Knox, Henry (1750-1806) to William Knox
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.00367 Author/Creator: Knox, Henry (1750-1806) Place Written: New York, New York Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 11 July 1776 Pagination: 2 p. : address : docket ; 21 x 14.4 cm. Order a Copy
Thanks William for his recent letter. Discusses Lucy Knox's hasty evacuation from New York when British ships were spotted in the Hudson and the unhappiness it caused both Lucy and himself (also see GLC024327.00364). Lucy is distressed but Henry feels he is "not at liberty to attend her as my country calls." Explains that his apprehension was disguised by scolding Lucy for not leaving sooner. Comments that Mrs. Nathanael Greene and Mrs. Jonathan Pollard went with Lucy, and describes Mrs. Pollard as an unfit companion because of "her Melancholy dumpish disposition." If Lucy is unhappy in Fairfield, Connecticut, he will ask William to take her to Boston, since they are expecting active fighting in New York. The British attacked the following day.
[draft]
Dear Billery
I recd your affectionate Letter by the post for which I thank you - You are to be sure every description in Your letter. In consequence of false Report - my Lucy and her babe are at Stamford or Fairfield, where she writes me she is very unhappy and wants to Return here again, which should make me as unhappy in contemplating the Idea which you had of her flight as if it was real - Indeed the Circumstances of our parting were extremly disagreable, she had contrary to my opinion staid too long - from the Hale Window where we usually breakfasted we saw the Ships coming thro' the narrow with a fair wind and rapid tide which would have brought them up to the City in about [illegible] - you can scarcely conceive the distress and anxiety that she then had, the city in an uproar tho Alarm Guns firing, the troops repairing to their posts and every thing for the [2] [text loss] of bustle - I not at liberty to attend her as my country calls were loudest - My God may I never experience the Like feeling again - they were too much - but I found a Way to disguise them for I scolded like a fury at her for not having gone before - Mrs Green who went with her has like a Child Return'd again - Mrs Pollard with her who from her Melancholy dumpish disposition is a very unfit Companion for her - I shall write her if she does not like Fairfield I will write you to come there and carry her to Boston - for we most certainly must have an active Campaign here - you are a droll fellow - you let me post Slip and the next you write me the post is just going out which prevents your writing now - write more fully
Yours
HKnox
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