Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Knox, Henry (1750-1806) to George Washington

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 #: GLC02437.03031 Author/Creator: Knox, Henry (1750-1806) Place Written: Dorchester, Massachusetts Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 26 July 1784 Pagination: 3 p. : docket ; 29.3 x 18.8 cm. Order a Copy

Responds to a 2 June 1784 letter from Washington. Discusses a recent Congressional order requiring Frederick Haldimand, Governor of the Province of Quebec, to give the United States information as to when British troops will completely evacuate Western forts, and how cannon and stores from the forts can be exchanged. Knox is incensed, writing "I cannot say but that I am well satisfied to be excluded from any responsibility in arrangements that cannot be executed. The attempt to employ militia for twelve months in an arduous operation of conveying the stores and making permanent establishments in that difficult country..." Notes that William Hull has been sent to obtain the information from Haldimand, but that Haldimand will likely deliver the information at his own convenience, if at all. Notes that opposition to the Society of the Cincinnati in Massachusetts had died down. Written in Dorchester, a neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts.

[draft]
Dorchester - July 26th 1786
my dear sir
[struck: An apprehension] A fear of [struck: intruda] intruding upon your more important concerns has prevented my writing to you since my return. I found here your kind favor of the [struck: 5th ] [inserted: 2th] of June with its enclosure for General Putnam, which I delivered.
The measures taken by congress respecting the Western posts, must defeat themselves by their own imbecillity. I cannot say but that I am well [struck: enough] satisfied [struck: that I was] [inserted: to be] excluded from any responsibility in arrangements that cannot be executed. [inserted: The attempt] To employ [strikeout] Militia for twelve months in an arduous operation of conveying the Stores and making permanent establishments in that difficult County after the experience we have had of them, [strikeout] [struck: can do it is truly ridiculous] characterizes itself.
Agreably to the orders of Congress I sent Colonel Hull to General Haldimand to request that he would [inserted: immediately] deliver [struck: to the] up the posts on our frontiers - [struck: If] If he should comply [struck: with the request] [2] and fix his own time at a short day which [struck: it is supposed] If he delivers them at all, he will do for his own convenience, or we should be [strikeout] [inserted: illegible] embarrassed, not having a man, for that purpose -
[inserted paragraph on page 3: I presume General Lincoln informed you that the alterations of the Cincinnati are generally satisfactory in this state - The opposition to it is [struck: entirely] dead, one or two persons [inserted: [strikeout]] it is said [inserted: however] still grumble - Our Society on the 4th of July was very full, and adopted it unanimously excepting one [struck: person] vote.
General Lincoln Mr Partridge and myself are going at the request of the Legislature of this State to examine what encroachments have been made by the british on its eastern boundary - We shall set out on this business in a few days.

Mrs Knox joins me in presenting our [inserted: affectionate] respects to Mrs Washington, &

I am my dear Sir
Your truly affectionate
Humble Servant
H Knox

His Excelly
Genl Washington

[docket]
To his Excellency Genl
Washington 26 July 1784

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806
Washington, George, 1732-1799
Hull, William, 1753-1825
Haldimand, Frederick, Sir, 1718-1791
Lincoln, Benjamin, 1733-1810

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources