1To George Washington from Henry Knox, 31 January 1787 (Washington Papers)
No distinct accounts have arrived but by the post this evening we shall expect some particulars, which I will communicate tomorrow. Thus much is certain that no action has happened. I am my dear Sir Respectfully Your humble Servt ALS , DLC:GW .
2To George Washington from Henry Knox, 24 September 1783 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to enclose the return of the troops, to the 20th instant, and am, with the greatest respect, Your Excellency’s most obedient servant, DLC : Papers of George Washington.
3To George Washington from Henry Knox, 17 September 1783 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to enclose to your Excellency the last weekly returns of the troops. Since my last, I appointed a board to inspect the decrepid and infirm who were incapable of duty, which have reported sixty one to be discharged as unfit for service, one of them with a pension. I shall accordingly discharge them which I hope will have your Excellency’s approbation. We are busy in withdrawing...
4To George Washington from Henry Knox, 4 April 1784 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Henry Knox, 4 April 1784. On 12 April Knox wrote to GW : “I wrote your Excellency on the 4th of this month.”
5To George Washington from Henry Knox, 22 October 1783 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to enclose the weekly returns, and a slate of the periods at which the enlistments of the Rhode Island Companies will expire. If those Companies should be necessary at their present station, they must be replaced either in the winter or very early in the Spring. I have the honor to be with the highest respect your Excellencys most obedient servt DLC : Papers of George Washington.
6To George Washington from Henry Knox, 27 March 1789 (Washington Papers)
The house of Representatives want Yet four members and the Senate two. The first will not be formed until Monday, and the senate probably not untill Wednesday next the first of April. Colo. Hanson of Alexandria is so good as to take charge of the cloth sent you from the Hartford manufactory, and also of some federal buttons manufactored in this City, both of which will I hope safely reach you....
7To George Washington from Henry Knox, 8 February 1787 (Washington Papers)
My last to you was of the 1st instant since which I have received your favor of the 25 Jany. You will probably have received mine long before this time of the 14th ultimo which will satisfy you that I received duly your favor of the 26th December. I now enclose you (in confidence) three Copies of letters written by our friend Lincoln to Govr Bowdoin which will shew you in a more connectd State...
8To George Washington from Henry Knox, 19 March 1789 (Washington Papers)
I thank you for your favor of the second instant which I received by the last post. The extreme badness of the roads is given as the reason that the number of members necessary to form a quorum of both houses are not yet assembled. Mr Patterson of the Senate, and Mr Griffin and Mr Moore of the representatives are the only additional since my last —The number therefore at present nine senators...
9To George Washington from Henry Knox, 14 September 1787 (Washington Papers)
presuming that you will not set out from Philadelphia untill Monday the 17th I write you a line to congratulate you on the termination of your arduous business & to wish you a happy sight of Mrs Washington and your family. In every event respecting the reception of the propositions of the convention you will enjoy the high satisfaction of having performed every thing that could possibly be...
10To George Washington from Henry Knox, 27 February 1787 (Washington Papers)
My last to you was on the 22d instant, in which I stated my apprehensions respecting the proposed disfranchisement in Massachusetts. I did not mean to find fault with the measure. I am persuaded circumstances have rendered it necessary, and proper. But any rigorous chastisement of the rebels, will enflame them and render it right and expedient for the government to provide for its own safety...
11To George Washington from Henry Knox, 5 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
It has been my intention ever since I have been in this City which is fourteen days to have written to you, but my business has been such as to prevent this gratification. Congress have directed 700 Men to be raised for three years, to be apportioned upon the states of Connecticut New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, for the protection of the Western frontiers, to defend the Settlers on the...
12To George Washington from Henry Knox, 2 April 1789 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday the house of representatives completed their number, and chose Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg of Pennsylvania Speaker and Mr Beckley of Virginia Clerk. The senate are still deficient one member. Mr Read of Delaware has been expected daily but he has not yet arrived. Mr Thomson will sett off to announce to the President the unanimous choice of the people of the United states as soon as...
13To George Washington from Henry Knox, 6 November 1783 (Washington Papers)
I have just received the Cannon from Mr Billings for the Count de Grasse. I know not exactly who to direct them to, but supposing that your Excellency might wish to see them and probably send a letter to the Count, I have taken the liberty to direct the serjeant who has them in charge to take your Orders respecting them. In case you should have departed from Princeton and the secretary of War,...
14To George Washington from Henry Knox, 9 January 1784 (Washington Papers)
I wrote you particularly on the 3d instant and enclosed you my report to Congress with the various returns. I have now finished the necessary arrangements for the winter and in a few hours I shall set out for Boston—The public interest has been my actuating principle in the cou[r]se of this business and I flatter myself will meet your approbation. I have found it necessary to direct that a few...
