Knox, Henry (1750-1806) to Benjamin Lincoln
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.02131 Author/Creator: Knox, Henry (1750-1806) Place Written: West Point, New York Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 21 May 1783 Pagination: 2 p. : docket ; 34.1 x 20.5 cm. Order a Copy
Discusses the establishment of the Society of the Cincinnati and mentions a proposed constitution, which is not included. States that "[t]he intention [for creating the society] is pure, and uncorrupted by any sinister design - The sole objects the union of the states as far as the humble influence of the officers may extend - and to erect some lonly [sic] shelter for the unfortunate, against the storms and tempests of poverty..." Minor text loss on the right hand side of page two.
[draft]
West point 21 May 1783 -
my dear Sir
Impressed with a belief that you were expected in camp every day, I have omitted to write to you for some time past. I wanted to converse with you upon many things [struck: and] among which [struck: was] [inserted: is] the establishment of the Society, the proposed institution of which is contained in the enclosed papers. The [struck: intention] [inserted: intention] [struck: principle which govern, in the formation of the Cincinnati are] [inserted: is] pure, and uncorrupted by any sinister [strikeout] [inserted: design] - The sole objects [struck: are] the [struck: happiness] [inserted: union] of the [struck: officers] states as far as the humble influence of the officers may extend - and to erect some lonly shelter for the unfortunate, against the storms and tempests of poverty - peruse it with this view and let me know your opinion - The commander in chief and almost all the officers are warmly in favor and the matter will be executed by the corps here in a few days - Our friend General Heath is however to be excepted from the number with a sagacity peculiar to himself he thinks, he sees through the mist [inserted: he sees] pests and hobgoblins of hideous forms and [inserted: no popularity]. How shall we get your [signature]?
Apropos what has become of the [2] arrangement of the pay of my meritorious company of artificers and the other matters relating to them of which I have written and conversed with you upon. Pray let me have a final answer soon as they are extremely anxious to have the matter [determ] I think it is impossible that their pay shall be less than [struck: that] the [sum] they have been assured [struck: was the rates] which is 20 dollars P month to the privates and 25 to the sergeants.
Mrs Knox has received the unfortunate intelligence of the death of her father who died in London last February.
X I am my Dear Sir
Your affectionate
HKnox
X
Lt General McDougall is still in Philadelphia I beg you to furnish him with a copy of the [illegible] I should have written particularly to him but the uncertainty of his being in Philadelphia [prevent]
General Lincoln
[docket]
To Genl Lincoln 21 May 1783
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