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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.

Monroe, James, 1758-1831 to William Lee

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00655.02 Author/Creator: Monroe, James, 1758-1831 Place Written: Paris, France Type: Autograph letter signed Date: June 30, 1805 Pagination: 2 p. : address : docket ; Height: 23 cm, Width: 19 cm Order a Copy

Written to William Lee, who was serving as American consul at Bordeaux, France. Mentions that he arrived in Paris on June 20, 1805 after a 25 day trip and that he will soon proceed to London. He mentions the unsuccessful mission to Spain. In the autumn of 1804 he went to Madrid to assist Charles Cotesworth Pinckney in his efforts to secure the definition of the Louisiana boundaries and the acquisition of the Floridas. They negotiated with Don Pedro de Cevallos, the Spanish minister of foreign affairs, from January to May 1805, without success. This letter finds Monroe between missions. On his eventual arrival in London he resumed his negotiations concerning the impressment of American seamen and the seizure of American vessels. He assures Lee that his concerns on shipping will be addressed. He asks Lee to forward enclosed items, which are not included, to Secretary of State James Madison.

Monroe, James, 1758-1831
Lee, William, 1772-1840
Pinckney, Charles Cotesworth, 1746-1825
Madison, James, 1751-1836
de Cevallos, Pedro, fl. 1805

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