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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.

Irvine, Charles, 1756-1819 to Alexander Irvine

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01450.023.02 Author/Creator: Irvine, Charles, 1756-1819 Place Written: London, England Type: Autograph letter signed Date: March 15, 1781 Pagination: 3 p. : address : docket ; Height: 22.5 cm, Width: 18.5 cm Order a Copy

Letter written to his brother in Aberdeen, Scotland. States that he got his brother's letter from their sister Margaret in which she apologized for opening his letter to Alexander. Charles states that there was no need for her to apologize because he does not need to keep secrets from her but that there are others he would rather not know his business. Thanks him for his kind letter and for his readiness to serve him (possibly referring to Charles' request for money in an earlier letter, GLC01450.023.01). Remarks that he might not be able to leave for New York for awhile yet as there are no convoys but will try to get passage on any ship. Discusses his attempts to get into a regiment of the British army and states he has written to someone to assist him in getting an offer even though he is entering so late. Charles Irvine was an ensign in the British army during the Revolutionary War.

Irvine, Charles, 1756-1819
Irvine, Alexander, 1754-1844

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