Mr. Archibald Bell, who was to publish my book, seemed to feel as if it would do well. So he began to place notices of its pending publication in many of London's newspapers.

In September the book was finally published. It received favorable reviews throughout England. However, the English also issued criticisms of the Bostonians, including the Wheatley's. They accused them of being hypocritical for honoring me and advocating liberty while holding me in slavery.

Perhaps the Wheatley's would have eventually freed me anyway. However, I can't help but feel as though it was the sting they felt from the British criticisms that hastened their decision to do so. At any rate, not long after my return from England, even while the colonialists were in the midst of struggling for their own freedom, that I received my manumission.