Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794 to Henry Knox

Written by Major Shaw, formerly Knox's aide-de-camp, to Brigadier General Knox. Reports that his brother arrived safely in France after a 23 day voyage. Says his brother's ship was the first to arrive with news of Cornwallis's defeat at Yorktown. It "was received with the most heartfelt satisfaction by our good Allies and it was expected would be productive of the greatest good consequences." Waiting to hear about the response from England. Says the legislature has been meeting for the last 8 days. Says the governor gave a good speech and that the legislature wants to comply with the requisitions for the troops before them. Says business of paying the troops will be completed this session, and certificates issued accordingly. Says it is too bad "these certificates, or indeed any other government securities, will be little better to us, than so much blank paper." Says he has not been able to get a single dollar for his certificates as long as he has been in Boston. Reports that nothing is done about paying the troops in March. Frothingham came to town and told him that Knox is going to be moving his quarters to Burlington, New Jersey. Hope the social life is better there than it is in Boston. Says he goes to all the public events and studies his French and mathematics. Heard the army was going to be reorganized, but that Washington would not approve it because it would have left some officers penniless. Reference's Knox's letter of 7 January 1782. Says he is "concerned for the issue of your affair - for if Congress refuse you that justice you have a right to, they must inevitably deprive their Country of an officer, whose services have been and might again be exceedingly useful to her." Docketed by Henry Knox.