Mount Vernon on the Potomack 11th Novr 1781 I have to thank you my dear sir & Mrs Biddle for your kindness [struck: and attention] to Mrs Knox while in Philadelphia, and in extending [struck: of] it in her absence to her little daughter. These instances of rem[inserted: em]brance to an old fellow soldier have made the most durable impressions on my mind [&] my happiness [inserted: in that respect] will be in proportion to the opportunity I shall have of convincing you of the sincerity of my esteem. Your knowledge of the [struck: kind of ] [inserted: arduous] service in which I was engaged during the seige will readily form an excuse of my not writing you [inserted: more fully &] frequently [struck: during] in the course of it, [struck: which] [inserted: indeed it] was renderd [struck: more] unnecessary considering that the General, [informed] Congress of the essentials which you [must instantly] have [participated] [inserted in the bottom margin: Potomack] [2] we have been so busy as not to have had time to have formed a judgment of the probable consequence of [strikeout] the important event. our sentiments however are pretty unanimous that under any circumstances [struck: we] America ought to exert every [reserve] to fill its battalions - if this is your sentiment [preach] up the Doctrine untill it shall be accomplished. His Exellency the General, & Mrs Washington amidst flattering public prospects have Received the most fatal blow to their domestic felicity - The amiable Mr Custis, Mrs Washingtons only child has just been obliged by the rigid hand of fate to pay his last debt to nature -his patriotism led him to camp to participate [inserted: in some degree] of the dangers of his [inserted: amiable &] [illustrious] [struck: & amiable] father, where he contracted the seeds of his disease which in [3] [struck: a few days] [inserted: a week or two] terminated his life, at Colonel Bassetts Mrs Washingtons Brother In law about 30 miles distant from Wmsburg - Mrs Washington & Mrs Custis and the General were present at his last Gasp- It is only for an affectionate parent, to form a tolerably adequate idea of the [spirit] [inserted: of t] this [illegible] stroke [struck line]. The General Mrs Washington & Mrs Custis are expected up here in four or five days [struck: when we shall determine whether we shall] Mrs Knox seems inclined to go to Philadelphia to lye-in, but we cannot determine on the matter untill Mrs Washington arrives, suppose she should [struck: would] [inserted and struck: determine] [inserted: decide to go to Phi[strikeout]ladephia] [inserted: and] if not [possible] to [struck: obtain] [inserted: hire] rooms ready furnished for two or three months? the lodgings are so [inferiorly] inconvenient for her situation that it is impossible, for her to think of it - I pray you [4] my dear sir to make the inquiry without any [making any] agreement - we should not [strikeout] hesitate about a few pounds more or less [struck: in order] to be well accommodated - and if demanded [struck: have] [may] or part of it advanced - I will write you in a few days of our determinations on this head - Our friend General Greene his [sic] much respected in the Southern States. Mrs Knox [strikeout] begs you to present her love to Mrs Biddle & Mrs [M] to which I pray my respectful compli[ments] may be added-She heard of your honest exultation on receiving the news by our friend Tilghman I am my Dear sir Your affectionate HKnox Colonel Biddle [written and struck in the left margin of page one: In the mean time I shall be obliged by your [making any] little advances which he may request which I shall gratefuly [struck: cheerfully] return on my arrival in Philadelphia [docket] To Colonel Biddle 11 Nov 1781