15To George Washington from Henry Knox, 9 March 1789 (Washington Papers)
By the last post on the 5th instant I informed you of the number of Members of the new government who had assembled here. There are no additions since, excepting one representative from New Hampshire, and one from Massachusetts. There is some competition between east and West Jersey, respecting the election for representatives, which have delayed the members from that state Appearing—None from...
16To George Washington from Henry Knox, 14 August 1787 (Washington Papers)
Influenced by motives of delicacy I have hitherto forborne the pleasure my dear Sir of writing to you since my return from Philadelphia. I have been apprehensive that the stages of the business of the convention might leak out, and be made an ill use of, by some people. I have therefore been anxious that you should escape the possibility of imputation. But as the objects seem now to be brought...
17To George Washington from Henry Knox, 1 October 1783 (Washington Papers)
I am unable to express the sense I have of your kindness, in the instance of your writing to General Lincoln, on the 6th of last June respecting an extra allowance from the Publick, as head of the ordnance, and during the time I have been in the command of these posts. Your letter to him, was so full, and complete, that I did not think another word, would have been necessary to have obtained...
18To George Washington from Henry Knox, 16 October 1783 (Washington Papers)
Major L’Enfant will have the honor to wait upon your Excellency to solicit leave of absence and to obtain the certificate, I requested, of his being a member . His zeal to serve the Cincinnati has been conspicuously displayed in the emblems of the bald eagle, designs of the medals, seal, and of that noble effort of genius, the diploma. He proposes to attend the execution of these several...
19To George Washington from Henry Knox, 29 January 1787 (Washington Papers)
By an express received by me Yesterday affairs at Springfield were most critically circumstanced. At 4 oClock last Thursday afternoon Genl Sheppard and the insurgents were drawn up in battle array and Shepperd expecting to be momently attacked. Capt. Cushing an officer in the troops now raising was dispatched as an express to Hartford for asistance to Shepperd says that he was confident an...
20To George Washington from Henry Knox, 29 October 1783 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor to receive your Excellency’s favor of the 16th instant. We shall endeavor to put the troops into their Winter quarters as soon as possible—The 4th Massachusetts regiment has already gone to occupy the huts built by Colonel Swift’s regiment which are in pretty good repair—The New Hampshire Corps will go to morrow to Constitution Island—The remainder of the Connecticut regiment...
21To George Washington from Henry Knox, 10 September 1783 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to enclose the weekly return of the troops. On the 7th instant the remainder of the 3d Massachusetrs regiment arrived from the southward in a pretty healthy state, having left but few upon the road. The troops having been uncommonly sickly for this place, and a malignant putrid fever being among their disorders, I have fixed upon the barrack at Constitution Island as an...
22To George Washington from Henry Knox, 23 March 1789 (Washington Papers)
The Jersey election being decided, the four members from that State will be here tomorrow or next day —Two members from Pensylvania who have hitherto attended the Assembly of that state which has now adjourned will also be here tomorrow evening—With the above and Mr Smith who has arrived here from Maryland the house of representatives will be formed on Wednesday or Thursday next. The senate...
23To George Washington from Henry Knox, 12 March 1789 (Washington Papers)
It is a circumstance of great chagrin to the members of the new government who are assembled here, that they have received no additionals since my last. They remain at 8 senators and 18 Representatives. Letters are forwarded to the absent members of Maryland Delaware and Virginia; but if the two houses are not formed untill effected in consequence of those letters, a month at least will...
24To George Washington from Henry Knox, 26 July 1784 (Washington Papers)
A fear of intruding upon your more important concerns has prevented my writing to you since my return. I found here your kind favor of the 2d of June, with its enclosure for General Putnam which I delivered. The measures taken by Congress respecting the western posts must defeat themselves by their own imbecillity. I cannot say but that I am well satisfied to be excluded from any...
25To George Washington from Henry Knox, 28 July 1788 (Washington Papers)
It is with the most sincere satisfaction that I congratulate you on the unconditiona⟨l⟩ adoption of the constitution by the Convention of this state. The particulars of this important event are contained in this days paper herein enclosed. Messrs Jay Hamilton and the rest of the federalists have derived great honor from their temperate and wise conduct during the tedious debates on this...
26To George Washington from Henry Knox, 5 March 1787 (Washington Papers)
I wrote you on the 22d ultimo, that the affairs of Massachusetts were quietly settling down to peace and good order. But by recent advice from General Lincoln, it appears that the Insurgents who fled from Massachusetts, have received encouragement from the Inhabitants of this State bordering on the Line—and that embracing the time when the greatest part of his force were disbanded on the 23...
