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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 James Swan

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.04068 Author/Creator: Knox, Henry, 1750-1806 Place Written: New York, New York Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 3 January 1789 Pagination: 4 p. : docket ; Height: 32.4 cm, Width: 20.3 cm Order a Copy

Thanks him for his last letters. Apologizes for not writing to him about private matters, but alludes to the fact that the custom in Europe (where Swan is) is for the post officers to open the mail, so he did not feel comfortable going into detail. Hopes very sincerely that Swan is able to extricate himself from financial difficulty and "avail yourself of the rising prosperity" of the United States. Mentions that he has been in Boston and Swan's wife and children are in perfect health. Discusses the new Constitution of the United States, explaining that the legislatures of New York and Virginia are calling for a new convention; North Carolina and Rhode Island are still debating, North Carolina calling a new state convention and Rhode Island "still holding out." Discusses international trade as well.

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806
Swan, James, 1754-1830

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