[Address panel: FREE / Samuel Phillips Savage / Newton near / [Knox] / Boston] [Postal notation, upper left: [undecipherable] August] [Docket, lower right, inverted: [undecipherable]] New York 15 August 1790 My dear Sir A regard to your feelings as a father, is the cause of my addressing you on the present occasion. I saw in the worcester paper of the 12^th instant an account of the [undecipherable] of your son Cap^t Joseph Savage. [Unless] you should possess some evidence on which the said account [is] founded, more than any thing I know, I flatter myself that it is entirely untrue— I have received late letters from M^r Habersham, the Collector of the port of Savannah, who is the channel of my communications, which mentions nothing of such an event. I have also received a letter from Cap^t John Smith who is stationed at Beards bluff on the Altamaha dated the 3^d of June last, who mentions nothing of such an event. Cap^t Smith is about one hundred miles from your son who is stationed at the Rock Landing on the new Oconee a branch of the Altamaha. I therefore must utterly disclaim the story, unless you have better authority than I have, which heaven forbid. I am Dear Sir Sam^d Phillips Savage with sincere regard Esq^r Your most obedient humble Servant H Knox