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.

Washington, George, 1732-1799 to the Emperor of Morocco

Order a pdf of this item here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC09033 Author/Creator: Washington, George, 1732-1799 Place Written: s.l. Type: Letter signed Date: 1 December 1789 Pagination: 1 p. : Order a Copy

Thanks the Emperor for sending letters to the rulers of Tunis and Tripoli re: Barbary pirates, explaining that America cannot pay the desired tribute, having "no Mines, either of Gold, or Silver, and ... just recovering from the Waste and Desolation of a long War." However, he predicts that the United States "shall gradually become useful to our friends." Writing as the new head of state, "the United States, having unanimously appointed me to the supreme executive Authority, in this Nation..."

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources