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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.

Pettit, Charles, 1736-1806 to Nathanael Greene

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04772.05 Author/Creator: Pettit, Charles, 1736-1806 Place Written: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Type: Autograph letter signed Date: January 2, 1782 Pagination: 3 p. : address : docket ; Height: 32.1 cm, Width: 19.4 cm Order a Copy

Written by Pettit as an importing merchant in Philadelphia to Major General Greene as commander of the Southern Department. Pettit was Greene's assistant adjutant general 1778-1781. Mentions he sold Greene's and his own shares in the Batsto Estate. Says they are going to have to wait for their money because of issues with the estate. Says he has little ready money as a result. Mentions political backbiting at the Pennsylvania Assembly. Talks about the reduction of salaries of certain officers in order to starve them out so the current Assembly can appoint new ones. Says they are considering raising taxes by 400,000 pounds. Wishes he could have seen more of Mrs. Greene while she was in Philadelphia. Says he has heard nothing of him since November. Hopes to hear something by his own hand. Has heard various rumors from Greene's defeat of a large British army to the death of Greene himself. Pages 1-2 are pasted on the front of a sheet of paper. Page 3 has been separated and is pasted on the back.

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