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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.

Washington, George, 1732-1799 to James McHenry

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00604.01 Author/Creator: Washington, George, 1732-1799 Place Written: Mount Vernon, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: August 11, 1799 Pagination: 3 p. : docket : address ; Height: 25 cm, Width: 20 cm Order a Copy

McHenry served as Secretary of War. Mentions appointment of ambassadors to France during Quasi-war and newspaper accusations by William Duane against federalist officials (in a July editorial) for supposedly accepting bribes. Humorous letter (on bribery) with hinted approval of Sedition Act. Marked "Confidential" in the text.

Washington, George, 1732-1799
McHenry, James, 1753-1816
Duane, William, 1760-1835

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