[draft] 21 August New York 1787 Madam Your highly esteemed favor of the 21st of June was duely received. [struck: Since then] my [struck: repeated] absences and avocations [inserted: lately] have been such that I have [struck: hitherto] been unable [struck: to an] [inserted: at an earlier period] to sit down to form a reply - [struck: I have been in Philadelphia one half of the t] Indeed I [struck: a little] wished that that [struck: something] [inserted: somewhat] of the proceedings of the convention [struck: might be disclosed,] [inserted and strikeout] [inserted: might] be known, in order to discover [struck: in a degree] the complexion the remainder of our lives might assume so far as depended on the [struck: kind] government - Although this [strikeout] [inserted: wish] has not [struck: happened] [struck: taken place] [inserted: been gratified] in such a manner as to be communicated at present [inserted: at present] yet it is well ascertained, that great [2] [struck: great] unanimity prevails - that their deliberations are drawing to a conclusion that the great points [afixed], and that the convention will probably separate before the 15 of next month - [inserted: In this situation [inserted: of things] all the [lovers] of their country will want to receive the result of the deliberations of the Convention] I look forward to that period [struck: when the proceedings of the convention] shall [struck: be disclosed] [struck: with some [inserted: a] degree of anxiety -] [struck: some ordered] [inserted: I am persuaded that some] [inserted: Intelligent] Spirits [strikeout] [inserted: may] [struck: I am persuaded] [inserted: may] [regarrd [sic] the propositions of the convention [struck: as] inadequate to remedy the evils of our situation - while others and a great majority too will be apt at the first blush to consider the [inserted: proposed] government as too high toned But if the characters of the convention be considered - The matter they propose as [fully] the nature of the creature man, the government will most probably receive the fiat of the multitude [3] If however it should be otherwise - If the still small voice of reason be not heard - [inserted: If local [struck: Democrats] demagogues successfully oppose the erection [of] [a fair] national republic - ] we [struck: shall] shall [strikeout] [inserted: most probably feel the force of blind] events - whether they shall be rigid or flexible - adverse or fortunate, must be [left] [inserted: for the present] to those beings who see further than we poor mortals - [struck: You are pleased madam to request my information] The information you are pleased to request on certain points [struck: of] respecting the Cincinnati and the characters of certain gentlemen shall be candid & given to you when [struck: I shall] I shall have the honor of seeing you which I hope will be in [inserted: in July] October or Novr [strikeout] [4] Mrs Knox and myself have recently sustained the sharp affliction of losing our youngest child of about 11 months old, of a disorder incident to children & when cuttig their teeth - However much our affections have been lacerated on this occasion, we are forced to believe that [struck: every event] [inserted: the suffering in which we are & every [event then is governed by infinite wisdom - [struck: and although nature will be indulged in her feelings] [struck: Our [inserted: The] senses [inserted: of man] are over powered with the extent [inserted: magnitude] and effulgence of the illegible] inanimate nature - [inserted: Infinitely diversified indeed, but [illegible] irregular [illegible] from atoms [inserted: up] to worlds to systems and [inserted: to] [assembly] of systems, [struck: [strikeout] onto infinity] [inserted: ad infinitum] - [struck: Reason &] [inserted: analogy] Philosophy & Religion teach us that there is [inserted: also] a glorious system of [struck: intelligence] [inserted: invisible] intellectual [inserted and strikeout] beings - and although in this stage of our [struck: existence] [inserted: being] we cannot have [inserted: [I [define the mode] or] [struck: the] connection [strikeout] our [5] I beg General Warrent [sic] to accept my best wishes for his happiness mental and corporeal - I am madam with perfect respect and esteem Your most obedient humble Servant H Knox Mrs Warren. [docket] To Mrs Warren 21 August 1787