The publication date of my book was fast approaching. I was beginning to hear that people in England were becoming more interested in both the book and me.

In the summer of 1773, their son Nathaniel was planning to sail to England for family business. A family doctor suggested that an ocean voyage might improve my increasingly fragile health.

Mrs. Wheatley realized that by going to England, my literary career would receive quite a boost. So she allowed me to go, and sent a letter to Lady Huntington stating that I should be under her direction. She also sent along some money with it for her to see to it that I would be properly dressed.