by Phillis Wheatley
P R E F A C E.
THE following POEMS were written
originally for the Amusement of
the Author, as they were the Products
of her leisure Moments. She had no
Intention ever to have published them;
nor would they now have made their
Appearance, but at the Importunity of
many of her best, and most generous
Friends; to whom she considers herself,
as under the greatest Obligations.
As her Attempts in Poetry are now
sent into the World, it is hoped the
Critic will not severely censure their
Defects; and we presume they have too
much Merit to be cast aside with Con-
tempt, as worthless and trifling Effu-
sions.
As to the Disadvantages she has la-
boured under, with Regard to Learn-
ing, nothing needs to be offered, as her
Master's Letter in the following Page
will sufficiently show the Difficulties in
this Respect she had to encounter.
With all their Imperfections, the
Poems are now humbly submitted to
the Perusal of the Public.
The following is a Copy of a LETTER sent
by the Author's Master to the Publisher.
PHILLIS was brought from Africa to Ame-
rica, in the Year 1761, between seven
and eight Years of Age. Without any Assist-
ance from School Education, and by only
what she was taught in the Family, she, in
sixteen Months Time from her Arrival, at-
tained the English language, to which she
was an utter Stranger before, to such a de-
gree, as to read any, the most difficult Parts
of the Sacred Writings, to the great Asto-
nishment of all who heard her.
As to her WRITING, her own Curiosity
led her to it; and this she learnt in so short a
Time, that in the Year 1765, she wrote a
Letter to the Rev. Mr. OCCOM, the Indian
Minister, while in England.
She has a great Inclination to learn the
Latin Tongue, and has made some Progress
in it. This Relation is given by her Master
who bought her, and with whom she now lives.
JOHN WHEATLEY.
Boston, Nov. 14, 1772.
To the PUBLIC.
AS it has been repeatedly suggested to the Publisher, by
Persons, who have seen the Manuscript, that Num-
bers would be ready to suspect they were not really the
Writings of PHILLIS, he has procured the following
Attestation, from the most respectable Characters in Boston,
that none might have the least Ground for disputing their
Original.
WE whose Names are under-written, do assure the
World, that the POEMS specified in the following Page,*
were (as we verily believe) written by Phillis, a young
Negro Girl, who was but a few Years since, brought an
uncultivated Barbarian from Africa, and has ever since
been, and now is, under the Disadvantage of serving as
a Slave in a Family in this Town. She has been examin-
ed by some of the best Judges, and is thought qualified
to write them.
His Excellency THOMAS HUTCHINSON, Governor.
The Hon. ANDREW OLIVER, Lieutenant-Governor.
The Hon. Thomas Hubbard, | The Rev. Charles Chauncey, D. D.
The Hon. John Erving, | The Rev. Mather Byles, D. D.
The Hon. James Pitts, | The Rev. Ed. Pemberton, D. D.
The Hon. Harrison Gray, | The Rev. Andrew Elliot, D. D.
The Hon. James Bowdoin, | The Rev. Samuel Cooper, D. D.
John Hancock, Esq; | The Rev. Mr. Saumel Mather,
Joseph Green, Esq; | The Rev. Mr. John Moorhead,
Richard Carey, Esq; | Mr. John Wheat ey, her Master.
N. B. The original Attestation, signed by the above Gen-
tlemen, may be seen by applying to Archibald Bell, Book-
seller, No. 8, Aldgate-Street.
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