[draft] Morris - Town 20th. April. 1777. My dear Lucy I wrote you a short note by the post to day least Capt Speakman by whom I write this should not arrive so soon as the post - and give you the same disagreable sensations which I feel when the post brings no letters from my Love - I have always written by the post, & had done so the day when [Genl. Johnnot] din'd at Head Qrs. and I beg that you also would write by it as it is now conducted with some regularity - in your Letter of the 10th you inform me that You were to take the small pox that day by innoculation - Heaven guard my Love and her babe thro' that distemper and dissolve her of her fears on that account - if you were then innoculated it must have broken out by this, - I hope you will have one or two or as many as you have a mind to in your face - pray cant' you by force of Imagination as in other cases have them where you please - if so have [2] to have one over each eye brow and one each Cheek and one on yr Chin. don't let my little baby have too many or too few - [struck: the] she may bear a considerable number, I will pray that you may have it in such a way as will not prejudice yr Health in future - have I acknowledged your two welcome Letters by Capt Treat and the post - I don't know how many Letters this makes which I've Written to you but think 8 or 9 - I shall consider it as the latter and number accordingly - I had wrote you 5 the 1st instant as I [send] by a [illegible] - Let me beg of you not to omit writing while the small pox is upon you - and send them by the post as usual - Colo. Gabriel Johnnot must have given you an account true as he Conceiv'd it but I assure you we by no means think ourselves Despicable - [Force] arrives almost every day - Sir William has protracted his movement to the present and perhaps will not move [under] a Week - Philadelphia imperial Philadelphia is his object. Ships have been in the Delaware but gone out again - a few days ago a fleet sail'd from N York but with out troops I believe [3] their Course from the Hook S E - perhaps for Philadelphia and perhaps for the West Indies - your brother Tom must be in Augustine as the 2d Battalion of the Royal Americans are there - we have lately a Vessell arriv'd from Gottenburg in Liveden laden'd with military stores - its said Mr Deane is gone to the Hague, and that Prussia Sweden &c have desir'd that Ambassadors may be sent from the United States of N. America - Matters ripen in France as fast as we could wish and are [text loss] I hope providence has so far smiled [text loss] to have permitted some Capital [text loss] to the eastward - I think matters look as favorable as possible after an unfortunate Campaign - write me often and as I am call'd [By] God bless You my dear Lucy H Knox Give my Love to your Aunt Mrs [illegible] &c. [address leaf] Mrs. Lucy Knox Boston favord by Captn Speakman Gen: Greene sends his Compliments and hopes you to get well thro the small pox [docket] Morris Town 20th April. 1777 -