Lot 47
Hancock, John. Autograph Manuscript Initialed "JH," one page, Council Chamber, Boston, February 10, 1783. Being Hancock's retained copy of his address to the Massachusetts legislature regarding the quartering of French Army officers returning after the Battle of Yorktown and provisions for the expenses incurred by the people of Boston for their care. Overall toning; some reinforcement and filler, with loss of a few letters, but boldly penned and initialed.
"The several Resolves of the General Court, authorizing the Gentlemen Selectmen of the town of Boston, to prepare accommodations suitable to the Rank of the Officers of [t]he French Army upon their arrival in Boston, have with great [a]ttention & punctuality been attended to by the Selectmen, [& I have] the satisfaction to inform you that the General of that [A]rmy the Count de Viomenil assur'd me, that he with the other General & Subordinate officers were accommodated in a manner very Agreeable, & that he with the other officers were perfectly satisfied, & had a grateful sense of the ready & polite attention that was paid them. In Consequence of this Transaction, Gentlemen, considerable Expences have arisen, & agreeably to the Resolve of the General Court, I have…drawn a Warrrant…for Five hundred pounds…I have Directed the Secretary to lay the several acco[un]ts relative to this Transaction before you, by which you will observe that there Remains a Ballance due for this Service of Four hundred & nine pounds three shillings & six pence, and as the persons who are to Receive this Ball[ance] have applied many times for payment, I Beg Leave to Refer the Settlement of it to your Consideration."
After the Battle of Yorktown, General Rochambeau, and most of the French army which fought under him, wintered in Virginia to discourage further invasions and to avoid the hardship which would be imposed on residents to find provisions for the troops as they marched north. Beginning in July 1782, they slowly made their way north toward Boston, where they would embark for France. By December 1, the French troops arrived and most went directly onto the troop transports in Boston harbor (Boston had arranged quarters for 1,000 troops but that did not begin to meet the need). Some of the officers stayed in homes in Boston, and it is the expenses incurred for these officers to which Hancock refers.
Estimated Value $4,000 - 6,000.
The Hancock-Chase Collection, formerly housed at the National Museum of American History.
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