[draft] Boston 15th January 1797. My dear Sir [struck: Being well persuaded of your kindness] Possessing as I do, a thousand evidences of your friendship [strikeout], I am persuaded that you will readily [struck: [illegible] me when I assure you] [inserted: believe me when I say] that my silence hitherto has been the effect of my unwillingness to intrude myself upon you [struck: during the during the all important [illegible] to] [inserted: lest I should] prevent for a moment, the different views and considerations you [strikeout] give to the [struck: very] important subjects you have constantly before you - although the same causes continue to prevent my interruption yet I am apprehensive sometimes, that you may think, me unmindful of your kindnesses especially after, [inserted: the receipt of yr] the affectionate letter [struck: you transmitted] by Mr Bingham the last summer - The loss of [2] two lovely children, on which you condoled in that letter, has been recently, [strikeout] revived and increased, by [inserted: the [struck: loss] [inserted: death] of] our son of seven year old bearing your name. [inserted: He has always been sickly, having been born permatured but we flattered ourselves that his health would encrese with his years but we have been dissaproved.] Unfortunate indeed have we been in the [struck: loss of our] [inserted: death of eight] children, requiring the excercise of our whole stock of Philosophy & religion [struck: and every other principle of support. However I hope we may say with propriety that God tempers his wounds to the shorn lamb] We find ourselves afflicted by an irresistible but invissible force to whom we must submit - But the [struck: loss] [inserted: conflict] is almost too great for the [struck: afflicted] [inserted: inconsolable] mother who will [struck: go mourning to her grave] go mourg to her grave. We have [struck: recently] [inserted: lately] come from [struck: the our place in the country] [inserted: St. Georges] to pass [struck: our] [inserted: the] winter in this Town. Indeed this is our general plan [struck: for the present]. We may [struck: indeed] [inserted: however] as we grow [3] older find it inconvenent - [struck: at present it is a relatively easy ride,] we are distant about two hundred miles by land, which we may easily ride in six [struck: or seven days] days when the snow is on the ground, or [struck: indeed] with wheels with a very little improvement of the [inserted: a small portion] road - The taverns on the [struck: grounds] [inserted: route] are as good as any other two hundred miles on the Continent. I am beginning to experience the good effects of my residence upon my [struck: estate and attention to my property [illegible [inserted: lands] I may truly say that is more than double in its value since I determined to make it my home. The only inconvenience we experience is the want of Society, [struck: and] This will probably lessen daily. Our communication by water to this [struck: place] [inserted: Town] is constant and cheap - We can obtain the transportation [here] the cheaper; than the [4] same article can be carted, from any store to the Vessel - This [struck: probably would require] egotism would require an an apology to any other than you - For your own sake I rejoice at the near approach of your retirement. In it I pray God you may enjoy all the felicity of which the human condition is susceptible - The consiousness of having acted well would [struck: would] under [struck: all all] any circumstances, [struck: raised] [inserted: have] elevate[d] your soul abouve the feelings of [struck: the] storms raised by [inserted struck: the] malice and envy [struck: of the present moment.] But [struck: the] [inserted: in addition to this consciousness,] the consecration of your retirement, by the unlimited gratitude of your country must present [inserted: you in] the decline of your life with [struck: a doubtless [illegible] the most [struck: perfect] [inserted: [strikeout] perfect] reward. I flatter myself that before you leave the helm you will have dissipated the clouds raised by the [struck: jealouslys and] causeless jealousy of the french adm [5] administration. If not, we must appeal from them mad and drunk with power as they may be to the time when they shall [strikeout] have recovered their senses - We have not injured them, but have only taken [struck: that] those due precautions which our own happiness required. If [struck: they [illegible [inserted: they] madly continue, to war against our innocent & rightful commerce we must make an account [inserted: therof] and [struck: expe] look for compensation through all the events of ages, and we shall assuredly find it at some period or other [inserted: with full interest -] - But I hope we shall not under any circumstances [inserted: at present] attempt reprisals - [struck: They might come out] Their fit of insanity cannot last long. St Domingo is and will be in the course of this winter the [strikeout] [inserted: victim] of the villany of its administration. The whites will either starve or be murdered [inserted: by the blacks] - as the negroes [6] [inserted: It cannot be expected there] their will be no danger of the french attempting an invasion [inserted: of our country]. If they should we must resist. and [strikeout] [inserted: that] appears [strikeout] [inserted: to be] the only case in which we should suffer ourselves to be dragged into a war. [struck: But we cannot be [largely] murdered] What an eventful winter this will be at paris! [struck: Heaven forbid that any of my friends should be in such a scene of intrigue and [inserted: and [illegible [illegible] be], especially if the army of [struck: Itlay] [inserted: Italy] should be arrested, or defeated, in addition, to the retreat of the two armies of Jourdan and Moreau from Germany. [struck: Everybody [inserted: Peop[l]e] here [struck: is] [inserted: are] crying out against a Mr. Skipwith Consul at Paris as one who vilifies our government in the most outrageous manner - Indeed] From some information which I have here received from a person who is himself [struck: of the opposite party] [inserted: much attached to the french], no doubt rests in our mind, but that the measures of the french [7] administration [inserted: towards this Country] have been excited, by the Americans in Paris, [struck: who mostly] in consequence of [struck: informa] [inserted: letters received from persons of the same] [strikeout] [inserted: opinions] in the US - [struck: The gentry in Paris are said generally] are [inserted: said to be] the most desperate adventurers] - I did not intend to intermix a word of politcs in this letter which I meant as the [struck: near these great] recognition of a grateful heart, [inserted: but they thrust themselves in always] - Mrs. Knox unites with me in presenting our respectful and affectionate attachments to you and Mrs. Washington - [struck: if I am [illegible I am my Dear sir your ever [struck: obt respectfully] [struck: and] devoted friend HKnox The President of the United States - [docket] Boston Janry 15. 1797 draft to the President of the United States - Washington