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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.

Gay, Ebenezer, 1771-1842 to Aaron Hobart

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC06313.04.127 Author/Creator: Gay, Ebenezer, 1771-1842 Place Written: Hingham, Massachusetts Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 3 January 1822 Pagination: 3 p. : address ; Height: 24.5 cm, Width: 20.1 cm Order a Copy

Cannot answer Hobart's question about the district's sentiments about implementing a system of bankruptcy laws, but suggests that the "community at large" is "increasing in favor of the system" because of the "increasing number of insolvents, [and] the very inequitable distribution of their effects among their creditors." Cites some of the problems with the present system and endorses a new one, even though he recognizes it may be unpopular at first. Suggests to Hobart the subject does not occupy the thoughts of his constituents, and although divided they may be persuaded of the "necessity of such a system."

Gay, Ebenezer, 1771-1842
Hobart, Aaron, 1787-1858

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