[draft] Boston 17th July 1776. My dear Sister I receivd yours of the 19th Last wednesday evening, should have wrote you by Thursdays post but was under the necesity [sic] of writing my brother, which too[inserted: k] up the chief of my time. [inserted: from] after the post arrivd till he set [struck: he set] out again- I am exceedingly pleas'd to hear my little neice [sic] is well & that she has improvd so much in so short a time- There is but one place in Town where they have corsetts with bells, & there they have but two at seven dollars each. I have shewn them to Mrs. Jarvis, she advises me not by any means to buy [one] until I tell you from her that they are very ordinary & very dear; for my own [inserted: part] I dont know whether they are good, bad, cheep or dear, but if you should chose to have one of them, I will send it the first opportunity after knowing your mind- I [send] you that part of the Tea which I have receiv'd from Mr. Hubbard who makes many appologies for his not sending it before, & says he will send you the remainder the first opportunity when as soon as he does I will forward to you- I am much oblig'd to you for the particular accon[inserted: t] you give me of the present [inserted: & intended] number of men our army does & [struck: will] [inserted: is to] consist of when complete [I] have very few hopes of a Settlement with Brittain thro' the Medium of my Lord Howe. he dont set out as if he intended it, but at the point of the Bayonet, I am informd he has convey'd Lett.rs to Newport by a Flag directed [inserted: or addres'd] to the different Assemblys of the provinces [consisted] [2] in much the same terms, which you inform me that was [inserted: which was] directed to General Washington- We hear by a person two months from England, by the way of the West Indies, who arriv'd at Nantucket some few days since, that all the Foreign Troops except the last division (which was at Spithead & expected to imbark very soon] had sail'd for america, so that we may expect them immediately- We have been flattering ourselves this way, from the accounts we have had by the way of the West Indies, that Spain & Portugal would soon get at Loggerheads with [such] others in that case [inserted: as Britain] (according to a Treaty) would be under the nesesity of supplying portugal with a large Force by Sea & [Land] we should have it our power to make [illegible] terms we pleas'd, as we are certain the force for th[inserted: e] pu[inserted: r]pose of supplying portugal must be drawn from America, this is very pretty [an] Idea. I wish the reality mayn't be at a distance- Yesterday an [acco.t] arrived in town of the intire defeat of Genl. Clinton by Genl Lee at Charlestown S. Carolina- As to town news we have but very little. There is a Court establish'd here call'd the Court of inquiry for the purpose of Trying & Condemning the Tories. the punishment in General is 2. or 4. months Banishment with bonds, some for a thousand pounds, some more & some less for their good political behavior for 12 Months Mr. [Jno.] Armory, James Perkins, John Trimmings & [illegible] Witworths are among the prescrib'd. I have made inquiry of the [Young] [3] woman respecting Mrs. Urquharts child, she tells me it was extremely well & hearty when she left Halifax Captn [Vance] who has lately arriv'd from England by the way of Halifax says when he arriv'd [inserted: there] your [woman] Mrs. Urquhart & Sally were gone from there Mrs [Fisher] the Lawyers wife told him that the 2 former [were] gone to England & Sally to Ireland, he understood her [inserted: she was] married to a Gentleman of the army- be so kind as to give my compliments to the Ladies if with you- Mrs. Waldo will write you soon. Mrs. Jarvis love expected a lett.r last post. Collo Jacksons compliments [inserted: he] will be very with your [correspondence] will write you soon. Kiss little Lucy for me And Believe me to be Your Affectionate Broth Wm. Knox. [address] Mrs. Lucy Knox. New Haven favor'd by Mr. Debtor's [docket] 1776 Wm to Mrs. Knox