[Draft] Boston June 3rd 1777 - My dearest dear friend, This day, three months, I parted with the dear partener of my Soul - happy was it for me that I did not then know how many moons would revolve, ere I was again blessed with the sight of him. he bid me hope our absence would be short but alass after three months, the prospect instead of brightening grows darker daily - the absence of lovers I ever thought one of the greatest evils of life. but when attended - with constant anxiety for the safety of the person beloved: tis almost insupportable. I wish I could look in upon my Harry at this time and see him at dinner among his friends - now interrupted by business and now by a wish for his companion, his friend, his Lucy - do you not often wish for me my love - say that you do - I beseech you - and tell me honestly and sincerely when you expect to see me - our dear little girl goes alone - you would be delighted to see the little tottler - she is proud - and pleased as can be - She has five pitts of the small pox in her face - which make her still prettier (if possible) - than before she had them. My arm remains troublesome yet owing to my own imprudence in attempting to heal it too soon but Lucys is quite well - Mr Russell yesterday brought me a letter from you of the [inserted: twenty] fourth of May refering to one I shall receive [struck: this eve] tomorrow by the post - I am heartily sorry for your loss which I fear will be irreparable but if there is cambrick to be had in Salem Newbury or Portsmouth you shall have it. I think you were to blame to trust a person of his appearance with your [2] Cloaths - I thought they were to have been Johns care did he take your [exps] with him and tell me honestly how many paper dollars you are the worse for him - My Harry writes to me as if I lived in a land of plenty - Six pounds of best green tea is what I have endeavored to the utmost of my power to procure - I wrote you last week that I expected some - but it belongs to Bill Turner and he refuses paper money for it - however you shall have a couple of pounds by the first opportunity tho it were my last gunie that purchased it - the horses fetched but seventy five pound owing to your not entrusting me with the sale of them - I wished to have had them sold seperate [sic] but master Wm was of a different opinion nor could he be persuaded. You had better make me your future agent - I'll asure you I am quite a woman of business but good bye for the present - I am going to drink Tea with Mrs Russell - in hopes to hear some particulars of you - will continue my letter tomorrow - LK - June 4th I drank tea last evening at Mr Russells and had the pleasure to hear that my Harry is well in good spirits but not a word of sending for me - do you remember your going to Newbury my love, how unhappy you were to leave me for two long days - we daily expect your waggon in town - which will take you some choice madeira, some good old spirit, some loaf sugar - and some other little matters. Billy intends to send his baggage by the same opportunity - he is still low in flesh and spirits - lives intirely upon milk - and is in my opinion [struck: is] very unfit for a campaign [3] Pray if you see general Arnold - make my Compt: to him and ask him what he would have me do with those things that [inserted: he] left with me to be presented to Miss D. tell him Mr Blodget says he will part with them - which if he will do - Mrs [inserted: Genl] Greene will be glad to have one of them - I beg to have a scarf which is in the trunk - if he will part with them desire him to send the invoice either to Mr Blodget - who is his agent - or to me - but [inserted: at] any rate I must not relinquish the scarf - as I cannot [struck: buy] [inserted: get] any thing to make me one - farewell my love may angels gaurd and keep you and soon restore you to your afflicted Wife L Knox June 5th [struck: Since] I last evening received three letters from you by the post for the first of them I will not say I thank you - as (tho pretty long) it contained not one tender expression but was a continued scold from beginning to end - in the first place you resent - my little raillery of your horses - and take revenge upon poor old romeo. you then attack me about your Brother - and unkindly say it would have been but decent [in] me to have wrote you whether he was dead or alive - to this I answer that when I wrote the letter you refer too your Brother [strikeout] [inserted: and he should also write] to you - nor did I know till some hours after it was gone that he did not [strikeout] - but was he never [inserted: to] write [inserted: you] I do not think I am answerable for him you often talk much of your affection for him as if I had objected to it - So my harry be asured I lo[text loss] the loss of much near connections to wish to deprive one so dear to me of the enjoyment of [4] hope that your affection for him is not quite so great as what you feel for me - who I must think have a right to the greatest love - in him you will soon be happy - as he is determined to sett out in [inserted: one] or two weeks but for me I see no end to my friendless unprotected state again adieu my all in life your LK [Written in right margin of page two: Mr Russell says you complain I do not date my letters, I did not think my Harry would have made me look so little -] [address] Brigadier General Knox Morris Town. Post [docket] Mrs Knox 3 to 5 June 1777