27To George Washington from Henry Knox, 10 February 1788 (Washington Papers)
I thank you my dear Sir for your favor of the 10th of last month which I duly received. The constitution has labored in Massachusetts exceedingly more than was expected. The opposition has not arisen from a consideration of the merits or demerits of the thing itself as a political machine, but from a deadly principle levelled at the existence of all government whatever; The principles of...
28To George Washington from Henry Knox, 2 October 1783 (Washington Papers)
By some bad arrangement of the post, which has been detained two days upon the road, I did not receive your excellencys dispatches of the 23, and 25 ultimo untill last night. I will attend to your directions to discharge the invalids and those whose times of service will shortly expire. If 3000 men or any number near it, should be absolutely necessary for a considerable part, or the whole of...
29To George Washington from Henry Knox, 14 February 1788 (Washington Papers)
It is with great satisfaction that I inform you that last evening the news arrived here of the adoption of the new constitution in Massachusetts on the 6th instant. The members present in the convention on the decision of the question 355—187 affirmatives, 168 negatives—majority 19. It may be asserted with great truth, that the subject was most candidly examined and debated. Many of the...
30To George Washington from Henry Knox, 21 January 1787 (Washington Papers)
I wrote you my dear Sir last week and then mentioned to you the operations against the insurgents were to commence the 19th or 20th since then I have received in confidence the enclosed orders of the governor. You will be able having this for the explanation to judge more clearly of the progress of the business. You will please to retain these papers in your hands for although, no object will...
31To George Washington from Henry Knox, 16 March 1789 (Washington Papers)
The members of the government are the same as when I wrote you last, excepting Mr Maddison Mr Page and Mr B. Lee from Virginia —But it is expected from information received, that a sufficient number of members will be assembled in the course of this week to form a quorum. I am my dear Sir Your respectfully affectionate humble Servant ALS , DLC:GW . See Knox to GW, 12 Mar. 1789 . John Page and...
32To George Washington from Henry Knox, 29 May 1787 (Washington Papers)
I enclose you a letter from Don Diego de Gardoqui, which he transmitted to me by the post to Philadelphia after my departure, and which I received by the return post. I was happy on my return to find my daughter Lucys eye so much better, as to remove all fears of being obliged to apply the surgeons instruments to it. As you will have states sufficient to proceed to business, we hope to hear by...
33To George Washington from Henry Knox, 19 February 1789 (Washington Papers)
I forward you by the stage which sets out this day 13 1/2 yards of 3/4 Wide bottle green cloth of the Hartford manufacture —I would there were more of it for your and Mrs Washingtons purposes but it was all of the color which came—The greys & the dark browns were too mean and coarse either for you or Mrs W. There will probably be enough for a coat and waiscoat for you and for Mrs Washingtons...
34To George Washington from Henry Knox, 3 October 1787 (Washington Papers)
By this time my dear Sir, you will have again renewed your attention to your domestic affairs, after the long absence occasioned by the convention. I flatter myself with the hope that you found Mrs Washington and your family in perfect health. Every point of view in which I have been able to place the subject induces me to believe, that the moment in which the convention assembled, and the...
35To George Washington from Henry Knox, 5 March 1789 (Washington Papers)
I yesterday received your favor of the 21st ultimo containing enclosures which shall be submitted agreably to your desire. Yesterday being appointed for the assembling of the new government the members of it who are in Town met together, but there not being a quorum for business, they will adjourn from day to day untill they have a competent number of members which will most probably be early...
36To George Washington from Henry Knox, 11 December 1787 (Washington Papers)
I thank you for your kind favor of the 15th October which was duly received. Notwithstanding the opposition and writings of the enemies of the new constitution it is now pretty apparent that it will be received by considerable majorities in New Hampshire, Massachusetts Connecticut New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. The information from Maryland is defective, but Virginia it is said will...
37To George Washington from Henry Knox, 15 October 1783 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday I had the honor to receive your Excellency’s favor of the 8th instant. In consequence of which, and one of the same date, to the Quarter Master General, we shall set to work to procure firewood for the Garrison who will probably be retained here during the winter. This I propose shall be performed by the men whose times of service will expire in December and January, to receive their...
38To George Washington from Henry Knox, 26 January 1785 (Washington Papers)
The bearer Mr Laurence is a gentleman from Denmark who has been here some time, and is largely concerned in commerce to this Continent He is extremely anxious to have the honor to see you before he leaves the Country and has requested me to introduce him to you. I am my Dear Sir With the most perfect respect and attachment your affectionate humble Servant ALS , DLC:GW . GW does not indicate in...
