[draft] Boston May 15th. 1777. My dear Brother I dare say you wonder why you have not receivd any Letters from me of late, but when I tell you that I have been sadly abus'd by a violent inflamation of my blood, which threw itself into my arms & hands in such a manner as to deprive me of the use of them for some days, your wonder will undoubtedly cease.. at present my hands & indeed every part of me is very sore, but I think I am upon the recruiting order. I have been out almost every day since my return from providence but believe I must [confirm] myself two or three days for the sake of taking some powerful physic. My living at Providence & my sickness since my return has retarded the [raisg] of the sum of money which you agreed on for me to raise, [it] Surprizes me not a little that you express so [possitively] your ignorance concerning part of the 1200 £. Collo. Jackson has desird me to let him have 1000 Dollars which is about the sum I have by me at present. the misunderstanding concerning the sum I am persuaded I shall be able to set right in my next we both mean one thing. but at present my being so indisposed & my not having raised near the sum, will I think under [2] under any other excuses unnessesary. I am a little imbarras'd concerning your [effects] you write Mrs. Knox that if I have raised near the sum tomorrow [struck: your efforts] [inserted: them] into the Country, but as I said before I have not rais'd very near the sum, [illegible] [therefore] from your letter I conclude the [thing] must not be [remov'd] at present, if you excuse my not not being more [particular] in this Letter & I promise to be very so in my next if I am better. Accept my [unfeign'd] thanks for your interesting yourself so particularly in favor of my [illegible] military life & believe me to be my dearest friend Your Affectionate Brother Wm Knox [address] To Brigadier General Knox Commanding the Artillery of the United States Favor'd by Collo Henley. [docket] Mr Wm Knox to the Genl