Views of the Constitutional Convention
Item
Type
Autograph Letter Signed
Title
Views of the Constitutional Convention
Description
Alludes to Constitutional Convention; worries that matters will leak out. Believes state governments to be an unnecessary evil; discusses qualities of Federal Government; alludes to Philadelphia Convention. Refers to the death of their young child.
short description
Views of the Constitutional Convention
year created
1787
month created
08
day created
14
author
sent from location
New York
recipient
in collection
in image
note
Some text loss on margins.
notable person/group
George Washington
Henry Knox
Mrs. Lucy Knox
Congress
men of this continent
youngest child
notable location
New York
Philadelphia
notable item/thing
hand of death
grief
convention
representation in Congress
present constitution
national republic
state governments
insufferable evil
frame of government
education, genius, and habits
views
judgement
powers
severest affliction
disease
notable phrase
sustained the severe affliction of losing our youngest child of about eleven months old
cutting their teeth in the summer season
tenderest affection lacerated by the rigid hand of death
grief
hand of time
persuaded that the address of the convention to accompany their proposition
fullest representation in Congress in order that the propositions should receive the warmest concurrence and strongest impulse
frame of government
propriety
higher toned than the one proposed
infinitely preferable to the present constitution
bias to a proper line of conduct in future
education
genius
men on this continent
satisfied with the result of the convention
short of my wishes and of my judgement
find men of the finest intentions
highest deliberation
propriety of its being strenuously supported by all those who have wished for a national republic of higher and more durable powers
anxious that you should escape the possibility of imputation
objects seem now to be brought to a point
take the liberty to indulge myself in communicating with you
confess that the existence of the state governments is an insuferable evil in a national point of view
apprehensive that the stages of the business of the convention might leak out
made an ill use of
influenced by motives of delicacy
forborne the pleasure
writing to you since my return from Philadelphia
document number
1787081400001
page start
1
transcription
New York 14 August 1787
C +
Influenced by motives of delicacy I have
hitherto forborne the pleasure my dear Sir of
writing to you since my return from Philadelphia.
I have been apprehensive
that the stages of the business of the convention might leak out,
and be made an ill use of, by some people.
I have therefore been anxious that you should
escape the possibility of imputation. But as
the objects seem now to be brought to a point,
I take the liberty to indulge myself in
communicating with you.
Although I frankly confess
that the existence of the State governments
is an insuperable evil in a national point
of view, yet I do not well see how in this
stage of the business they could be annihilated
__ and perhaps while they continue the
frame of government could not with
propriety be much higher toned than the one
we proposed. It is so infinitely preferable
to the present constitution, and gives such a
bias to a proper line of conduct in future t[missing]
I think all men anxious for a national govet[missing]
should zealously embrace it.
The education, genius, and t[missing]
of men on this continent are so various eve[missing]
at this moment, and of consequence their v[missing]
of the same subject so different, that I am
satisfied with the result of the convention,
although it is short of my wishes and of
my judgement.
But when I find men of th[missing]
purest intentions concur in embracing a sys[missing]
which on the highest deliberation, seems to[missing]
the best which can be obtained, under pres[missing]
circumstances, I am convinced of the
propriety of its being strenously supported by
all those who have wished for a national
republic of higher and more durable powers.
powers
I am persuaded that the address
of the convention to accompany their proposition
will be couched in the most persuasive
terms
I feel anxious that there
should be the fullest representation in
Congress, in order that the propositions
should receive their warmest concurrence
and strongest impulse.
Mrs Knox and myself have
recently sustained the severe affliction of
losing our youngest child of about
eleven months old, who died on the
11th instant of a disease incident to children
cutting their teeth in the summer season.
This is the third time that Mrs Knox
has had her tenderest affections lacerated
by the rigid hand of death.
Although
Although her present grief is sharp ind[missing]
we hope it well assuaged by the [undecipherable]
hand of time.
I am my dear Sir
with the most perfec[missing]
respect and affection
Your sincere friend &
humble servant
HKnox
His Excellency
General Washington.
Maj General Knox
14th August 1787
C +
Influenced by motives of delicacy I have
hitherto forborne the pleasure my dear Sir of
writing to you since my return from Philadelphia.
I have been apprehensive
that the stages of the business of the convention might leak out,
and be made an ill use of, by some people.
I have therefore been anxious that you should
escape the possibility of imputation. But as
the objects seem now to be brought to a point,
I take the liberty to indulge myself in
communicating with you.
Although I frankly confess
that the existence of the State governments
is an insuperable evil in a national point
of view, yet I do not well see how in this
stage of the business they could be annihilated
__ and perhaps while they continue the
frame of government could not with
propriety be much higher toned than the one
we proposed. It is so infinitely preferable
to the present constitution, and gives such a
bias to a proper line of conduct in future t[missing]
I think all men anxious for a national govet[missing]
should zealously embrace it.
The education, genius, and t[missing]
of men on this continent are so various eve[missing]
at this moment, and of consequence their v[missing]
of the same subject so different, that I am
satisfied with the result of the convention,
although it is short of my wishes and of
my judgement.
But when I find men of th[missing]
purest intentions concur in embracing a sys[missing]
which on the highest deliberation, seems to[missing]
the best which can be obtained, under pres[missing]
circumstances, I am convinced of the
propriety of its being strenously supported by
all those who have wished for a national
republic of higher and more durable powers.
powers
I am persuaded that the address
of the convention to accompany their proposition
will be couched in the most persuasive
terms
I feel anxious that there
should be the fullest representation in
Congress, in order that the propositions
should receive their warmest concurrence
and strongest impulse.
Mrs Knox and myself have
recently sustained the severe affliction of
losing our youngest child of about
eleven months old, who died on the
11th instant of a disease incident to children
cutting their teeth in the summer season.
This is the third time that Mrs Knox
has had her tenderest affections lacerated
by the rigid hand of death.
Although
Although her present grief is sharp ind[missing]
we hope it well assuaged by the [undecipherable]
hand of time.
I am my dear Sir
with the most perfec[missing]
respect and affection
Your sincere friend &
humble servant
HKnox
His Excellency
General Washington.
Maj General Knox
14th August 1787
Item sets
Document instances
| In image | In source | Location in source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| [view document] (4 pages) | BLA01 (4 pages) | Collection: Americana Miscellany Collection. | [unknown] |
Document names
| Type | Name | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | Henry Knox | New York | [n/a] |
| Recipient | George Washington | [unknown] | [n/a] |