The Journal of Negro History, Volume 4, 1919Various
History
The Journal of Negro History, Volume 4, 1919
Various
African Americans -- Periodicals
the company's desires.[15] Willoughby accused the factors of having
reported the case falsely and of having affronted him grossly by
taking the vessel in question away from the island by stealth.
Moreover, he declared that he would have made them understand his
point of view "if they had not been employed by soe Royall a
Compagnie."[16]
Since Willoughby persistently neglected to send Pepperell's bail bonds
to England, the Royal Company finally reported the matter again to the
king.[17] Once more the case was heard in the Privy Council where it
was referred to the committee on trade and plantations.[18] On January
31, 1668, the Privy Council issued an order to Governor Willoughby,
brother of the former incumbent, commanding him to stop all
proceedings against the Royal Company and commanding him to send
everything in regard to the case to England without delay.[19] Lord
Willoughby replied that so far as he could ascertain all the records
had been sent to England and that if any others were found he would
also despatch them.[20] Thus ended this contest in regard to the
maintenance of the company's privileges. The king had not allowed his
royal prerogative to be interfered with and the company's charter was
regarded as intact. Theoretically the victory was all in favor of the
company, but on account of the losses which it was incurring in the
Anglo-Dutch war, it was impossible for the company to furnish a
sufficient supply of Negroes to Barbadoes, that is, if Lord
Willoughby's heated protests can be trusted.
Speaking of the general prohibitions on their trade, the governor
exclaimed, May 12, 1666, that he had "come to where itt pinches, and
if yor Maty gives not an ample & speedy redress, you have not onely
lost St. Christophers but you will lose the rest, I (aye) & famous
Barbadoes, too, I feare." In bitter terms he spoke of the poverty of
the island, protesting that anyone who had recommended the various
restraints on the colony's trade was "more a merchant than a good
subject." The restriction on the trade to Guinea, he declared, was one
of the things that had brought Barbadoes to its present condition; and
the favoritism displayed toward the Royal Company in carrying on the
Negro trade with the Spaniards had entirely deprived the colonial
government of an export duty on slaves.[21]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account