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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.

Stiles, Ezra, 1727-1795 to Catharine Macaulay

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01798 Author/Creator: Stiles, Ezra, 1727-1795 Place Written: Newport, Rhode Island Type: Autograph letter signed Date: April 15, 1775 Pagination: 3 p. : docket ; Height: 32 cm, Width: 20 cm Order a Copy

Parliament's repressive laws have inflamed Americans; criticizes Britain for not sharing its triumph over France with its colonists. Convinced that the colonists are capable of governing themselves and that American legislatures should prepare for conflict, he suggests the current fomentation may result in "an entirely new Colony-Police" and upon such an alliance could arise a "Continental or Imperial Congress." Forecasts the future greatness of America.

Stiles, Ezra, 1727-1795
Macaulay, Catharine, 1731-1791

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