101To George Washington from John Hancock, 20 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter by Express with its several Inclosures I yesterday Rec’d, & yours by Post this moment come to hand; I have laid the whole before Congress, & am directed to keep the Express; I shall therefore only by the Return of the Post Inclose you Two Commiss[ion]s which please to order to be Deliver’d; Referring all other matters to be Sent by the Express. I have the hon. to be Your most Obedt...
102To George Washington from John Hancock, 22 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
Your letters of the 30th of November and of the 4th 7th & 11 of December being duly received were laid before Congress. To prevent the ill consequences, that might ensue from the backwardness of the men in the present service to reinlist, the Congress, as I informed you in my last, have written to the governors of Connecticut & Rhode-island, the council of Massachusetts bay and the president...
103To George Washington from John Hancock, 5 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
Since my last to you by Alexander the Express nothing has Taken place in Congress that particularly Respects your Department. By Direction of the Congress I now Transmitt you by Mr Fessenden our Return Express, the Rules & Articles pass’d by Congress for the Government of the Troops under your Command, I wish them safe to hand. I have not Time to add, but that I am with much Respect, Sir Your...
104To George Washington from John Hancock, 10 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
Conceiving it highly necessary you should be informed as soon as possible of the Promotions the Congress were yesterday pleased to make in the Army of the American States, I do myself the Honour to enclose you a List of the same by Express. The Continental Battalion, commanded by Colonel Haslet, will begin their March this Day for the Jerseys; where, on their Arrival at Amboy, the Colonel has...
105To George Washington from John Hancock, 23 October 1789 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter by the return Express I had the honour to receive at three OClock this morning: it would have given me pleasure had a residence at my house met with your approbation. I observe you had proposed taking an early dinner at Watertown, and proceed to Cambridge, and from thence to Boston on Saturday afternoon; I beg leave, if it should not interfere with your determination, or prove...
106To George Washington from John Hancock, 29 January 1777 (Washington Papers)
You will percieve from the Resolves herewith transmitted, that the Letters which Congress have recieived from Genl Fermoy & several other French Officers, are referred to your Consideration, without a particular Recommendation in Favour of either of those Gentlemen. I do myself the Honour to enclose their Letters. A Representation to Congress from Colo. Kermovan, I transmitted this Morning by...
107To George Washington from John Hancock, 31 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed Resolves, which I do myself the Honour of transmitting, are so explicit, that I need only refer your Attention to them. You will please to give such Orders, with Regard to building Boats for the Service of the Flying Camp, as you shall judge necessary. A Copy of Genl Mercer’s Letter to Congress on this Subject, you have enclosed. I have wrote to the Council of Safety of this State...
108To George Washington from John Hancock, 4 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed Resolves, to which I must beg Leave to refer your Attention, will inform you of the Steps Congress have taken to establish the flying Camp. To the unhappy Confusions, that have prevailed in this Colony, must principally be ascribed the Delays that have hitherto attended that salutary Measure. However I flatter myself Things will now take a different Turn, as the Contest to keep...
109To George Washington from John Hancock, 13 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am to acknowledge the Receipt of your Favour of the 10th Inst:—and to acquaint you, that it is now under the Consideration of Congress. The enclosed Resolves I do myself the Honour to transmit, as necessary for your Information. I have wrote to General Schuyler, and the Commissioners for Indian Affairs, respecting the same. In obedience to the Commands of Congress, I have enclosed you two...
110To George Washington from John Hancock, 24 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
By a Return Express, this moment Rec’d from the Northern Departmt the Inclos’d Letter for your Excellency —I inclose you Copy of Genl Gates’s Letter to me, in which he mentions Genl Schuyler’s having wrote me particularly, but I have not a Line from him unless one should be Inclos’d in your packett; should that not be the case, & you should have any material Intelligence, I shall be much...
111To George Washington from John Hancock, 17 November 1780 (Washington Papers)
I should very frequently have done myself the honor of Writing to your Excellency since the Close of our Correspondence on my leaving Congress, could I have prevailed upon myself to have drawn your Attention from your weighty Concerns, and am confident my Silence will not be attributed to any other cause. I am now called upon by the free Suffrages of my Fellow Citizens to take an active part...
112To George Washington from John Hancock, 20 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
In my former letter I mentioned the disagreeable news we received from Canada. The Congress have taken that matter under consideration and having examined Mr Antil and duly deliberated on the situation of our affairs in that quarter they have come to sundry resolutions which I have the honor to enclose. I would just observe that by Mr Antil’s examination it appears our loss is greater then...
113To George Washington from John Hancock, 3 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Inclos’d Resolves have just pass’d Congress, to which I beg leave to Refer you, and am with much Esteem Sir Your most Obedt Servt ALS , DLC:GW . The enclosed resolutions of this date all relate to the northern department. The first resolution directs GW to appoint a general officer to replace Maj. Gen. Philip Schuyler as commander of the northern department. The second resolution requests...
