To George Washington from John Hancock, 26 September 1777
From John Hancock
Lancaster [Pa.] 26 September 1777
Sir
I Arriv’d last Eveng at this place, where I was honour’d with your Letter of 23d Inst. which I shall lay before Congress as soon as the whole of the Members arrive here which I Expect will be this Day.
The Inclos’d Letters for Commodore Hazelwood & Capt. Alexander, the Marine Committee judg’d best to forward, at least to induce them to Exert themselves to the last, they are left open for your perusal, after which you will please to Seal and Send them forward by such Rout as you shall Determine the properest.1 I am Sir Your Excellency’s Most Obedt hume Servt
John Hancock Presidt
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. For the marine committee’s letters to Charles Alexander and John Hazelwood of this date, see , 8:20–21. Charles Alexander served as a galley captain in the Pennsylvania navy from July 1775 to April 1776, when he resigned in order to take command of the Continental schooner Wasp. In June 1776 Alexander was appointed captain of the Continental frigate , and while he was attempting to bombard the British in Philadelphia on 27 Sept. 1777, he ran his ship aground and was captured. Alexander apparently was exchanged by November 1778, when he was commissioned captain of the Pennsylvania privateer sloop Elizabeth. He took command of the Pennsylvania privateer brigantine Active in May 1779 and of the ship General O’Reily in 1782.