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University of Virginia Library

The Poems of Phillis Wheatley

Wheatley, Phillis (1753-1784)

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Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral

The following is a Copy of a Letter sent by the Author's Master to the Publisher.

To the PUBLICK.

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Other Poems and Variants of Poems

ON MESSRS HUSSEY AND COFFIN.

TO THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE, WROTE IN 1767—

AN ADDRESS TO THE ATHEIST, BY P. WHEATLEY AT THE AGE OF 14 YEARS—1767—

AN ADDRESS TO THE DEIST—1767—

TO THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY ON HIS REPEALING THE AMERICAN STAMP ACT

TO THE HONble. COMMODORE HOOD ON HIS PARDONING A DESERTER

ON THE DEATH OF THE REV'D DR. SEWALL. 1769.—

ON THE DEATH OF MR SNIDER MURDER'D BY RICHARDSON

AN ELEGIAC POEM, On the DEATH of that celebrated Divine, and eminent Servant of JESUS CHRIST, the late Reverend, and pious GEORGE WHITEFIELD, Chaplain to the Right Honourable the Countess of Huntingdon, &c &c. Who made his Exit from this transitory State, to dwell in the celestial Realms of Bliss, on LORD'S-DAY, 30th of September, 1770, when he was seiz'd with a Fit of the Asthma, at NEWBURY-PORT, near BOSTON, in NEW-ENGLAND. In which is a Condolatory Address to His truly noble Benefactress the worthy and pious Lady HUNTINGDON,—and the Orphan-Children in GEORGIA; who, with many Thousands, are left, by the Death of this great Man, to lament the Loss of a Father, Friend, and Benefactor.

AN ODE OF VERSES On the much-lamented Death of the REV. MR. GEORGE WHITEFIELD, Late Chaplain to the Countess of Huntingdon; Who departed this Life, at Newberry near Boston in New England, on the Thirtieth of September, 1770, in the Fifty-seventh Year of his Age.

To Mrs. LEONARD, on the Death of her HUSBAND.

ON THE DEATH OF DR. SAMUEL MARSHALL

On the Death of Doctor SAMUEL MARSHALL.

To the Rev. Mr. Pitkin, on the DEATH of his LADY.

A POEM ON THE DEATH OF CHARLES ELIOT, AGED 12 MONTHS

TO THE RIGHT HONl. WILLIAM EARL OF DARTMOUTH, HIS MAJESTY'S SECRETARY OF STATE FOR NORTH AMERICA &c. &c. &c.

To the Hon'ble Thomas Hubbard, Esq; On the Death of Mrs. Thankfull Leonard.

FAREWELL TO AMERICA.

An ELEGY, To Miss. Mary Moorhead, on the DEATH of her Father, The Rev. Mr. JOHN MOORHEAD.

[[TO A GENTLEMAN OF THE NAVY.] ]

PHILIS'S Reply to the Answer in our last by the Gentleman in the Navy.

TO HIS EXCELLENCY GENERAL WASHINGTON.

ON THE CAPTURE OF GENERAL LEE

ON THE DEATH OF GENERAL WOOSTER

AN ELEGY, SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF THAT GREAT DIVINE, THE REVEREND AND LEARNED DR. SAMUEL COOPER, Who departed this Life December 29, 1783, ÆTATIS 59.

LIBERTY AND PEACE, A POEM.

An ELEGY on leaving ---.

To Mr. and Mrs. ---, on the Death of their Infant Son,

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47

The following is a Copy of a Letter sent by the Author's Master to the Publisher.

Phillis was brought from Africa to America, in the Year 1761, between Seven and Eight Years of Age. Without any Assistance from School Education, and by only what she was taught in the Family, she, in sixteen Months Time from her Arrival, attained the English Language, to which she was an utter Stranger before, to such a Degree, as to read any, the most difficult Parts of the Sacred Writings, to the great Astonishment 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.