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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.

Bainbridge, William, 1774-1833 to Timothy Bigelow

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01125 Author/Creator: Bainbridge, William, 1774-1833 Place Written: Boston, Massachusetts Type: Autograph letter signed Date: February 23, 1813 Pagination: 1 p. : address : docket Height: 26 cm, Width: 21 cm Order a Copy

Letter written aboard the U.S.S. Constitution (Old Ironsides), Boston Harbor. Bainbridge expresses pleasure in hearing of a vote of appreciation for the Constitution's victory over the British frigate H.M.S. Java. "To merit and receive the appreciation of our Country is our highest ambition, and is the greatest stimulus we can receive in the exertion of our duty." Letter addressed to Bigelow as the speaker of the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Bainbridge, William, 1774-1833
Bigelow, Timothy, 1767-1821

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