114To George Washington from John Hancock, 26 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
You will perceive by the enclosed Resolves, which I do myself the Honour of transmitting in Obedience to the Commands of Congress, and to which I beg Leave to request your Attention, that they have come to a Resolution to augment the Number of Troops, destined for the Northern Department, four Thousand. It is scarcely necessary to mention the Motives on which they acted, or to explain the...
115To George Washington from John Hancock, 13 May 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have delivered in Charge to Captn Lenox and Co. four Hundred Thousand Dollars, contained in six Boxes, for the Use of the Troops in New York, and Massachusetts Bay. The particular Disposition of it with Regard to the latter of these Colonies, I cannot at present ascertain. I will therefore lay the Matter before Congress this Day, and inform you by tomorrow’s Post of the Result. The Secret...
116To George Washington from John Hancock, 14–16 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am extremely happy to have it in my Power to assure you that the several Matters referred to Congress in your Letters, will receive a speedy Determination. With great Pleasure I shall transmit you the Result, as soon as I am ordered. I enclose to you, at this Time, sundry important Resolves, to which I beg Leave to refer your Attention. You will there perceive that Congress have ordered 9000...
117To George Washington from John Hancock, 2 April 1776 (Washington Papers)
It gives me the most sensible Pleasure to convey to you, by Order of Congress, the only Tribute, which a free People will ever consent to Pay; the Tribute of Thanks and Gratitude to their Friends and Benefactors. The disinterested and patriotic Principles which led you to the Field, have also led you to Glory: and it affords no little Consolation to your Countrymen to reflect, that, as a...
118To George Washington from John Hancock, 3 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed Resolves, relative to a Variety of Subjects, are all that I have in Charge from Congress to forward at this Time. The additional Resolves respecting the Muster Masters were highly requisite to compleat that Department, and will, I trust, be punctually carried into Execution. You will perceive that Mr Ludwick is appointed to superintend the Baking Business in the Army, which I make...
119To George Washington from John Hancock, 3 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am extremely sorry it is not in my Power to wait on you in Person to execute the Commands of Congress. But being deprived of that Pleasure by a severe Fit of the Gout, I am under the Necessity of taking this Method to acquaint you, That the Congress have directed me in their Name, to make the Thanks of that Body to you, for the unremitted Attention you have paid to your important Trust; and...
120To George Washington from John Hancock, 25 October 1789 (Washington Papers)
The Governours Best respects to The President, if at home & at leisure, the Governour will do himself the honour to pay his respects, in half an hour —This would have been done much sooner, had his health in any degree permitted, He now hazards every thing as it respects his health, for the desirable purpose. L , DLC:GW This letter was docketed 26 Oct. though it was sent on 25 October.. For...
121To George Washington from John Hancock, 8 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honour to transmit at this Time Copies of three Letters from Generals Sullivan, Green, and Knox to Congress, the Receipt of which, as the Contents were highly derogatory to the Honour and Justice of Congress, could not fail to be extremely displeasing. They have therefore come to the enclosed Resolve on the Subject, to which, as it clearly expresses their Sense of the Impropriety of...
122To George Washington from John Hancock, 27 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honour of transmitting at this Time sundry Resolves, to which I beg Leave to refer your Attention. From them you will learn, that Congress have ascertained the Limits of the Northern Department, and that they have ordered Genl Schuyler to take the Command therein. The Regulations respecting Chaplains in the Army are highly necessary. By encreasing their Pay, and enlarging the Bounds...
123To George Washington from John Hancock, 27 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am this moment favd with yours of yesterday’s Date, which I shall in the Morng Communicate to Congress. I inclose sundry Resolves of Congress to which beg leave to Refer you, & am with much Respect, Sir Your most obed. srt ALS , NjP : General Manuscripts. Hancock enclosed copies of Congress’s resolution of 26 Aug. concerning pensions for disabled American officers, soldiers, marines, and...
124To George Washington from John Hancock, 21–22 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Congress having the greatest Reason to believe there has been very gross Misconduct in the Management of our Affairs in Canada, have come to a Resolution to have a general Enquiry made into the Behaviour of the Officers employed on that Expedition. The Honour of the United Colonies, and a Regard for the Public Good, call loudly for such an Enquiry to be set on Foot. I am therefore directed...
125To George Washington from John Hancock, 25 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
You will percieve, from the Resolves which I have now the Honour of transmitting, the Measures the Congress have come into on a Variety of Subjects. I beg Leave to refer your Attention to them. Altho Congress have recommended to the executive Authority of this State to call out three Thousand of the Militia, and to order the City Militia to hold themselves in Readiness at a Moments Warning,...
