Henry Knox to John Adams, June 2, 1799

June 2 [ , Start insertion, 17 , End, ]’99

My dear Sir

I flatter myself with the hope that, the subject of this letter [it] will not be considered by you as unreasonable importunity—My son my only son has been a < , Start deletion, mids , End, > Midshipman < , Start deletion, th , End, > in the navy < , Start deletion, for , End, > upwards of a year. Before that period < , Start deletion, he was a year as , End, > he [performed] along voyage to india. < , Start deletion, The His expenence he has [. . .] , and , End, > his < , Start deletion, know , End, > skill as a navigator, < , Start deletion, to add [. . .] to his experience , End, > his activity as a seaman, added to his experience appear in the opinion of Capt Nicholson, and the sailing Master of the ship to have qualified < , Start deletion, as , End, > him as alieutenant. He has an < , Start deletion, [. . .] , End, > Ambition to be promoted. he feels himself so degraded by circumstances of situation as a midshipman, that he continues with extreme < , Start deletion, impation , End, > impatience in that office and I am very apprehensive that he will unless < , Start deletion, hebe [. . .] , End, > [obtains] the object of his wish abandon the pursuit altogether—This circumstance would < , Start deletion, to us , End, > be inexpressibly mortifying to me—It is far from my desire to injure or interfere with any other persons rights. If he could be appointed a Lieutenant in the navy at large, and permitted to act as an extra Lieutenant onboard of the constitutin < , Start deletion, or , End, > the Boston or any other ship < , Start deletion, immediat , End, > bound immediately tosea, it would be considered as a great favor < , Start deletion, Conferred on me , End, >

I have the honor to be / with perfect attachment My / dear Sir Your Sincere and / devoted humble Sert

HKnox