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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.

Ellery, William, 1727-1820 to Benjamin Huntington

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00192 Author/Creator: Ellery, William, 1727-1820 Place Written: Newport, Rhode Island Type: Autograph letter signed Date: March 10, 1789 Pagination: 4 p. : Height: 20 cm, Width: 16 cm Order a Copy

Writes to reprise a letter he had previously sent stating that he wishes "to hold some post under the new government." Prefers to be made a judge for the Eastern District, and in that case would like his son, William Ellery Jr., to succeed him as loan officer. If Ellery is not appointed a judge, he would like to remain loan officer and also be appointed a "collector of Impost" for Rhode Island, if that office is created. Informs Huntington that he sent a similar letter to Congressmen Oliver Ellsworth and Roger Sherman and asks him to tell them of this letter. Pleads with Huntington to look into payment of his salary as loan officer. Suspects the General Assembly meeting at Greenwich will not call a Convention. Feels it likely that local officials will propose changes to the Constitution to relieve the state of its debts. Inquires as to the proper form of address for the president, vice president and senators. Comments on the death of his brother, Christopher Ellery.

Ellery, William, 1727-1820
Ellsworth, Oliver, 1745-1807
Huntington, Benjamin, 1736-1800
Sherman, Roger, 1721-1793
Channing, William Ellery, 1780-1842
Ellery, Christopher, fl. 1789

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