To George Washington from John Hancock, 30 September 1775
From John Hancock
Philadelphia Septemr 30th 1775
Sir
Your Letters No. 4, 5 and two other Letters not Numberd, with the Inclosures have been duly Receiv’d and laid before Congress.1
As there are sundry matters contain’d in your Letters which are of great importance, and on which the Congress, before they come to a final Determination, are Desirous to have the Advantage of your Experience and Knowledge; They have Appointed three of their Members, Vizt Mr Lynch, Doctor Franklin, & Mr Harrison to wait on you, Confer with you and the Governors of Connecticutt & Rhode Island, the Council of Massachussets Bay, and the President of the Convention of New Hampshire, (to whom I have wrote on the Subject by order of Congress,) and such other Persons as to the said Committee shall seem proper, touching the most effectual Method of Continuing, Supporting and Regulating a Continental Army.2
The Committee will set out as soon as possible, and Expect to be with you by the 12th of next Month.3 I have the Honour to be with greatest Esteem, Sir, Your Most Obedt hume Servt
John Hancock President
The Inclos’d Letter to the Council of Massachusetts you will please to order to be Deliver’d. And the Letter to the President of the Convention of New Hampshire you will please to forward by Express as soon as possible.
ALS, DLC:GW; LB, DNA:PCC, item 12A.
1. GW’s letters number 4 and 5 to Hancock are those of 4–5 and 31 August. The unnumbered ones are those of 7 and 21 September.
2. Congress resolved on 29 Sept. to send a committee of conference to Cambridge, and the next day it named Thomas Lynch, Benjamin Franklin, and Benjamin Harrison as members ( 3:265–66). For Hancock’s letter to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., of this date, see , 2:81–82. Hancock sent similar letters to Nicholas Cooke, the Massachusetts council, and Matthew Thornton (, 3:266–67). Thomas Lynch (1727–1776) of South Carolina was an active member of Congress until he suffered a paralytic stroke in February 1776. He died from a second stroke the following December.
3. The committee arrived in Cambridge on 15 Oct., and the conference began on 18 October. See the Proceedings of the Committee of Conference, 18–24 Oct. 1775.