TRANSCRIPT GLC 2437.17.162
Henry Knox. Autograph letter draft fragment: Boston, to George Washington, 1785 January 21. 4 p.

Boston 21 January 1785

[inserted – different hand: Knox to Washington
Tour W Passamaquatity
Lt. Croix & c.]

I have [struck: the satisfied] the satisfaction my dear Sir to aknowledge the receipt of your kind favors of 5. Decr [inserted: and Jany 5th.] for which I beg you to receive my warmest thanks. I [struck: esteem it] [inserted: regard these letters] as a fresh proof of your [inserted: unchanging] friendship and kindness [struck: which is not changed by absence or altered by [inserted: circumstances] altered by an alteration of situations.] which I shall ever hold as [struck: a] [inserted: one] [struck: valuable] of the first blessings of my life –

[struck: In the state temper]

The indians being in a bad temper when you went to the Westward, [struck: I <?>] I felt [struck: an extreme] [inserted: great] solicitude on your account as I was apprehnsv you would have proceeded to the utmost [struck: length] [inserted: distance] you at first intended. I [struck: am happy] [inserted: was glad] to learn that you altered your determination. You must [struck: have even] have been chagrined to [struck: find] to have found your Lands possessed by a [inserted: lawless] people who [struck: not only disregard your services but the claims of equity and Justice – your equitable claims] [inserted: [struck: disregard] hold incontempt equity] – The first principle of Society – These and other circumstances my [struck: gen] dear sir you will experience as exercises to your [2] Philosophy – But it will be to you a [struck: sufficient] consolation, full of peace, to reflect that you have in all your actions obeyed the dictates of a mind [struck: Philantropic mind] [inserted: [struck: for] replete with patriotism and universal benevolence] – This is a happiness that few possess, and perhaps not one on Earth has reason to possess it in [struck: so] [inserted: a more] eminent a dgree than you [struck: have] –

[struck: Were I [inserted: a person] to argue of the future character of America as a Nation, from the dispositions the several states have evinced since the peace, [struck: I should] they would pronounce much evil. [struck: We have] [inserted: The states have] as you justly observe different views]

Your remarks on the present situation of our Country are indeed too just – The different states have not only different views upon the same subject, but some of them have views that sooner or later must [struck: end in blood] [inserted: involve the Country in all the horrors [struck: of <?>] [inserted: of civil War]] If There is any [inserted: good] policy which prevades [struck: their] [inserted: general [struck: <?>] our public] The <?> [struck: generally] it is too misterious for to be comprehended by people out of the <?>– A neglect in every states of those principles which lead to Union and national greatness – An adoption of local [struck: meas] [3] in preference to general measures appear to actuate [struck: the] the greater part of the state politicians – We are entirely destitute of those traits which should stamp us one nation – and the Constitution of Congress does not [struck: seem to] promise any capital alteration for the better – [struck: <?> every] great measures will not be carried [inserted: in Congress] so much by the [struck: ability] propriety [inserted: ability] and necessity of things but as a matter of comprmis for some other thing which may [inserted: may be evil its <?>] have a tendency to evil – This is not so much the fault of the members as the defect of human nature – every state [struck: ser] consider their representatives in Congress not so much the [struck: political fathers] [inserted: Legislatures] of the whole [inserted: Union], as their own immediate agents or ambassadors, to negociate [struck: for them &] to endevor as much as possible [struck: to exonerate their from] [4] [struck: Their just proportion of the expence of the whole] – and to create in [inserted: an influence in to favor] Congress [struck: certain disposition <?>] particular views &c – With [struck: such] a constitution producing such dispositions is it possible that the Americans can ever rival the roman name?

The [struck: attempt] operation of opening of [inserted: navigation of the powtomack at its source] [struck: <?>] is truly noble – and if successful, of which I hope <?> is not a doubt [inserted: it] must [struck: have the] be followed by the most extensive beneficial consequences, which will [struck: grow with] increase in exact proportion to the <?> of the population of the Country – I am pleased that you [struck: have] are so much interested in this good work –

You are so kind as to ask whether Genl Lincoln and myself had [struck: and] an agreeable tour to the Eastward? – [struck: we have] and [inserted: whether –] the state societies making moves towards obtaining charters? – We went to the eastern line of this state, and found that the british had made excessive encroachments upon our territories, – There are several <?> [inserted: in the bay of <?>] to which they have [struck: given the] within 20 years [struck: last] past given the name of Lt Croix but the ancient St. Croix is the the most eastern one – They have settled on the middle one called Sendac – although the mouth [struck: of those rivers are] [inserted: those two rivers Sendac & St Croix <?> north about sixty miles to <?>] only nine miles apart yet their sources are

[inserted in margin: Tour of Genl Lincoln & Knox to Passamaquody No 8 – St. Croix & <?>]

Notes: