[draft] New Haven August 19th 1776 My dear brother - You will think me a miserable correspondent, I fear, but I have a great deal to plead in excuse for myself. In the first place Betty has been dangerously ill of a pleuresy-fever which has been a great confinement to me - and has kept my mind in a constant flutter that I could not compose me to write. She is now growing well apace and will I hope soon pay me for my trouble in attending her. Another reason for my silence is oeconomy at this perhaps you will laugh - but if you do, be it so - the times you know is the standing excuse - and very good one for us, poor creatures. I believe we suffer as much as any person whatever - We have not only lost a great deal but our present manner of living is horribly expensive. You must make books fetch double price. but why confine yourself to books - are there no bargains to be bought by which we might be benifited remember poor little Lucy and collect all you can for her. She is a sweet little creature - you will love her vastly if ever you should live to see her. I long to have her with us all. We shall then be happy and not till then. Well as your dear Brother loves his wife and child, I know he would not be happy without you. I have a letter from him just now - wherein he speaks of you in terms the most affectionate - and if he was offend'd by your silence - he was quite as much pleased by your last. I have no news that is any way material. The battle is hourly expected. Our army fall far short of what was at first intended - but the [2] militia turn out surprisingly. There are several instances of men in the rank whose estates are worth thirty thousand Lawful money. A glorious spirit. May heaven succeed thier endeavours. The enemy are five and twenty thousand - a vast army indeed. The promotion in ours you have doubtless heard of Major Generals Green, Sulivan, Spencer, and Heath - the six Brigadiers - our great men increase fast. I want to hear how your church goes on whether Mr. Parker has altered his form or shut up his church - one or other he doubtless has. Shall expect a long epistle from you by Mr. Livingston, who I suppose will soon be here. My regards to all friends particularly Mrs. Harriss - lett her know if Sam Pitts has settled with Thayer - and what is the answer. I have stole the time to write this while my darling is asleep - so that you must excuse all incorrectness from your ever affectionate Sister Lucy Knox I received the fifty dollars - am ashamed to this scrawling business - tis most miserable - but I must run to my baby