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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.

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826 to David Howell

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01027 Author/Creator: Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826 Place Written: Charlottesville, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: December 15, 1810 Pagination: 1 p. : free frank Height: 25 cm, Width: 20 cm Order a Copy

Jefferson attacks the Federalists as favoring hereditary rule. Free franked. He mentions that public news draws him from reading Tacitus and Horace, which he calls "more agreeable reading." He also mentions Gov. Fenner of Rhode Island. Jefferson praises Fenner, who controlled state politics for many years. Jefferson writes that he wants to avoid writing things that will be quoted. Apparently Howell asked Jefferson's opinion of his successors. Letter also mentions Republican principles, Federalists, and Jefferson's reading. Letter written in Monticello.

Howell, David, 1747-1824
Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

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