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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 John Jay

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.03308 Author/Creator: Knox, Henry, 1750-1806 Place Written: Springfield, Massachusetts Type: Autograph letter Date: 3 October 1786 Pagination: 1 p. : docket Height: 32 cm, Width: 19.8 cm Order a Copy

Describes the recent Shays' Rebellion, explaining that Mr. [John] Stagg, the bearer, will provide more details. Writes, "Government has lost ground. Faction desperate faction gains strength hourly - they speak of a military government and embodying troops against the constitution - The numbers what appeared in arms opposed to Law were great - had all the parties which were on the march joined previous to the dispersion of the Malcontents they would have mustered 2000 strong - Government mustered about 900 but These were men of respectable character and great property, compared with their opponents." Knox adds, "Please keep this to yourself."

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806
Jay, John, 1745-1829

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