Knox, Henry (1750-1806) to George Washington
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.03118 Author/Creator: Knox, Henry (1750-1806) Place Written: Boston, Massachusetts Type: Autograph letter Date: 24 March 1785 Pagination: 3 p. : docket ; 32 x 19.7 cm. Order a Copy
Requests a certificate from Washington for Winthrop Sargent, who Knox describes as "really clever and... an excellent artillery officer." Promises to procure limestone when the weather improves. Discusses Washington's refusal of a gift from the Legislature of Virginia. States, "My jealousy for your fame is so high, that I should prefer seeing you cincinnatus like, following your plow rather than accepting the least pecuniary reward for services, which fairly challenge the approbation of posterity, but thank the supreme God, you are happily placed above the necessity of receiving any assistance." Suggests the money should instead go to "the maintenance of the widows, and the support and education of the orphans of those men of their own line..." Reports that he accepted the appointment of Secretary at War, noting "From the habits imbibed during the War, and from the opinion of my friends, that I should make but an indifferent trader, I thought upon mature consideration that it was well to accept it..." Complains of the position's low salary ($2450 per year), discussing his relatively precarious financial state. Text extends into the margins of pages two and three. Knox's retained draft.
[draft]
Boston 24 March 1785
My dear Sir
I thank you for your kind favor of the 28 ultimo which I received last evening with its enclosures, & I sincerely hope I shall not be under the necessity of troubling you so much again -But [inserted: in the present instance I am under the necessity of mentioned] Major Winthrop Sargent has repeatedly [struck: wrote to] [inserted: informed] me how agreeable a certificate from you would be to him I at length promised him that I would request it of you - He is really clever and was an excellent artillery officer.
I will endevor to make an arrangement of the Lime-stone, in the manner that shall be the least expensive, but our Winter continues so long that we have little prospect of spring untill June [inserted: in which month I will insure to have it forwarded] [inserted: struck: when it shall be forwarded] - The Weather is now as severe as at any time during the Winter and the Snow & ice, but mostly the latter is [struck: now] three feet upon a level -
I am highly delighted with the delicate gratitude of Virginia, and am at the same time charmed with your sentiments and [2] reasoning upon it - [struck: and] I sincerely hope circumstanced as you are, that you may find a mode of declining the intended appropriation so as to enhance the respect and affection of your fellow citizens - My jealousy for your fame is so [struck: great] [inserted: high], that I should prefer seeing [struck: my dear General] you Cincinnatus like, following your plow [struck: in preference of] [inserted: rather than] accept [struck: ing] the least pecuniary reward, for servics, which [strike-out] fairly challenge the approbation [inserted: & admiration] of posterity, [strike-out] [struck: But] thank the supreme God, you are happily placed above the [struck: wish] necessity of receiving any assistance -
[inserted at margin: You could my dear Sir, intimate to the Legislature in a manner which would be clear of every indelicate imputation that should they think proper to appropriate the produce of this fund to the maintainance of the Widows, and the support and education of the orphans of those men of their own line, who [struck: lost] sacrificed their lives in defence of [struck: America] [strike-out] that it would be an eternal [struck: and honorable] monument of the virtue of the Commonwealth of Virginia - A [struck: measure] [inserted: event] of this kind, which I am persuaded has been among the number of expedients conceived by you, would rank Virginia higher in the annals of America than any other State, and the idea coming from you would place your warm and disinterested attachment to suffering innocence in a durable and glorious point of view - let my affection plead my excuse for this freedom -]
The mall in this Town has been repaired and the trees replaced - but I believe the gravel walk is only upon the common principle, without any cement whatever - I will however enquire and if there should be any improvement I will with pleasure communicate it [strike-out] -
You may probably have heard [struck: therefore this] that Congress have been pleased to appoint me [3] Secretary at War. [struck: As my views are not <?>] I have accepted of this appointment, and shall expect to be in New York about the 15th of next month - From the habits imbibed during the War, and from the opinion of my friends, that I should make but an indifferent trader, I thought [struck: upon the whole] [inserted: upon mature consideration] that it was well to accept it although the salary (2450 dollars) would but be but [struck: an indiffe] [inserted: a slender] support - I have dependence upon an unweildy Estate [inserted: of Mrs Knox's family], and upon the public certificates given for my services, but neither of these are productive, and require a course of years to render them so - In the mean time my expences are considerable, and require some funds for their supply - Congress have rendered the powers and duties of the Office respectable, and the circumstances of my appointment without solicitation on [strike-out] [inserted: my] part were flattering, nine states out of eleven voting for me, [strike-out] [inserted: for this favorable opinion of Congress I conceive myself] [strike-out] [inserted: indebted] - I [strike-out] expect to move my family to New York untill june next - Mrs Knox [inserted: (whose little family are well)] unites with me in presenting our affectionate compliments to Mrs Washington
[docket]
To his Ex: Genl Washington
24 March 1785
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