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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.

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Place written

Year

Sub-era

1805/08/07

Bassa, Hamuda, fl. 1803-1807

Manuscript document signed

Title: Copy of letter to Tobias Lear re: [?] [in Italian]

Signed by Tobias Lear (p. 2) on 2 September 1805, with a note: "a true copy from the Original." Manuscript copy of GLC 2794.082. Marked "Copia" in upper left-hand corner of the first page. Docketed on verso.

GLC02794.083

1805/08/08

Lear, Tobias, 1762-1816

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Hamuda Bassa re: threatened war between Tunis and U.S.

Draft copy of GLC 2794.085. Written aboard the "U.S.S. Constitution." For excerpt, see GLC 2794.085. Docketed on verso.

GLC02794.084

1805/08/08

Lear, Tobias, 1762-1816

Manuscript document signed

Title: to Hamuda Bassa re: threatened war between Tunis and U.S.

Final draft of GLC 2794.084 in a clerk's hand, with Lear's signature. Written aboard the "U.S.S. Constitution." Lear writes: "the repeated threats of your Excellency to make war upon the United States has Obliged the Commander of the American Squadron in this Sea, to place himslef in a situation to guard against that evil [. . . . ] The Interest, Policy, and the Principles of the Government of the united States of America lead us to wish to be at peace with all nations." He concludes by asking for evidence of the Bashaw's "pacific intentions." Docketed on verso.

GLC02794.085

1805/08/09

Bassa, Hamuda, fl. 1803-1807

Manuscript document

Title: to Tobias Lear re: Bey's attempt to avoid hostilities with the U.S.

Manuscript copy of letter in a clerk's hand with copy signature. Bey writes: "you [Lear] are the sole person at this moment invested with the character & power of the President of your Government to treat with me on affairs relative to your Nation." Bey is defending his actions: "[r]ead that what I wrote to you . . . then tell me if you have found my pure intentions equivocal [. . . .] So far Am I from hostile ideas . . . that I now declare . . . that by me there shall not be made, nor any of my subjects permitted to make, the least alteration in the good friendship existing between…

GLC02794.086

1805/08/09

Bassa, Hamuda, fl. 1803-1807

Manuscript signed

Title: copy of letter to Tobias Lear re: [?] [in Italian]

Marked "Copia" in the upper left-hand corner of the first page. Signed by Tobias Lear on p. 9, with a note: "A true Copy from the Original." Bound by a green ribbon. Copy of GLC 2794.088. Docketed on verso.

GLC02794.087

1805/08/09

Bassa, Hamuda, fl. 1803-1807

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Tobias Lear re: [?] [in Italian]

Same as GLC 2794.087, in a different hand. Docketed on verso.

GLC02794.088

1805/08/10

Lear, Tobias, 1762-1816

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Hamuda Bassa re: delayed response to Lear's letter on possible war

Draft copy of GLC 2794.090. Written aboard the "U.S.S. Constitution." For excerpt, see GLC 2794.090. Docketed on verso.

GLC02794.089

1805/08/10

Lear, Tobias, 1762-1816

Letter signed

Title: to Hamuda Bassa re: delayed response to Lear's letter on possible war

Final draft of GLC 2794.089 in a clerk's hand with Lear's signature. Written aboard the "U.S.S. Constitution." "I had flattered myself that I should have had the honor of hearing from your Excellency, in answer to my letters of the 8th. of this Month (GLC 2794.084 & 2794.085) [. . . .] As this is not the case . . . I have the honor to assure you that there will be on our part the same Secureity for any persons who may come on board our Vessels as has been heretofore, untill we may be in a declared state of hostitilty . . . God forbid." Docketed on verso.

GLC02794.090

1805/08/11

Bassa, Hamuda, fl. 1803-1807

Manuscript document

Title: Translation of letter to Tobias Lear re: delay in correspondence

The Bashaw explains that his other obligations, and lack of access to a translator resulted in the delayed reply to Lear's letter. Emphasizes that Lear should not doubt "my zeal, & peaceful intentions." Docketed on verso: "Translation of a Letter from the Bey of Tunis to Tobias Lear-- Aug. 11th. 1805"

GLC02794.091

1805/08/11

Lear, Tobias, 1762-1816

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Hamuda Bassa re: continued peace between U.S. and Tunis

Draft copy of GLC 2794.093. Written aboard the "U.S.S. Constitution." Lear responds to the Bashaw's letter of 9 August 1805 (GLC 2794.088). For excerpt, see GLC 2794.093. Docketed on verso.

