Thus at the end of 1672 it announced that if persons would contract to receive whole cargoes upon their arrival and to accept all slaves between twelve and forty years of age who were able to go over the ship's side unaided they would be supplied at the rate of L15 per head in Barbados, L16 in Nevis, L17 in Jamaica, and L18 in Virginia.[44] The colonists were for a time disposed to accept this arrangement where they could.

For example Charles Calvert, governor of Maryland, had already written Lord Baltimore in 1664: "I have endeavored to see if I could find as many responsible men that would engage to take 100 or 200 neigros every year from the Royall Company at that rate mentioned in your lordship's letter; but I find that we are nott men of estates good enough to undertake such a buisnesse, but could wish we were for we are naturally inclined to love neigros if our purses could endure it."[45] But soon complaints arose that the slaves delivered on contract were of the poorest quality, while the better grades were withheld for other means of sale at higher prices.

Quarrels also developed between the company on the one hand and the colonists and their legislatures on the other over the rating of colonial moneys and the obstructions placed by law about the collection of debts; and the colonists proceeded to give all possible encouragement to the separate traders, legal or illegal as their traffic might be.[46] [Footnote 44: E.D.Collins, "Studies in the Colonial Policy of England, 1672-1680," in the American Historical Association _Report_ for 1901, I, 158.] [Footnote 45: Maryland Historical Society _Fund Publications_ no.

28, p.
249.] [Footnote 46: G.L.Beer, _The Old Colonial System_ (New York, 1912), part I, vol.I, chap.

5.] Most of the sales, in the later period at least, were without previous contract.