Martinsburg Gazette And Public Advertiser

John Hancock. - During the siege of Boston, Gen. Washington consulted Congress upon the propriety of bombarding the town of Boston. Mr. Hancock was then President of Congress. After the letter was read, a solemn silence ensued. This was broken by a member making a motion that Mr. Hancock might give his opinion on the important subject, as he was deeply interested, from having all his estate in Boston. After he left the chair, he addressed the chairman of the committee of the whole in the following words: "It is true sir, nearly all the property I have in the world is in houses and other real estate, in the town of Boston. but if the expulsion of the British army from it, and the liberties of our country, require their being burnt to ashes issue the order for that purpose immediately."