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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.

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809 to Henry [Knox]

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.10216 Author/Creator: Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809 Place Written: Boston, Massachusetts Type: Autograph letter signed Date: December 21, 1788 Pagination: 3 p. : docket ; Height: 38.6 cm, Width: 24.4 cm Order a Copy

Discusses the first federal elections, noting that "last Thursday was the day appointed by the State for the Choice of Federal Representatives." Jackson details the likely winners of Congressional seats from the various Massachusetts districts, including Fisher Ames for the Boston area: "the friends of Mr. S_ A [Samuel Adams] in this town are exceedingly disappointed...the Feds are highly gratified in the Election of Mr. Ames." He concludes that "on the whole from every appearance the Representatives from this State will be Federal good Men." He also notes that, based on the people chosen as Electors, "I should doubt whether Mr H _ [John Hancock] will be Elected V:P_ [vice president]...." Governor Hancock, he adds, has been confined to his chambers [probably due to gout]. Watermarked "L Paine" and with hunting horn in a crest with "GR" underneath.

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806
Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809
Ames, Fisher, 1758-1808
Partridge, George, 1740-1828

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