February 17, 1788

Swan, James, 1754-1830

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Swan relates the details of his passage to France. He had planned to avoid conversing with people from Boston, but ran into people he knew aboard ship. Received introductions from French nobility during his passage. Asks for news related to the United States Constitution. Discusses his debt, stating his interest in obtaining a consular position to an unspecified location in Europe. Notes that the merchants' wives are the most extravagant in their spending, while the higher order are "very prudent & oeconomical, tho' showy." Discusses letters of introduction, mentioning two previous…

GLC02437.03801

January 31, 1790

Talbot, Silas, 1751-1813

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Forwards (not included) copies of papers and a letter (see GLC02437.04491) he sent to the President, George Washington, for Knox to look at. Also asks Knox for his support in his application for a position. Writes, "...being convinced that a word from you to him [the President] in due season will have a powerful effect on his mind and in my favor..."

GLC02437.04490

27 December 1790

Swan, James, 1754-1830

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Swan has enclosed a plan "advantageous" to both the U.S. and France and wishes Knox to exert his influence over President George Washington and Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton to agree to it. Swan also sends "the bankers' letter to me, the Commission or agency in which, I sacredly engage to pay to you." In a postscript dated 30 December Swan asks Knox, "pray sound Mr. Jefferson on this, or get some one to do it. I am affraid of him, merely because Mr. Short may have misled him."

GLC02437.04810

January 26, 1803

Thatcher, Samuel, 1776-1872

Autograph letter

Title: to Henry Knox

Signature has been clipped. Writes, "I take the liberty to address you respecting the separation of Maine from Massachusetts." Declares that the Federalists in Washington, D.C. fear that this separation is dangerous to federalism and will bring forth disorder. Asks what the citizens have to gain from the separation, and believes they feel well governed by Massachusetts: "I think we are more safe under the government of Massachusetts than we should be by a legislature composed of men from every village in Maine." Asks Knox to use his influence to weigh in on the subject.

GLC02437.07783

February 25, 1803

Thatcher, Samuel, 1776-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Glad to hear from Knox that he agreed with Thatcher that separating Maine from Massachusetts would be "destructive of its interests & respectability." Discusses the likely passage of a bill in Congress to establish a lighthouse on an island in the Penobscot Bay. Asks Knox if he will obtain some necessary paperwork to certify Congress's jurisdiction over the island.

GLC02437.07789

2 December 1791

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to Caleb Swan

Outlines instructions about an audit for the Treasury Department. States that "the Levie and Militia serving on the Frontier under Major general St. Clair should have their accounts regularly adjusted and the balance paid to the officers and soldiers respectively, previously to their discharge at Fort Washington ... " Goes on to write that this is an important business and that he trusts Caleb Swan to carry it out, especially since the amount needed to carry these instructions out is a "considerable sum of money which are delivered to [Caleb Swan's] care and safe keeping ... " Noted as No…

GLC02437.10242

22 March 1782

Swetland, Aaron, fl. 1782

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes to discuss the future of his appointment with the Commissary of Military Stores. Has served in the department since the previous June, without knowing whether he would receive an appointment to the position of Conductor. Explains that last June he and Captain Patten met with Knox in New Windsor, and Knox referred him to Richard Frothingham, Field Commissary of Military Stores, and told him that if his service was acceptable he would be appointed to Conductor. Believes his service was satisfactory, but asks that if Knox disagrees, he arrange for a discharge for Swetland. Adds, "I am…

GLC02437.01373

1 November 1782

Sumner, Job, 1754-1789

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Signed by J. Sumner, Capt.; author may be Captain Job Sumner of the 3rd Massachusetts. Written from "Camp." Writes, "There is one Bound a soldier in the 3 Massachusetts, now confined in the provost, under your direction by Complaint of Mr. Nait an Inhabitant, "for injuring his property" - he has been long confined & if you think it will not injure Service, I should be glad he might be sent to his Regiment, when he may receive trial agreably to the nature of his crime before a general or regimental Court Martial, I shall take care to advertise Mr. Nait of his removal, should you assent."

GLC02437.01692

10 December 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to Heman Swift

Written and signed for Knox in the hand of Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide-de-camp. Writes, "I was yesterday at Head Quarters and applied to His Excellency, respecting your absence and that of Major Smith. He consents to your going for the time you propose, but objects to more than one field officer being absent at a time. He intends to make that the principle for furloughs. I shall send the address to you tomorrow to be signed."

GLC02437.01735

23 August 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lewis [Teisoui]

Informs [Teisoui] that his brother, William Knox, asked that their correspondence should be sent via [Teisoui] and expresses some uncertainty about whether William will be going to England.

GLC02437.02411

21 October 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Cornelius Swartwout

Informs Swartwout that someone will show him where he and Captain Dusten can gather firewood for the upcoming winter.

GLC02437.02693

December 11, 1783

Sumner, J., fl. 1783

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Requests that a fellow officer may be discharged.

GLC02437.02825

29 December 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Major Sumner

Provides instruction to Sumner about mustering troops. Says it will be unnecessary to muster the Massachusetts troops.

GLC02437.02870

7 June 1784

Sumner, Job, 1754-1789

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Asks Knox for "a speedy determination of our Ranks" as rank will determine his subsistence and pay. Hopes he is entitled to "the allowance of major" unless Congress revokes his commission.

