Samuel Shaw To Henry Knox Regarding An Upcoming Trip To China 20 December 1789

Thanks Knox for everything has done for him and writes, While I feel the full force of the most lively gratitude for your friendship towards me, it pains me to know that the too tender concern you take in everything which regards your poor Shaw cannot but interrupt that happiness you deserve ever to enjoy, and which with my whole soul I wish you. On this account, it aggravates my present unhappiness to inform you, that nothing could be done in the way we wished - and that I must get my ship ready and proceed, with my present means alone, as fast as possible to Batavia and China. Adds that the season is too far advanced to consider another route and he does not want to disappoint his creditors and patrons in Canton. States that he gives Knox the power of attorney over his and Thomas Randall's property in the ship, the Jay.