Beschreibung:

HANCOCK, JOHN, Signer (Massachusetts) . Autograph letter signed ("John Hancock," signed again on address panel) as President of the Continental Congress, TO ROBERT MORRIS Baltimore, 18 February 1777. 1 page, large folio, 360 x 234 mm. (14 3/16 x 9 1/4 in.), small repairs at fold intersections and to seal hole, slightly affecting three letters of text, boldly addressed by Hancock on verso: "To the Honbl. Robert Morris Esq. at Philada.," and in the corner, "By Mr. Tailor John Hancock " CONGRESS RETURNS TO PHILDELPHIA: "I HOPE SOON TO JOIN YOU AT THE OYSTER CLUB" A warm and affectionate letter from the President of Congress to his friend Morris, reporting that Congress would soon move its meetings back to Philadelphia, which it had deserted in December 1776 when the British Army launched their unsuccessful New Jersey campaigns. Morris had remained behind to perform his duties as first President of the Pennsylvania Assembly, to conduct meetings of the Secret Committee of Congress and to serve (with Clymer and Walton) on its executive committee. During this critical period, "as Washington prepared the desparate strategy that was to end with his brilliant riposte at Trenton and Princeton, it was Morris who furnished the necessary backing as civil authority of the country.....Morris carried a tremendous personal load at this critical period of American history, and he carried it without a stumble" (Boatner, Encyclopedia , p.743). Hancock is evidently mindful of the great pressures on his friend: "I send Mr. Tailor my Secy. to Philada. to procure a suitable house well furnish'd for me, and I have taken the Liberty to desire him to apply to you for your Advice in this instance, not doubting yo[u]r Good offices. Congress will adjourn on Tuesday next to that Day week then to meet in Philada. and I hope on Saturday or Sunday week to take you by the hand; My Friend, it will give me pleasure to see you, & I hope our coming there will in some degree Relieve you from the great Burden that has laid upon you, I assure you I have felt for you. No money, constant applications for it, & a steady succession of Business to attend to, has made yo[u]r Situation hard indeed, however you gave up all pro bono publico...& you are as well calculated to go thro' Business as any Gentleman I know, that I believe you bear up under it as well as any Gent[lema]n could -- pray do hurry on the Waggons I wrote you for this morning. I cannot move without them, nor can [Charles] Thompson [Secretary of Congress], four will be enough, do let them be good and well cover'd, with good horses & drivers. Can I be of any service to Mrs. Morris on the Road, Command me if I can. I am almost hurried out of my Life, but I will bear up. Complim[en]ts to Mr. Tailor, Genl. Mease, Mr. Nesbit, Mr. Beach & all Enquiring Friends. I hope soon to join you at the Oyster Club. Adieu...." In a postscript, he adds: A number of Friends, Purviance, Long, Peters, &c &c, dine with me tomorrow when we shall not be unmindful of our Philadela. Friends." Hancock's letter of "this morning" was an official letter requesting the waggons to transport Congress's papers, records and ledgers (probably including the engrossed Declaration of Independence itself, which had been signed only five months previously). For the text of that letter, see Barnett, ed., Letters of Members of the Continental Congress, 2, no.362. The present is Hancock's unofficial, personal communication.