Your letters to 15th Inst. inclusive, I have duly receiv'd.(1) Matters of very great moment, in which the Interest of the United States is involv'd, having been for sometime under the Consideration of Congress, have prevented my regularly Replying to your Letters, and forwarding your Commission. I am greatly surpriz'd at what you relate of the Conduct of the late Agents, and at their insisting on Acting, untill your Commission should arrive; Sir, the very moment you recd my first letter under the Sanction of Congress, informing you of your Appointment as Agent, that very moment they were Superceeded, and were Accountable to you for all monies then in their hands belonging to the United States, in Consequence of any Captures, and Sales of Continental Property. However as I am always dispos'd to Accommodate matters, and to put things on a stable footing, I now enclose your Commission, and now not only Authorise, but Direct, you to call upon the Gentlemen, who have hitherto Acted as Agents, to render their Acco[u]nts to you, and to pay what monies they may have in their hands belonging to the Public to you, and to cease all further proceedings in that Department, the sd. Accts. with the vouchers to be Transmitted to me, to be laid before the Marine Committee, for their Examination and Approbation, you to render an Accott. of such monies recd, and to be accountable therefor. And the former Agents are hereby directed immediately on your Application to Render their Accotts. and pay the monies they may have in their hands to you; I wish to settle this matter as early as possible, for altho' their Conduct is highly Reprehensible yet I would gladly pass it over without a public mention, but with respect to the Arms, order'd by Congress to be sent to Genl. Washington, and which Mr. Glover mentions he without Consulting you had dispos'd of among the Troops, in his Brothers Regiment, I must insist that you immediately carry that Resolution into Execution,(2) and that the Arms be forwarded to the Genl. as at first order'd by Congress, it being my Duty to see every Resolve of Congress executed, [. . .] (3) now in the hands of the former Agents, you will have sufficient to answer present demands, and to pay for the Vessell

   You will please keep me duly advis'd of all matters.

   I inclose you the papers to which I refer you. Do give me all the news.

   I wish you and Family well, and happy, and am with Sentiments of Esteem, Sir Your very Hume Servt.

   John Hancock Presidt.

   MS not found; reprinted from Burnett, Letters, 2:25-26, where it is described as: "Copied from the original, then in possession of Mr. Charles E. Goodspeed of Boston ."