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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.

Shepard, William, 1737-1817 to Henry Knox

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.03382 Author/Creator: Shepard, William, 1737-1817 Place Written: Westfield, Massachusetts Type: Manuscript letter signed Date: 17 December 1786 Pagination: 1 p. : address : docket Height: 32.9 cm, Width: 20.4 cm Order a Copy

Has enclosed a copy of a letter (refer to GLC02437.03378) he received from Governor [James] Bowdoin. "I would beg you to keep it to yourself, as I do the original. This does not mention it, but Major Shepard informs me that his Excellency wished me to write to you for permission to take one thousand or fifteen hundred Stands of arms from the Arsenal at Springfield, as well as ammunition adequate to the purpose, if they should be wanted in the decision of the question whether we are to have the satisfaction of living under a Constitution and fixed, permanent and known laws, or under the misrule of Anarchy. I suppose his Excellency will write you on the same subject, if he has not done it already." Asks also if he might be allowed to take some field pieces from Springfield. "Public service" written on address leaf with no signature.

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806
Shepard, William, 1737-1817
Bowdoin, James, 1726-1790

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