Knox, William (1756-1795) to Henry Knox

Written by William to his brother Major General Henry Knox. Says he will not ship anything with the capital he has accumulated until the peace is complete. Says his business accounts were messy, but are now settled. Says he wrote to Lucy that he had no news of the Fluckers. Says the recent changes in the British Ministry probably been "influenced by the honest representations of Lord Cornwallis relative to the impracticability of reducing America, which rendered that Gentleman not so welcome an informant to the late Ministry as his Brother Passenger General Arnold, who from encouraging information in favor of the conquest of America, was received with open Arms by the." Says Arnold was been given extraordinary access to the King and his household -- but that the newspapers took daily swipes at him and that the House of Commons almost passed a motion to clear the lobby of the building so it would not have to deal with him. The motion was not taken up, but Arnold has been isolated ever since. Says "I think it probable that all the American refugees will be left to shift for themselves, as they have not got a friend remaining in power." Says the Spanish have taken Mahon and push harder at Gibraltar. Says two French fleets that have left Brest recently have been dealt setbacks by the British. Hopes Congress is paying army officers better now. Tells him to take care of his "Eastward matters" -- probably his land claims in Maine -- and his "Petition." Postscript asks him to thank Lafayette for all the kindness the Marquis gave him in Paris. Mentions meeting other French generals.