2-949-827 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Arrest du conseil d'état du roi, qui supprime le privilege exclusif de la traite des noirs à Gorée et dépendances, 1784-01-11. Document dealing with the 'trade in blacks in Gorée and dependences'. Regarding Saint-Domingue in particular, issued by the French Royal Council and the National Convention. A chronological run of the Arretes [rulings or judgments] du Conseil d'Etat du Roi. The first appoints a commission to oversee the French colonies. The second gives the Compagnie de la Guyane exclusive rights to the West African slave trade out of Goree in West Africa. The third sets out the rules regulating slavers, indicating taxation on each ship and shipload, regardless of the number of slaves being carried, plus a special tax on each slave transported. The final page of this Arrete is a sample certificate that all merchant shippers were compelled to sign. The last piece abolishes all taxation on the slave trade.