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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.

Bruce, Phineas, 1762-1809 to Henry Jackson

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.05170 Author/Creator: Bruce, Phineas, 1762-1809 Place Written: Machias, Maine Type: Manuscript document Date: 27 September 1791 Pagination: 3 p. : docket ; Height: 25 cm, Width: 19.5 cm Order a Copy

This is a copy of Bruce's letter in Jackson's hand (includes Jackson's signature). Discusses the purchase Knox is about to make of the "million of Acres between the Rivers Penobscot & Schoodie." Says the tract has fewer swamps and better soil than their adjoining purchase made earlier. Describes the country as "beautiful & romantick, interspersed with small hills, Valleys & fine fresh meadows." The timber consists of rock maple, beech, black and yellow birch, oak, elm, and some cedar and pines. Reports that the lakes are numerous, but only two or three of any magnitude have been discovered. Describes the rivers, noting that the British have renamed the Schoodie River as the St. Croix. Mentions concerns about the boundary between Maine and Canada.

Bruce, Phineas, 1762-1809
Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809
Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

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