[draft] Quarters of the Artillery Pluckemin 10th Jany 1779 My dear friend and Brother I wrote you a line a few days ago by Mr Temple who just call'd upon us as he pass'd and inform'd you we were pretty conveniently and comfortably accommodated at this place - That the post coming from the Eastward had been either taken or had got drunk and was lost since which he has arriv'd and I have received your two letters of the 9th and 17th ultimo. I am exceedingly well pleas'd with the prospect you have of getting Mr Joseph Peirce for an agent to the Estate - no person could be more agreeable to me - I hope he will accept of it - I think from the essential services renderd me by Mr Hichborn he ought to be consulted and employed by Mr Peirce (if he is agent) in all matters relative to the Estate - and yet Mr [2] Lowell might to be consulted occasionally in order to retain him and in any important matter might to be employ'd and paid as highly as the other - I hope you will not forget the matter of the petition. I hope my expectations of its success will not be Ill grounded. Permit me to entreat that if the things are not yet sent off that it may be done immediately - as the things are for me I suppose the Quartermaster would furnish a Horse to bring them - Colonel Popkins will return by the 1st february - some honest soldier who is on Furlough at Boston might be mounted on this said Horse and attend Colo. Popkins to camp - The matter to Mrs Knox is of so much consequence That no pains of expence must be spard in order to get them here timeously [sic] - pray dont forget the [Hyson] Tea I wrote for - We expect the Miss Hinstone here today having dispatched Capt Lillie with [3] a Servant and the Phaeton to Elizabeth Town to which which [sic] place they are to come from New York - we have received a Letter from them - promising to be [illegible] by last Thursday[.] We shall endeavor to detain them here for some time and hope to effect it - we shall give Mr Winslow timely notice when to expect them at Boston - give my love to him - write me often and let me have the news of the Town - pray has t[he] General Arnold or the Brig in which you interested yourself saild - give my love to Mr Jarvis &c. I am Dr Brother &c HKnox We are about six miles from Head Quarters - His Excellency is at Philadelphia but is expected back this week My Lucy sends her love and my little daughter a Kiss - [address leaf] Mr William Knox Boston [docket #1] From B Genl Knox Pluckemin 10th Jany. 1779 [docket #2] Gen Knox To his Post. Wm Jan/79 Pluckemin.