Phillis Wheatley (Letter Date 1773)

SOURCE: Wheatley, Phillis. "Letter to John Thornton." In Phillis Wheatley and Her Writings, edited by William H. Robinson, pp. 327-28. New York: Garland Publishing, 1984.

In the following letter written in 1773, Wheatley informs John Thornton, a merchant she met with in London, that she has returned safely to her mistress in America.

Hon'd sir

It is with great satisfaction, I acquaint you with my experience of the / goodness of God in safely conducting my passage over the mighty waters, and returning / me in safety to my American Friends. I presume you will join with them and me / in praise to God for so distinguishing a favour, it was amazing Mercy, altogether / unmerited by me: and if possible it is augmented by the consideration of the bitter re- / verse, which is the deserved wages of my evil doings. The Apostle Paul, tells us / that...