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Show 172 ON THE SLAVERY A ND C OMMERCE we appeal to the writings of an *African girl, who made no con temptible appearance in this fpecies of compofition. She was kidnapped when only eight years old, and, in the year 176 r, was tranfportcd to America, where ihc was fold with other flaves. She had no fchool education there, but receiving fome little infiruCl:ion from the family, with whom fl1e was fo fortunate as to live, fhe obtained fuch a knowledge of the Englifh language within fixteen months from the time of her arrival, as to be able to fpeak it and read it to the afionifhment of thofe who heard her. She foon afterwards learned to write, and, having a great inclination to learn the Latin tongue, fl1e was indulged by her mailer, and made a progrefs. H er Poetical works were publifhed with his permiflion, in the year 1773· They contain thirty-eight pieces on different fubjeCl:s. We fl1all . beg leave to make a fl1ort extract from two or three of them, for the obfervation of the reader. • Phillis\Vheatlcy~ negro flave to Mr. John Wheatley, of Bofton, in New-England. Fron~ OF THE HuMAN SPECIES. 173 * From an IJymn to the Evening. " Fill'd with the praife ofhim who gives the light, " And draws the (1blc curtains of the nigl~t, H Let placid n•• mbcrs footh C:J.Ch weary rnmd, '' At morn to wake more he:w'nly and refin'd j " So fi1aJ1 the hbours of the day he gin, " More pure :md guarded from the fnarcs of lin. __ --- &c. &c. From an Hymn to the Morning. " Aurora hail ! and all the thoufanrl dies, " That deck thy progrcCs through the vaulted fkics! " The morn awakes, and wide extends her rays, " On ev'ry leaf the gentle zephyr pbys. • Left it fhould be doubted whether thefe Poems are genuinc~ we fhall tranfcribe the numcs of thofe, who fig ned a certificate of their authenticity. His Excellency Thomas Hutchinfon, Governor. The Honourable Andrew Oliver, Lieutenant Governor. The Hon. Thomas Hubbard The Rev. Cha. Ch,~uncy,D.D. Th H )orin Erving The Rev. Mather uyles, D . D . Th~ H~~: James Pitts The Rev. Ed.l'cmb~r~on, D.D. The Hon. Harrifon Gray The Rev. Andrew Elhot,D.D. The Han. James Bowdoin The Rev. Sam. C~oper, D.D. John Hancock, Efq. The Rev. 8:tmuel.ll:uhcr ofe h Green, Efq. The Rev. John Moorhead ~ic~ard Carey, Efq. Mr. John Wheatley, her Mafter. H Harmonious |