Knox, Henry (1750-1806) to John Sullivan
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 #: GLC02437.03765 Author/Creator: Knox, Henry (1750-1806) Place Written: New York, New York Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 19 January 1788 Pagination: 3 p. : docket ; 32.7 x 20 cm. Order a Copy
Transmits a letter from the Marquis de Lafayette delivered to Knox by the Count de [Moustier], a French Minister. Informs Sullivan, Governor of New Hampshire, that Lafayette wrote the letter "on the supposition of your being in this City and President of Congress." Discusses ratification of the Constitution: "The fact however is that the present system called the confederation has run down... something must be done speedily, or we shall soon be involved in all the horrors of anarchy, and separate state interests..." Notes that if Massachusetts and New Hampshire reject the Constitution, "we shall have to encounter a boisterous and uncertain Ocean of events."
(Private) New York 19 January 1788.
My dear Sir
The new Minister of France the Count de Moutiers who arrived yesterday brought the enclosed letter from our common friend the Marquis de laFayette - It is addressed to you on the supposition of your being in this City and President of Congress - But alass [sic] there is no Congress [struck: assembled] [inserted and struck: together], although two months have elapsed since one ought to have been assembled agreably to the confederation -
The new Constitution! the new Constitution! [struck: appears to be] [inserted: is] the general cry this way. Much paper is spoiled [inserted: on the subject] and many essays written which perhaps are not read by either [struck: party] side
It is a [struck: The] [inserted: stubborn] fact [2] [struck: The] [inserted: a] fact [struck: is] [inserted: however] that the present system called the confederation has run down, [inserted: that] the springs if ever it had others than the [inserted: late] Army have [inserted: utterly] lost their tone, and [struck: it] [inserted: the machine] cannot be wound up again But Something must be done speedily, or we shall soon be involved in all the horrors of anarchy, and separate state interests - This indeed appears to have been the serious judgement [sic] of all the states who have formally considered the new constitution and [struck: therefore] [inserted: therefor] they have adopted it, not as a perfect system but as the best that could be obtained under [struck: the] existing circumstances
If [struck: in addition] to those states which have already received [inserted: it], Massachusetts and New Hampshire [struck: adopt it] [inserted: should be added,], a doubt [struck: cannot] [inserted: could not] be entertained but that it will be received generally [inserted: in the course of the present year] - If Massachusetts and New Hampshire reject it, we shall have to [3] have to encounter a boisterous and uncertain Ocean of events.
Should you have leisure I shall be much obliged [struck: to you], for [struck: the] confidential information of [inserted: the disposition of] New Hampshire on the subject, and you may rest assured that your confidence shall not be misplaced
I am my dear Sir
with great respect
and affection
Your Most Obedient
humble Servt
HKnox
His Excellency John Sullivan Esqr
[Marstrand]
[docket]
To His Excellency
J Sullivan Esqr
19 Jan.y. 1788 -
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.