To John Adams from John Hancock, 2 February 1778
From John Hancock
Monday Noon 2d Feby 1778
Mr. Hancock’s Compliments to Mr. Adams. The Inclos’d Letter from the Baron De Kalb he Received under Cover.1 Mr. Hancock would have been exceedingly Glad to have Seen Mr. Adams at his house at any time when he has been in Town, and had Mr. Hancock have known when he was in Town he should have Sent to him; if Mr. Adams should Come to Town on Wednesday next, and it would be agreeable to him to Dine with Mr. Hancock in Company with a few Friends it would Give Mr. H pleasure; if it should not suit Mr. Adams, and he will appoint any other Day (except Thursday) Mr. Hancock will be exceedingly Glad to wait on him.2
RC (Adams Papers); docketed in an unidentified hand: “Mr Hancock”; by CFA: “Feby. 2d 1778.”
1. Hancock was forwarding Kalb’s letter of 2 Jan., omitted here (DSI:Hull Coll.), which was accompanied by letters to Count de Broglie and to Kalb’s wife. On 3 Feb. JA wrote (LbC, Adams Papers) to acknowledge receipt of both this letter and Kalb’s letter of 27 Dec. 1777 (above). Kalb wrote again on 1 Feb., enclosing additional packets for delivery in France (Adams Papers).
2. Hancock was unaware of or chose to ignore JA’s contempt for what he deemed Hancock’s unseemly seeking of high office, such as the presidency of the congress and the governorship of the state.