TO THE PUBLIC

Table of Contents

As it has been repeatedly suggested to the Publisher, by persons who have seen the Manuscript, that Numbers 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 page1 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 HUTCHISON, Governor,
• The HON. ANDREW OLIVER, Lieut. Gov.
• 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.
• The REV. CHARLES CHAUNCEY, D. D.
• The REV. MATTHEW BYLES, D. D.
• The REV. EDWARD 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,
• MR. JOHN WHEATLEY, (her Master.)

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

1The words 'following Page,' allude to the contents of the Manuscript Copy, which are wrote at the Back of the above Attestation.