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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.

Hunter, R.M.T., 1809-1887 [Appointment of James M. Mason as Confederate Special Commissioner to England]

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04448 Author/Creator: Hunter, R.M.T., 1809-1887 Place Written: Richmond, Virginia Type: Manuscript document signed Date: 23 September 1861 Pagination: 1 p. : Height: 40.2 cm, Width: 26.6 cm Order a Copy

Credentials appointing James M. Mason Confederate Special Commissioner to England. Signed by Hunter as Secretary of State. Partly printed document, in calligraphic hand with blind stamp of the Confederate States of America, Department of State. The arrest of Mason and John Slidell on their diplomatic voyage to Europe began the Trent Affair.

Hunter, Robert Mercer Taliaferro, 1809-1887
Mason, J. M. (James Murray), 1798-1871

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