isfaction arising from a conscious integrity. As long, therefore, as you can wrap yourself in your innocence, I flatter myself you will not pay so great a regard to the calumnies of your enemies as to deprive your country of any services which you may have it in your power to render his." In a spirited letter to six of the States, dated Philadelphia, Oct. 9, 1776, Hancock writes: "The Congress, for very obvious reasons, are extremely anxious to keep the army together. The dangerous consequences of their breaking up, and the difficulty of forming a new one, are inconceivable. Were this barrier once removed, military power would quickly spread desolation and ruin over the face of our country. The importance, and, indeed, the absolute necessity, of filling up the army, of providing for the troops, and engaging them to serve during the war, is so apparent, and has been so frequently urged, that I shall only request your attention to the resolves of Congress on this subject; and beseech you, by that love you have for your country, her rights and liberties, to exert yourselves to carry them speedily and effectually, as the only means of preserving her in this her critical and alarming situation." In a letter to four of the States, dated Baltimore, Dec. 25, 1776, Hancock writes: "It is needless to use arguments on this occasion, or to paint the dreadful consequences, to gentlemen already fully acquainted with them, of leaving the back settlements of the New England States open to the ravages of our merciless foes. If anything can add to your exertions, at this time, it must be the reflection that your own most immediate safety calls upon you to strain every nerve. Should we heedlessly abandon the post of Ticonderoga, we give up inconceivable advantages. Should we resolutely maintain it,—and it is extremely capable of defence,— we may bid defiance to Gen. Carleton, and the northern army under his command. But our exertions for this purpose must be immediate, or they will not avail anything. The 31st of this inst. the time will expire for which the troops in that important garrison were enlisted, and Lake Champlain will, in all probability, be frozen over soon after. For the sake, therefore, of all that is dear to freemen, be entreated to pay immediate attention to this requisition of Congress, and let nothing divert you from it. The affairs of our country are in a situation to admit of no delay. They may still be retrieved, but not without the greatest expedition and vigor."

Gov. Hancock, in writing to the Hon. Robert Morris, Financier General at Washington, under date Philadelphia, Sept. 24, 1781, says:

"Pray, my friend, when will be the properest time for me to be considered for my expenses while President of Congress? They wrote me on the subject some two years ago; but I waived troubling them, knowing the delicacy of their situation. Indeed, I kept no account of my expenses; nor had I time for it, as you well know how my time

was engrossed, and the labors and fatigue I underwent, and the expenses

I must have necessarily incurred. I can speak plain to you: confident I am that fifteen hundred pounds sterling would not amount to the expenses I incurred as president. In this I think I merit consideration, more especially as grants have been made to all my successors." Had Congress remitted Hancock twice that amount, it would have been no equivalent to the sacrifices of this devoted patriot.

President Hancock was appointed, by the General Court of his native State, Feb. 8, 1778, first Major-general of the Massachusetts Militia; and, during a recess of Congress in July, on the very day succeeding that when he acted as moderator of a town-meeting, Aug. 6th of that year, when the people at Faneuil Hall unanimously decided that persons who have left the town, and have sought and received protection from the British king, cannot return to it again without greatly endangering the peace and safety of Boston, the Cadet company, headed by Maj. Gen. Hancock, and commanded by Col. Hichborn, and the company of Light Infantry, commanded by Capt. Hinckley, both of this town, set out for head-quarters, to engage in an enterprise in coöperation with the fleet of the French admiral, the Count D'Estaing, against Newport, in Rhode Island, conducted by a detachment from the regular army of Washington, and seven thousand of the militia of New England,-an expedition which excited great anticipations, the whole under command of Maj. Gen. Sullivan, aided by the Marquis De La Fayette and Maj. Gen. Greene. On August 9th they landed on Newport Island, and took possession of two of the enemy's forts, under Lord Howe, and the whole island north of their lines, without a gun fired on either side. The second line of this army was commanded by Gen. Hancock, who, warm with ardor, despatched intelligence, on the 11th instant, to Hon. Jeremiah Powell, President of the State Council. On the arrival of these troops in the island, the fleet of Lord Howe appeared upon the coast. We would have our readers revert to the Massachusetts Historical Collections, and Bradford's Massachusetts, for a relation of this contest.

Count D'Estaing, regardless of his obligations with the American

troops, instead of defending them, hastened to the pursuit of the British, and exposed the army of his allics to all the calamities of a defeat; and the Americans were left, in the midst of great danger, to a mortifying retreat, which they achieved, however, without the loss of artillery or baggage, and the fleet arrived at the same time in Boston harbor, shattered by a furious storm.

Under these circumstances, the French were not received in Boston with the usual hospitality of its inhabitants, says Sanderson's Biography, and with a displeasure which threatened unhappy results; but Gen. Hancock, interposing, relieved his country from such a calamity, by his conciliating manners and unbounded hospitality. His elegant mansion was thrown open to the French admiral and all his officers, about forty of whom dined every day at his table, loaded with the luxuries of the season; and, in addition, he gave a grand public ball at Concert Hall, attended by the admiral. On turning to the Gazette, however, we find that Admiral D'Estaing, Sept. 21, made a splendid entry into Boston. He was saluted from the Castle, the ships and forts in the harbor, as he approached the town. Upon landing, he was received by the State authorities, at the Council-chamber in Kingstreet, and breakfasted with Gen. Hancock at his seat; and a superb entertainment was given that week at Faneuil Hall, where were upwards of five hundred guests. The retreat of the Americans was, indeed, a remarkable escape. The delay of a single day would probably have been fatal; for Sir Henry Clinton, who had been detained by adverse winds, arrived with a reinforcement of four thousand men the very next day, when a retreat, it is suspected, would have been impracticable.

