Post paid The Honorable General Knox Secretary of State for the War Department New York

London Jany 4 1790 Jno W Jno Williams London Jany 4 1790 Dear General I know it will give you pleasure to hear that I am again restored to my Family, and that I propose to settle with it in America as near to the Seat of Government as I possibly can. The inclosed Letter to our Friend Shaw may perhaps give him usefull tho’ not any agreeble intelligence. I send it open to you in order that if he should left its contents may be communicated where necessary. The Revolution in France Supports itself to admiration. What a few years since would have been called the [undecipherable] Fables of political Madness is now supported by Stubborn Fact. France is perhaps perhaps the nearest to a democracy of any Government in the Universe, preserving only a monarch at the head of it ‘pro forma’, with no more to do with its composition than the diamond Button has with his majistys hat. There is but one Voice in the Kingdom, and even Monsieur the Kings Brother he thought it his Duty to come into the national assembly as a private Citizen and justify himself against some suspicions relative to the sincerity of his attachment to the great Cause of Freedom. – This flame which had its focus in America, has spread its influence through France to the Low Countries and I am inclined to look upon that Country as already emancipated from [undecipherable] who will not be able to do more than his absolute fever of Arms will do, which notwithstanding its greatness will be found inadequate to the unanimous efforts of a resolute & decided People. I beg you will present my best respects with the Compliments of the Season to your good Lady & believe me to be with the most affection & respectfull regards Dear General Your obliged [illegible] J Williams London Jan. 4 1790 Cant we contrive in America to get this flame of equal Liberty to blaze over the Spanish & Portugese Colonies our namesakes? War is detestable when Ambition alone is the motive, but the emancipation of the human race is worth almost any price. Genl Knox