[draft] Morris-Town 26 April 1777. My dearest friend I received your very welcome Letters by Mr Shew. I need not thank you for them for I beleive the whole happiness of your Life is interested in mine as mine is in your yours. - Altho the small pox is disrob'd of the greatest part of its terrors by innoculation yet my heart palpitates at the thought of my dearest Lucy being in the least danger - may God [struck: who] preserve and carry you and our dear babe safe through it, it will be at least disarming death of one of his shafts - you ask me why I give you no encouragement of coming to me - tis true my Lucy I see no present prospect your being able to effect it - your Safety and happiness is the sole object of my heart, and I however anxious to have you with me can not consent to a step which will most inevitably [strikeout] reiterate [struck: your] the disagreable situation in which you were last summer - I by no means mean to preclude myself the pleasure of seeing you [2] for any great Length of time - Circumstances may turn up which will render your wish'd for Journey safe and pleasant - great Events are in the Book of fate some important pages will be unfolded his Summer - Our Enemy by no means are so formidable as they were last year, and perhaps at present [are/we] [ ? ] a proportion to them, however thank Heaven we hope the danger is in a great measure past we now have an army, and every [strikeout] day brings us more strength - The enemy are diminishing and we are increasing - [text loss] the most sanguine assurance of the success of the American Cause not for the virtue of the people but because its Heavens will - I laugh at the Idea of Billeys doing the duty of a Common soldier with so bad a Grace as you describe - I should have thought the Young Gentlemen was so exceedingly fond of the Army the he would be glad to begin with that station first - but there is one laughable scene, which is it is said the advanc'd Guard of the Company consisted of a pipe of Maderia, and the Rear Gaurd of a Hogshead of Spirits their [flankers each?] - a Waggen of Hams nea[r?] { ? ] &c - Billey is exceedingly [art] in his Calculation of having rais'd the sum I [propos'd?] - when he effects so or nearly so I intend to perform my promise to him, and that [inserted: in] a way honorary and [text loss] to him - I write this by Colonel Lee [text loss] [struck: the] post in to day and tomorrow shall [text loss] the happiness to write you again. A[text loss] nearest to my heart and dearest [text loss] human race HKnox Tell Billey to send me a pound of the best sealing Wax and three pounds of the best foolscap paper - and remember [text loss] Mrs Knox [address leaf] Mrs. Lucy Knox Boston Favor'd by Colo Lee - [docket] 26th April 1777.