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Observations on the slave trade, and a description of some part of the coast of Guinea, during a voyage, made in 1787 and 1788, in company with Doctor A. Sparrman and Capt. Arrehenius

'Observations sur la traite des nègres', in Robert Norris, Mémoires du règne de Bossa-Ahadée, état situé dans l'intérieur de la Guinée (Paris: Gattey, 1790). French. 'Bemerkungen über den Sklavenhandel und die Küste von Guinea' in E. Trapaud, Kurze Beschreibung von Pulo Pinang (Hamburg: 1790). German. Anmärkningar rörande slaf-handeln på kusten af Guinea (Norrköping: Adolf Fred. Raam, 1791). Swedish.

Anti-Slavery International, 'Recovered Histories' collection. Goldsmiths' Library of Economic Literature, University of London. British Library. Kongelige Bibliotek, Danmark.

Swedish Voyage Guinea Slave Trade Africa War Colony

Wadström was a Swedish utopian colonial theorist who travelled to the coast of West Africa intending to eventually establish a European colony. His account of the slave trading that he encountered on the African coast describes it as "the greatest of all abuses" (iv) and a "corrupted system of commerce" (v). He was motivated to publish these observations in order to motivate Britain and France, "the two most respectable nations of Europe" (iv), into action against the trade. He describes the wars in Africa provoked by the slave trade, other methods of procurement of slaves, and the treatment of Africans by the European traders, as well as a description of Guinea as a potential site for colonial settlement.

Wadström was heard as a witness against the slave trade by the British House of Commons committee in 1790-91. He is listed as: "Wadstrom (Charles Berns, Esq.) Chief Director of the Assay Office in Sweden, was in Africa near three months, in 1787 and 1788, with Doctor Spaarman, engaged by the King of Sweden to make discoveries" (An abstract of the evidence delivered before a select committee of the House of Commons..., xxv). See the attached download for more information about Wadström's colonial projects in West Africa.