Lincoln, Benjamin (1733-1810) to Henry Knox
High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.
Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.01487 Author/Creator: Lincoln, Benjamin (1733-1810) Place Written: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 15 July 1782 Pagination: 2 p. ; 32.8 x 20.3 cm. Order a Copy
Written by Secretary of War Lincoln to Major General Knox. Letter seems to be about personal finances. References a letter he sent "some days since" on money due to the bank. Says he has found an unexpected difficulty to renew the note. Reports that "I found that all discount business was over & at last by the influence of my friends obtained a discount for six weeks from the first of July, tho at first they encouraged me to hope but for four weeks, when the day arrived that one note could not be received for an other but that the money must be first lodged." Reports he then sent Captain Jackson to borrow the money. Seems to be asking if Knox would be willing to obtain a discount from 10 August. Goes on to say he wrote a private letter "that was taken with last mail" to Knox recently which "expressed my approbation of the measures the officers were pursuing relative to their subsistance & that in case they ... could not succed I would give them my aid here." Encloses a copy of a recent public letter (likely GLC02437.01481). Is confident there will be help for Baron von Steuben.
Philadelphia July 15t. 1782
My dear Sir
I wrote to you some days since respecting the money due to the bank, very unexpectedly I found a difficulty to renew the note - I found that all discount business was over I at last by the influence of my friends obtained a discount for six weeks from the first of July, tho at first they incouraged me to hope but for four weeks, when the day arrived that one note could not be received for another but that the money must be first lodged I then sent Captain Jackson to borrowe the money, after I obtained a credit for that sum Mr. Jackson went for it but was informed at the bank that they would depart from their general rule & if five dollars were paid for the discount they would [2] settle the matter
As no further discount can be obtained I have to request that you would the tenth of August
I wrote you a private letter which was taken [inserted: with] [struck: by] the last mail I do not remember the contents of it but so far as I can recollect I expressed my approbation of the measures the officers were pursuing relative to their subsistance & that in case they should not succd I would give them my aid here whether they will publish it or not I don't know if they do you may have the benefit of a fight of it - A public letter was also sent of which the inclosed is a copy?
Justice I am confident will be done to the Baron
We have no news or I would [relate] some
Yours affectionately
B Lincoln
Citation Guidelines for Online Resources
The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.