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TRANSCRIPT
GLC 2437.40.051
Henry
Knox. Autograph letter draft
signed: Boston, to George
Washington, 1797 January 15. 7 p. + docket.
Boston
15th January 1797.
My
dear Sir
[struck:
Being well persuaded of your kindness]
Possessing
as I do, a thousand evidences of your friendship [strike-out], I am persuaded that you will readily [struck:
<?> me when I assure you] [inserted:
believe me when I say] that my silence hitherto has been the
effect of my unwillingness to intrude myself upon you [struck: during during the during the all important <?> to] [inserted:
lest I should] prevent for a moment, the different views and considerations you
[strike-out] give to the [struck:
very] important subjects you have constantly before you – although the same
causes continue to prevent my interruption yet I am apprehensive sometimes, that
you may think, me unmindful of your kindnesses especially after, [inserted:
the receipt of yr] the affectionate letter [struck:
you transmitted] by Mr Bingham the last <?> –
The
loss of [2] two lovely children, on which you condoled in that letter, has been
recently, [strike-out] revived and
increased, by [inserted: the [struck:
loss] [inserted: death] of] our son of seven year old bearing your name.
[inserted: He has always been sickly, having been born permatured but
we flattered ourselves that his health would encrese with his years <?>
have been dissaproved.] Unfortunate indeed have we been in the [struck:
loss of our] [inserted: death of
eight] children, requiring the excercise of our whole stock of Philosophy &
religion [struck: and every other
principle of support. However I
hope we may say with propriety that God tempers his wounds to the shorn lamb] We
find ourselves afflicted by an irresistible but invissible force to whom we must
submit – But the [struck: loss]
[inserted: conflict] is almost too
great for the [struck: afflicted]
[inserted: inconsolable] mother who
will [struck: go mourning to her
grave] go mourg to her grave.
We
have [struck: recently] [inserted:
lately] come from [struck: the our
place in the country] [inserted: St.
Georges] to pass [struck: our] [inserted: the] winter in this Town. Indeed this is our general plan
[struck: for the present].
We may [struck: indeed] [inserted:
however] as we grow older [3] find it inconvenent – [struck:
at present it is <?> easy ride,] we are distant about two hundred miles by
land, which we may easily ride in six [struck:
or seven days] days when the snow is on the ground, or [struck: indeed] with wheels with a very little improvement of the [inserted:
a small portion] road – The taverns on the [struck:
grounds] [inserted: route] are as
good as any other two hundred miles on the Continent.
I
am beginning to experience the good effects of my residence upon my [struck:
estate and attention to <?> property <?>] [inserted:
lands] I may truly say that is more than double in its value since I determined
to make it my home. The only
inconvenience we experience is the want of Society, [struck: and] This will probably lessen daily.
Our communication by water to this [struck:
place] [inserted: Town] is constant and cheap – We can obtain <?>
transportation now are cheaper; how the [4] same article can be carted, from any
store to the Vessel – This [struck:
probably <?>] <?> would require an an <?> to any other than
you –
For
your own sake I rejoice at the near approach of your retirement.
In it I pray God you may enjoy all the felicity of which the human
condition is susceptible – The consiousness of having acted well would [strike-out]
under [struck: all <?>] any
circumstances, [struck: raised] [inserted:
have] elevate your soul abouve the feelings of [struck:
the] storms raised by malice and envy [struck:
of the present moment.] But [strike-out]
[inserted: in addition to this
consciousness] the consecration of your retirement, by the unlimited gratitude
of your country must present [inserted:
you in] the decline of your life with [struck:
<?>] the most [struck: perfect]
[inserted: [strike-out]
perfect] reward.
I
flatter myself that before you leave the helm when will have dissipated the
clouds raised by the [struck:
jealouslys and] careless jealousy of the french <?> [5] administration.
If not, we must appeal from them mad and drunk with power as they may be
to the time when they shall [struck:
<?>] have recovered their senses – We have not injured them, but have
only taken [struck: <?>] those due precautions which our own happiness
required. If [struck: they <?>] [inserted:
they] madly continue, to war against our innocent & rightful <?>
we must make an account [inserted: therof]
and [struck: expe] look for
compensation through all the events of ages, and we shall assuredly find it at
some period or other [inserted: in the
full interest –] – But I hope we shall not under any circumstances [inserted:
at present] attempt reprisals – [struck:
They might come out] Their fit of insanity cannot last long.
St Domingo is and will be on the cause of this to enter the [strike-out] [inserted: decline]
of the villany of its administration. The
whites will either starve or be murdered [inserted: by the
blacks] – as the noise [6] [inserted:
It cannot be <?> here] <?> will be no danger of the
french attempting an invasion [inserted: of our country]. If
they should we must resist. and [strike-out] [inserted: that]
appears [strike-out] [inserted:
to be] the only case in which we should suffer ourselves to be
dragged into a war. [inserted:
But we cannot be <?>]
What
an eventful winter this will be at paris! [struck:
Heaven forbid that any of my friends should be in such a scene of
intrigue and [inserted: and
<?>] <?> be, especially if the army of [struck:
Itlay] [inserted: Italy] should be arrested, or defeated, in addition, to
the retreat of the two armies of [strike-out]
<?> from Germany.
[struck:
<?> [inserted: Peop[l]e] here [struck:
is] [inserted: are] crying out against
a Mr. Shipworth Consul at Paris as one who vilifies our government in the most
outrageous manner – Indeed] From some information which I have here received
from a person who is himself [struck:
of the opposite party] [inserted:
much attached to the french], no doubt rises in our
mind, but that the measures of the french [7] administration [inserted:
towards this Country] have been excited, by the Americans in Paris, [struck:
who <?>] in consequence of [struck:
informa] [inserted: letters received
from persons of the said] [struck:
<?>] [inserted: opinions] in the
US – [struck: The <?> in Paris
are said generally] [inserted: said to
be] the most desperate adventurers –
I
did not intend to intermix a word of politcs in this letter which I meant as the
[struck: near these great] recognition
of a grateful heart, but they have thrust themselves in <?> – Mrs.
Knox unites with me in presenting our respectful and affectionate
attachments to you and Mrs Washington – [struck:
if I am <?>]
I
am my Dear sir
your ever [struck: obt respectfully]
[struck:
and] devoted friend
HKnox
The
President of the United States –
[docket]
Boston
Janry 15. 1797 draft to the President
of
the United States –
Washington
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