39To George Washington from Henry Knox, 24–28 May 1784 (Washington Papers)
I had the mortification to find that you set out from this place about ten oClock of the same day I arrived here. Our horses were injured on the road, which obliged me to halt one day at Baltimore. I am uncertain how long I shall stay, but I hope to set out on my return on Wednesday—You Know the state of things here—It is to be apprehended that all the necessary business will not be Finished...
40To George Washington from Henry Knox, 2 November 1787 (Washington Papers)
The bearer the Marquis de Chappedelaine has been made known to me by my old friend Colo. Mauduit duplessi. The Marquis who is an officer in the service of his most christian Majesty thinks that he should have come to America to little purpose were he to depart without having seen your Excellency, I therefore take the liberty of introducing him to your attention. I am with the most perfect...
41To George Washington from Henry Knox, 25 January 1787 (Washington Papers)
I wrote you my dear Sir on the 21st instant and then enclosed you the General orders of Governor Bowdoin—By the post last evening I have received information from Genl Sheppard, that he took post at the Magazine of the United States at Springfield on the 18th. That the insurgents were collecting in his neighbouhood, and he expected to be attacked by them as the public Stores seemed to be their...
42To George Washington from Henry Knox, 29 September 1783 (Washington Papers)
I beg leave to state to Your Excellency, and through you to the Honorable Congress, That the unavoidable expences arising from the command of this post and its dependencies have greatly exceeded any emoluments of office arising from my rank in the Army—and that, in order to support my station with some propriety, so as not to reflect disgrace upon the public rank I sustain, I have been obliged...
43To George Washington from Henry Knox, 30 January 1787 (Washington Papers)
I wrote you my dear Sir by the post of yesterday and stated the high probability of an action between Genl Shepperd, on the part of government, and the insurgents at Springfield on Thursday the 25th instant, but since then I have received no further information. This is a cruel suspense and difficult to account for, but on the principle of the expected action being avoided by some...
44To George Washington from Henry Knox, 30 March 1789 (Washington Papers)
The chagrin of the members who first arrived still exists, one senator and two representatives being yet wanted —The latter will arrive certainly in a day or two from Jersey and Pennsylvania, but unless Mr Reed from Delaware shall come on, the senate may be deficient during the whole of the present week. The tardiness of the members is more unfortunate at this season than at any other—The...
45To George Washington from Henry Knox, 12 February 1787 (Washington Papers)
In my last to you of the 8th instant I enclosed you a number of General Lincolns letters to Govr Bowdoin, in order to give you a connected statement of the rebellion in Massachusetts. I have now the great satisfaction of informing you, that this ugly affair, is in a train of being speedily and effectually suppressed—pursuing my former plan, I enclose you (in confidence) 4 copies of letters...
46To George Washington from Henry Knox, 12 February 1789 (Washington Papers)
I had the pleasure by the post of Yesterday to receive your favor of the 29th ultimo. I immediately sent to the store where the american cloths were advertised for sale, and to all other stores where it was probable there were any, but was exceedingly chagrined to learn there were none in Town at present. Four peices are however expected hourly, the invoice being received, and information of...
47To George Washington from Henry Knox, 21 December 1786 (Washington Papers)
The insurgents who were assembled at Worcester in Massachusetts have disbanded. The people at Boston seem to be glad at this event and say it was the effect of fear. But the fact is that the insurgents effected their object, which was to prevent the Court of Common Pleas from proceeding to business. It is probable that the seizing some of the insurgents at Middlesex occasioned a greater number...
48To George Washington from Henry Knox, 8 October 1783 (Washington Papers)
I have just received your Excellencys favor of the 28th ult., requesting a return of clothing, which will be actually wanted supposing the troops necessary during the Winter. And of the 26th ultimo, containing the resolves of Congress, thanking general Howe, and the detachment under his orders, which, with your Excellencys sentiments, will be published this day. The return shall be forwarded...
49To George Washington from Henry Knox, 9 April 1787 (Washington Papers)
I thank you for your kind favor of the second instant which I received by the last post. Since my last to you, the legislature of Rhode-Island who seem to be unworthy of the rank of freemen, have rejected the proposition of the convention. But this may not be conclusive—The people themselves in that State may take the matter up, of which there is some probability, and send...
50To George Washington from Henry Knox, 15 February 1787 (Washington Papers)
I thank you my dear Sir for your kind favor of the 3d instant which I received yesterday. I beg leave to make an observation once for all which is, that you would not consider yourself as under obligation to answer any of my letters, (unless I should particularly request the favor) untill you should find sufficient leisure and inclination for the purpose. It would pain me exceedingly were I in...