The Diſadvantages the Portugueze are under for purchaſing Slaves, are theſe, that they have very few proper Commodities for Guiney, and the Gold, which was their chiefeſt, by an Edict in July 1722, ſtands now prohibited from being carried thither, ſo that the Ships employed therein are few, and inſufficient for the great Mortality and Call of their Mines; beſides, ſhould they venture at breaking ſo deſtructive a Law, as the abovementioned (as no doubt they do, or they could make little or no Purchace) yet Gold does not raiſe its Value like Merchandize in travelling (eſpecially to Africa) and when the Compoſition with the Dutch is alſo paid, they may be ſaid to buy their Negroes at almoſt double the Price the Engliſh, Dutch, or French do, which neceſſarily raiſes their Value extravagantly at Braſil; (thoſe who can purchaſe one, buying a certainer Annuity than South-Sea Stock.)
Thus far of the Call for Slaves at Braſil; I ſhall now conſider and obviate ſome Difficulties objected againſt any Foreigners (ſuppoſe Engliſh) interpoſing in ſuch a Trade, and they are ſome on theirs, and ſome on our Side.
On their Side it is prohibited under Pain of Death, a Law leſs effectual to the Prevention of it than pecuniary Mulcts would be, becauſe a Penalty ſo inadequate and diſproportioned, is only In terrorem, and makes it merciful in the Governor, or his Inſtruments, to take a Compoſition of eight or ten Moidors, when any Subject is catched, and is the common Cuſtom ſo to do as often as they are found out.
On our Side it is Confiſcation of what they can get, which conſidering, they have no Men of War to guard the Coaſt, need be very little, without ſupine Neglect and Careleſſneſs.
I am a Man of War, or Privateer, and being in Want of Proviſions, or in Search of Pyrates, put
