The second cause for levying duties on Indians and other slaves was to obtain revenue. Virginia in its legislation on the subject had pretended at least that such was its purpose, and to carry out the pretense had devoted the amounts thus obtained to meeting colonial expenses.[855] Other colonies sought directly for revenue.[856] New York was a striking example of such colonies. Import duties formed a chief source of the colonial revenue, and slaves were enumerated among the other commodities. The act of May 1, 1702, the first specifically to mention Indian slaves, placed a duty of fifteen shillings on every negro or Indian slave imported into the colony directly from their place of residence, and thirty shillings upon every negro or Indian slave not so imported.[857] The act which was to continue but two years was found to be “of great use in this colony” and was accordingly repeated on August 4, 1705, to continue seven years.[858] On June 24, 1719, it was again repeated to remain in effect from July 1, 1720, to July 1, 1726.[859] Still other acts imposing similar duties were passed as follows: in 1709, levying a duty of £3 on every negro imported into the colony not directly from Africa and £3 on every other slave or slaves not directly imported into the colony from Africa, the act to continue till May 1, 1711;[860] on June 21, 1714, levying “a duty of ten ounces of good plate” to be paid by the master or commander of any vessel, or any other person importing slaves;[861] and on September 1, 1716, levying a duty of “ten ounces of good plate” on each negro, Indian or mulatto slave imported into the colony from Africa in any vessel not wholly owned by the people of the colony, and a like duty on every negro, Indian or mulatto slave imported into the colony from any part of the West Indies or any of the neighboring colonies, negroes or other slaves going to and fro on their owners’ business excepted.[862] On October 16, 1718, furthermore, it was decreed that no greater duty was to be demanded on any slave brought into the colony directly from Africa by a ship of Great Britain, than was to be demanded from vessels wholly owned by inhabitants of the colony.[863] In June 17, 1726, on every Indian, negro or mulatto slave (male or female) of four years of age or upwards imported by land or water from all places other than Africa, a duty of £4 was laid.[864] On October 14, 1732, a similar duty, regardless of the place from which the slave was imported, was laid.[865] On November 28, 1734, on every negro, Indian or mulatto slave above the age of fourteen and under the age of fifty, during the period of ten years, the duty was fixed at “the quantity of two pennyweight and twelve grains of Sivil pillar or Mexican plate, or the sum of one shilling in Bills of Credit made current in this colony.”[866] On December 16, 1737, finally, every negro, Indian or mulatto slave above the age of four years imported directly from