[draft] N 5[ ? ] My Ever Dear Harry Boston April 3rd 1777 I wrote you yesterday by Capt Speakman, acknoledgeing the receipt of your third wellcome letter and as I am fully convinced of your fondness for my scribbling, shall not neglect to give Captain Treat a line also, - the affair of the house is compleated. I sent for Mr Hickborn and finished it in half an hours - the demand is for the modest Sum of five thousand and fifty pounds - he said it would be [struck: write] [inserted: right] to put the regulated advance upon the goods - which Billy made amount, to the above Sum - the present attachment is only upon the house - but should execution be granted - it will be extended to the Georges estate at least - this affair gives me pain (not that Papa will disaprove of it for he must certainly think it a wise step when he knows the circumstances) but for fear that it should be misconstrued on your part - who I know - would part your last biscuit with him - I hope to take the Small Pox in a few days at one or other of the hospitals. I mentioned to you - in my letter of yesterday - I am very anxious to have it immediately - on many accounts - in the first place, it is my Harrys request - in the second - the season is growing worse - and third - the number of persons who have it here, make it dangerous for me to move abroad. You will I a m sure be very anxious for me - at such a distance - and knowing my great dread of it - but alass - my love that will give you but a faint idea of what I feel for you - You desire me to procure for you a number of articles - which it is a pity you had not taken out of [strikeout] Austins store. cambrick - I have but dimity - I fear [2] I shall not be able to get in the town - you are not in actual want of it - as you have a number of these matters at N Haven - which shall be sent you with all possible expedition - and I will get more if I can - Billy is delighted with his last letter from you - he has been very fortunate in raising the sum you required of him - is impatient to know your mind, as to the very few articles, that will remain - I think it [inserted: will] be wise to send them to the country - I am very sorry to hear General Greene and you are parted - he has doubtless heard of the birth of his little Daughter - and that Mrs Greene is well - or nearly so - poor little woman to have experienced the greatest of earthly miserys twice in his absence - heaven preserve me from such an evil - the greatest distresses of human nature - are in a great measure to be aleviated - by the soothing tenderness of those we love - I have had frequent returns of that pain with which I am often afflicted - since you left me - and he who made my heart - alone can tell how much I have lamented your absence - but I will not complain - I shall live, I trust, to see better days - Miss Deblois has positively refused to listen to the Genl which with his other mortification will come very hard upon him - Mr Jarvis has got himself some thousand pounds in dept already. I wish you may not get into a scrape about it, Treat Payne tells him you had no right to employ him - they had like to have boxed yesterday in consequence of it - is not these French Arms are a very great affair for us - it appears so to me - do you credit the article in the York paper - under the parishend - concerning Dr Franklin - [3] I wonder you mention nothing of Eveleigh - I heard he got to camp before you - God be praised for the recovery of our worthy General - what a blow threatned us in his death is there any one that could have filled his place - I fear not Good Night My Love - may your gaurdian angel keep viligant watch that no evil befal you - tho at four hundred [inserted: miles distance] may you dream of your Lucy - and be asured - that she loves you - and only you - God Almighty help you - L.K. if there is is a post what can be the reason you do not write by it L.K [address leaf] General Knox with the Army in by favor of Captain Treat N Jersey - [docket] Mrs. Knox No 5 April 3. 1777