Description:

Copy of a poem called The Negro Boy by David Samwell, printed by J Young of Christmas Street, Bristol. The poem is thoughts of an African slave trader, who sold a boy for a watch.
Samwell was a surgeon in the Navy, accompanied Cook on his last voyage to the Pacific.

The language used to describe people of African descent in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries is unacceptable in today’s terms. We cannot avoid using this language in its original context. To change the words would impose 20th century attitudes on history.

Date: 19th Century

Copyright: Copyright BCC Library Service