Knox, William (1756-1795) to Henry Knox
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.00383 Author/Creator: Knox, William (1756-1795) Place Written: Boston, Massachusetts Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 18 July 1776 Pagination: 3 p. : address ; 22.5 x 18.2 cm. Order a Copy
Remarks on Henry's talent for burlesquing William's writing. Expresses sympathy for Lucy's situation, in which she has to stay in Connecticut away from Henry. Offers to leave the bookstore in someone's care and go to Fairfield to bring Lucy back to Boston. Mentions that the Declaration of Independence will be read in Boston on the day of this letter's writing. Remarks that he heard the British sailed up the Hudson, which they did on 12 July 1776, and conjectures "it to be by way of experiment." Mentions that Captain Harry Johnson came in from Halifax. Also mentions that two persons were "bound for a Mr. Phillips[.] I mention'd in my last for £400 each for his good political behavior for 1 year."
[draft]
"…I very sincerely pitty your Lucy's her situation must be excessively disagreeable, she being at so little distance from you, & not able to come to you, nor you to her, she could not suffer a greater inconvenience if she was with us, & then she might in every other respect live very happy, but I dare say she wont hear a word of it, as one of her principal inducemnts to go to York was that If you should be wounded, or any thing disagreeable happen to you she might with you soon [2] but after all if she should consent to come to our (at present) peaceable part of the world, I will go to Fairfield with pleasure & wait on her to this place, & leave To Bliss or some other trusty person with the care of the Store … This day at ½ past 12 OClock will be read the Declaration of Independence by the Sheriff, from the Balcony of the Town house - We hear a by a little hump back Mr Green from N. York last Saturday, that several of the enemy Fleet had pass'd by all our Batteries, we dont know whether this circumstance is favourable or not; I suppose it to be by way of experiment but I hope it will cost them dear …"
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