Our Collection

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.

Ellis, Henry, 1721-1806 to John Rae, Lachlan McGillivray, Francis McCartan, and others

Order a pdf of this item here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC05228.02 Author/Creator: Ellis, Henry, 1721-1806 Place Written: Savannah, Georgia Type: Letter signed Date: 7 December 1759 Pagination: 2 p. : Height: 22.5 cm, Width: 18.5 cm Order a Copy

Circular letter from Georgia Governor Ellis to the merchants and storekeepers in Augusta, Georgia. Informs the merchants that he has learned from South Carolina Governor William H. Lyttelton of their involvement in "a clandestine and most pernicious traffick with the Indians especially the Cherokees." Forbids them from supplying traders with arms, ammunition, and other goods for the Cherokee, "who must be considered in a state of actual War with us." Threatens prosecution and the loss of future Indian trade licenses. Copy sent with a letter to Governor Lyttelton (see GLC05228.01)

Ellis, Henry, 1721-1806
Rae, John, fl. 1759
McGillivray, Lachlan, fl. 1759
McCartan, Francis, fl. 1759
Lyttelton, William Henry Lyttelton, Baron, 1724-1808

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources