[D.81 Col. Henry Lee] Stratford Va. 10 Oct. 1789 dear Sir Will you permit me first to congratulate you on the just honor which you have received then to ask you whether the second resolution will produce half the good predicted by its friends and whether the eastern conspiracy in the house of representatives declared afterwards on the floor effacing the permanent feat of govt. will not prove incompatible the simplicity of approaching with them in a form of govt. where they possess a majority — Determined to submit to any evil sooner than abandon a govt I thought politically good & absolutely necessary? suppress the feelings which naturally result from a review of that unparallelled parliamentary declaration— to as many words might the member on the floor have said, spend no more time in discussing the public question, we have determined to go to — & no where else a pretty sentiment for an assembly of the deputies of a free nation to be to accede to — one power is certainly king to the prudent [undecipherable] that of [undecipherable] being ignorant & vicious Congress, the [undecipherable]ings measures founded in low futility & pregnant with public mischief by a second election. Sincerely pray for prosperity to the federated nation but certainly the doings of our first Congress furnish as ground for hope on this subject — how is M^rs Knox & how your little family. we have felt with you the severe loss announced in the papers of your son. will you be so good as to enclose the enclosed letter to Governor S^t Clair & to accept my best & my best wishes for health [undecipherable] always to you & yours — adieu Henry Lee Stratford Virginia Oct 10. 1789 — [address panel: Col. Henry Lee / Stratford Virginia — Henry Knox / [undecipherable]]