Hancock family papers, 1712-1854 (inclusive). Volume JH-6 John Hancock letterbook (business), 1762-1783. Mss:766 1712-1854 H234. Baker Library Historical Collections, Harvard Business School.

I mean this Vessell to bring out my Goods in the Spring & to be kept running; if this is agreeable to you, I wish you would be upon the look out till Hoskins arrives or you may fix upon one if you See it. I would not have one above 130 or 140 Tons.-- I however leave it to you. I am at a loss who Hoskins should apply to in London I have a great respect for Mr Harrison tho' we differ in Principles. Does he carry on Business, I have no favours to ask, but I Confess I should like you should drop a hint to him on the Subject - if any Vessell should be Sailing for this place after you receive this, do give me your opinion-- I shall get Mr Hoskins away as Speedily as Possible.

The inclos'd letter to Mrs Hayley I Request you will be kind {Enough} to deliver with your own hand with my best Requests to America do wait till she reads it, having heard that she proposes a Visit to America in the Spring, I have in my Letter Sollicited her acceptance of Apartments in my House during her pleasure, you can inform her of my Situation, perhaps it is nearly as pleasant as any in Towndo urge her acceptance, she shall be as unceremonious as She pleases You know me. I have Carriages & Servants at her Service, & I shall be happy to render her every Service in my Power, perhaps if you Should Succeed in a Vessell She might approve of the opportunity of taking passage with you--I have mentioned to Mrs. Hayley that I have requested you to ask her opinion & advice as to a few thing I have wrote you for family use; & Inclos'd you have a {Memorandum} which after taking every Necessary advice I could wish you would put in hand, do Consult Mr. Harrison Mr. Eliott & Mr. William Foster as to the Post Chariot: I have not time to write Mr. Eliott but, will by Mr. Hoskins; as I am now Busily Employ'd in Settling all my Public Concerns, as I am determin'd in the course of this Month to Resign my Command as Governor of this CommonWealth & retire to private Life after the many Fatigues I have gone {through} do ask Mr. {Samuel} Eliott if he does not really approve my Determination, as I leave the Government under the fullest {conviction}

Conviction that a much better Man be my Successor, & I am really worn out with public Business_______

I shall Defer what I have further to Say until Mr. Hoskins's departure, by him Shall Send Money or Bills give me the earliest notice of your intentions, wither you consent to go into the old Line or not, because my Plans will be materially affected, write me by Various opportu= nities I shall make Mr Harrison the offer of my Business it is at his pleasure to accept or Reject, my pay will be acceptable to others if not to him, I do not mean to court but I have a Friendship for him & if it is agreeable to him it will be to me. I mean ever to close my {Accounts} once a Year & When I cannot do that I will quit. I wish to lay aside all diversity of Sentiment, for with me that Cir= cumstance neither in my public life nor private Situation has occasion'd a Breach of Friendship.___

God Bless you my good Friend, my regards to your worthy Family in which Mrs. Hancock joins me, I have a fine little Boy, pray what has become of that ungrateful ungentlemanly base Fellow of a William Bowes, there is no Balm in Giliad for him. I would not thus write of any one Else & I pray God however to to forgive him I wish him no ill in the other World, I shall have my Recompense for what he {Robbed} me of, out of what he left here

I am Your Real Friend

JH___

{Captain} {James} Scott ---

Memo of Sundry articles that Mr. Hancock is in want of for his own use & Service, & Which he wishes {Captain} Scott would put in hand afer advising Mrs. Hayley Mr. & Mrs Harrison & Mr {Samuel} Eliott, in case Mr. Hoskins should not be arrived timely for the things to be prepar'd so as Mr. Hancock may Recieve them in the Spring---

[Left margin] By {Captain} Lyde, Sail'd {November} 1783.

A very Neat & light Post Chaise or Chariott, Elegantly neat not made expensive by external Tawdry Ornaments, the Coachmans Seat to unship & Ship with a Pole & Fills so as Occasionally to have the Servant on the Seat, or to ride Postilion, the Box inside of the Carriage to draw out, a good Lock & Key to it, a Lamp at each Side of the Carriage a handsome travelling Trunk made exactly to fit with Leather Straps to fasten it a Strong Lock & Key to be lined with a Crims= son Velvet if not thought too heavy, however Mr Hancock submits to better taste than his own in Mrs/ Hayleys & others, {Captain} Scott will find Inclos'd Mr Hancock's Arms which he would have neatly Introduc'd on the Carriage, with the Crest on the other parts of the Carriage & the Motto Subjoin'd, the Ground paint work of the Carriage to be Stone Yellow, that being the Colour all his Carriages bear. In short Mr Hancock wants to have Executed a very neat light Carriage Elegant not fine, a Sett of Spare Glasses, a Sett of Spare Springs,? Blinds Sett with Glasses.------

A set of Best Pewter, if Mr. Ellis is living I beg he may make them. 6 Doz. very best Pewter Plates, with their Proportion of proper Siz'd oval or long Dishes for Saturdays Salt Fish, you know how it us'd to be my Crest to be Engrav'd in each Dish & Plate.

Mr. Hancock thinks [Captain} Scott Mr. Harrison & Mr. {Samuel} Eliott must have a perfect Recollection of his large Parlour, the Furniture has stood from the finishing of the Room to the present Moment, but is now much worn & Stands in need of a Recruit, at least Mr Han= cocks Son will want it; he therefore Incloses the you the Dimensions of the Room Windows etc & Requests {Captain} Scott will Consult with Mrs Hayley as to the kind of Furniture that is most Fashionable,

I would not have it Yellow, as my Chamber over that Room is furnish'd With that Colour. I think a Silk & Worsted furniture will be good enough, the Window Curtains to be made to draw up, the window Cushions of the same & twelve neat Stuff back Chairs to be be Covered with the Same & a Sophia of the Same I wish the Room to be tolerably decent in its fur= niture, but not extravagantly So, I leave it with my Friends to determine, you have also inclos'd the Dimen= sions of the Parlour for the Floor of which I want a very neat lively [Col.d?] Wilton Carpet in one if Possi= ble. You have also Inclos'd the Dimensions of two Bed Chambers, for each of which I want Wilton Carpets, do let them be neat, the British Officers who possess'd my house totally defac'd & Ruin'd all my Carpets, & I must Submit, I wish to have a handsome Silver Tea Urn whither wrought or unwrought I beg the favour of Mrs. Hayley's advice

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