[204] Watson, _Annals_, II, 262. "An Exhortation and Caution To Friends Concerning buying or keeping of Negroes," in _Pa. Mag._, XIII, 265-270. This is said to have been the first printed protest against slavery in America. _Cf._ Hildeburn, _A Century of Printing_, etc., I, 28, 29; Gabriel Thomas, _Account_, 53; Bettle, _Notes_, 367. [205] Clarkson, _Life of Penn_, II, 78, 79. [206] _Cf._ Bettle, 372. [207] _Ibid._, 373. [208] _Ibid._, 377. [209] "Whereas several Papers have been read relating to the keeping and bringing in of Negroes ... it is the advice of this Meeting, that Friends be careful not to encourage the bringing in of any more Negroes" ... MS. "Negroes or Slaves," Yearly Meeting Advices, 1682-1777 (1696). "This meeting is also dissatisfied with Friends buying and incouriging the bringing in of Negroes" ... MS. Chester Quarterly Meeting Minutes, 6 6th mo., 1711. "There having a conscern Come upon severall friends belonging to this meeting Conscerning the Importation of Negros ... after some time spent in the Consideration thereof it is the Unanimous sence of this meeting that friends should not be concerned hereafter in the Importation thereof nor buy any" ... MS. Chester Monthly Meeting Minutes, 27 4th mo., 1715. MS. Chester Quarterly Meeting Minutes, 1 6th mo., 1715. "This meeting have been for some time under a Concern by reason of the great Quantity of Negros fetched and imported into this Country." _Ibid._, 11 6th mo., 1729. MS. Yearly Meeting Minutes, 19-23 7th mo., 1730. As soon as Friends had been brought to cease the importation of negroes, attack was made upon the practice of Friends buying negroes imported by others. _Cf._ MS. Chester Q. M. M., 11 6th mo., 1729; 9 9th mo., 1730. The MS. Chester M. M. M. mention 100 books on the slave-trade for circulation. [210] "We also kindly received your advice about negro slaves, and we are one with you, that the multiplying of them, may be of a dangerous consequence, and therefore a Law was made in Pennsylvania laying Twenty pounds Duty upon every one imported there, which Law the Queen was pleas'd to disanull, we would heartily wish that a way might be found to stop the bringing in more here, or at least that Friends may be less concerned in buying or selling, of any that may be brought in, and hope for your assistance with the Government if any farther Law should be made discouraging the importation. We know not of any Friend amongst us that has any hand or concern in bringing any out of their own Country." MS. Yearly M. M., 22 7th mo., 1714. This was written in reply to the London Yearly Meeting, and alludes to the act passed in 1712. See above, p. 3.