Knox, William (1756-1795) to Henry Knox
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.01060 Author/Creator: Knox, William (1756-1795) Place Written: Boston, Massachusetts Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 18 July 1781 Pagination: 2 p. ; 24.5 x 19 cm. Order a Copy
Refers to an ensuing campaign and the potential for "disposing of the British fleet." Remarks on the prevalence of British ships in the Boston harbor and adjacent waters. Reports that the House of Lee and Jones lost a ship to the British, consequently losing a total of £15,000. Reports that the merchants of Boston persuaded the Governor (John Hancock, Governor of Massachusetts) to ask the French Admiral (the Comte de Barras) for protection, but he said that American privateers had been engaging his men and tempting them to desert, thus he could not assist the merchants with a fleet. The merchants in turn threatened to "dicountenance the engaging French Sailors aboard their vessell[s]" in order to persuade the Comte to assist them. Discusses new monetary emission, reporting "... the very small proportion of specie that is circulating renders business peculiarly dull ... " Refers to an account between Mr. Winslow and [Henry] Knox.
Knox was preparing for the proposed recapture of New York from the British.
[draft]
Boston July 18.th 1781.
WmK
From the information recd. in your last I suppose this will reach you at Peekskill, White Plains as at some [inserted: other] considerable distance from your former situation at New Windsor. The expectation of people are great with the respect to the operations on our [port] the ensuing campaign for rather the present however much depends on the arrival of M. de Gras[text loss] there Seas, or without his assistance I fear we should find some difficulty in disposing of the British Fleet. my best wishes attend our attempts and constant ejaculations for the preservation of my best Friend.
For the two or three weeks past the navigation of this and the neighbouring ports has been much embarrassed by a number of British Cruisers in the Bay, they have taken many vessells, and some with very rich Cargoes, one particularly from Cadiz belonging to the House of Lee & Jones, the Sterling amo.t of her contents was about £ 12'000. those Gentlemen [struck: are] have last by this capture (including the vessel of which they were sole proprietors) about Fifteen thousand pounds sterling, a loss of this kind would make bankrupts of many Houses in Iowa but by them it is not materially felt: The many vessels which are expected to arrive every hour, and a 50 Gun, ship and two frigates still remaining in the Bay, has alarmed the Merchants in so great a degree, that they induced the Governor to write to French Admiral for protection, but he gave for Answer, that the situation of his Fleet was such, (from the American Privateers engaging his men, and tempting them to desert,) that he wanted additional support himself, and was sorry not [2] to have it in his power, to comply with the request of the Governor; This answer from the Admiral, has induced the Merchants to enter into the most serious [inserted: written] determination, to discountenance the engaging French Sailors aboard their vessels, and they have this morning dispatch'd a deputation to Compte De Barras consisting of Mess.rs Sears. Broome & Breck, to inform him of this resolution, and to urge the necesity of immediate assistance from him; should he continue [struck: not] to think it not in his power to afford it, there will be hardly a chance for a vessel to get in safe, M.r Sears is in hourly expectation of four vessels from Holland, among which are Magee, & Grenill, we are sufficiently interested to wish their safe arrival. -
A period is nearly put to the circulation of paper money in this Quarter altho' provision is said to be made by the State for the payment of the Interest of their proportion, of the New Emission, this circumstance and the very small proportion of Specie that is circulating renders business peculiarly dull, and will prevent my intended embarkation for early as I wished.
I have informed M.r Winslow that as soon, as he renders in an Acco.t of the Articles W.m Knox, had of his sister, I would endeavor to put it in a train of adjustment.
Adieu My dear Brother
Y.rs Affectionably
W.m Knox
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