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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.

Hobby, John, 1749-1802 to Henry Knox

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.04823 Author/Creator: Hobby, John, 1749-1802 Place Written: Portland, Maine Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 12 January 1791 Pagination: 2 p. : address : docket ; 29.7 x 18.7 cm. Order a Copy

Writes Knox about the militia forming in Maine. States he would like to be appointed Inspector of the militia. Says, "I am pained to the Extreme to find myself in a situation which renders it necessary to Couch my letter in such language as has the smallest appearance of as self recommendation."

Hobby, John, 1749-1802
Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

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