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Sketch of Tom, the negro servant of Sir Robt Lawries

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Description

It was not uncommon for naval officers (nor for other British people in the eighteenth century) to have black servants. Admiral Sir Robert Lawrie (or Laurie) (1764–1848) had a servant called Tom. His dress suggests the wealth of his employer. It is less clear, however, to whom the remarks in the speech bubble are directed. Tom is complaining to someone, ‘Damn you Chip [Ship] and you Conboy [Convoy] too you Chip no Sail, & you Conboy no sail, I really tink [think] we shall neber [never] get home’. Tom’s speech is not reported in plain English, but is made to represent his African accent and dialect. From an album containing twenty-five leaves. An inscription referring to the loss of the 'Queen Charlotte' off Leghorn in 1800 on PAH4888 suggests the general dating of the group (1790s). Anonymous Various, graphite, ink & wash drawings of ships and crew members. HMS Andromeda, Queen Charlotte, Pegasus, Heroine, etc.

Image Licence

CC BY-NC-ND

Image Credit

Location

England

Country

England

Medium

Watercolour