Our Collection

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.

Adams, John, 1735-1826 to John [Jean] Luzac re: America should maintain neutrality

Order a pdf of this item here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02294 Author/Creator: Adams, John, 1735-1826 Place Written: Quincy, Massachusetts Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 1793/10/02 Pagination: 2 p. : address : Height: 25 cm, Width: 21 cm Order a Copy

Written as Vice President, recommending Tobias Lear, former secretary to President George Washington. "This country is too happy in the enjoyment of that Liberty which cost them so dear to risque it, by medling in foreign wars." Luzac, a distinguished lawyer, philologist and journalist, was "Professor of Grecian Literature in the University of Leyden." Written on front of leaves only, with integral address leaf.

Adams, John, 1735-1826
Lear, Tobias, 1762-1816
Washington, George, 1732-1799

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources