No. XXI. Letter of the Corpo ration to Mr. Han cock. especially at a time when the enemy are in possession of New York, appendix, and may perhaps cut off the communication between the southern and northern colonies: therefore resolved, That the Corporation of Harvard College be advised to appoint and empower some suitable person to receive of the said John Hancock, Esq., all the obligations and securities belonging to the said College, and to give to the said Mr. Hancock a receipt and discharge for all such securities and obligations as he shall receive from him. Voted, that this meeting be adjourned to the first Wednesday in January next, in order to receive and examine the accounts of John Hancock, Esq, Treasurer of the said College, which the board expect and depend that he will by that time lay before them.' But, notwithstanding the requisition made by the Overseers of a settlement of your accounts in their letter of September 10th; the assurance you gave to Mr. Bowdoin, that it should soon be done; and the continued adjournments of the board for that special reason, they heard nothing more from you until Mr. Hall's return, which was near five months after the date of your letter to Mr. Bowdoin. "The above advice of the Overseers to send for the obligations, &c., was immediately communicated to the Corporation. We were not, however, hasty in acting upon it. At length we heard of General Washington's retreating from place to place, and the enemy's progress. This gave us a great alarm, and we thought it best to send Mr. Hall, one of the Tutors, whatever the expense might be, to bring the bonds and other securities, according to the resolve of the Overseers, before the communication between the northern and southern States was entirely cut off, which we had reason to apprehend might soon be the case. Mr. Hall's first orders were to go to Philadelphia. He had proceeded no further than Fairfield when he heard of the removal of the Congress to Baltimore. His orders did not extend so far; yet he thought it best not to return, but to write to the Corporation and tarry at Fairfield till he could receive further instructions from us. When we received his letter, the British troops were rapidly moving on towards Philadelphia, and no one could foretell how far they might gain ground, and whether the Congress might not be obliged to remove from Baltimore before Mr. Hall could reach that place. As the danger of travelling in those parts of the country was increasing daily, we were at some loss what answer to return to Mr. Hall's letter. Though we had no doubt of your taking all possible care of the College papers, wherever you might find it necessary to remove, yet it gave us great No. XXI. Letter of the Corporation to Mr. Hancock. APPENDIX, uneasiness to think they might go still farther out of our reach, when they were so much wanted here. But, on the other hand, the hazards attending Mr. Hall's journey so far as Baltimore, in such a critical state of things, and the risk of the papers on his return, were matters of weighty consideration. In this perplexity it was judged most proper to consult the Overseers, especially as we had proceeded hitherto in this affair by their particular recommendation and advice. Mr. Hall's letter required a speedy answer. There was not opportunity to notify and call a regular meeting of the Overseers; but, as the Council of this State was then sitting, which constitutes a great majority of that board, we determined to communicate Mr. Hall's letter to them. "Upon this application that honorable board passed the following vote, January 7th, 1777, viz. The Rev. President having laid before this board a letter from Mr. Hall, who had been sent express by the President and Fellows of Harvard College to Philadelphia, to receive of John Hancock, Esq., Treasurer of the College, the obligations and securities belonging to the College, in which Mr. Hall signified, that as, according to the information he had received, the Congress had removed from Philadelphia to Baltimore, in Maryland, he apprehended his present instructions were not sufficient, and that he thought it best to tarry at Fairfield till he should receive direction from the Corporation; and the gentlemen of the Corporation desiring the advice of this board as to their further proceeding; Voted, that the Corporation be advised to direct Mr. Hall to proceed to Baltimore, or to any other place where Mr. Hancock may be. And if, upon considering all circumstances, and taking the best advice he can procure, he apprehend the papers he was sent and empowered to receive can be brought with safety, he then return with them as soon as may be. But it is the opinion of this board that if Mr. Hall, upon taking the best advice he can procure, shall think it absolutely unsafe to take the charge of the securities and obligations belonging to the College, he be directed to return without them. And, in case he find himself obliged to return without the securities, he be further directed to make application to the College Treasurer for a list of the securities that have been changed or given since his appointment to that office, together with an account of the time to which the interest of all the securities in his hands hath been paid.' "In consequence of the foregoing advice of the Board, we immediately sent new instructions to Mr. Hall, copied from the ad No. XXI. Letter of the Corporation to vice given us, almost verbatim, in the principal articles. You are APPENDIX, pleased to take repeated notice of these words in the advice given us by the Council, and in our orders conformable to it, to proceed wherever Mr. Hancock may be. This clause in our orders must appear not only unexceptionable but even necessary, if you reflect one moment on the critical state of things at that time, the danger of a further removal of the Congress from Baltimore, and that Mr. Hall had already been stopped a fortnight for want of larger orders. "When the board of Overseers, at the forementioned meeting of November 13th, voted their advice to send for the bonds, &c., without insisting further at that time on the accounts, your friends, besides the necessity on the part of the College of having them here, supposed it would free you from a great incumbrance in every removal, and