If the Crown were successful the suits would confiscate the entire Hancock estate—­matters were getting in a serious way.  Witnesses were summoned, but the trial was staved off from time to time.

Hancock had refused to follow Samuel Adams’ lead in the controversy with Governor Hutchinson as to the right to convene the General Court.  The report was that John Hancock was growing lukewarm and siding with the Tories.  A year had passed since the massacre had occurred, and the agitators proposed to commemorate the day.

Colonel Hancock had appeared in many prominent parts, but never as an orator.

“Why not show the town what you can do!” some one said.

So John Hancock was invited to deliver the oration.  He did so to an immense concourse.  The address was read from the written page.  It overflowed with wisdom and patriotism; and the earnestness and eloquence of the well-rounded periods was the talk of the town.

The knowing ones went around corners and roared with laughter, but Samuel Adams said not a word.  The charge was everywhere made by the captious and bickering that the speech was written by another, and that, moreover, John Hancock had not even a very firm hold on its import.  It was the one speech of his life.  Anyway, it so angered General Gage that he removed Colonel Hancock from his command of the cadets.

An order was out for Hancock’s arrest, and he and Samuel Adams were in hiding.

The British troops marched out to Lexington to capture them, but Paul Revere was two hours ahead, and when the redcoats arrived the birds had flown.

Then came the expulsion of the British, the closing of all courts, the Admiralty included.  The merchant-prince breathed easier, and that was the last of the Crown versus John Hancock.

* * * * *

Throughout the months that had gone before, when the Hancock mansion was gay with floral decorations, and servants in livery stood at the door with silver trays, and the dancing-hall was bright with mirth and music, Samuel Adams had quietly been working his Bureau of Correspondence to the end that the thirteen Colonies of America should come together in convention.  Chief mover of the plan, and the one man in Massachusetts who was giving all his time to it, he dictated whom Massachusetts should send as delegates.  This delegation, as we know, included John Hancock, John Adams and Samuel Adams himself.

From the danger of Lexington, Hancock and Adams made their way to Philadelphia to attend the Second Congress.

At that time the rich men of New England were hurriedly making their way into the English fold.  Some thought that the mother country had been harsh, but still, England had only acted within her right, and she was well able to back up this authority.  She had regiment upon regiment of trained fighting men, warships, and money to build more.  The Colonies had no army, no ships, no capital.