The New York Packet

UNITED STATES

BOSTON, June 26.

The following generous offer of three hundred pounds, to be deducted from the Governor's salary for the present year, was, on Thursday last, communicated by the Secretary to the Legislature; and was committed to Mr. Sedgwick, Doctor Jarvis, Mr. Brooks, Mr. Jones, (of Boston) and Mr. Ward, (of Salem) on the part of the House—Stephen Choate, Charles Turner, Cotton Tufts and Joseph B. Varnum, Esquires, on the part of the Senate, to report thereon.

If any new proof was requisite to fix his Excellency's character as a friend to the people, this disinterested favour would inevitably have that effect.

Gentlemen of the Senate, and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives.

It has always given me the highest pleasure to meet the wishes of the people and as the Governor's salary has been among those objects which engaged the attention of the last Court, and has already attracted the notice of the present,—to prevent a decision on a subject, the constitutionality of which must, in its nature, be attended with some uncertainty; you will permit me, gentlemen, to make a voluntary offer of three hundred pounds to the community, to be deducted from my salary for the present year.—I shall, with pleasure, confine myself to the remaining sum, which the last Assembly determined to be sufficient to sustain the importance of that station to which I have had the honor of being appointed. And when we may rationally presume that the future situation of our affairs will be less perplexed than the present, I hope, that it will not be considered as a precedent to affect any successor in office, nor that I have any view, but that of contributing, as far as in me lies, to relieve the burthens of the people.

JOHN HANCOCK

Council Chamber, June 21, 1787.