Knox, Henry, 1750-1806 to John Adams

Written by Secretary of War Knox to Vice President Adams. Thanks Adams for his hospitality at Bush Hill. Mentions criticism of Adams's travels in the Connecticut and New York newspapers. Comments on the "political heresy [of the] American edition of [the] payne pamphlet mentioned in the preface." This is a reference to Thomas Jefferson's endorsement of Thomas Paine's "The Rights of Man," in which he conflated the spirit of the American Revolution of 1776 with that of the French Revolution of 1789. Knox says "he has assured me that the note he wrote to the printer never was intended for publication." Says that Adams should not worry as "you are upon invariable pursuit of public happiness, regulated by the sober standard of reason." Says Washington is expected in Philadelphia on 23 or 25 of June. Says "The indian Campaign must go forward." Says the 2,800 men sent to the frontier should be adequate.