To George Washington from John Hancock, 20 August 1776
From John Hancock
3 oClock P.M.
Congress Cham[be]r [Philadelphia] 20 Augst 1776
Sir
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;1 I shall therefore only by the Return of the Post Inclose you Two Commiss[ion]s which please to order to be Deliver’d;2 Referring all other matters to be Sent by the Express. I have the hon. to be Your most Obedt sert
John Hancock Prest
ALS (photocopy), ViU: Gwathney Autographs Collection microfilm; ALS, sold by Sotheby, Parke-Bernet, item 271, 27–28 Feb. 1974.
1. On 19 Aug. Congress read GW’s second letter to Hancock of 12 Aug., and on this date it read GW’s letters to Hancock of 18 and 19 Aug. (, 5:667, 672, 691). Congress detained the express rider, because it was discussing the papers concerning Lord Dunmore that GW had enclosed in his letter of 18 Aug. (see Hancock to GW, 24 Aug.).
2. The commissions are probably those for James Chapman and Thomas Dyer, both of whom Congress promoted to major on this date (ibid., 667–68).