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The Poems of Phillis Wheatley

To the Public

As it has been Repeatedly suggested to the Publisher by Persons who have seen the Manuscript, that Numbers would be ready to suspect that they were not really the Writings of PHILLIS, he has procured the following Attestations from the most respectable Characters in Boston, that none might have the least Ground for disputing their Originality:

We, whose Names are Underwritten, do assure the World, that the POEMS specified in the following Page* (the words "following Page," allude to the Contents of the Manuscript Copy, which are wrote at the back of the above Attestation), 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 examined 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 Hon. John Erving 
The Hon. James Pitts 
The Hon. Harrison Gray 
The Hon. James Bowdoin 
John Hancock, Esq. 
Joseph Green, Esq. 
Richard Carey, Esq. 
Mr. John Wheatley, her Master
The Rev. Charles Channey, D.D
The Rev. Mather Boyles, D.D
The Rev. Ed. Pemberton, D.D
The Rev. Andrew Elliot, D.D
The Rev. Samuel Cooper, D.D
The Rev. Mr. Samuel Mather
The Rev. Mr. John Moorhead

N.B.-The original Attestation, signed by the above Gentlemen, may be seen by applying to Archibald Bell, Bookseller, No.8 Aldgate Street.

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Table of Contents
FRONTISPIECE, POTRAIT PHILLIS WHEATLEY
Publisher's Note.....3
First Publisher's Preface,1773.....5
Mr. Wheatley's Letter.....5
To the Public.....6
To Maecenas.....7
On Virtue.....9
To the University of Cambridge, in New England.....10
To the King's Most Excellent Majesty, 1768.....12
On Being Brought from Africa to America.....12
On the Death of Rev. Dr. Sewell, 1769.....13
On the Death of the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield 1770.....15
On The Death of a Young Lady of Five Years of Age.....17
On the Death of a Young Gentleman.....19
To a Lady on the Death of Her Husband.....20
Goliath of Gath.....21
Thoughts on the Works of Providence.....31
To a Lady on the Death of Three Relations.....36
To a Clergyman on the Death of His Lady....38

Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-06-26 12:03:26 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-06-26 17:23:12 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-06-26 20:56:04