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At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Jefferson, Thomas (1743-1826) to M. de la Motte re: recommendation of Tobias Lear

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02794.033 Author/Creator: Jefferson, Thomas (1743-1826) Place Written: Philadelphia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 1793/11/05 Pagination: 1 p. + address 27 x 20 cm Order a Copy

Written in a clerk's hand while Jefferson was serving as Secretary of State, introducing Lear to de la Motte, Vice-Consul for the U.S. at Le Havre: "he is well known as the late Secretary of President Washington, and I can further assure you that he is a person of great understanding, descretion [sic], activity, & of the most perfect integrity."

Philadelphia Nov. 5. 1793.
Dear Sir,
The bearer hereof, mr Lear, proposing to establish himself in commerce in the new city of Washington, he now sets out to visit such parts of Europe as he supposes may furnish him either articles or connections in the mercantile line useful for his position. [H]e is well known as the late Secretary of President Washington, and I can further assure you that he is a person of great understanding, discretion, activity, & of the most perfect integrity. [H]aving for him a very high esteem, which an acquaintance of considerable intimacy has proven him to merit, I take the liberty of recommending him, not only to the ordinary protection & [struck: good] aids of your office, but to any other stations or services you can render him, assuring you they will be considered as particular favors conferred on Dear Sir

Your most obed't & most humble serv't
Th:Jefferson

M. la Motte

[address]:
M. de la Motte
Vice-Consul for the US. of America
at Havre

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

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