Knox, Henry (1750-1806) to William Knox
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.00760 Author/Creator: Knox, Henry (1750-1806) Place Written: Pluckemin, New Jersey Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 7 May 1779 Pagination: 2 p. : docket ; 31.8 x 22.4 cm. Order a Copy
Thanks William for congratulating Henry and Lucy Knox on the recent birth of their daughter, Julia. Reports that Lucy has been extremely ill, and suffers from "billious [sic] obstructions." As a consequence, the baby is forced to be weaned. Requests linen and other material. Discusses the "Amsterdam affair," a business venture proposed by William. Notes that a fall or winter voyage will be safer, and instructs William to take as many bills of exchange as possible. Mentions Rivington's paper. "They swear by monstrous big oaths they will exterminate us this Campaign... we expect we shall have a much more active Campaign than the last."
[draft]
Pluckemin N Jersey 7th May 1779
My dear Brother
I received your letter of the 22d April and thank you for your congratulations on the addition to the Family. The little Girls are we[ll] but Mrs Knox has been most alarmingly ill for a fortnight past. It was occasioned by [illegible] obstructions. we hope the Curse is remov'd but the effects are yet very considerable. he[r] weakness is uncommonly great - but we have hopes with the blessing of our almighty Father that she will yet do well. - The poor baby was oblig'd to be wean'd ere she learnt the blessings of her mothers breast - I hope you will be able to procure the things you mention of Otis & Henly as I am much in want of them, particularly Linnen for shirts, and something for summer wais[t]coats and breeches and brown thread stockings.
I am pleas'd with your proposals of the Amsterdam affair, and think with you [2] that it may turn out highly advantageous - but should suppose it could not be put in practice untill the fall - indeed a fail or Winter Voyage would be safer for you than a summer one - I need not inform you that it will be for our advantage that you should take as much as possible in Bills of Exchange - pray write me at what discount they go - The post having just call'd upon me and being very Urgent to get away will not permit [me] to write as much as I could wish -
If we are to believe Rivington's paper of 1st May we are to have bloody Work this Summer - They swear by monstrous Big oaths they will exterminate us this Campaign - however that may be yet we at present have but little apprehensions of it - altho' from a variety of corroborating circumstances we expect we shall have a much more active Campaign than the last
In hast I am my dear friend
Your affectionate Brother
HKnox
Love to all friends -
[docket]
From Brigadier G. Knox
New Jersey 7 May 79
To his Bro. Wm.
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