ALS signed “J. H.,” one page, 7.5 x 12, October 23, 1783. Letter, written while serving as governor of Massachusetts, addressed to the “Gentlemen of the Senate & Gentlemen of the House of Representatives.” In full, “The Secretary has laid before me a Bill, intitled [sic] an Act for Altering & Amending one Clause of part of an Act made & passed the last Sitting of the General Court, intitled An Act for Regulating Pilotage in several Ports in this Commonwealth. It is my Duty to mention to you, Gentlemen, that the Governor & Council in the Establishments of the Fees of the Vinyard [sic] Pilots, were greatly influenced by the Additional Expences [sic] that would Arise to them from each one of them being obligated to keep a Deck’d boat. This Bill relieves them from that Burden, & I should think the Navigation should meet a proportionable relief. I shall be ready to Sign the Bill if the Two houses are pleas’d to accord in the Addition.” Consignor notes that this letter was de-accessioned from the Hancock-Chase collection at the National Museum of American History. In very good to good condition, with professional repairs and reinforcements to folds on reverse, some minor paper loss along one fold, scattered light foxing, and areas of damp staining to left edge touchinging some text. R&R COA.
