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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.

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806 to Marquis de Lafayette

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.02830 Author/Creator: Knox, Henry, 1750-1806 Place Written: New York, New York Type: Autograph letter signed Date: December 14, 1783 Pagination: 3 p. : docket ; Height: 19.7 cm, Width: 16.2 cm Order a Copy

Knox says he wrote Lafayette "several letters" expressing his affection for him. Says America as a nation believes the same thing and that "you must not regard [such expressions] as compliments but the language of sincerity." Goes on to say "Our independence is now established and we feel the warmest gratitude to all the means what have contributed to effect it." Reports that "The English have at last left us to ourselves, with the full expectation that we shall not know how to govern the ship of state and that we must apply to the Steady and well experienced pilots of Britain." Says "Our much loved friend the General has gone from this city to Congress and from thence to Mount Vernon." Goes on to praise Washington. Sending this note by the Chevalier Villefranche.

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806
Lafayette, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier, marquis de, 1757-1834
Washington, George, 1732-1799
Villefranche, Jean-Louis-Ambroise de Genton, chevalier de, 1747-1784

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