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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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1812/09/30

Smith, George C., fl. 1812

Manuscript document

Title: Copy of letter to Edward Fettyplan [?] re: Smith's status as slave in Algiers

Notation on first page: "Copy of a letter received Septr 30th 1812." "Be not astonished!! for alas! it is too true, that I am now addressing you as a Slave in Algiers . . . . I think that all differences will be adjusted between G[reat] B[ritain], & America, Should they not do not let me die a Slave in Algiers . . . .I steal the time after begging the paper to write this." Captain Smith's ship, the "Edwin" was captured the Algerians in 1812. Lear arranged to pay the ransom for his and his eleven crewmembers' freedom.

GLC02794.167

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