To George Washington from Henry Knox, 11 February 1790

From Henry Knox

(Private)New York the 11th February 1790

From the firmest persuasion of mind that you will receive this note with the same cordiality that it is dictated, permit me my dear dear friend to felicitate you on the return of your birth day.1

This effusion of an heart-felt affection, as far removed from a cold compliment to your present political station, as the extreme effulgence of the sun is to utter darkness, I could not bring myself to offer in person, well knowing my own weakness on the occasion.

May you live and tread the small theatre of this globe, while your health and happiness shall continue to render life desireable—but no longer.

I do not wish you long life as the greatest blessing, beleiving Strongly the immortality of the mind, and that the next grade of existence, will present you with joys, highly superior to any attendant on the best possible situation in this. I am my dear Sir most affectionately Your friend

H. Knox

LS, DLC:GW; ADfS, NNGL.

1. GW’s birthday according to the Julian calendar (see Diaries description begins Donald Jackson and Dorothy Twohig, eds. The Diaries of George Washington. 6 vols. Charlottesville, Va., 1976–79. description ends , 1:6) was 11 February. Although by the early 1790s most celebrations were held on 22 Feb., in 1791 Boston still celebrated GW’s birthday on 11 Feb., and the citizens of Alexandria were celebrating the old date as late as 1798 and 1799.

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Source Project: Washington Papers
Title: To George Washington from Henry Knox, 11 February 1790
Author: Knox, Henry
Recipient: Washington, George
Date: 11 February 1790

Reference

Cite as: “To George Washington from Henry Knox, 11 February 1790,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/05-05-02-0072. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Presidential Series, vol. 5, 16 January 1790 – 30 June 1790, ed. Dorothy Twohig, Mark A. Mastromarino, and Jack D. Warren. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1996, pp. 130–131.]

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