16 August 1784

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Later copy. Expresses disappointment that General Lincoln will not be ready to sail as soon as Knox anticipated. Adds that commissioners are waiting for them at Halifax, Nova Scotia. About the urgent voyage, writes "We ought to determine upon the nature and quantity of things to be presented to the [Penobscot] Indians- and make application for them. We shall appear ridiculous enough in their eyes to ask them for their land and not give them any thing to prepare their minds to acquiesce in so modest a request." Written in Dorchester, a neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts.

GLC02437.03042

August 1784

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Later copy. Writes, "You must probably have been informed of being chosen with Mr Partridge and myself to examine the encroachments of the british on the eastern line of this State, and to endeavor to form some compromise with the Penobscot Indians respecting the lands which they now occupy- Will you accept the commission?" Possibly written at Massachusetts.

GLC02437.03047

11 September 1787

Lovell, James, 1737-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses the friendship he established with the Chevalier de Longchamps when they were both prisoners of war in 1775. Also refers to his intent to defend Longchamps character in relation to the Chevalier's involvement in the Longchamps-Marbois affair: "You will receive this from the hand of the Chevalier Longchaps [sic]. He was my Prison Mate here 12 years ago, and was treated, for a Time, worse by the British than I have been; afterwards he was for Months in the same Chamber. He was suspected if not known to have been serviceable to the Army at Prospect Hill. I was exceedingly surprised at…

GLC02437.03660

3 September 1792

McClure, David, 1748-1820

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes concerning the state of the Indian wars. Though he prefers peaceful ways to settle the conflicts, acknowledges that "[p]acific measures which I wished ardently at first, are now probibly [sic] too late. When I wrote you, I knew not that so many attempts had been made to conciliate the hostile tribes, as I find by your public declaration, had been made." States that "The calamity of the Indian war, is, I think productive of one great good of the negative kind, which is the prevention of a too extensive emigration over the western Territory, Were this embarresment [sic] removed…

GLC02437.05596

1 October 1792

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to David McClure

This letter was copied in an unknown hand. Writes to the Reverend David McClure and thanks him for the "remembrances of the pure friendship of our early years." Goes on to discuss his views on the Indian Wars and his ideas for intermarriage between whites and Native Americans. Recounts that the government attempted to prevent settlers in Kentucky from "any incursions into the indian country." Also reports that messengers were sent to invite the Native Americans on the Kentucky frontier to a meeting. Writes, "[t]hese pacific overtures were followed by a pretty general irruption of the…

GLC02437.10255

November 5, 1786

Dejean, Phillipe, fl. 1736-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Letter written by Captain Dejean, agent for the French Navy. He writes that he has enclosed a letter from the Marquis de Lafayette. Hopes that the letter from the Marquis, as well as Knox's prior knowledge, will testify to his good character. Relates that he has had a dispute with a Mr. De Letombe, the French consul in Boston, who is now accusing him "of having judged the Americans brought prisoners at Detroit, during the war, with the greatest cruelty," as well as of answering "Comte d'Estaing's Manifesto to the Canadiens" impertinently. Writes that should "that be the case; I am a bad man,…

GLC02437.03327

12 August 1790

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Jefferson, Secretary of State, responds to Secretary of War Knox's letter about the ratification of the Creek treaty (see GLC02437.04688 and GLC02437.04691). Jefferson asks Knox whether he can invite "the three charge's de affaires" and "respectable strangers of their nation" to the signing. Also asks, "do ladies go?" If so, asserts that Mrs. Otto should be on Mr. Otto's invitation. Docketed by Knox.

GLC02437.04689

26 August 1790

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Jefferson, Secretary of State, writes Knox to hastily give his thoughts on the "treaty of Hopewell, the act of cession of N. Carolina and the act of acceptance by Congress." States that Congress's act of acceptance followed the Treaty of Hopewell, and that North Carolina can not use their right of preemption to take away the right of occupation of the Cherokees. The "question would be a disagreeable one between the general government, a particular government, and individuals." Jefferson thinks purchasing from the Cherokees the right of occupation is one solution. Docketed by Knox.

GLC02437.04700

12 October 1791

De Jaudenes y Nebot, Josef, 1764-?