GLC02794.092

1805/08/11

Lear, Tobias, 1762-1816

Manuscript document signed

Title: to Hamuda Bassa re: continued peace between U.S. and Tunis

Final draft of GLC 2794.092 in a clerk's hand with Lear's signature. Written aboard the "U.S.S. Constitution." Lear responds to the Bashaw's letter of 9 August 1805 (GLC 2794.088). "[A]s [your previous letters] contain such assurances of your friendly disposition towards the United States, and expressions of a determination to continue that friendship . . . I shall not hesitate to present myself before your Excellency towmorrow . . . ." Docketed on verso.

GLC02794.093

1805/08/22

Lear, Tobias, 1762-1816

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sidi Josaph Sapatapa of Tunis re: treaty between Tunis and the U.S.

Draft of GLC 2794.096. Lear writes Sidi Jossaph, the Sapatapa (Prime Minister) to the Bey of Tunis to negotiate more favorable commerce and shipping agreements with Tunis, with the "object . . . to increase the harmony and good understanding which exists between" the U.S. and Tunis. Docketed on verso.

GLC02794.095

1805/08/22

Lear, Tobias, 1762-1816

Letter signed

Title: to Sidi Josaph Sapatapa of Tunis re: treaty between Tunis and the U.S.

Final draft of GLC 2794.095 in a clerk's hand with Lear's signature. Lear writes Sidi Jossaph, the Sapatapa (Prime Minister) to the Bey of Tunis to negotiate more favorable commerce and shipping agreements with Tunis, with the "object . . . to increase the harmony and good understanding which exists between" the U.S. and Tunis. Docketed on verso.

GLC02794.096

1805/08/31

Hoggia, Jusuf, fl. 1805

Manuscript document

Title: to Tobias Lear re: modifications to a treaty between Tunis and U.S.

Translation copy in a clerk's hand. Informs Lear that the Bashaw of Tunis wishes to postpone modifications to the treaty pending the return of his ambassadors with ratification of the treaty by President Jefferson. The Bashaw does agree to stop charging American merchants any extra duty on goods brought to Tunis. A note in a later hand: "Translation."

GLC02794.097

1805/08/31

Hoggia, Jusuf, fl. 1805

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Tobias Lear re: [?] [in Italian]

Docketed on verso.

GLC02794.098

1805/08/31

Hoggia, Jusuf, fl. 1805

Manuscript document signed

Title: to Tobias Lear re: modifications to treaty [in Italian]

Same as GLC 2794.100. Marked "Copia" in upper left-hand corner of first page. Signed on p. 3 by Tobias Lear on 2 September 1805, with a note: "A true Copy from the Original." Docketed on verso.

GLC02794.099

1805/08/31

Hoggia, Jusuf, fl. 1805

Manuscript document

Title: to Tobias Lear re: modifications of treaty [in Italian]

Same as GLC 2794.099. Marked "Copia" in the upper left-hand corner of the first page. Lacking Lear's signature.

GLC02794.100

1805/09/02

Lear, Tobias, 1762-1816

Manuscript document signed

Title: to James Madison re: report of his activities from 7 July to 1 September 1805

Written in a clerk's hand with Lear's signature. Lear briefs Secretary of State Madison on the course of negotiations with the Bey of Tunis. Describes threatening war and negotiations to ease the tension. Docketed on verso.

GLC02794.101

1805/09/05

Ridgely, John, fl. 1805

Manuscript document signed

Title: Certification that Lieut. David Porter received a gold watch

Certification from Ridgely, the U.S. Naval agent in Tripoli, that Porter received a gold watch to be given to Hadge Mahomet for his friendship to American prisoners in Tripoli. Porter received the watch via Tobias Lear. "Consular Seal of the U.S. of America--Tripoli" affixed to second page. Docketed on verso.

GLC02794.102

1806/07/01

Torres, Domingos L.L. de, fl. 1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Tobias Lear re: request for a loan

" I am extremely sorry . . . . But an unexpected affliction obliges me to sollicit your assistance by the loan of twenty four piasters of Espagne, or twelve Sequinos of Algiers." Docketed on address leaf.

GLC02794.105