Knox, William (1756-1795) to Henry Knox

William Knox informs Secretary of War Knox of what ships William's letters to Henry were traveling on. William is trying to arrange monies to live on until next winter; reports on his health, walking, rising early and drinking quite a lot of wine: "I never in any five winters of my life drank so much wine as the last; it has agreed perfectly with me although the custom of drinking to excess in good companies is fresh in the memory of most persons here, and is pretty well over, yet there is a difficulty in being the first man from table. I am commonly the second or third - and to be sure I have nothing to complain of on the score of invitations; as to evening parties I have refused many of them as I do not play cards and late hours I dislike as they are incompatible with rising early." William continues to tell Henry, "you will see it is not improbable that the Imperial Catherine will make a peace on her own terms with the Turks, and immediately after have a blow at the triple Alliance - it is said she makes bold resolutions after dinner, and adheres to them in the morning - I have had and continue to have some occupation on the subject of American impressed seamen - Mr. Stephens of the British Admiralty has written me a polite Letter* by direction of the Lords Commissioners in answer to me, in which however they clearly demonstrate their intention of considering every seaman born in the present Dominion of Gt Britain as a Subject. * A copy of which with my own I now send to Mr. Jefferson."