Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-02-12
no AnvERTIsERs,
THE HANCOCK HOUSE.

The only thing in the Governors Inaugural
having resemblance to sentiment and poetry,
was his suggestion that the Legislature should
employ the anniversary of Washington's birth
day in considering the question of the purchase
of the Hancock estate for the uses of the Com
monwealth. 1t was also marvellously shrewd
suggestion; for what Representative or Sena-
tor, on that day of all others, with the memo
ries of the Revolution all around him, and
when the spirits of its heroes are accustomed,
if ever, to revisit the glimpses of the moon, and
listen to what we say about them, would have
the audacty or the hardihood to utter sylla-
BILE in derogation OF the value of that mansion,
whose history antedates the Revolution and
was itself no small part Of it This interest
ing question has been brought freshly to the
public mind, through an elaborate historical
report in favor of the proposed purchase, sub
mitted to the Senate, Thursday afternoon.
And it is not wholly improbable that the time
for deciding upon it will fall, by kind of pro-
vidential REORGANIZATION, on the day when our
Legislature is accustomed to decorate itself
with flags, to read the Declaration of indie
pendence, and to burn powder upon Beacon
street Mall.
The report is from the versatile and brilliant
pen of Col Z. G. Parker, and represents,
among other things, that the estate is now val
ued by the best of disinterested judges at up
wards of 100000; that the heirs, though they
can dispose of the estate for larger sum to
private parties, are yet DESTROYS that it should
pass into the possession of the Common
wealth, and have executed bond in the
the sum of $4,000 to give deed of it to the
Commonwealth, at any time within six
months that it is suitable in its sound preser-
walton, its fortunate locality, and its general
structure, as well for the illustrious relation
which it bears to the early history of New
England, for the Governors residence for
museum of natural history, or for State libra
ry and school; and finally, that the estate has
a special conservation to the affectionate custo-
dy of the State, for reasons which we give in
the language of the report:
Governor Hancock often expressed his
intention to give the whole Mansion House lot,
including the land where the State House
stands, and that which is now Hancock avenue,
to the Commonwealth as an everlasting DOS
session, in memory of the fiery days of their
struggle for Independence and in gratitude for
the honors with which they had crowned his
career Among the last thoughts which revolt
we'd in his mind, was this. In one of the last
days which he passed on earth, he called his
friend Nathaniel Balch into his chamber and
on the death-bed he dictated to him the min
utes and memoranda from which he directed
that an eminent councillor should draft a will,
and return it to him to be executed. In these
minutes he directly and absolutely gave the
mansion and the estate to the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts but as if it was destined
that Massachusetts should build him monu-
ment by buying his house, he died suddenly,
within comparatively few hours of this con-
versation, and without having an opportunity
of signing his will"
To every citizen who has taken an interest
in the history of the Revolutionary struggle,
or whose ancestors were among the actors in
its exciting scenes, no reflection could be more
gratifying than to know that the residence OF
the first Governor, the President of the
first American Congress, the great civilian
of the Revolution, had become a part of his
own property, paid for out of the common
, edfSu TuIllOuS IldIlUs OF spec
ulation, not by the charity, but by the wise and
prudent economy of the Commonwealth. The
State, during the next few years, is in danger
of having funds without any special demand
for their use. 1t is fortunate that there is here
presented an opportunity for safe investment
under circumstances which would be satisfac
tory to any individual capitalist in Massachu
sets. Next to the proposition for increasing
the State school fund to 5000 900, we regard
the suggestion of His Excellency for acquiring
this estate as one of the most judcious anC
practicable in his message. 1t has been feared
that public servants taking up their residence
in the metropolis, would suffer under mischiev.
GUS local influences. We would avert the dan
ger by choosing Governors who would MOI
consent to be Bostonized.