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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.

Hamilton, Alexander, 1757-1804 to George Washington

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.02078 Author/Creator: Hamilton, Alexander, 1757-1804 Place Written: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Type: Manuscript letter Date: 9 April 1783 Pagination: 2 p. : Height: 34 cm, Width: 21 cm Order a Copy

A copy, in the hand of Washington's secretary David Cobb, of the letter Hamilton wrote as a Continental Congressman from New York to General Washington. Hamilton was writing in his capacity as a chairman of a committee (other members included Madison, Osgood, Wilson, and Ellsworth) formed by Congress to organize various departments in the government after the official peace. Would like Washington's "sentiments at large on such institutions of every kind for the interior defence of these States as may be best adapted to their circumstances, and conciliate security with economy and with the principles of our Governments." Is very interested in what the immediate situation of the country is and how to prepare the nation for "permanent salutary operation."

Signer of the U.S. Constitution.

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