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

In reply to Knox's letter of that morning (see GLC02437.05193), De Jaudenes y Nebot and Josef Ignacio de Viar have enclosed the certificates on the same terms as he mentioned (certificates not included). They are happy to offer any service that is consistent with their public duty and private capacity. As the request complied with both, they fulfilled it willingly. Postscript says there was a blank spot on the certificate for the name of the vessel. This is in reference to a request from Moses Michael Hays for safe passage for the ship "Jefferson" (see GLC02437.05194). Docket marked "Private."

GLC02437.05192

12 October 1791

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Josef de Jaudenes y Nebot and Josef Ignacio de Viar

As they were so kind as to previously give certificates for safe passage of American ships to Spanish ports, he is emboldened to ask another request of the same nature. Requests permission for the vessel "Jefferson," captained by Josiah Roberts, to stop at Spanish ports en route to the northwest coast of America (see GLC02437.05192). Asks for permission only if it is consistent with their duties.

GLC02437.05193

28 May 1792

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Signed in text. Asks that Knox proofread a letter he has prepared to reply to Mr. Hammond (not included). Apologizes for asking and for the haste with which this must be accomplished, as he needs to complete the task before the President's return. Adds that he wants close editing for his letter because "the importance of this first move in the business renders him anxious that it should be well corrected."

GLC02437.05482

15 November 1793

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written in the third person by Jefferson, who signed his name in text. Quite probably the cover letter for the four sign letterpress copies Jefferson sent to Knox: GLC02437.05965, GLC02437.05966, GLC02437.05967 and GLC02437.05969. Encloses his press copies of letters to the attorneys of Pennsylvania and Delaware (referring to letters he sent on the issue of ships captured near the United States coast). The Delaware copy is GLC02437.05969; the Pennsylvania copy is not included. Copies of the letter sent to the attorneys of New Jersey, Connecticut, and New York are present: GLC02437.05965,…

GLC02437.05974

24 September 1783

McDougall, Alexander, 1732-1786

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Asks Knox over for a visit to discuss the army. Mentions that if the fireworks will be going off at West Point, he can take part of the company off Knox's hands. Discusses preparations to host a large group of visitors including the Minister of France, the President of Congress and some other southern members of Congress. Needs boards to fix the stables which were ruined by the army so these men can keep their horses. Mentions another building, "The Dwelling in the outside, looks more like a Bawdy House then the Quarters of an American General," and asks for a painter. Noted as written at…

GLC02437.02563

9 May 1785

Barbé-Marbois, François, marquis de, 1745-1837

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Barbé-Marbois, a French diplomat, writes that he is "anxious of laying before [Knox] some matters concerning french officers..."

GLC02437.03142

12 August 1782

Lincoln, Benjamin, 1733-1810

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by Secretary of War Lincoln to Major General Knox. References Knox's letter of 7 August. Thanks him "for your opinion on the department of field Commisary of Military Stores." As Knox hinted, Lincoln said he has submitted it to Washington. Wants his opinion on the peace. Says he received a late letter from London "shewing the miserable state to which their nation is driven. - which, if true, must soon produce a peace provided we do not relax on the present state of things - and thereby lay ourselves open to a stroke." Says a Mr. Blake of South Carolina has recently returned from…

GLC02437.01524

12 August 1791

Lillie, John, 1755-1801

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by Knox's former aide-de-camp Lillie. Written on the ship "Eliza" bound for Savannah, Georgia. Says he previously wrote Knox a letter before he left Gibraltar in which he gave a sketch of the character of the Emperor of Morocco. The day after he left Gibraltar he saw two letters in the possession of James Simpson, the consul for the Empress of Prussia, from two European consuls residing in Tangiers. The letters reported that the Emperor's brother has amassed a body of nearly 100,000 troops near Fez with the intention of attacking the northern ports of Morocco to dethrone the…

GLC02437.05116

January 10, 1789

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Thomas Vose

Encloses an agreement based on their conversations together. Also encloses a power of attorney. Hopes that their arrangement will be mutually beneficial. Writes, "[m]y object is to have a faithful friend whom I can trust at all times and under all circumstances." Discusses his relations with the people of several towns in the Waldo patent lands. Wants to bring all the people to a compromise, and has engaged the help of David Fales of Thomaston in this regard (see GLC02437.04083). Has utmost confidence in Fales, who has been employed in the area for a long time. He is also a surveyor by…

