[draft] No 7 Boston April 13th 1777 - My dearest friend. my all. my Harry - where are you - are you Safe are you well - would to heaven I could see you for one half hour - do you wish for your Lucy - do you think of me - do you ever shed a tear for me - tis very very hard thus to be parted - will it last long my love - or is the day at hand - that shall reunite us - I hoped to have seen you at Springfield soon; but you do not encourage me, what is the reason are you not to come there tell me you are - say something - that shall clear my spirits - I wrote you last thursday - that I hoped to be innoculated that day for the small pox but a rash breaking out in my arms induced the doctor to wait a little and dose me farther with the mercury - but he has just now asured me, he will finish it tomorrow morning - I own I have my fears [inserted: that] my spirits are not in a proper situation to [struck: the] carry me well thro it - little dear Lucy grows the most engaging little rouge that can be - she has learned a number of winning ways - which would delight her papa - but alass - My Aunt is with me [2] at present, but will not stay long - she desires her regards to you. She is going to marry an old fellow of sixty three - and will not be perswaded of from it - On Tuesday next Colo Jackson is to march for Providence with his company - Peter does not like it as it will retard his going to you - in every [inserted: other] respect I believe he is pleased with it - [strikeout] [inserted: I know not but] I shall sett of for morristown soon I see no reason why I cannot as well be there, as Mrs Washington to whom present my respectful compliments - we have a vessel here, but [struck: ? ] [eaight?] weeks from Bristol who brings an account of that city having adressed his majesty thier king upon the success of his arms in America - the captain I am told says that no troops were coming as they supposed long ever this genl Howe had made an intire conquest - poor deluded people - I hear my brother is in York but hope it is not true - if it is - I will write to him and advise him to come home - this is a horrid war my dear Harry - I [3] wish it had been protracted till my head was cold - that I might have spent the little time I have to stay in this world with him who is dearer to me than all that world beside - but oh he is taken from me to fight an inveterate enemy - and perhaps to draw his sword upon my own and only brother - I much wish to hear from you that the Army [struck: are] is full - I am almost discouraged at times fearing it never will be. Mr Chester of Weathersfield [inserted: who] dined with me to day - sys that even Colo Webb who had got the bounty - had few or no men raised - two or three persons who have come from camp lately have brought me no letters - they say they either breakfasted or dined with you the day before - but you said you had lately worte and desired they would tell me you were well - I am almost affronted at it as you know it would give me pleasure to hear from you not only daily, but hourly - Mr Jarviss desires you will send him a [4] waggon load of paper dollars - as he expects soon to give an equal weight of paper for lead copper &cc farewell my dear Harry your ever affectionate Lucy Knox PS I send you a letter which the famous Duchess of Brotenbourgs Princes of Frankfort and cousin of the queen of great Britian begs your care of - she brought it to me [struck: unopened] unsealed that I might give her my opinion whether it would offend his excellency or not - it is a very artful affair - and may at least afford him some amusment, however - you will use your judgment - whether you wou[ld] deliver it or not - by Mr Shaw I shall send you a few stocks will get some more - if I can - to carry with me to Springfield when I shall receive the wellcome summons to meet my Harry there - you will want to see me after the small pox I am sure - will want [5] to know if I look as I did or whether there is danger of your not liking me as well as you did when you saw me last - Peter has just come in in a great fret - the Colo has been telling them, that they are to do the duty of common Soldiers - to fetch thier own pork and dress it when they have done - to stand centrys - and mount gaurds without [struck: distincion] distinction - it is very unhappy for me just at this time that Billy should be obliged to leave the town - as it will oblige me to shut up the house - but I am almost inured to misfortunes of this kind - may God Almighty avert the greatest of all evils and I will be patient under every other - Adieu Adieu my Harry love me one half as well as I do you - and if possible lett me come to you - your tenderly affectionate wife LK -