therefore would not be disagreeable; but you seem to have viewed the matter in another light. However, we were glad to find, upon Mr. Hall's return, that you had sent the bonds by him to Mr. Bant, who in an obliging manner delivered them to the Corporation. We examined them with him, and found them agreeable to the list you sent, for which we gave him a receipt. "We have mentioned in the beginning of this letter, that it was necessary, in order to our returning you a proper answer, that yours by Mr. Hall should be laid before the board of Overseers. It was communicated to them at a meeting, March 18th, 1777, and the board appointed a committee to consider the matter, and then adjourned to March 25th. On that day they again met, and the committee made the following report, which was accepted by the board; Whereas the Honorable John Hancock, Esq., Treasurer of Harvard College, has long been, and still is employed in the high and important office of a President of the Continental Congress, which necessarily occasions his absence from the State; and many and great inconveniences have resulted, and will further result to the College, by the absence of the Treasurer: and whereas he has, in consequence of a vote of the said board of Overseers of the 13th of November last, sent the bonds and other securities belonging to the College to be delivered to the members of the Corporation, which have accordingly been so delivered therefore it is voted by the said board of Overseers, that it is highly expedient that another Treasurer, who shall constantly reside within this State, be elected in the stead and place of Mr. Hancock, and that it be recommended to the Corporation to proceed to a choice accordingly.' "We have now given you, Sir, the explanation you desired. Let VOL. II. 66 Mr. Han cock. No. XXI. Letter of the Corporation to Mr. Han cock. APPENDIX, our conduct, thus particularly and fairly related, speak for itself. Is there any thing through the whole of it, Sir, that implies the least disrespect to you? that might justly incur your serious resentment? that discovers any inclination to remove you from the office of Treasurer, while you could be in a situation to discharge the duties of it? Is there any thing that implies a severe unmerited censure on your conduct, any thing that looks like a sudden dismission without allowing you even the privilege of a resignation? We are persuaded, Sir, upon a calm review, you will observe in all our conduct peculiar marks of respect and affection to you, and as much patience under many and great inconveniences to the College, as fidelity to our important trust would allow. We early foresaw you must be fully employed in the momentous affairs of the United States, and that you could not soon be released. You now are called to the summit of honor in the public service, and we cannot entertain the least desire that you should relinquish it for the sake of attending to the affairs of the College. We have not declined giving, as you have desired, the most friendly intimations of our opinion, that it would not be in your power to serve us and the public at the same time. The event has proved that we were not mistaken. "We acknowledge your generosity in defraying Mr. Hall's expenses to Baltimore, and ordering Mr. Bant to pay those of his return. But, as it never entered into our thoughts to lay any of this charge upon you, we must beg leave to carry to your credit what you have paid him; and we have accordingly voted payment of the whole. What losses we may have sustained by your long absence, while you have been unavoidably taken off from the management of our funds, we connect with the idea of public calamities; nor shall we desire you to relinquish your salary, as Treasurer, for the time you have been employed in our service. "Whatever sentiments you may be pleased still to entertain of our conduct in these affairs, you may be assured that we and the seminary of learning under our care shall always retain a high esteem of a gentleman, whose education there has qualified him to act so distinguished a part in the great revolution of America, and whose name is enrolled among our most munificent benefactors. "With most sincere respect, we are your very humble servants. "SAMUEL LANGDON, President, in the name of the Corporation. "The Hon. JOHN HANCOCK, Esq." 66 January 22d, 1778. At a meeting of the President and Fel- Vote of the lows at Boston, at the Treasurer's. Corporation requesting the portrait of John "Whereas at a meeting on the 16th day of June, 1772, a vote was passed, requesting that Mr. Hancock would permit his portrait Hancock. to be drawn at the expense of the College, and placed in the Library by his alcove; which portrait was accordingly finished about the time when the present war broke out in this State; but in those alarming and dangerous times it became necessary to remove, to places of greater security, every thing belonging to the College Library and Apparatus, and it was not in our power, under such circumstances, to receive, and take proper care of such a valuable piece; and as we have but just recovered from the apprehensions of danger, so that the Library has lately been brought to Cambridge, and placed in proper order; and we are informed that Mr. Hancock has taken the portrait under his own care; therefore Voted, That the cost of the aforesaid portrait be paid out of the College treasury, and that Dr. Eliot, Dr. Cooper, and the Treasurer, be a committee to wait on the Hon. John Hancock, Esq., with the most respectful compliments of the Corporation, and request that he would accept, in the most favorable manner, their apology for so long delay, and permit his portrait to be forthwith conveyed to the College, and placed in the Philosophy Chamber, by that of his late honorable uncle, as the structure of the alcove in the Library will not admit so large a piece; or, if Mr. Hancock chooses to keep this in his own possession, that he would grant us leave to have another taken by some masterly hand, as we are very desirous to perpetuate the memory of so great a benefactor." No. XXIII. See p. 204. EXTRACT FROM A LETTER OF TREASURER STORER TO HIS "According to the answer returned by Colonel Donnison, I should not again have troubled you with a line, had I not received |