In the reminiscences of John Trumbull are two allusions to Hancock. It appears that Gen. Gates, who had been appointed to the command of the northern department in Canada, had, previous to his entrance on the station, appointed Mr. Trumbull a deputy adjutant-general on that station, which was rejected by Congress as premature and unmilitary. This occurred in 1775, when Hancock was president; and the circumstance probably excited a prejudice unfavorable to Trumbull, who relates that," While I was in Gen. Washington's family, in 1775, Mr. Hancock made a passing visit to the general, and, observing me, he inquired of Mr. Mifflin who I was; and, when told that I was his fellow aid-de-camp, and son of Gov. Trumbull, he made the unworthy observation, that 'that family was well provided for.' Mr. Mifflin did not

tell me this until after Mr. Hancock had left head-quarters, but then observed that he deserved to be called to an account for it. I answered, 'No, he is right; my father and his three sons are doubtless well provided for. We are secure of four halters, if we do not succeed.'" There is a strong probability that Hancock regretted this remark, and felt that Trumbull was wronged; and after Col. Trumbull's service, as aid-de-camp to Gen. Sullivan, in the attack on Rhode Island, in 1778, when he returned to Boston overcome with fatigue and severe indisposition, before he rose next morning, a visit from Gov. Hancock was announced. "He followed the servant to my bedside," says Trumbull, "and, with great kindness, insisted that I should be removed to his house immediately, where, if my illness should become serious, I could be more carefully attended than was possible in a boarding-house. I made light of my illness, and, with many thanks, declined his pressing invitation. But it was a proud and consoling reflection, that he, who had been President of Congress at the time of my resignation, and who had both signed and forwarded the misdated commission which had driven me from the service, had now witnessed my military conduct, and seen that I was not a man to ask, but to earn, distinction." No doubt these patriots were soon reconciled, as Gov. Hancock sat to Trumbull for his portrait.

In 1780 Hancock was elected a member of the convention that framed a State constitution, of which James Bowdoin was president. At that time the people of the State were divided into two political parties, with one of which the popularity of John Hancock was unbounded; with the other, James Bowdoin was the favorite. "In the Hancock party," says Josiah Quincy, "were included many of the known malcontents with Harvard College,—men who had no sympathy for science or classical education, and who were ready to oppose any proposition for the benefit of that institution." Is not this a sweeping denunciation, too severe to credit? On the contrary, the party of which James Bowdoin may be considered the exponent "included all the active friends of that seminary, and was chiefly composed of men regarded by the opposite faction with jealousy and fear, to some of whom Hancock then gave the sobriquet of 'The Essex Junto,'- the delegates from that county being among the most talented and efficient members of the convention." Would it be uncandid to concede that the Hancock party embraced a few friends of Harvard College? Did not Gov. Hancock prove, by his public messages, the paternal interest of his

heart in the welfare of the college? Does not President Quincy prove it by his own statement, where he relates that "Gov. Hancock was induced to allude to the necessity of legislative aid, in his speech to the General Court, in May, 1791, and to introduce, by a special message, the memorial of Samuel Adams and others, a committee of the overseers and corporation, of the necessity of making up by the arrearages of the usual grants to college officers, without which, they averred, that 'either the assessment on the students must be augmented, or some of the institutions of the college must fail of support'? After great debates, the subject was again referred to the next session of the Legislature;" and on another occasion, in 1781, did not Hancock remark, that the college was, "in some sense, the parent and nurse of the late happy revolution in this Commonwealth "?

On the adoption of the State constitution at that date, John Hancock was elected governor, which station he occupied until his decease, with the exception of the years 1785 and 6, when his great rival, James Bowdoin, became his successor.

ease.

One who saw John Hancock in June, 1782, relates that he had the appearance of advanced age. He had been repeatedly and severely afflicted with the gout; probably owing in part to the custom of drinking punch, a common practice, in high circles, in those days. As recollected at this time, Gov. Hancock was nearly six feet in height, and of thin person, stooping a little, and apparently enfeebled by disHis manners were very gracious, of the old style of dignified complaisance. His face had been very handsome. Dress was adapted quite as much to be ornamental as useful. Gentlemen wore wigs when abroad, and, commonly, caps when at home. At this time, about noon, Hancock was dressed in a red velvet cap, within which was one of fine linen. The latter was turned up over the lower edge of the velvet one, two or three inches. He wore a blue damask gown lined with silk, a white stock, a white satin embroidered waistcoat, black satin small-clothes, white silk stockings, and red morocco slippers. It was a general practice, in genteel families, to have a tankard of punch made in the morning, and placed in a cooler when the season required it. At this visit, Hancock took from the cooler, standing on the hearth, a full tankard, and drank first himself, and then offered it to those present. His equipage was splendid, and such as is not customary at this day. His apparel was sumptuously embroidered with gold and silver and lace, and other decorations fashionable amongst men of