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The decision in the James Somersett slave case... News from America...
The decision in the James Somersett slave case... News from America...
Item # 593410
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June 01, 1772
THE TOWN & COUNTRY MAGAZINE, London, June, 1772
* Somersett's case
* Slaves - slavery
Certainly the most significant report in this issue is the court decision in the James Somersett court case, the slave purchased in Virginia then taken to England, escaped & eventually recaptured. This case ultimately determined that slavery was unsupported in England. This was a landmark slavery case which received wide attention (see the hyperlink for much more on Somersett & his legal case).
The report is under the "Domestic Intelligence" section near the back and reads in part: "Yesterday the Negroe cause came on before the court of King's Bench for a final decision, when Lord Mansfield...delivered the unanimous opinion of the whole court; the purport of which was that the cause which the master had shewn for imprisoning the black was not sufficient to justify him for so doing; or in other words, that the man's being a Negroe slave did not authorize his master to transport him out of the kingdom: whereupon the black was immediately discharged." (see)
Included are the two full page plates called for.
Complete in 56 pages, full title/contents page, 5 by 8 1/4 inches, very nice, clean condition.
Category: The 1600's and 1700's
No Longer Available
