Hancock, John, 1737-1793. John Hancock Collection, 1754-1792. [Letter from the Harvard Corporation, Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Tutor Stephen Hall, Fairfield, Connecticut, 1777 January 8]. UAI 50.27.73 Box 1, Folder 48, Harvard University Archives.

Cambridge {January} 8th 1777

to The President

{Sir}

Yours of the 27 Ult. from Fairfield has been communicated to us by the [illegible] this Board, & likewise to the Board of Overseers. As your Instructions did not expressly [illegible] direct you to proceed any further than Philadelphia, & by the time you arrived at Fairfield, the Situation of the Armies was [illegible] greatly changed, so that the City of Philadelphia was in danger, and the Congress found it necessary to remove to Baltimore, we approve of your Resolution to tarry at Fairfield till you could receive further directions from us.

We cannot at such a Distance [illegible] have any certain knowlege of the of the Dangers that [illegible] difficulties or Dangers [illegible] of the hazards to which you may be exposed in travelling, so long a Journey & returning with the College Papers, but must leave this very much to your judgment upon the best advice you can gain from time to time as you proceed. But as [illegible] General Washington's late successful action the daily increase of our Army may clear the Enemy from the back-Roads, & render the Travailing much safer, it is [the opinion of?] determined both by the {Honorable} & {Reverend} Board of Overseers, & by this Corporation that you be directed to go on to Baltimore unless the our Treasurer should return with the College Securities

ties to Philadelphia while [illegible] before your Arrival.

When you arrive at Baltimore, [illegible] if you think there will be great Hazard in bringing the [illegible] College Securities here, after taking the best advice, particularly of the other Delegates from this State, you are not to receive them of Mr. Hancock, but leave them still in his Care, & only request of him a List of the Bonds & other Securities which may have been changed since he was chosen Treasurer, & likewise [illegible] a Memorandum of the Time to which the Interest of each of the Security Securities has been paid. And if you could also take obtain a minute of the Penalty of each of the annexed to each, it will be a very essential may be of great Service to us.

If it should appear that no extraordinary hazard will attend your bringing the Securities, you are hereby directed to take them under into your Care, giving a Receipt for all that may be deliverecd, according to our former Vote, & return with them as speedily as possible, & by the safest Roads. If Mr. Hancock should choose to deliver The Bonds & other Securities are

are what we more especially want, therefore if it will be any ways inconvenient to take an account of the other Papers, or bring them with you, let the rest remain with the Treasurer. But if he should choose to deliver all, you must procure such Assistance for the in the conveyance as you may find necessary.

You are to wait only only a reasonable time for accomplishing this Business, & we depend on your conducting it in a polite manner.

Letter of Direction to Mr. Hall {January} 8. 1777