GLC02437.03010

25 October 1784

Teissier, Lewis, fl. 1784

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes, "I beg leave to sincerely congratulate you on the total recovery of my worthy Friend your Brother Mr. Wm. Knox from the disagreeable state of despondency he was in for a few months & of which with his other Friends who like myself live in great intimacy with him I find he has no remains." William had previously instructed Henry to send his mail care of Teissier, a merchant in London.

GLC02437.03061

27 October 1786

Swan, James, 1754-1830

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes that he is "agreeably saluted with the news of War being declared against the Indians." Is quite overjoyed at the situation: "I told you in State Street, what my hopes were- little did I think the happy circumstance so near." Would like Knox's advice on "buying or selling in to the Continental funds." Has been very pleased with Knox's advice before and would be happy to have it again. Would like to know "whether to engage actively" in the "present commotions." Seems to be inclined to do it - "My heart is warm for supporting Government" - but is unsure whether he can convince his "…

GLC02437.03321

4 November 1786

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Swan

Very flattered by Swan's confidence in his judgment, and only wishes his judgments were up to that standard. He has not been contemplating the funds, so he cannot judge "which species of them ought to have the preference." Provides some thoughts as to the merits of each type of fund. Discusses attempts to raise money for Congress, for the government to use until the states provide money to the treasury. Relates that they need to make sure individuals who loan money to Congress feel secure that they will be repaid in a timely fashion. Discusses the functionality of their government.…

GLC02437.03326

26-28 February 1787

Swan, James, 1754-1830

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Two parts. First part written 26 February 1787. Notes he missed the post at Hartford, Connecticut and only has time to write a quick note. Describes how long and difficult his journey has been, particularly for Mrs. Swan, and says he will never go by land again. Mentions that General [Benjamin] Lincoln will be in town, at which point Swan hopes to learn his future rank. Says he saw [Colonel David] Humphreys in Springfield, Massachusetts dressed "in all the extra elegance of Paris. Noted as written at Bruce's Leicester. Second part dated 28 February 1787. Writes that he forgot to…

GLC02437.03471

2 March 1787

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to James Swan

Mentions some legal papers that he is trying to get an attorney assigned to. Discusses horse breeding and the recipient's recent trip through Connecticut.

GLC02437.03479

30 October 1787

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Swan

Returns Swan's account against John Campbell, "who has been liberated from Goal by an oath of Insolvency & gone to Europe." (Swan had a dispute with Campbell; see GLC02437.03437). Says he does not know what the charges of Colonel [Alexander?] Hamilton are on this business, but will let Swan know when he finds out. Supports the new Constitution, and believes it will be adopted ultimately. Adds, "Should Massachusetts & the other Eastern states embrace it eagerly much evil would be avoided." Date from docket.

GLC02437.03690

25 November 1787

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Silas Talbot

Discusses the circumstances of Talbot's sons who are now in France. States they have been well received by the intendant of Normandy and that Count Montmorin, acting as Minister of Marine since the resignation of the Marquis de Castries, has placed them in the volunteers of the 3rd class in the royal navy. Also discusses their various expenses for room and board. Mentions a statement given by Monsieur La Forest and relays that he wants an answer concerning the reimbursement of funds. States, "It was also hinted by Mr. La Forest that it would be beneficial were you to obtain letters from Mr. […

GLC02437.03714

20 December 1787

Talbot, Silas, 1751-1813

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Thanks him for the information from Monsieur La Forest about his sons, who were in France for their education (see GLC02437.03714 for a related letter). Laments that he did not meet up with La Forest when he was in New York and discusses paying the bills for his sons board and education in France. Asks Knox to help him get the money to the Intendant of Normandy, who has advanced the sums needed to accommodate Talbot's sons.

GLC02437.03731

January 19, 1788

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Sullivan

Knox transmits a letter from the Marquis de Lafayette delivered to Knox by the Count de [Moustier], a French Minister. He informs Sullivan, Governor of New Hampshire, that Lafayette wrote the letter "on the supposition of your being in this City and President of Congress." Discusses ratification of the Constitution: "The fact however is that the present system called the confederation has run down... something must be done speedily, or we shall soon be involved in all the horrors of anarchy, and separate state interests..." Notes that if Massachusetts and New Hampshire reject the Constitution…

GLC02437.03765

January 28, 1788

Tillier, Rudoph, fl. 1788-1800

Autograph letter signed

Title: [to Henry Knox]

Tillier introduces Knox to Mr. Tardiveau, possibly Barthelemi Tardiveau, the author of a memorial Tillier had previously given to Knox. Identified as a copy in the docket.

GLC02437.03776

March 29, 1788

Swan, James, 1754-1830

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Swan refers to his attempts to meet with merchants and manufacturers in France. He writes, "The reason why the French in this Quarter, have not been able to sell their manufrs. as low as the English, I saw in a moment,- there is not that invention & care used as in Great Britain, to save labour- People being plenty they continue to employ them, because they have done it for a long time." Discusses the replacement of human labor with machines in French manufacturing. Notes that the Marquis de Lafayette has offered to write Swan letters of introduction. He hopes his memorial on French and…

GLC02437.03830