Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1859-08-04
family Girtlt.
Men of the Revolution.

The following we find in the San An.
dreas, Cal, Independent. and is taken
from an Old Manuscript of 1886.
One Of the most prominent men of the
American Revolution. was John Han
cock. The first time saw him was 81
years ago last June. | was then in my
eighth year, and went to Boston for the
first time in my life. with my eyes and
cars intent on their duty; and it was the
most impressive year | eyei knew. He
resided then in the stone house on Bea-
con street, Familiarity called the Hancock
House. | was conducted thither for the
express purpose Of seeing him. We were
received in the small parlor on the left
hand side of the door. 1t was about mid
day. Hancock was then nearly As years
of age. AS l recollect him, he was a
man of nearly six feet in stature. of slen-
der frame, and STOPPING a little; and had
the appearance of being an invalid. |
remember his pallid face as well as though
it was but yesterday. In early days it
must have been a handsome one. He
had on a red velvet cap. within which
~sAnA of fine linen: the edge of this
" dc ~ 2 ny ONCl INV tOlfCb III bNO u
three inches. He wore a blue damask
gown lined with silk, a white plated
stock, a white silk embroidered waistcoat,
black silk small clothes, white silk stock
ings, and red morocco slippers. His
dress, and. the graciouSness of our recep-
ton, his smiling condescension in noticing
a small boy, made a deep impression on
my memory. He seemed to me something
above any mortal | had ever before seen.
| have no recollection of anything that
was said on this occasion, but | remem-
Der this gorgeous being manifested some
connection with earthly pleasures, by 60
ing to a cooler that stood on the hearth,
and taking out of it a silver tankard full
of punch, from which he first drank him
self, and then passed it round to his visi.
tors.
Hancock lived more than eleven years
after this time, having died in October,
1898. In all the latter years of his life,
he was often and severely afflicted with
the gous, which was a much more COM
mon disease then than it is now; but |
do not remember to have heard anything
at the close of the last century, or in the
beginning of this, of the disease now
called dyspepsia. If it was as common a
disease then as it is now, it had some
other name.
About the year 1888 a small vessel
came to Boston from the West Indies
Some political question arose out of this
event, and Governor Hancock resolved
to absent himself, for what reason | know
not III O rnfron To fho %orrp &c C1.zz
in this State. | was sent early on a Sur.
day morning, to him with a letter. /
found him at the tavern of a Mr.. Rich
ardson, opposite the Court House. He
received ana read this letter, and appear
ed to be very much excited by it, and
walked to and fro in the room, talking
to himself. He retired to his chamber,
and | remained, awaiting an answer
Dinner came, after an hour or two. but
40 answer. He was called to dinner;
himself, his wife, and myself, were tho
only persons at the table. He talked to
himself most of the time, as though under
great excitement, taking no notice of his
wife or me. AS soon as he had diued,
still talking to himself, he struck his fist
on the table with no small degree of VIC
lence, and uttered, in a most emphatic
manner, " Fiat j~ustitia. yuat ceLum." Then
Immediately rising and returning to
his chamber, he remained there about an
hour, when he came in again and gave
me a sealed letter to bring to town.
What all this meantI knew not then. nor
do | know now. Though I saw him oft.
en- afterwards. | remember nothing re.
markable bat his gentlemanly complais
ance and department, which were very
striking qualities in him. When Wash.
ington came to Boston, in 1889, he lodged
at the house at the corner of fremont
and Court streets. A very serious diff
Guilty arose on the occasion in a manner
Of etiquette. Hancock supposed the first
visit should be made by Washington to
him, he being Governor of the State;
Washington was of opinion that this orr
der should be reversed, and a delicate
negotiation cnsued. If Hancock had not
made the first visit, he would not have
seen Washington. The govt furnished
an apology for the delay, and | we'll re,
member seeing him carried by servants,
enveloped in red baize, from his coach
into W~ashington's lodgings.
he died of govt and exhaustion. at the
age OF So. saw him after he was dead,
and remember being struck with his ex
treme emaciation. He was buried with
parade, all the militia of the surrounding
country being present. The Judges Of
tue Supreme Court attended in their
robes, and this was their last appearance
In otlclal dress on any occasion.
Although Hancock was a man of great
wealth for those days, he was careless
ABOUT money matters, and sometimes en-.
countered notifying embarrassments.-
Ills patriotism entities him to a grateful
remembrance. His sincerity and effect.
rr7"e1p H"y b0 mcaourUd 10y tue TaCJ Ihat
In the royal proclamation, whereby the
colonies were invited to return to their
allegiance and avail themselves of un.
conditional pardon for all their rebellious
acts, Hancock and Samuel Adams were
the only persons to whom this grace was
denied.
The REvENGEs OF NAPOLEON II.-An
editorial signed &C." aud we suppose
from Caleb Cushing, in The Boston
Traveller, concludes:
Napoleon, by the actual aid Of Great
1 Rrlfain hos l,alapoa1 A.. D.