126To George Washington from John Hancock, 22 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
Congress not having Come to a full Determination upon the Subject of your Letter by the Express, he is still Detain’d, I shall so soon as the Resolutions are perfected Dispatch him with them —Your favr of 20th I have rec’d, & is before Congress with its Inclosures. I have now only to Inclose you several Resolves pass’d yesterday in Congress, to which beg Leave to Refer you. I have the honour...
127To George Washington from John Hancock, 12 February 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your Letters of 24th & 30th ulto have been duly Rec’d, and laid before the Congress, are now with their severall Inclosures under the Consideration of a Committee, as soon as Report is made, I shall do myself the honour to Transmitt you the Result of Congress thereupon. I yesterday morng Rec’d an Express from General Lee, requesting an Augmentation of Troops, Congress immediately directed one...
128To George Washington from John Hancock, 16 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have this moment Rec’d a Note from Genl Dickinson desiring the Inclos’d Letter from him might be Sent to you by Express; he Judges the Enemy’s Force in Jersey to be 4000 strong. I will not Detain the Express longer than just to Inclose you the Resolution of Congress submitting to you the Execution of the Resolve respectg General Sullivan. Your favr of this Day I have just Rec’d; I am with...
129To George Washington from John Hancock, 24 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
You will percieve from the enclosed Resolves, the Steps which Congress have thought proper to take in the present critical State of our Affairs. In Order to give you all possible Assistance in keeping the Army together at this Juncture, the Congress have appointed a Committee to repair to Head Quarters to co-opperate with you in the Business. They will set out tomorrow Morning; at which Time,...
130To George Washington from John Hancock, 31 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
An Express this Moment arrived with a Letter from Genl Rodney a Copy of which I enclose agreeably to your Request in your Favour of yesterday which came to Hand last Night. The Enemy by this Intelligence are in the Offing of the Capes, and the Wind was fair yesterday for their coming up this Bay. I shall send likewise to Lord Stirling a Copy of the enclosed immediately. I am Sir with the...
131To George Washington from John Hancock, 25 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was duely honoured with your Favour of the 22d and am much obliged by the Expressions of Politeness & Friendship which it contains. A few Months Relaxation will, I hope, restore my Health and Constitution, and enable me still to contribute my feeble Efforts, in some Mode or other, to the Advancement of the Cause of Freedom in America. If I should not return to Congress, it will be the Height...
132To George Washington from John Hancock, 21 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
Upon the Resignation of Mr Philips as Commissary of Hydes, the Congress have been pleased to appoint Mr George Ewing in his Place, who is ordered to carry into Execution the Plan you have proposed; which I make no Doubt he will do with Application and Success. Your Favour of yesterday I had the Honour of receiving with the Inclosures from General Schuyler, and am extremely pleased to hear that...
133To George Washington from John Hancock, 20 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have only Time to inform you that this moment your favr of 19th is come to hand. Inclos’d is this morning’s paper, to which beg to Refer you. My best wishes attend you & am Your most obedt svt ALS , DLC:GW . Hancock apparently enclosed a copy of this day’s edition of the Pennsylvania Ledger: Or the Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New-Jersey Weekly Advertiser (Philadelphia), which...
134To George Washington from John Hancock, 10 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am honoured with your Letters of 7th 8th and 9th Instant. The two first I have read in Congress. We have been two Days in a Committee of the Whole deliberating on three Capital Matters, the most important in their Nature of any that have yet been before us; & have sat till 7 O’Clock in the Evening each Day. That not being finished I judged best to return the Express. I shall press Congress...
135To George Washington from John Hancock, 14 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed Letter from Mr Searle, a Gentleman of Honour & a Friend to the Cause of America, I am commanded by Congress to forward to you with the utmost Expedition. The uncertain Destination of the Fleet therein mentioned, makes it absolutely necessary that you should be informed of the Intelligence as soon as possible, that you may make such Dispositions of the Troops under your Command as...
136To George Washington from John Hancock, 28 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
This morning I laid before Congress your letter of the 25 with that inclosed from Mr W. Franklin & have the honour to enclose you the result of their deliberation thereon. Time will not admit my Enlarging farther than to inform you I have recd your letter from Cross roads. I am Sir Your very hume Servt LS , CSmH . Hancock enclosed a copy of Congress’s resolution of 28 July 1777, which GW sent...
137To George Washington from John Hancock, 1 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
This will be delivered to you by Monsr Antoine Felis Wiebert, a French Gentleman, who brings such ample Recommendation of his Skill, as an Engineer, that the Congress are desirous of having him placed in a Situation, where he may have it in his Power, to shew it. And, indeed, this is all he requests himself; being very willing, after his Abilities shall be put to the Trial, that his future...
