Chap. 0175 An Act relating to the hancock house. 

 Be it enacted, Sfc, as follows:
Section 1. That his excellency the governor, his honor the lieutenant-governor, the secretary of the board of education, the attorney-general, the secretary of the Commonwealth, the treasurer and receiver-general and the auditor of accounts, be, and hereby are authorized to effect, for and
in behalf of the Commonwealth, a purchase of the estate known as the Hancock House, if in their unanimous judgment and discretion, after all necessary investigation and examination, it be deemed expedient for the Commonwealth to make such purchase: provided, that no more than one hundred thousand dollars shall be paid therefor, and that no alterations in the external or internal arrangements of said house be made, otherwise than to keep the same in good repair while it remains the property of the Commonwealth, and that it shall never be used as a residence for the governor of the Commonwealth.
Section 2. If such purchase shall be made, they shall communicate the fact to the legislature at the session to be held in September next, and shall accompany their communication with a recommendation as to the uses to be made of said estate in the future, together with an estimate of what expense and outlays will be necessary for its repair and maintenance.
Section 8. If such purchase shall be made, so much of the moneys, securities or funds of the Commonwealth, derived from the claim against the government of the United States, for military services during the last war with Great Britain, as may be necessary therefor, are hereby appropriated and shall be applied to the payments for said Hancock House, authorized by this act: provided, that the interest of the Commonwealth in and to said house, acquired under this act, and all property of the Commonwealth therein, shall stand pledged for the payment of the debt of the Commonwealth, in the same manner as the claim aforesaid upon the general government for military services, is set apart therefor, by the act of the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, chapter one hundred and ninety-seven.
Section 4. This act shall take effect from and after its passage. Approved April 5, 1859.