GLC02437.04084

June 1789

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Anthony Wayne

Thanks him for his recent letter. Accepts his congratulations for the newly-formed federal government and "our truly illustrious Cincinnatus [George Washington] to be head thereof." Extensively discusses diplomatic relationships between countries in Europe, especially an alliance between Great Britain, the Netherlands and Prussia, which was created to offset France and Russia's alliance. Comments that the British mercantile class "is for war with some power, not on a general scale of Justice or policy, but for the benefit of trade." Says America requires peace, as she "is not consolidated…

GLC02437.04265

28 November 1789

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Anthony Wayne

Thanks Wayne for his letter of 25 October (GLC02437.04397). Discusses the treaty negotiations underway in Georgia with the Creek nation, referring to Creek leader Alexander McGillivray: "Mr McGillivrays influence over the creeks has been exerted to ill effect in persuading that nation against an immediate treaty with the United States upon the terms the commissioners offered He has sacrificed the interests of the nation to his own avarice." Relates that one commissioner, [Henry Osborne], claims he saw and read a treaty between the Spanish and the Creeks in which Charles IV guaranteed the…

GLC02437.04421

10 April 1790

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Anthony Wayne

Discusses the troops in Georgia and the pending decision in Congress regarding Georgia's pre-emption of the western lands. Says that all the troops within the power of the President, George Washington, have been sent to Georgia. Hopes the troop's arrival will ease apprehensions of "the good people of Georgia" and offer them some form of protection. Notes the Governor of Georgia has informed them "that the Creeks are peaceably disposed." States that only the federal goverment can make treaties. Docketed by Knox.

GLC02437.04580

1 March 1793

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: [Opinions on the manner of George Washington taking the oath of office]

Signed and initialed by Knox. Marked "Copy." Knox and Randolph provide President Washington with opinions on the upcoming second presidential inauguration. Knox and Randolph believe that: the president should take the oath in public, that the time should be noon, that the place should be the Senate chamber, that the marshal of the district should inform the vice president that the Senate chamber will be used, that the vice president, governor, and foreign ministers be notified of the time of the oath, and that Mr. [William] Cushing administer the oath. Knox has signed for himself and on…

GLC02437.05840

5 April 1794

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript letter

Title: to Henry Knox

Later copy of a letter from Washington to Knox, discussing General Israel Chapin's negotiations with the Six Nations (possibly referring to the Canandaigua Treaty of 1794). Notes that the Treaty should take place apart from British agents and spies. Copy made 8 February 1854. Original of this letter is GLC02437.09428.

GLC02437.09348

September 20, 1795

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript letter

Title: to Henry Knox

Later copy of a letter from Washington to Knox, discussing a letter recently received from Knox "with great pleasure." Comments on Knox's home in Maine (Knox retired to his estate, Montpelier, in 1795, located near the St. George River in Thomaston, Maine). Mentions the "Treaty with Great Britain," possibly referring to the Jay Treaty, signed by Washington in August 1795. Refers to public opinion of the Treaty. Discusses the details of providing for George Washington Lafayette (son the Marquis de Lafayette and the President's godson). Relates that he has arranged for Lafayette to be cared for…

GLC02437.09349

25 October 1789

Wayne, Anthony, 1745-1796

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Describes the situation in western Georgia concerning negotiations with the Creeks. The Commission has not succeeded as of yet in negotiating a treaty with the Creeks. Mentions violence along the frontier between Native Americans and white settlers, including incidents in which Native Americans attacked forts and burned them. Reports that the Spanish have concluded a treaty with the Creek Nation, and that Creek leader Alexander McGillivray was involved. Describes the Creeks as "numerous & insolent, until they were made to experience our superiority in the Field..." Suggests a…

GLC02437.04397

12 May 1790

Wayne, Anthony, 1745-1796

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Thanks Knox for sending three more companies of men to him, as he believes this will help deter the Indians from hostilities. Provides the opinion of Creek leader "McGilvery" (referring to Alexander McGillivray), who believes that it is likely some Creeks will reinitiate hostilities because they feel the truce between the government and the Creeks has expired. McGillivray requested to the Governor that a government agent be sent to meet with the Creeks. Therefore, a group of commissioners will be sent in an attempt to sue for peace. Also remarks, "It's also said that Mr. McGilvery is to…

GLC02437.04604