138To George Washington from John Hancock, 3 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have Nothing in Charge from Congress at this Time, but to transmit the enclosed Resolves, to which I must refer your Attention. General Sullivan’s Expedition on Staten Island having ended in the Loss and Defeat of a considerable Number of the Troops under his Command; the Congress have directed a Court of Enquiry to be instituted relative to the Expedition. You will please to order Colonel...
139To George Washington from John Hancock, 24 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the Honour to enclose sundry Resolves, to which I must entreat your Attention. The Congress, you will there find, reposeing the most entire Confidence in your Judgment, have left the Disposition of the Troops at New York, the Flying Camp, and Tyonderoga, wholly with you; being fully assured, you will make such an Arrangement, as in your Opinion, will conduce most to the Public...
140To George Washington from John Hancock, 5 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
By a very intelligent person just arrived from London we have certain intelligence that a large number of Brass cannon from 24 to 4 pounders are preparing at the tower and were to be sent to Boston immediately, that 400 of the train of artilery were to be sent with them; that transports were taken up by Government to carry several regiments from Ireland to New york, that 17 of the transports...
141To George Washington from John Hancock, 29 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Congress have received your letter of the 19th Instant, and highly commend your prudence and zeal in applying to the Governments of New Hampshire Massachusetts bay and Connecticut to raise forces for the service of Canada at this exigency. They have fond hopes by the zeal and alacrity of those Colonies troops will be forwarded with such expedition as will not only succour our friends but...
142To George Washington from John Hancock, 8 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of yesterday’s Date, with its Inclosures from General Schuyler I duly Rec’d, & laid before Congress. We have no kind of News, nor have I any thing in Charge from Congress to communicate, further than to Inclose you several Resolutions of Congress, to which I Beg leave to Refer you, and am with the utmost Esteem, Sir Your very hume Servt ALS , DLC:GW . The enclosed resolutions,...
143To George Washington from John Hancock, 10 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your favr of yesterday’s Date I have just Rec’d by the Return Express and shall be laid before Congress to morrow morning. I have only time to Inclose you sundry Resolutions pass’d in Congress since my last, to which I Request your Attention, I also inclose you a Letter from the Come of Congress. I have the Honour to be with Esteem, Sir Your most Obedt Servt I have Sent four Bundles of printed...
144To George Washington from John Hancock, 24 June 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your Favour of the 23d, containing the agreeable Intelligence, that the Enemy had retreated from Brunswick, I had the Honour of receiving yesterday Afternoon, and shall, this Morning, with the greatest Pleasure, lay it before Congress. Give me Leave to congratulate you very sincerely upon this Event; as it must be principally ascribed to the Prudence and Wisdom of your Operations, which had so...
145To George Washington from John Hancock, 8 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am this Minute honored with your Favour of the 6th Inst.; and am to acknowledge the Receipt of your several Favours to that Date. The Congress, concurring with the Proposal of exchanging Generals Prescot & McDonald for Genls Sullivan & Stirling, have authorized the Board of War to send the two former to you for that Purpose, as soon as possible. In Consequence of the Message which Genl...
146To George Washington from John Hancock, 23 April 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am to acknowledge the Receipt of your Favour of the 19th of April enclosing several Papers: all which were immediately laid before Congress. The important Intelligence they contain, makes it necessary that the most vigorous Measures should be adopted, as well to defend our Troops against the Canadians themselves, as to ensure Success to the Expedition. The Congress being determined on the...
147To George Washington from John Hancock, 3 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the Honour to enclose you sundry Resolves, by which you will perceive that Congress having taken your Letter of the 2d Inst. into Consideration, came to a Resolution, in a Committee of the whole House, that no Damage should be done to the City of New York. I have sent Expresses to order the Battalions up to Head Quarters agreeably to the Resolves herewith transmitted; & likewise to...
148To George Washington from John Hancock, 10 May 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am to acknowledge the Receipt of your several Favours of the 5th and 7th Inst., which I had the Honour of laying before Congress. By the enclosed Resolves you will perceive the Sense of Congress upon some Parts of your Letters. The others are under the Consideration of different Committees. As soon as I am authorized, I will do myself the Pleasure of immediately transmitting the Result....
149To George Washington from John Hancock, 5 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
The Congress having this day Rec’d certain Intelligence of the Sailing of Two North Country built Brigantines, of no Force, from England on the 11th of August last, loaded with Six thousand Stand of Arms, a large Quantity of Powder & other Stores for Quebec, without Convoy, and as it is of great importance if possible to intercept them, I am order’d by the Congress to Give you this...
150To George Washington from John Hancock, 4 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have it in Charge from Congress to inform you, that they have this Day appointed General Gates to the Command of the Army in the Northern Department, and to direct, that you immediately order him to repair to that Post —Any Instructions that may be necessary, shall be sent after him with the utmost Expedition. I have the Honour to be, with the greatest Respect Sir your most obed. & very hble...