Page:An Address to the Negroes in the State of New-York - Jupiter Hammon - 1806 edition.pdf/3



IN the first impression of the following pages, printed in New-York, 1787, by Carrol and Patterson, they say:

As this Address is wrote in a better stile than could be expected from a slave, some may be ready to doubt of the genuineness of the production. The Author, as he informs in the title page, is a servant of Mr. Lloyd, and has been remarkable for his fidelity and abstinence from those vices, which he warns his brethren against. The manuscript, wrote in his own hand, is in our possession. We have made no material alterations in it, except in the spelling, which we found needed considerable correction.

THE PRINTERS.

New-York, 20th Feb. 1787.

WE, the Subscribers, having had personal acquaintance with Jupiter Hammon, Author of the Address to the People of Colour in the State of New-York, believe he supprorted a good moral character; was much respected in his master's family, and among his acquaintance in general; and we have no doubt but the Address alluded to, is a genuine production of his own.

Arnold Fleet, Samuel Haviland, Fry Willis.

Oysterbay, 10th of 1st mo. 1806.