Knox, Henry (1750-1806) to George Washington
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.03273 Author/Creator: Knox, Henry (1750-1806) Place Written: New York, New York Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 13 June 1786 Pagination: 6 p. : docket ; 32 x 20.3 cm. Order a Copy
Explains an issue with Major Pierre L'Enfant and the Society of Cincinnati. Major L'Enfant was sent to France to present Eagles to the French members of the society, at the society's expense. Was granted a sum of money for the purpose, but in his zeal to serve the society, he had more than 100 extra Eagles cast by the artist there, Mr. Francastle (goldsmith Nicolas-Jean Francastel). When he returned to America, he found that the society could not reimburse the extra expense, and the Eagles were not selling. The debt could ruin the Major, and Knox is concerned for him, as well as for the reputation of the society. Has discussed it with the Major and he would like to wait till the next society meeting, which will be in May 1787, and hopes that an inquiry will find that he was acting appropriately and help him with the debt. Would like Washington's opinion on the subject. Knox's retained draft.
[draft]
New York 13 June 1786 -
My dear Sir
I received your esteemed favor of the [1] instant.
The Marquis de la Fayette, also wrote to me, [struck: that] concerning the affair of the Eagles [struck: of which] the enclosed [struck: is an extract -] [inserted: will fully inform you -] I have not the papers of the General Society [inserted: they [being] with General Williams] therefore I cannot speak [struck: on that] [inserted: on the subject] so [struck: perfectly authentic] [inserted: accurately], as I could wish. But I have communicated with Major LEnfant who is here, and the following [struck: statement] is I beleive very nearly [strikeout] a true statement of the case -
Major LEnfant conceived that the spirit of his [struck: orders] [inserted: instructions] directed that the order of the Society should be presented to the french officers who were comprehended therein. [struck: The] Accordingly he did present to forty two Gentlemen [inserted: of the [french army]] the [struck: bald] eagle, at the expence of the American society - This measure, was affirmed at the General [struck: Society] [2] Meeting held [struck: in] [inserted: in Philadelphia] May 1784. [struck: Had] some advances were made to Major LEnfant in 178 [struck: 4] [inserted: 3] previous to his departure to France, in order to enable him to [procure] the the plate [inserted: for the diploma] dies &c - A committee [struck: for] [inserted: of] the General meeting examined Major LEnfants account and reported a balance due to him of Six hundred and thirty dollars, [struck: which sent] [inserted: which report was accepted] [inserted: This [money]] is still due, and is all that [struck: can be said to be due] [inserted: is due] to him from the Society of the Cincinnati, as a Society -
But Major L Enfant, [struck: in his zeal to serve the American officers, and at the earnest [solicitousness]] [inserted: with a view to serve the american officers, and at the influence of some] of [some] [inserted: of [theirs]] brought over to America [struck: one hundred and sixty more eagles] [inserted: upwards [strikeout] of an hundred eagles more than] than were [strikeout] subscribed for - I mean those whom you, myself and others gave him the money, amountg to about forty - [struck: On h] These eagles [struck: he obtained from] [strikeout] together with those [struck: from] [inserted: presented] the french officers he obtained on the credit of six months - On his arrival in America he found that [struck: the Genl] finances of the officers generally did not permit them to take [struck: the] orders, [inserted and struck: added to a] [struck: and] [inserted: or] an opinion that they were too [3] too high - Having bought them [struck: without] unconditionally he was in danger of having them remain on his hands [strikeout] a measure little short of ruin to him. He [inserted: therefore] was constrained to [struck: send them to several parts] send [struck: to] them to different parts of the United States, and accordingly he placed [struck: them in the hands] most of them in the hands of officers [inserted: in several of the States] - [struck: But] Some yet remain unsold - [struck: in the state] [inserted: In the State of South Carolina] upwards of forty were furnished and the Gentlemen [sent] the money [struck: to an] [inserted: into the hands of Major L Enfants] Agent but [strikeout] by some mal