A Supplemental Act to the Act intituled, An Act for laying a Duty on new Negroes and other Slaves imported this Island.

WHEREAS some Persons in this Island, intending to defeat the Publick of the Duty arising by virtue of the before mentioned Act, have, after the Arrival of Ships and other Vessels at this Island with Negroes and other Slaves, contracted for, or bought great Numbers of such Negroes, and them have removed on board of other Vessels, and exported them to other Places, without landing them in this Island; by which Means they have evaded the Payment of such Duty, against the true Intent and Meaning of the before mentioned Law: Be it therefore enacted by his Excellency Robert Lowther Esq; Captain General and Governor in Chief of this and other the Charibbee Islands, lying and being to Windward of Guardeloupe, &c. the Honourable the Members of His Majesty’s Council, and the General Assembly of this Island, and by the Authority of the same, That no Negroes or other Slaves whatsoever, which shall for the future be once imported this Island, shall be exempted from paying the Duty of Five Shillings a Head; but such only which shall be within Forty eight Hours exported in the same Ship or Vessel wherein they were brought and imported; and even in that case before any such Ship or other Vessel, exporting any Negroes or other Slaves, shall be permitted to clear from this Island, without paying the Duty aforesaid, the master or Commander of such Ship or other Vessel, Super Cargo, or Merchant, shall make Oath before the Treasurer of this Island for the time being (which he is hereby impowered and required to administer) that no Person whatsoever, since his Arrival at this Island, hath purchased any of the Negroes or other Slaves intended to be so exported; and that no Contract or Agreement, either Verbal or in Writing, made or entred into with any Person whatsoever in this Island, for or concerning the Sale or Delivery of the said Negroes, or any of them, to any Person or Persons whatsoever, at any other Place or Places whatsoever; but that the said Negroes and other Slaves, and every of them, are truly and bona fide exported on the proper Account and Risque of the first Consignor or Consignors, and for his or their only Use, Benefit, and Advantage. 

Pass’d the 7th Day of February, 1715.