To George Washington from John Hancock, 17 August 1776
From John Hancock
Philadelphia August 17th 1776. 5 O’Clock P.M.
Sir,
Your Favour of the 16th Inst: per Post this Minute came to Hand, & shall be laid before Congress on Monday.1
I do myself the Pleasure to enclose sundry Resolves for your Information,2 and likewise to forward the Commissions ordered by a Resolve of Congress on the 10th Inst., a Copy of which I transmitted in my Letter of that Date. With the most ardent and sincere Wishes for your Health & Prosperity, I have the Honour to be with perfect Esteem Sir your most hble Sert
John Hancock Prest
This morng I Rec’d the Box by Coll Reed, & am Directed by Congress to Take Care of it, which is done.3
LS, DLC:GW; LB, DNA:PCC, item 12A. The postscript to the LS is in Hancock’s writing.
1. The following Monday was 19 August.
2. In the enclosed resolutions of this date, Congress approves a report clearing Brig. Gen. David Wooster of charges of misconduct while he commanded the Continental forces in Canada, appoints an assistant quartermaster general for the flying camp, directs GW to propose an exchange of the British prisoners who were captured at St. Jean and Chambly for American prisoners captured in Canada, recommends that the Maryland convention “raise & arm two battalions upon the Continental establishment,” and authorizes the sending of “500 firelocks with bayonets” and other ordnance supplies to the flying camp (DLC:GW; see also , 5:664–66).
3. For the sending of this box of GW’s official papers to Philadelphia, see GW to Hancock, 13 August.