The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-09-22
JOHN HANCOCK.
BY r. s. THOMAS.

The memory of this great patriot statesman, and
orator. has been most grossly neglected. while hun
dreds whose services in the cause OF Independence
were not tythe of his, have been euogized to the
skies and live canvass and in marble this great
patriots name hut seldom finds place, even when
celebrating that freedom he among the first,
if not the first, TO risk his life in obtaining have
for years noticed this neglect with feelings of unegned
regret. Never was man more beloved by any peo-
pie than Hancock by the people of Massachu-
sets. With the exception of single year. when
Bowdoin was put in, he was, for sixteen successive
years elected their governor, and closed his patriotic
and illustrous life in that high station. Hundreds of
times have seen him. when worn out and crippled
by disease that he could not stand taken from his
carriage into the of two faithful servants, (who
regularly attended for the purpose and carried up to
the council chamber, distance of nearly fifty yards
from the street The last time he addressed his fell
low-cizens was the most impressive scene | ever wit
messed. town meeting was called upon question
of great excitement Old Fancui Hall could not
contain the people, and an al ournmcnt took place to
the Old South Meeting house; Hancock was brought
in and carried up into the front gallery, where the
Hon. BENJAMIN Austin supported him the right,
and the celebrated DIR Charles Jarvis upon the left
while he addressed the multitude. The Governor
commenced by stating TO his fellow citizens that "he
fer il was the last time he should address them
that "the seeds of mortality gr0iring fast tritn
him" The fall Of pin might have been heard, such
n death like silence pcryaded the listening crowd du.
ring the whole OF his animated and soul stirring
speech while tears down the checks of thousands
| The meeting ended he conveyed 10 his carriage
and taken home, hut again appeared in public !;
his death followed soon after. The corpse was en-
bowced and kept for eight days, TO give an opporu-
nifty to the citizens from the distant parts of the State
to render the last tribute OF respect to his memory.
They came by thousands and tens of thousands the
| procession was an hour and half in passing. The
post of honor among the military was given to the
Concord Light Infantry, under Captain Davis, the
| same who commanded them on the memorable
nineteenth of APRIL i5 II the most solemn and
interesting and incomparaby the longest funeral pro-
ccssion ever saw Samuel Adams, who lieu
death of Hancock and followed the bier, (there were
no hearses with noddng pumcs in those days,) as
chief mourner but the venerable patriot could not
endure the fatigue and compelled to retire from
the procession.
/ Hancock before the Revolution, was man Of vast
! fortune and though lie permitted IL to flow in the
cause of his country like water he had still enough
left TO support splendid establishment and lived and
entertained like prince. His generosity I'M
| bounded | well remember that one evening in each
week during summer a full band OF music, at his own
expense attended in front of his venerable stone
sion to entertain the citizens who were promcnadnq
on the mall He seldom left Boston to visit at any
distance but when he did he was escorted by voIun-
teer troop Of cavalry who held themselves nreadiness
for that purpose. He was very fond Of Joke and
partee, much so that worthy citizen of Boston,
| Nathaniel Balch, Esq. halter, who never failed TO
appear among the invi ed guests at his hospitable
board obtained the unenvied appelation Of The Go
rernor's Jester The celebrated Brissot, in his ira
wells to the United States, speaks Of his meeting this
gentleman at Hancocks table; and such the mn-
ual attachment between the Governor and Mr. Balch,
that if the former was called away, matter what