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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.

Ward, Artemas, 1727-1800 to Jedediah Foster

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02499.17 Author/Creator: Ward, Artemas, 1727-1800 Place Written: Cambridge, Massachusetts Type: Letter signed Date: 23 May 1775 Pagination: 1 p. : address : docket Height: 18.2 cm, Width: 14 cm Order a Copy

Written by General Ward as commander-in-chief of the army outside Boston to Colonel Foster. Says the bearer of this, Mr. Wood, was lately at Worcester and learned that the selectmen of the town are "binding out" people that can be called friends of the government if they will not join the army. Says it is extraordinary and unjustifiable conduct if it is true. Hopes he will take Wood's information and investigate the situation, claiming "I doubt not you will consult the Safety of the Individuals as well as of the Community."

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