[draft] Boston 19th. June 1777 My dear Harry Last Evening I receiv'd yours of the 7th which altho' happy in receiving gave me the most unhappy sensation on account of your information concerning the French Officer [illegible] have heard the circumstances relative to his situation in the French Service and his expectation in ours must render it a delicate affair with the Congress yet at the same time laying aside (as much as I can) all prepossession and prejudice in your favor I think they do you injustice to supercede you, tis not with me to point out a mode of procedure for so respectable an Assembly as tho Congress, but I think the circumstance of having a foreign officer, who neither speaks our language, nor can possibly be acquainted with our manners and [illegible] with his being a foreigner and must be a sufficient counterbalance for every other inconvenience is not confirming his appointment to the Artillery - however my dear Brother should the worst take place and you leave the Service (which must be the certain con [2] consequence of his Appointment I hope you will not let it have too great weight on your happiness, your knowledge of the human breach is sufficient to give you a great Idea of the mutibility of things, you will return and injoy the reflection of having done all that lay in your power for the salvation of your Country which gives to [illegible] mind more satisfaction than the [illegible] of a World without it return I say my dear Harry and in spite of misfortune be happy there's no kind of [text lost] of being reduc'd to want while we practice industry and frugallity so that in that respect you need not suffer an anxious [tho'ht] - I will endeavour to procure the Lemmon juice immediately but am afraid tis not to be had. I thank you for the expressions of tenderness which I have in you letter not for the expressions only but for the Idea as I believe them to be the sentiments of your heart I shall suspend my entering the service and all those of it [illegible] I hear from you in the interim I shall be as is always the case Yr. very Affectionate Brother WmKnox PS. I have assisted in procuring and forwarding on to you the following articles Viz 3. house Sugar 4 Bottle Sweet meals 3lb. Tea Coffe Tea Chocolate Stock's, Silk Coat Breeches [illegible] Hats Wine by Mr. Jarvis your Saddle Coth's were not finish'd I expected to fetch them on myself hope the above articles will recd. in good order. Yrs. Affec. Wm Knox