Letter to the Command^g Officer of the British at Penobscot—
Similar One to Gen^l Wadsworth.

Boston Sept. 12, 1780

S^r
It is expected that there will be a very remarkable Eclipse of y^eSun on y^e 27^th of Oct^o next, and that it will be central & total at or near the british Post at Penobscot where you command: the centre of y^e Moon’s Shadow if the longitude & latitude of that place by y^e Maps can be depended on, being by calculation to pass over Penobscot Bay,  As accurate observations of this Eclipse at a place so situated may be greatly beneficial especially in Geography & Astronomy, the Gen^l Assembly of this State have made provision for Suitable persons to observe it at any place most proper for that purpose, and to which they can have access.  The Gentleman who will be employed is ye Rev^d M^r Sam^lWilliams Hollisson Professor of Mathematics & Nat^l Phil^o at our University at Cambridge with such assistants as he shall take with him.  If he sh^d judge your Post or any other place within your command most suitable for making his observations it is not doubted that as a Friend of Science you will not only give him y^r permission for that purpose, but every assistance in your power to render the observation as perfect as possible.  Though we are politically enemies, yet with regard to Science it is presumable we shall not dissent from the practice of all civilized people in promoting it either in conjunction or separately as occasions for it shall happen to offer.
Please favour me with an answer, and with Passes for the safe going & return of M^r Williams & his associates, and of the Vessel and Mariners.
I am respectfully S^r yr most ob^t hbble Serv^t

John Hancock   Spk^r