active ana lhhuenilal
citizen, brought this matter before the Englsh uo-
ycrmcnt and introduce Cn0tan William Kidd, oi
| New York as an efficient and well known command
cr whose fitness for such service was well under
stood in New York. lie was man of family, and
/ had resided u this City for several years. IL was
pronOsed to engage in this enterprise ON the ioothg
of pryate adventure, although it was also deslra-
bic, for some purposes, that the scheme should re-
ccyc the official countcnance Of the Government.
I The King. Lord Somers the, Earl Of Romncy, the
Duke of Shrcwsburgh, the larl Of Oxford aud Lord
Bcllamont, joined in making up the necessary ex-
pcnse of proper vessel Col Livingston al so con
tribut;ng proportion The profits were to be di-
yided among the owners Of the ship, allowing q
liberal share To Kidd A commission was issued
December | 1895, under the great seal OF England,
directed 'to the trusty and wcll-devclopod Captain
William Kidd, commander of the ship Adventure
Galley" lie set sail from Plymouth in April, 1896
= and arrived on the American coast, where he con
tinucd for somo time. occasionally entering the har-
0 bour of New York, and visiting his family IN tho
|, civ. He was considered useful in protecting ouI
commerce, for which he received much applause
and the Assembly of the Province voted him the sun
a oftwo hundred and fifty pounds as complimentary
return for his services Valentines Historyct Ne"
/ York CHY