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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.

Rush, Benjamin, 1746-1813 to James Madison

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00580 Author/Creator: Rush, Benjamin, 1746-1813 Place Written: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Type: Autograph letter signed Date: April 24, 1790 Pagination: 3 p. : docket ; 20 x 17 cm. Order a Copy

Sends Madison a pamphlet and requests that he protect against it being published in a newspaper. Notes that he will send copies of the pamphlet to Thomas Jefferson in the upcoming week. Also sends a sermon by Richard Price. Describes the sermon as "pregnant with noble sentiments" and credits it with inspiring the idea of "your [Madison's] house addressing the national assembly & king of France" concerning the French Revolution. Discusses the hoped for effects of such an address. Concludes: "The United States kindled the flame of liberty in Europe. It is highly proper that they should fan it." Indicates that Madison's motion in honor of the deceased Benjamin Franklin was well received. Two dockets made with different inks, in Madison's hand.

Rush, Benjamin, 1746-1813
Madison, James, 1751-1836
Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790
Price, Richard, 1723-1791
Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

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