[K. to Rev. Dan. Little] [2389] [XXV-22] New York 8 June 29 Oct^r 1789 Dear Sir Your letter of the 8^th of June which [strikethrough: their] breathing [strikethrough: the spirit of] alone to the happiness of the human race [strikethrough: deter-] mented an immediate answer from me. This ought and intended to have one. But my public engagements consumed me to postpone [strikethrough: it to the] from the [undecipherable] to the present period. The interest I have the [undecipherable] talent, and the desire I hope for the welfare of the present & future inhabitants, [strikethrough: would you from] induce me to consider your ideas as highly valuable and worthy of [strikethrough: cherish] and being cherished & adopted — I will turn my attention to this Subject. May I venture to take the liberty of requesting the favour of you to consider this Subject attentively, and to digest some plan for its execution — [strikethrough: I after you please] The basis of the plan at present to be the [strikethrough: constant] constant employment of a minister of respectable talents, and [strikethrough: moral] character One who will preach and [undecipherable: practice] the moral and social virtues — [strikethrough: that] a lover of the arts and Sciences, and [strikethrough: a fondness for agriculture publications] taste for agriculture One who my delight and [undecipherable: study] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to promote the temporal and [undecipherable: elemental] happiness of the people — In the time of such a man would be too [strikethrough: much] important to be uselessly employed in [undecipherable: instructing] the youth of a certain description — he [undecipherable: would] have the general Superintendance indeed but he ought to have some younger man, [undecipherable: purposely] [strikethrough: human] qualified to be [strikethrough: separately] employed in the School — This is the outline of my [wishes] — The more especially would [the] [strikethrough: be] annual expense — This I would [have you] to be [regarded] as [undecipherable: legitimate] and [undecipherable] [undecipherable] in order that I may attempt to devise ways and means to carry it into execution — I have [undecipherable] much at heart and you may depend [on] that I will attempt to carry it into execution at as early a period as possible I shall be happy to receive your further thoughts on my Subject by the post. I shall hope [undecipherable] to be [undecipherable] the next year — If so I shall [obtain] the [undecipherable] pleasure of [undecipherable] [undecipherable] with you on this object I am dear Sir with great esteem Your most obedient Servant [H Knox] [Private] Oct 29 1789 The Reverend M^r Daniel Little Wells Massachusetts