University of Virginia Library

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48

To the PUBLICK.

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 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 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. Jon 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 Chauncy, D. D.
• The Rev. Mather Byles, 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,
• 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.