[XXVII-120] my dear Harry Boston Jany 23. 1791 Your favor of the 9 ^(6th) came to hand by the post on wednesday, — it is with pleasure to hear you are at last Settled down, and that your Situation is agreeable. — General Harmar's Letter of the 23^d November as publick'd in the papers, has reliev'd the minds of many, and the people are now less Severe in their observations on his conduct. — The inclosed Letter I rec'd. from Capt John Hobby, he is very desirous of having an appointment on the Militia Staff, or [undecipherable] an office that will afford him bread — he is one of the best of Officers, and is a Man of as [undecipherable] integrity, and will, I believe to any appointment he may be thought compe[undecipherable: competent] to — The inclosed Letter from [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Tracy I rec'd a few days since on the Subject of an appointment. — by what I can learn Mr. Tracy has given great Satisfaction in the [undecipherable] of his duty as D. A. G. and Inspector to [the] General Fitzmbs Division — he has an amiable Wife & family, and I believe not [in] the most eligible Situation — I wish [for] my Soul their profits were more easy and [more] Satisfactory to themselves — It is probable I trouble you too much in this way, but it is a duty we owe each other, to relieve the distress of our Brethren if in our power, and if nothing comes of it, they have done their duty, by [undecipherable] the application must Satisfied whatever may be the event — from your [Station] you must expect trouble in this line, it is a natural Tax annexed to your appointment and the great difficulty is to give Satisfaction to the different applicants. — At the [same] times I know it must often give you pain, in not having it in your power to gratify [those] that Solicit your aid — Your Complimentary Letter respecting Miss Arnold has given the highest pleasure to her parents, with great modesty they have forwarded it round to their particular friends to show the estimation Miss is held in, and the opinion the [underline: Bon ton] of Philadelphia have of her merit — I wish I was a parent, that I might experience the same gratification they did on this occasion, as I believe it is one of the most Substantial pleasures of life, that of the good conducting our Children, and our friends approbation of them — our Legislature will meet on Wednesday next, we Shall try hard to establish a play house in this Town, but I am afraid whether we Shall be able to effect it, until Some of our Old Dons have taken their departure — my love to your family. Yours affectionately H Knox [Gen'l [undecipherable] —]