arrangement L Enfant has not [inserted: yet] received it [struck: yet] - [strikeout] His letter [struck: will first] [inserted: to the M de la Fayette] express his situation [inserted: fully] - It appears to me, that his wish to serve the American officers has involved him in [struck: great] [inserted: his present] embarrassments - I confess that I feel [struck: as] much concerne for him, and that my feelings are also [struck: from] strongly excited on account of the reputation of [struck: our] ourselves - For although as [inserted: a] Society, we [4] [struck: can exonerate ourselves in a degree] [inserted: are responsible only in a degree], yet [struck: as the] [inserted: some] individuals who [struck: compose] [inserted: belong to] the society have, by their neglect, in some instances, and nonpayment in others, reduced, not only Major LEnfant, but the whole society to a situation rather disagreeable [struck: affair, as the whole] [inserted: as by an indelicate imputation the whole] may [be] [struck: affected] [inserted: suffer] by the conduct of a part -
Although I have not the shadow of a fund for the purpose
I have offered to Major LEnfant to pay [struck: him] the sum due from the General Society - [struck: although,] [inserted: [struck: and] I should depend on Subscriptions to replace it to me] But he says, that having entered into a contract with the artist Mr Francastle for [they] payment of the interest, and having made arrangements for that purpose that he had much rather that the whole should [struck: lie] [inserted: rest as it is] untill the [struck: next] General Meeting to be held in May next - That he finds [line strikeout] his [sum is] committed, and [struck: then] being consci[text loss] of having acted from pure motives he wishes to have an examination into the affair, and if [struck: found to] he has acted right [struck: he] [strikeout] that he [5] he may have the sense of the Society expressed thereon -
[struck: I [shall] Major L Enfant][inserted: He] says he shall write fully to the Marquis de la Fayette by the packet which will sail tomorrow [inserted: which will explain everything to [the]] [inserted and struck: Mr la Fayett] - [inserted and struck: which will place the matter [in it for] [strikeout] [strikeout]] I shall write also, and inform the Marquis that [struck: the] [inserted: there is a] sum due Major LEnfant of 630 Dollars for the General Society - That if it shall appear to him on reflection or [conception] that] [inserted: But [stuck: that if] if in his opinion] the Society is in any degree likely to be injured by the arrangement Major L Enfant has made, [struck: That he] [inserted: request him to] pays the said six hundred 30 dollars to Mr Francastle, [inserted: with the interest [ensuing] thereon] and, [struck: draw] [strikeout] inform me of the same & - That I will [reimburse] him the money [myself] -
I do not know of any other measures [struck: to be] [inserted: which can be taken] taken on this subject at present - If you should be of a different opinion and will have the goodness to communicate it to me I shall be happy to conform to it -
[struck: I am] [strikeout] I am persuaded that Major LEnfant [6] has conducted here prudently on the subject and although he may have incurred the expence of his residence here, on this very account [inserted: and have been obliged to appropriate the small sums of [money] he Incurrd had for the eagles, [strikeout] for the present] yet he has not [struck: I am persuaded] [strikeout] mentioned the circumstance, or at least I have not heard that he has - So far for Major LEnfant
I blush my dear Sir that I have been so remiss in writing to you. But I beg you to be persuaded that an apprehension of [strikeout] obliging you to answer me when it might ill comport with your health or convenience has been the principal cause of my omission - [struck: That] I love and respect you, [struck: not] and the sentiment is deeply engraved on my heart -[struck: It will alwa] [aline] from you at your leisure will always afford me great happiness - I shall very shortly write you on our present mentioned situation as a nation -
Mrs Knox unites with me in presentg our affectionate respects to Mrs Washington. and I am my dear Sir Your [struck: affe] ever affectionate friend and much obliged humble Serv H Knox
General Washington
[docket]
To his Excellency Genl
Washington, 13 June
1786 -
respecting Major LEnfants
transactions in france for
the Society of the Cincinnati
and some papers inclosed
explanatory of that business
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