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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 George Washington

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.03797 Author/Creator: Knox, Henry, 1750-1806 Place Written: New York, New York Type: Autograph letter Date: 14 February 1788 Pagination: 4 p. ; 32.6 x 19.9 cm. Order a Copy

Reports on Massachusetts' adoption of the Constitution of the United States. Writes, "It may with great truth be asserted that no subject was ever more candidly debated- Many of the minority express their determination, of inculcating the principle of union among their constituents." Categorizes those who oppose the Constitution into three groups: the "insurgent interest," the "desperate debtors," and "honest men, without information whose minds are apprehensive of danger to their Liberties." Encloses a paper "containing a description of the demonstration of Joy by the Boston people on the occasion" (not present). Notes that New Hampshire's ratification convention assembled the previous day.

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806
Washington, George, 1732-1799

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