all chance of any danger or
discomfort. His suggestion met with approval, and Mrs. Hancock and her
pretty ward at once set off for the Connecticut town, while Adams and
Hancock journeyed cautiously toward Worcester, where they were to meet
and go with other delegates to the Continental Congress at
Philadelphia. They were detained at Worcester three days, which gave
Hancock a chance to see his Dorothy again on her way to the new place
of refuge. Theirs was a rapturous though a brief visit together; then
the patriots went on toward New York, and Dorothy and Aunt Lydia
proceeded to Fairfield, where they were received in the home of Mr.
Thaddeus Burr, an intimate friend of the Hancocks, and a leading
citizen, whose fine colonial house was a landmark in the village.

Judge Quincy, meanwhile, had at last been able to take flight from
Boston, and after a long, uncomfortable trip, had arrived at his
daughter's home in Lancaster, where he heard that "Daughter Dolly and
Hancock had taken dinner ten days before, having driven over from
Shirley for the purpose." He writes to his son Henry of this, and
adds, "As I hear, she proceeded with Mrs. Hancock to Fairfield; I
don't expect to see her till peaceable times are restored."

The two patriots reached New York safely, and Hancock at once wrote to
Dorothy:

NEW YORK, _Sabbath Even'g, May 7, 1775_.

MY DEAR DOLLY:--

I Arrived well, tho' fatigued, at King's Bridge at Fifty
Minute after Two o'clock yesterday, where I found the
Delegates of Massachusetts and Connect' with a number of
Gentlemen from New York, and a Guard of the Troop. I dined
and then set out in the Procession for New York,--the
Carriage of your Humble servant being first in the
procession (of course). When we Arrived within three Miles
of the City, we were Met by the Grenadier Company and
Regiment of the City Militia under Arms,--Gentlemen in
Carriages and on Horseback, and many thousand of Persons on
foot, the roads fill'd with people, and the greatest cloud
of dust I ever saw. In this Situation we Entered the City,
and passing thro' the Principal Streets of New York amidst
the Acclamations of Thousands were set down at Mr.
Francis's. After Entering the House three Huzzas were Given,
and the people by degrees dispersed.

When I got within a mile of the City my Carriage was stopt,
and Per