REGISTRY OF SLAVES.
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they also evaded the slave trade abolition laws, by smuggling negroes into these islands. To confute these reports, the Antiguans thought it best to introduce a registry of slaves, to be filled up at certain periods, with the name, sex, colour, and age of every slave, and how they were become possessed of. This registry was to be sworn to before a justice of the peace, by the proprietor or his representative ; and if any person omitted making such return of their slaves, they were liable to a penalty of 200/. for every slave. During the temporary absence of his excellency MajorGeneral Ramsay, T. Norbury Kerby, Esq., the treasurer of the island, held the government. It was thought proper, about this period, (1817,) to restrict the existing privilege of exporting slaves, and make it punishable to sell or send a slave off the island. If any slaves were thus exported, they became forfeited to the king, as well as the vessel which was to convey them away, and any officers of H.M. Customs could seize such ship and slaves. This did not, however, prevent any owner from carrying their domestic slaves off the island with them, or from hiring or employing their sla'ves as mariners ; but they were to have their name and description indorsed on the clearance of the vessel which carried them away, under penalty of 100/., to both owner of slave and the master of the vessel. In concluding this chapter, I must be allowed to remark, that, let Antigua be what she may, since she has seen her error, she has never withheld manumission from her slaves ; and, as we have just noticed, was the first among the West Indian Islands which endeavoured to spare that class the further pang of transportation.